Malzahn

[msstate7]

Jake dickert would be my first interview even though he's a defensive guy. He's won at wash state and now WF.

[parabrave]

As I said earlier in this thread, the fact the players followed him says a lot about Huff. Also, as I said earlier in this thread, he would be like 5th or so on my list. I just totally reject he's garbage; nothing supports this.

I don't think Lebby is gonna be fired, so I haven't really dug into candidates. If I were in charge though, this is what I would look for...

1. HC experience. Don't care what level, but actual experience running a program.

2. A guy that isn't at a normal winner, but had success at a place most fail.

3. Innovative offense.

These are the 3 things I wanna look for in that order.

How about a coach who can actually successfully implement his offense be it the Wing T or Veer and win with it. JOMO and Leb are running the innovative RPO meanwhile Leach ran his 30 year old Air Raid and looking back he was successful. Mullen was successful running his offense, Hey Coaching and player evaluation are 80% of winning program.

[1bigdawg]

I'd like to add that I do agree with you on one thing regarding Huff. I don't care that he's beating sunbelt teams ( or whatever conference they are in).
It's apples to apples. He has the same talent that those teams have. If he wins in the SEC, he would have SEC players playing against other SEC players.
It's like saying Chris Peterson did great at Boise, but he didn't play anyone. Well he did great at Washington too. He would have done great at Bama.

That is why Napier has done so well at Florida?

[msstate7]

That is why Napier has done so well at Florida?

Drinkwitz came from sun belt
Lane came form conf USA

[DownwardDawg]

That is why Napier has done so well at Florida?

There's always one......

[HoopsDawg]

Drinkwitz came from sun belt
Lane came form conf USA

Lane is your example? He also was the head coach at UT, USC and the Oakland Raiders. Haha! This board man.

[basedog]

Lane is your example? He also was the head coach at UT, USC and the Oakland Raiders. Haha! This board man.

His new nickname is Sunbelt Ms7.

[Coursesuper]

His new nickname is Sunbelt Ms7.

HA! Well done, I needed that today. Have a little rep today.

[HoopsDawg]

His new nickname is Sunbelt Ms7.

Well done!

[msstate7]

Lane is your example? He also was the head coach at UT, USC and the Oakland Raiders. Haha! This board man.

Fired from 2/3. And Eli?

Saban coached in Mac
Urban coached in Mac
Debeor div II and mtn west
Freeze sunbelt
Cignetti sunbelt

I could come up with more if your simple mind can't comprehend a good coach can come from a small conference. Shall I?

[msstate7]

Delete

[msstate7]

Oh, and the thread title is another sun belt guy, who was successful

[Maroon Glasses]

Oh, and the thread title is another sun belt guy, who was successful

7... I agree with you. I think Huff has done a great job his first year at USM. I definitely think you can find a HC from the smaller schools that can be successful in the P4. As you said, they would need experience and of course a proven track record. It's a bigger risk but so is hiring coordinators to be a HC.

[msstate7]

7... I agree with you. I think Huff has done a great job his first year at USM. I definitely think you can find a HC from the smaller schools that can be successful in the P4. As you said, they would need experience and of course a proven track record. It's a bigger risk but so is hiring coordinators to be a HC.

I didn't think it was a hot take... seemed common sense to me.

[Turfdawg67]

I didn't think it was a hot take... seemed common sense to me.

It wasn’t a hot take, you’re good. Your boy DM was just a lowly ole OC and he was the best in our illustrious history.

[archdog]

So pay him 4 million to be our offensive coordinator.

[Maverick91]

So pay him 4 million to be our offensive coordinator.

Pay me 4 million and I promise to never run 7 qb runs up the middle in a row.

[Maroon Glasses]

Pay me 4 million and I promise to never run 7 qb runs up the middle in a row.

You mean to tell me you wouldn't run the QB draw, QB rpo, QB power, or QB zone split 7 times in a row inside the 2?? You're definitely not getting hired.

[Quaoarsking]

Here are all the Sun Belt coaches who have gone on to bigger jobs in the last 15 years, in a rough approximate order from good to bad. Note that they are mostly pretty good:

1 Curt Cignetti James Madison, 2019-2023
Done an incredible job at Indiana

2 Willie Fritz Georgia Southern, 2014-2015
Eventually won big at Tulane, including a top 10 finish, and how has Houston up and running

3 Jon Sumrall Troy, 2022-2023
Two solid seasons at Tulane.

4 Gus Malzahn Arkansas State, 2012
Solid run at Auburn, finished ranked 5 times in 8 years including a #2. Mixed at UCF, but was overseeing a transition from G5 to P5.

5 Eli Drinkwitz Appalachian State, 2019
3 so-so years at Missouri and then started winning big

6 Hugh Freeze Arkansas State, 2011
Good run at Ole Miss aided by cheating, bad run at Auburn

7 Scott Satterfield Appalachian State, 2013-2018
Was OK at Louisville but has Cincinnati rolling this year.

8 Jamey Chadwell Coastal Carolina, 2017, 2019-2022
Not great in 2025, but still a solid 3-year run at Liberty so far

9 Blake Anderson Arkansas State, 2014-2020
3 solid years at Utah State and then got fired after some kind of Title IX violation, which does not appear to be his own misconduct

10 Bryan Harsin Arkansas State, 2013
Good run at Boise State, but flamed out hard at Auburn

11 Neal Brown Troy, 2015-2018
Eventually got fired at West Virginia, but wasn't really that bad: 25-28 in the conference and 1 top 25 finish.

12 Willie Taggart Western Kentucky, 2010-2012
Slow start at South Florida but eventually had a good season there, OK at Oregon, fired by Florida State and then Florida Atlantic

13 Billy Napier Louisiana, 2018-2021
Failed at Florida

[DownwardDawg]

Here are all the Sun Belt coaches who have gone on to bigger jobs in the last 15 years, in a rough approximate order from good to bad. Note that they are mostly pretty good:

1 Curt Cignetti James Madison, 2019-2023
Done an incredible job at Indiana

2 Willie Fritz Georgia Southern, 2014-2015
Eventually won big at Tulane, including a top 10 finish, and how has Houston up and running

3 Jon Sumrall Troy, 2022-2023
Two solid seasons at Tulane.

4 Gus Malzahn Arkansas State, 2012
Solid run at Auburn, finished ranked 5 times in 8 years including a #2. Mixed at UCF, but was overseeing a transition from G5 to P5.

5 Eli Drinkwitz Appalachian State, 2019
3 so-so years at Missouri and then started winning big

6 Hugh Freeze Arkansas State, 2011
Good run at Ole Miss aided by cheating, bad run at Auburn

7 Scott Satterfield Appalachian State, 2013-2018
Was OK at Louisville but has Cincinnati rolling this year.

8 Jamey Chadwell Coastal Carolina, 2017, 2019-2022
Not great in 2025, but still a solid 3-year run at Liberty so far

9 Blake Anderson Arkansas State, 2014-2020
3 solid years at Utah State and then got fired after some kind of Title IX violation, which does not appear to be his own misconduct

10 Bryan Harsin Arkansas State, 2013
Good run at Boise State, but flamed out hard at Auburn

11 Neal Brown Troy, 2015-2018
Eventually got fired at West Virginia, but wasn't really that bad: 25-28 in the conference and 1 top 25 finish.

12 Willie Taggart Western Kentucky, 2010-2012
Slow start at South Florida but eventually had a good season there, OK at Oregon, fired by Florida State and then Florida Atlantic

13 Billy Napier Louisiana, 2018-2021
Failed at Florida

Gonna hurt some feelings