Coaching changes are inevitable at the end of every college football season. With only a few weeks left in the regular season, some coaches still have a chance to save their job. Gene Chizik, Derek Dooley, Jeff Tedford, Frank Spaziani and Danny Hope? File those five names away as coaches who will be packing up their office in a few weeks.
5 College Football Coaches Who Will Be Fired at the End of 2012
Gene Chizik, Auburn
Record at Auburn: 32-18 (4 years)
While Chizik’s overall record isn’t bad, the three seasons outside of a 2010 national championship have been very mediocre. Auburn is just 18-18 outside of 2010 and has struggled to generate an offense since Cam Newton departed for the NFL. Auburn’s SEC record is 15-16 under Chizik’s watch and could be headed for its first winless season in conference play since 1980. While Chizik and his staff have recruited as well as anyone nationally, the talent hasn’t translated into wins. When top talent isn’t producing, it’s a bad sign for the coaching staff when it comes to player development and putting them into the right schemes to succeed. Even though Chizik is only two years removed from a national title, Auburn cannot afford to fall further behind in the SEC, especially with Texas A&M’s arrival and Ole Miss and Mississippi State showing improvement.
Derek Dooley, Tennessee
Record at Tennessee: 15-20 (3 years)
Dooley didn’t inherit a perfect situation at Tennessee, but the program has yet to show marked progress under his watch. The Volunteers had two coaches in the two years prior to Dooley’s arrival, which created some instability on Rocky Top. However, a 15-20 record and a 4-18 mark in SEC play is not enough to get a fourth season at Tennessee. The Volunteers’ struggles within the conference continued in 2012, as they opened 0-6 and need wins against Vanderbilt and Kentucky just to get bowl eligible. Dooley’s decision to hire Sal Sunseri as the defensive coordinator has backfired, as Tennessee ranks 111th nationally in total defense, 110th in points allowed and is registering just 1.3 sacks per game. Although it seems to take two years to implement a 3-4 scheme, it’s never a good idea for a coach on the hot seat to hire a coordinator that can’t provide a quick fix in the first season.
Danny Hope, Purdue
Record at Purdue: 20-27 (4 years)
With Saturday’s win over Iowa, Hope still has a chance to lead Purdue to a bowl game this year. The Boilermakers need wins over Illinois and Indiana to get back to the postseason for the second time in Hope’s tenure. Although Purdue could get back to a bowl, the program has yet to show much progress under Hope’s watch. In four seasons, the Boilermakers are 20-27 overall and just 11-19 in Big Ten play. Even if Purdue makes it to a bowl game this year, a handful of key contributors will finish their eligibility at the end of 2012, which will only make it more difficult to record a winning mark next season.
Frank Spaziani, Boston College
Record at Boston College: 22-27 (4years)
Spaziani was promoted to head coach after Boston College’s messy divorce from Jeff Jagodzinski. The long-time assistant did his best to keep the program on track in the first two years, recording a 15-11 mark and playing in two bowl games. However, the Eagles have been trending in the wrong direction over the last two seasons. Boston College went 4-8 in 2011 and is likely headed for a 2-10 finish in 2012. Spaziani’s overall mark in Chestnut Hill is 22-27, while a 4-10 record the last two seasons in conference play isn’t much better. With a new athletic director in place (Brad Bates), Spaziani’s tenure will be coming to an end at the conclusion of 2012.
Jeff Tedford, California
Record at California: 82-56 (11 years)
Tedford is probably the toughest coach on this list to evaluate. The California native owns the record for the most wins in school history (82) and led the program to eight bowl games during his tenure. However, the Golden Bears have been headed in the wrong direction since an 8-5 season in 2009. Over the last three years, California is just 15-21 and a 3-8 (with one game remaining) mark in 2012 is the worst of Tedford’s career. Although Tedford has done a lot of good things at California, it’s probably time for the program to go in a different direction. With a newly renovated stadium, it’s not going to be easy to find the money to buy out Tedford, which may be enough for the embattled coach to keep his job through 2013.
5 Others in Danger:
David Bailiff, Rice – Bailiff has won four games in each of the last three seasons and still has a chance to make a bowl in 2012. However, his overall mark is 27-44, and the Owls failed to build on the 10-3 season in 2008.
Bobby Hauck, UNLV – Progress has been slow under Hauck’s watch at UNLV. The Rebels are 6-30 during his tenure and even though this team has shown some improvement, finishing 2-11 in 2012 could be enough to spell the end of his time at UNLV.
Ellis Johnson, Southern Miss – Johnson is just in his first season at Southern Miss but has been a total disaster. The Golden Eagles are in the midst of their worst season in school history, recording an 0-10 start after winning Conference USA’s Championship last year.
Mike Price, UTEP – Price’s tenure at UTEP got off to a good start, recording a 16-8 record through the first two seasons. However, the program has failed to build off of that mark and will have its seventh consecutive losing season since Price arrived in 2004.
DeWayne Walker, New Mexico State – Winning in Las Cruces is never easy, but Walker is 10-38 through four seasons and only one loss in 2012 (1-9) was decided by 10 points or less.
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