Assuming Gruden isn't coming, I think the best hire we can make is someone who has had success, repeatedly, everywhere they have been.
It's fine with me to pull from the mid majors, as long as we get the right guy from the mid majors. Lots of hugely successful coaches start out in the mid majors.
Here's my list. Maybe not all of these guys would make for a great SEC HC, but I think they are all worth interviewing and vetting to see if they have what it takes. They all have proven track records as HCs and coordinators, which is what Dooley never had (and why I knew we were in trouble the day he was hired).
Charlie Strong - 2 National Championships as Defensive Coordinator at Florida. Currently has Louisville undefeated and ranked in top 10.
Butch Jones - Assistant for top 10 ranked West Virginia teams under Rich Rodriguez. 2 MAC Championships in 3 seasons while HC at Central Michigan. 10 win season and AP top 25 ranking as HC at Cincinatti.
Sonny Dykes - won top assistant award while at Texas Tech. Nominated for Broyles award as Offensive Coordinator at Arizona. WAC title and AP top 25 ranking as HC at La Tech.
Mark Hudspeth - multiple 10 win seasons and national playoff runs as HC at N. Alabama. Assistant at Miss State during Mullen's most successful year. 1st bowl game in 41 years as HC at Louisiana Lafayette last year. Posted a 9 win season taking over a team that won 3 games the year before.
Gus Malzahn - OC for Arkansas the last time they won the SEC West. Top ranked offenses as OC at Tulsa. NC as OC at Auburn. Winning record in his first year as HC at Arkansas State.
...Okay, those are just the ones I've thought of recently. Who else belongs on this list?
It's fine with me to pull from the mid majors, as long as we get the right guy from the mid majors. Lots of hugely successful coaches start out in the mid majors.
Here's my list. Maybe not all of these guys would make for a great SEC HC, but I think they are all worth interviewing and vetting to see if they have what it takes. They all have proven track records as HCs and coordinators, which is what Dooley never had (and why I knew we were in trouble the day he was hired).
Charlie Strong - 2 National Championships as Defensive Coordinator at Florida. Currently has Louisville undefeated and ranked in top 10.
Butch Jones - Assistant for top 10 ranked West Virginia teams under Rich Rodriguez. 2 MAC Championships in 3 seasons while HC at Central Michigan. 10 win season and AP top 25 ranking as HC at Cincinatti.
Sonny Dykes - won top assistant award while at Texas Tech. Nominated for Broyles award as Offensive Coordinator at Arizona. WAC title and AP top 25 ranking as HC at La Tech.
Mark Hudspeth - multiple 10 win seasons and national playoff runs as HC at N. Alabama. Assistant at Miss State during Mullen's most successful year. 1st bowl game in 41 years as HC at Louisiana Lafayette last year. Posted a 9 win season taking over a team that won 3 games the year before.
Gus Malzahn - OC for Arkansas the last time they won the SEC West. Top ranked offenses as OC at Tulsa. NC as OC at Auburn. Winning record in his first year as HC at Arkansas State.
...Okay, those are just the ones I've thought of recently. Who else belongs on this list?