Part II (The Strong Contenders)

Source: Features

Here is Part II of the "Coaching Carousel". As we will learn, A.D. Sheahon Zenger has a lot of football connections and I really think this program is in good hands. I'm sure Zenger will be considering these well-qualified candidates...

But first I just want to emphasize how confident I am in our A.D. Not only was Turner Gill relieved of duties, but all 4 strength and conditioning coaches were as well. John Williams, who clearly wasn't fit for the job (in more ways than one), has been temporarily replaced by basketball S&C coordinator Andrea Hudy. All I can say is that, from all that I have heard, Hudy KNOWS HOW TO GET IT DONE. And because of this, Zenger does too. The 2 most important positions in a football program when it comes to instilling discipline: (a) the head coach, and (b) the S&C staff. The head coach is an obvious one because he is the face of the program, but the S&C staff is around the players probably as much, if not more, than anybody else involved in the program. The previous staff was lacking in these areas and Zenger addressed it.


Not only did a few heads roll because of Zenger, but several coaches were retained. Reggie Mitchell, a recruiting extraordinaire, was named interim head coach. David Beaty, a wide-receiving coach with a lot of Texas ties, has been kept, and Buddy Wyatt, who just hauled in a rare defensive tackle commitment, 6-3 310 pound Ty McKinney, obviously deserved to stay after bringing in a warm body for the d-line. Zenger is a football guy and he knows what cuts it... and what doesn't.

Strong Contenders (I feel that these candidates meet Zenger’s criteria)

Number 4:

Source: FSU Scout

Mark Stoops

The Rundown:

Age: 44

Defensive Coordinator:

2009-Present: Florida State

2004-2009: Arizona

                2000-2001: Houston

Position Coach:

                 2001-2003: Miami

                 1997-1999: Wyoming

                 1996-1997: South Florida

Ups:

Yes, the name has a nice ring to it: Stoops. It probably won’t be hard to recruit with that name in the long run.

Stoops would be a likely hire because he worked with Zenger on Jim Leavitt’s staff at South Florida in 1996 and at Wyoming from 1997-1999.

Stoops is a defensive guru, he has coached defenses at Houston, Arizona, and Florida State. At Arizona, the Wildcats became one of the best defenses in the Pac 10, at Florida State, the defense has become a strong-point.

He can bring in talent and he has put several players in “The League.”

Downs:

What sticks out to me: he has no head coaching experience. Not only that, but he hasn't coached in the Big 12 area. Maybe his Midwest recruiting ties would be a cause for concern.

Stoops is not the most likely hire, but maybe the connection with Zenger will move him up the list. He has turned around several defenses, but Kansas would be stiffest challenge.

Odds of hire: 1 in 15

Number 5:

Source: The Matadorsports

Kevin Sumlin

The Rundown:

Age: 47

Head Coach: 

            2008-Present: Houston: 35-16 (4 seasons)

·        1-1 in Bowl games.

Offensive Coordinator:

2003-2007: Oklahoma
                2001-2002: Texas A&M

Position Coach:

                 1998-2000: Purdue

                 1993-1997: Minnesota

                 1991-1992: Wyoming

Ups:

Sumlin was in the running last time around, but the Cougars paid to keep him. Sumlin has moved mountains in just 4 years at Houston. In 2008, the Cougars went 8-5, in 2009, 10-4 and Sumlin won the Conference USA Coach of the Year award, and 2011, his team is ranked eighth in the country with an unblemished 12-0 record and are likely headed to a BCS game.

Sumlin is a disciplinarian and he is none for getting the very most of out of his players. He has Big 12 experience, so he has the Midwestern ties that Zenger would be looking for in a coach. He knows what it takes to win at the BCS level even though he has never been a head coach at that level; he coached under Bob Stoops at Oklahoma.

He will likely be very coveted this winter, being one of the hottest coaching names in the country.

Downs:

He will likely be very coveted this winter, being one of the hottest coaching names in the country. Sumlin being such a hot name is a double-edged sword for Kansas. Kansas wants him because he is good, but he is also going to be a tough catch because other A.Ds will come calling for his services. Big BCS names will be looking to hire Sumlin this off-season.

Even Houston will be in the running for Sumlin. Is well-known that he is quite happy at Houston, so maybe jumping ship is not an option for him?

As far as meeting Zenger’s criteria, Sumlin has only been a head coach for three years and it has not been at the BCS level. Maybe that scares Zenger away, maybe it scares the KU donor?

Odds of hire: 1 in 15

Number 6:

Source: Jerry Burnes Photography

Dave Doeren

The Rundown:

Age: 39

Head Coach: 

            2011-Present: Northern Illinois: 9-3 (won 7 straight and MAC West)

·        Lost to Kansas 45-42 in Lawrence

Defensive Coordinator:

2006-2010: Wisconsin

Position Coach:

                 2001-2003: Kansas

                 2000-2001: Montana

                 1995-1997: Drake

Ups:
For starters, Doeren was a recruiting machine when he was the linebackers coach at KU. Much of the Orange Bowl team was recruited by him: James McClinton and Aqib Talib come to mind.

Doeren is finishing up his first year at Northern Illinois. His Huskies will play for the MAC title after winning 7 straight games.

Before taking the position at NIU, Doeren was the defensive coordinator at Wisconsin and he helped lead them to a Big 10 Championship and a Rose Bowl appearance. Before that, Doeren developed several all-Big 12 linebackers for the Jayhawks.

He's from Shawnee Mission, Kansas and has seen what it takes to win at Kansas.

Downs:
The obvious: Doeren has only been a head coach for one season, so Zenger hesitate when he sees Doeren’s resume.

I realize that he has had only a year to implement his system and schemes into the NIU program, and he doesn't have the players he wants yet, but on September 10^th we all watched the Kansas offense move the ball up and down the field at will. Kansas fans, who are looking for an upgrade on defense, might be a little leery knowing that Kansas had their best offensive performance of the season against the Huskies. NIU allowed 60 points to Toledo and 38 to Ball State. What would Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, or TCU do to a Doeren coached Kansas D?

Odds of hire: 1 in 20

I think Doeren will get things turned around quickly on the defensive side of the ball at NIU, but it will probably happen in the coming years. Zenger will get lambasted if he signs a coach who surrendered so many points in the MAC, and signing another MAC coach is probably the last thing on the KU fans minds’.