The first month of the college football season is in the books and we already have at least one notable firing to talk about after LSU fired Les Miles following a 2-2 start to the season. Ron Turner joined Miles on the list of free agent coaches after Florida International decided a change was needed and those two will not be alone for long as college football’s coaching carousel continues to turn with the pressure turned up once again in the month of October. Here is a look at the top four college football head coaches on the hot seat right now.
Darrell Hazell, Purdue Boilermakers
Hazell was considered among the most likely head coaches to be fired heading in to this season after posting a 6-30 record in his first three full seasons at Purdue, including a 2-22 record against Big Ten opponents. The Boilermakers needed to show marked improvement for Hazell to keep his job beyond this season and so far that hasn’t been the case as they are 2-2 with wins over FCS team Eastern Kentucky and Nevada along with losses to Cincinnati and Maryland. The blowout loss to the Terrapins could be particularly problematic and Purdue will have a difficult time the rest of the way with a schedule that features Wisconsin and Nebraska. The program’s new Athletic Director Mike Bobinski hasn’t made a decision on Hazell’s future just yet but it won’t be a surprise if he is the next head coach to be fired this season.
Charlie Strong, Texas Longhorns
Strong was on the hot seat heading in to this season and after a big win over Notre Dame in week one things have taken a dramatic downward turn once again. The Longhorns are coming off back-to-back losses to Cal and Oklahoma State and they could be in big trouble heading in to the latest renewal of the Red River Rivalry versus Oklahoma this weekend. Strong stripped defensive coordinator Vance Beford of his play-calling duties following the loss to the Cowboys and will handle those duties himself so it will be interesting to see how his team responds. Texas needs to bounce back in a big game against the Sooners this Saturday and if they don’t then it could be the final straw for Strong.
Guz Malzahn, Auburn Tigers
Auburn is clearly in a tough position playing in the same division as Alabama but the Tigers simply haven’t been good enough in the SEC West over the past couple of years and it could lead to Malzahn’s dismissal. Malzahn led Auburn to the national championship game in 2013 but since then the Tigers are 18-13 overall including a 7-11 mark in SEC play over the last couple of years. Auburn has bounced back with consecutive victories following a 1-2 start but they are entering a tough stretch that includes a trip to Mississippi State this week followed by a home game with Arkansas and another road date with Ole Miss. The Tigers have the potential to be a .500 college football team but that might not be enough for Malzahn to keep his job.
Mark Helfrich, Oregon Ducks
Kentucky’s Mark Stoops and Kent State’s Paul Haynes both earned consideration for the final spot on this list but ultimately it makes sense to have Helfrich on this list based on his name status and the fact that he is the coach of such a big college football school in Oregon. The Ducks have quietly slid in to mediocrity over the past couple of seasons under Helfrich and they have fallen to 2-3 this season with three straight losses to Nebraska, Colorado and Washington State. Things certainly won’t get any easier for Oregon this week with the fifth-ranked Huskies in town this week and a tough schedule the remainder of the way. The addition of new defensive coordinator Brady Hoke simply hasn’t worked out as the Ducks have allowed 36.2 points per game and the offense is a shadow of what it was when Chip Kelly was the head coach. Helfrich is clearly on the hot seat heading in to a tough matchup this week and it won’t be a surprise if he is fired should Oregon not be able to turn things around and soon.
