📌 The Hunt for USF’s New Head Coach

| By Matthew Manuri | SoFloBulls.com |

After going 1-6 in the Big East & losing 9 of the last 10 games, South Florida HC Skip Holtz was fired Sunday afternoon. Alumni & Fans were calling for Holtz’s head after Saturday’s embarrassing 27-3 loss to Pitt at Raymond James on Senior Night.

South Florida has begun the search for a new Head Coach to replace Skip Holtz & here are names circulating via solid sources:

• Mark Snyder – Texas A&M DC – The 2011 South Florida DC gone Aggie is currently bolstering a 2012 record of 10-2 (6-2 SEC), & ranks 3^rd in Points for, & T-56^th in Points against. Not to mention being T-25^th in Sacks with 31 & T-56^th in INT’s with 11.
• Dan Quinn – Florida DC – 2012: 11-1, 7-1 SEC; 2011: 7-6, 3-5 SEC; 2010: 8-5, 4-4 SEC – I just don’t see this happening.
• Willie Taggart – Western Kentucky HC – 2012: 7-5, 4-4 Sun Belt; 2011: 7-5, 7-1 Sun Belt; 2010: 2-10, 2-6 Sun Belt. – I’m high on Taggart because of his Florida Roots (Bradenton Manatee HS) & his heavy presence in FL, specifically Tampa Bay, Recruiting Scene. Taggert was a QB for WKU in college, which led to him becoming an assistant coach under HC Jack Harbaugh’s Hilltoppers’. Taggert was the OC for the Hilltoppers’ 2002 D1-AA National Championship. Next, Taggert spent 2007-2009 as Stanford’s RB coach under HC Jim Harbaugh, where he developed Doak Walker Award winner Toby Gerhart (Minnesota Vikings). In 2010 Taggart became the WKU HC & is considered a top-coaching prospect for the numerous HC availabilities in several conferences. **UPDATE** SOURCES ARE REPORTING THAT TAGGART IS INTERVIEWING FOR THE POSITION THIS EVENING (12/4) IN NYC… WHERE AD WOOLARD JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE*** YES!!!
• Tommy Bowden – Formerly Clemson HC – Bowden’s head coaching record is 90-49, including an 18-4 record at Tulane and a 72-45 record at Clemson. Another Big name with experience equals a great fit. – Doubt this would be a good fit.
• James Coley – Florida State OC & TEs Coach – Coley has strong Florida ties being born & raised in Miami & played his HS Football for Miami Senior HS. Coley is known to be a phenomenal recruiter, reeling in big name recruits in 2010 & being named the ACC’s Top Recruiter 2010. Coley revived the tight end position for the Seminoles & finished the year ranked 3^rd in both scoring & passing offense in 2011. No head coaching experience though. – I Hope the Department explores Coley; a lot of FSU coaches up for grabs with the departure of Mark Stoops.
• Eddie Gran – Florida State Associate HC, Special Teams, & RBs Coach – Gran is in his 26th season as a coach & third with FSU. In 2011, Florida State boasted the nation’s second-best special teams unit in 2011. – Same as Coley.
• Tom Herman – Ohio State OC & QBs Coach – Herman is in his first season at Ohio State as OC & QBs Coach. His offenses broke over 40 school records and in his second season the Rice Owls won 10 games and went to a bowl for the first time since 1954. Herman’s 2011 Iowa State offense put up 44 points in a triple-overtime win over Iowa and tallied 37 in a double-overtime upset of then-undefeated and No. 2 Oklahoma State. The offense averaged nearly 390 total yards per game.
• Calvin Magee – Arizona Co-OC & RBs Coach – Magee got his coaching start at USF as the TEs coach in 1996 & RBs coach from 1997-2000 under Jim Leavitt. Since coaching with the Bulls Magee has been an offensive coordinator at West Virginia, Michigan and the co-offensive coordinator at Pittsburgh and Arizona. He has a long career with Rich Rodriguez having coached with the spread-option innovator at West Virginia and Arizona. – This is really what I’m looking for – I true South Florida guy from back when. #1 Mark Stoops. #2 Calvin Magee.
• Sonny Dykes – Louisiana Tech HC– Under Dykes the Bulldogs finished 9-3, 4-2 WAC in 2012, 8-5, 6-1 WAC in 2011, & 5-7, 4-4 WAC for 2010 – I understand success, but I don’t see him as the right fit.
• Brent Pease – Florida OC – The Gators finished 11-1, 7-1 SEC in 2012, 7-6, 3-5 SEC for 2011, & 8-5, 4-4 SEC in 2010 – No Chance.
• Gus Malzahn – Arkansas State HC – Under Malzahn the Bulldogs finished 9-3, 7-1 Sun Belt in 2012, 10-3, 8-0 Sun Belt in 2011, & 4-8, 4-4 Sun Belt for 2010. Malzahn is said to be meeting with his old stomping ground for HC opening, Auburn. – Don’t know the program can afford Malzahn after the $2.5 million payout for Holtz ($500k/yr), but if we could he would be #3 on my list.
• Dirk Koetter – Atlanta Falcons OC – Under Koetter the Falcons have consistently been one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses. Led by Matt “Matty Ice” Ryan the Falcons have gone 34-10 over the last three seasons. In my opinion, USF needs the experience of an NFL coach to rebound quickly.
• Mike Bellotti – former Oregon HC – Bellotti led the Ducks to a 116-55, 72-43 PAC 12 from 1995-2008. Under Bellotti the Ducks appeared in 12 bowl games, including the 2002 Fiesta Bowl, & led the Ducks to 2 Pac 12 titles.
• Kliff Kingsbury – Texas A&M OC & QB Coach – First Year OC & QB’s Coach led Johnny Football & TAMU to a 10-2 Record, 6-2 SEC, in TAMU’s First year in the SEC.
• Kirby Smart – Alabama DC – Smart has been to numerous coaching spots, including the NFL, & has done a fantastic job as the Alabama DC from 2007-Present. Smart would be a HUGE get for the Bulls. Sources are reporting Smart is meeting with Auburn today.
• Chad Morris – Clemson OC & QBs Coach – Morris has been the OC & QBs coach for Clemson since 2011. Since becoming Clemson’s OC the Tigers have gone 20-6, 13-3 ACC. In 2012, the Tigers are 10^th in Total Offense, 13^th in Passing Offense, 32^nd in Rushing, 8^th in Total Points, & 6^th in Points per Game. Morris is also said to be meeting with Auburn.

| By Matthew Manuri | SoFloBulls.com |