The pressure to succeed can spur change at college football programs that don’t perform to expectations. We’re always expecting a few job vacancies by the end of the season but we’re just past the halfway point of the 2016 season and there are already 10 vacancies. Here’s a recap of the astounding number of position openings and rest assured, there will be more by the end of the season.
Hawaii
It didn’t take long for the Rainbow Warriors to fire head coach Norm Chow following an embarrassing 58-7 loss to Air Force that capped off a 2-7 start to the season. Chow have an overall record of 10-36 since taking over at Hawaii in 2006. Chris Naeole will serve as the interim coach until the end of the season but the Rainbow Warriors will spend the next few months looking for a permanent replacement.
USC
While the Trojans have underachieved as a football program this season, the biggest reason for their coaching change wasn’t performance. Instead, it was the fact that Steve Sarkisian’s problems with alcohol had reached a new level. It was clear that he needed to step away from the game. The situation hit a new low when Sarkisian showed up on game day completely drunk and forced the program to make a move.
Miami
The Hurricanes are another prestigious program that will be looking for a new head coach after terminating Al Golden. He was canned after the school reached a new low in an embarrassing 58-0 home loss to Clemson. Tight ends and running-game coordinator Larry Scott will serve as the interim coach until the end of the year while Miami continues its search for a long-term answer.
South Carolina
Steve Spurrier stepping away from the game has created what could be the most attractive head coaching vacancy. There will be no shortage of candidates lining up for the only SEC job opening right now. There will be plenty of money paid to whoever takes over the job and the Gamecocks will want to find a coach that they believe can win now.
UCF
The American Athletic Conference has been better than advertised so far this season and it will be interesting to see how that translates moving forward. The head coaching job at Central Florida is up for grabs after George O’Leary stepped aside. With plenty of talent in the Orlando area, there is no doubt that the Knights will have some good candidates lining up to coach there.
Virginia Tech
Longtime Hokies’ head coach Frank Beamer confirmed that he will be stepping down at the end of the season and that opens up a very attractive job for potential candidates. The fact that they have some decent talent in a strong recruiting zone and play in a division where they can problem contend as soon as next year are two of the bigger draws. Beamer also leaves the program in decent shape.
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Maryland
Three straight losses by at least three touchdowns forced the Terrapins to hand Randy Edsall his walking papers. Maryland was outscored 122-34 during its three-game losing streak and the results is offensive coordinator Mike Locksley taking over as the interim coach for the remainder of the year.
Minnesota
Minnesota’s Jerry Kill was never fired but a serious medical issue forced him to step down as the head coach of the football program in October. His doctor advised him that if he continued to coach, he would risk serious neurological problems. Kill has battled epilepsy over the years and following two seizures during a practice, he made the decision to step away from the game. Associate head coach and defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys taking over.
North Texas
An 0-5 start that included losing their homecoming game 66-7 forced the Mean Green to fire head coach Dan McCarney and name offensive coordinator Mike Canales and defensive coordinator Chris Cosh co-interim head coaches. North Texas will name a new head coach following the season and there is a good chance they will find somebody from outside the program to take the reigns.
Illinois
The most bizarre firing was Illinois, who canned their head coach Tim Beckman a week before their season opener. That came following an investigation in to allegations of mistreatment when it came to his players. Offensive coordinator Bill Cubit has served as the interim head coach since the start of the season and will likely do so until the team finds a new bench boss in the offseason.
