@Anwar Richardson This is a question that I would like Charlie Strong to answer for Monday press conference please.
While there’s a part of me that feels a little uneasy about discussing replacements for Charlie Strong when there’s still five games left in the season, there’s really not any getting away from the fact that most of the thirst on this site moving forward this season is going to center on what happens AFTER the 2016 season and not during from here on out.
With so much discussion focused on the future, I might as well go on the record. Assuming there is a change at head coach after the season, here’s a look at my personal list of favorites to replace Charlie Strong.
1. John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens): His contract expires after the end of this season and the Ravens do not look like a playoff team at this point. With a Super Bowl ring on his finger, he could be looking for a new challenge in his career and if the Longhorns wanted to break the bank, Texas could make him an offer Baltimore might not want to match. He’s making seven million a year in Baltimore. For those wondering if he would do well in college, I’ve told this story before, but I was around him for an hour in Baltimore a couple years ago when he spoke to 100 of the best high school players in the country and by the time he was done, he had those kids eating out of the palm of his hands. You’d never have to worry about a team being well-coached and not being great at the details ever again. Be bold and dare to be great.
2. Chip Kelly (San Francisco): The constant speculation about his return to college football won’t go away and if there’s an interest in a return, Texas should at least explore it. Yes, he’s got a little bit of dirt on him after his stint at Oregon, but he’s in a tier just below Urban Meyer and Nick Saban. That’s it.
3. Chris Peterson (Washington): It’s possible he’d be impossible to pry away from the Huskies, especially in the middle of what might be a special season, but if you’re Texas, I think you have to make the call and potentially make him say no. The man is regarded as all class and he’s a proven winner.
4. Dabo Swinnney (Clemson): I used to be a Dabo Doubter, but he’s moved himself up into the near-elite category of coaches with his recruiting and on-field performance over the last few years.
5. Tom Herman (Houston): All of the pieces seem to be there, but if you’re Texas, are you really going to hire another non-power five coach with a very short record of success as a head coach? He recruits lights out, he’s a great offensive mind/developer of quarterbacks and he checks a lot of boxes, but he does not come with a guarantee on the box.
6. Gary Patterson (TCU): He’s the coach that Charlie Strong is supposed to be.
7. Chad Morris (SMU): A future power five coach at some point down the road. He coached circles around Herman this weekend.
Great list Ketch! I thought we should of gone after Harbaugh are last go around when we hired Strong. May be tough to get him out of the NFL though as I'm sure there would be other NFL teams extremely interested in him if let go. He is not the head case his brother is.
