College Football Coaches Hot Seat: Week 5 Pressure Cooker Rankings
The college football coaches hot seat for Week 5 reshuffles now that Les Miles and Ron Turner have been removed from their positions.
The college football coaches hot seat for Week 5 reshuffles now that Les Miles and Ron Turner have been removed from their positions.
The coaching carousel continues to whirl and spit out new results and names, as ADs from coast to coast contemplate whether to keep a staff intact or initiate changes for the 2017 season. In fact, the fraternity has already lost two of its brethren after LSU and Florida International canned Les Miles and Ron Turner, respectively, on Sunday.
Which head coaches are fielding the most pressure to turn things around and improve sinking job approval ratings? We break down who’s sitting on the hottest seats heading into Week 5 of the 2016 campaign, with a couple of new additions out of the Pac-12.
10a. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech
Johnson’s Jackets weren’t supposed to defeat Clemson on Thursday. But they also weren’t supposed to generate a measly 124 yards of total offense against a young defense in front of a demoralized home crowd. And therein lies one of Johnson’s key issues—the locals are tiring of his crusty triple-option and his team’s inconsistency. Tech needs to bounce back quickly against an improving Miami squad, which will have had two weeks to replicate Clemson’s blueprint for stopping quarterback Justin Thomas & Co.
10. Charlie Strong, Texas
After beginning the season with an emotional upset of Notre Dame, Strong had to believe he’d be soaring into the Horns’ only bye week of 2016. Nope. Texas ran into a pass-happy buzzsaw in Week 3, allowing Davis Webb to pass for 396 yards and four touchdown in a 50-43 loss in Strawberry Canyon. The staff better have tinkered with that pass defense during the break, because Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas Tech and West Virginia are all left on the schedule.
9. Mark Helfrich, Oregon
The Ducks are used to a higher standard than what they’ve delivered over the last 17 games. And Helfrich is predictably fielding the brunt of the criticism. Oregon is no longer feared the way it was when Chip Kelly was in charge. Nor is Autzen Stadium one of the toughest places to grab a road victory. Last season, Wazzu and Utah won in Eugene. In Week 4, Colorado celebrated in the Pacific Northwest. And the Buffs did so with a backup quarterback, Steven Montez, under center. The Ducks are a weak facsimile of their former selves, putting Helfrich’s future up for discussion.
8. Dave Doeren, NC State
An off week is a good time to evaluate Doeren at the start of his fourth season in Raleigh. He’s a game below .500 overall, but more disturbingly sits at an unfathomable 2-20 versus FBS opponents with a winning record. It has been a stunning display of ineptitude in the face of decent competition. Doeren has decent talent, and he’s once again bolstered quarterback with a talented transfer, Ryan Finley. But he has a lot to prove in October and November, particularly when facing quality ACC teams like Louisville, Miami and Carolina.
7. Derek Mason, Vanderbilt
After getting outclassed by Georgia Tech in Week 3, the Commodores could ill-afford a stumble Saturday at Western Kentucky. Crisis averted, as Vandy stopped the Hilltoppers’ potential game-winning two-point try in overtime. The program evened its record at 2-2, moving Mason to 9-19 overall in his third year. Will Mason be required to go bowling to keep his job into 2017? He better hope not, because Vanderbilt might only be favored one more time in 2016: October 22 versus Tennessee State.
6. Steve Addazio, Boston College
Addazio and his Eagles endured a no-win situation on Saturday, hosting FCS Wagner. Boston College took care of business in a 42-10 coasting to move back up to .500; however the coaching staff will be graded on how it performs following this Saturday’s visit from Buffalo. BC isn’t a member of the NEC or the old Big East. This program operates out of the ACC, where it’s currently riding a nasty, 10-game conference losing streak that began in the Week 3 of 2015.
5. Clay Helton, USC
Since having his interim tag removed last December, little has gone right for Helton. He’s now 1-5 as the Trojan head coach, capped by a blown fourth-quarter lead Friday in Salt Lake City. To be fair, USC played arguably the country’s toughest September schedule. But there’s too much talent on this campus for excuses, and there’s a growing feeling Helton might be in over his head. October is more manageable, but the coach better deliver, because the AD who hired him, Pat Haden, is no longer in charge.
4. James Franklin, Penn State
Plenty of teams are going to lose to Michigan this season. It’s the way the Nittany Lions fell in Ann Arbor, getting outgained 515-191, that will not sit well with the program, the administration or the fan base. The loss dropped Franklin to 0-7 versus the Big Ten East’s three premier schools, the Wolverines, Ohio State and Michigan State. And that’s a very big problem for the coach, especially since the gap between his program and the divisional heavyweights is apparently growing wider.
3. Gus Malzahn, Auburn
Beating LSU in miraculous fashion helps. It really helps. But what will Malzahn do with an emotional win that was literally decided on a split second reversal that ended up in his favor? The Tigers must build off their Week 4 win, not so much when UL-Monroe visits this week but when SEC plays resumes on October 8. If Auburn ends up hovering around .500, decision-makers will have a hard time recalling what happened at Jordan-Hare all the way back on September 24.
2. Darrell Hazell, Purdue
A win’s a win, and the Boilermakers are happy to be above .500 for a change, but how long will it last? Purdue was fortunate to escape Nevada at home after Brent Zuzo missed the potential game-tying 27-yard field goal in the final minute. Quarterback David Blough and running back Markell Jones played well, but now Purdue hits the road and begins Big Ten play, knowing it’ll probably need four more wins and bowl-eligibility to earn a fifth year for Hazell.
1. Mark Stoops, Kentucky
Needed it. Got it. With what looms ahead on the schedule, beginning with this week’s trip to Tuscaloosa, the Wildcats had to hold serve in Lexington against South Carolina. Now 2-2, Stoops and Kentucky must plot the roadmap to six wins and that elusive first bowl game in more than five years. The administration could be patient with Stoops in his fourth year, particularly in light of his hefty buyout clause. But it wants to see progress down the stretch from a squad that’s 5-19 after October 1 under the current regime.
