Cincinnati Coaching Search Wish List: 5 Replacements For Tommy Tuberville


A Cincinnati coaching search wish list that looks at five potential replacements for Tommy Tuberville. Tuberville reportedly decided to step down following a trying season with the Bearcats.


Tommy Tuberville has reportedly decided to step down from his position as head football coach at Cincinnati. The move is not all that unexpected, given the turbulence Tuberville faced during his first losing season with the program. While walking off the field following a home loss to BYU, Tuberville chirped at hecklers to “Go to hell, get a job.”

Tuberville’s first two seasons with the Bearcats were extremely successful, recording 9-4 records in both campaigns, including a 7-1 AAC mark in 2014 and share of the conference title. The honeymoon period quickly ended, as Cincinnati went 7-6 in his third season, and bottomed out at 4-8 this year (with a 1-7 AAC mark). Moreover, Tuberville never won a bowl while with the program.

Now Cincinnati turns its sights forward. P.J. Fleck will obviously be a name thrown around – he is the hottest item on the market – though it’s unlikely he would jump from MAC to AAC. While he could win, and likely win quickly at Cincinnati, the job would serve as little more than another stepping stone for a coach already receiving interest from the likes of major programs such as Oregon.

With the recruiting dead period rapidly approaching, Cincinnati must act swiftly to find Tuberville’s successor. Here are five coaches who will likely be on the Bearcats’ wish list of replacements.

Cincinnati Coaching Search Wish List

Charlie Strong

The wounds from his Texas departure cut deep. And the buyout clause was fat with cash. How soon does Strong want to reenter the coaching world? If immediately, Cincinnati is a great option. Strong knows the area from his tenure at Louisville, and could immediately inject life in a stagnant program. In fact, this would be a lot like when he signed on with the Cardinals, only the conference has even more clout than it did last time he was in the AAC.

Jeff Brohm

Cincinnati needs quarterback guidance and a spark to ignite a sagging offense. There are few better options in that area than Brohm, whose Western Kentucky team averaged 336.8 passing yards per game, fifth-best nationally. The fireworks from Saturday’s C-USA title game will likely be fresh on the mind of Cincy’s hiring committee. Moreover, Brohm knows the region from as far back as his Louisville playing days.

Chuck Martin

Martin has Midwestern roots, and has proven himself a successful architect in the mold of Fleck. Miami (OH) was winless the year before he joined the RedHawks. In three seasons, they’ve won 2, 3 and now 6 games respectively. His tenure as Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator during the team’s 2012-13 BCS Championship Game run is a major boon.

Mike Sanford

Speaking of Notre Dame offensive coordinators, Mike Sanford has done a great job molding the program’s young quarterbacks. Prior to his tenure at Notre Dame, in 2014 he coached a high-power Boise State offense that registered 494.3 yards and 39.7 points per game. Sanford was once seen by many as Brian Kelly’s heir in South Bend.

Skip Holtz

Take out his tenure at USF, and Holtz has won wherever he’s been. Currently at Louisiana Tech, Holtz has won the C-USA West two out of the past three years. His Bulldogs are primed for a third consecutive bowl, and have won the past two. Holtz tends to get a five-year itch, though he could be a stabilizer for the program.

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