Here Are Some Plausible Replacements For Butch Davis at North Carolina.
By Ty Duffy
UNC is a solid job. It’s not an elite program, but there’s nothing preventing it from becoming one. It has the campus, the facilities and the name to recruit kids. ACC title contention is attainable. Potential sanctions may hinder prospects for immediate success, but would allow a coach time to instill a foundation without immediate pressure to win.
Before listing some candidates, I’m going to discount two names. Rich Rodriguez makes sense, in football terms, but it’s hard to see UNC, in their state, hiring someone who left both Michigan and West Virginia on probation. My first call would be to Mike Leach. He’s a proven winner at a second-tier program, he runs an exciting offense, is clean and insists on academic integrity. He would jump at the job. Unfortunately, it will displease the ESPN overlords. It’s hard to see a new athletic director coming in and being that bold.
UNC probably won’t insist on a North Carolina man. They likely will try to clear out as many of them as possible to start over. No one really knows the direction UNC will take, but here are a few coaches who could be considered.
Gus Malzahn: Hottest coordinator on the market. Vanderbilt wasn’t attractive enough to pry him, but North Carolina might be. Auburn may lose its luster after a year without Newton.
Kevin Sumlin: Has run explosive offenses as a coordinator at Oklahoma and a head coach at Houston. He went 18-9 his first two years (12-4 in Conference USA), before slumping back to 5-7 after losing his top two quarterbacks. Ready to make the step to a bigger program.
Randy Shannon: He did everything right at Miami, except win. Best case scenario: he learns from his first stop, hires a good offensive coordinator. Worst case scenario: he would clean up and secure the program.
Bud Foster: He has masterminded some great ACC defenses at Virginia Tech. He’s overdue for a shot as a head coach at a decent program, but why has he gone this long without receiving one?
Kirby Smart: Saban disciples are cropping up everywhere and doing rather well. He’s only 35 but has already won a Broyles award and a coordinated a dominating, national championship defense. He has some ACC experience from his time at FSU. The trouble? He will be the first call Georgia makes whenever Mark Richt leaves.
Ken Niumatalolo: The Navy coach would bring the discipline. He’s topped out with the Midshipmen, going 27-13 the past three seasons and beating Notre Dame twice in a row. Georgia Tech has shown the option can win in the ACC. Troy Calhoun could be an option in this vein as well.
[Photo via Getty]