By Mike Huesmann
In conjunction with my hot seat tracker, I want to dive into who could be targets for these schools. Firing a coach is one thing, but if you don’t hire the right replacement who has a plan you’ll never take that step up. I will be doing weekly articles on possible coaches for current bosses on the hot seat, where the vultures are circling.
Possible Candidates to Replace Matt Campbell
After starting with Houston we stay in the Big 12 but move North. Iowa State sits at 2-3 with wins over Northern Iowa and Oklahoma State. The losses have come to Iowa, Ohio, and Oklahoma. Campbell looked to be very safe and had been consistent, if not spectacular, up to this year. 2022 was his worst season in Ames so far. His post-game meltdown on a fan after the Ohio game won’t help him either. Here are five options for Iowa State if they decide to move on.
https://twitter.com/Pickswise/status/1703168803339632967
Jeff Monken
Army, Head Coach
Monken has shown he can coach and win with less talent, that will likely be the case in the new look Big XII for Iowa State initially. The former Navy and Georgia Southern assistant also spent four years as the Eagles head coach before going to West Point. Since arriving at Army in 2014, he has went 66-51. More recently, he’s shown that he is capable of shifting offensive philosophies and isn’t just a triple-option guy. Monken could be a guy in the mix here.
Jay Norvell
Colorado State, Head Coach
Norvell was a QB/WR coach under Dan McCarney in the late 1990’s, so he knows the landscape. Norvell has had multiple stops as an assistant coach at Blue Blood programs and in the NFL. He spent 5 years in Reno as head coach of Nevada and is now in year 2 at Colorado State. The Rams sit 2-2 now. If they make a bowl game and the Iowa State job opens up, I’d guess he’ll immediately become an option.
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Ken Niumatololo
Former Navy Head Coach
I don’t think Iowa State will purposely target service academy head coaches, but both of the two included here have proven they can coach. Niumatololo was mentioned for this job after the 2015 season but opted to stay at Navy. Now that he is not a head coach anymore, he is coaching in an off-the-field capacity for Chip Kelly at UCLA, he might throw his visor in the ring for this job. He has shown toughness, leadership, and success as a head coach. All things that will resonate with the people in Ames.
Matt Entz
North Dakota State, Head Coach
Entz is the third coach in a row at NDSU to win a national title, winning them in 2019 and 2021. He is an Iowa native who knows the state well. His teams have consistently ran the ball well, played good defense, and have excellent fundamentals. His 52-8 head coaching record is certainly eye-popping. He checks several of the boxes that the Cyclones will be looking for in a head coach. Coaching in a dynasty like this leads to opportunities at the next level.
Tom Herman
Head Coach, Florida Atlantic
Another former Cyclone assistant. Herman was the offensive coordinator here under Paul Rhoads before moving to Ohio State in the same capacity. He’d be a good hire for the Cyclones if they could persuade him to leave Boca Raton. He has probably been Texas’ best head coach since Mack Brown (not counting Sark’s current tenure), but the 32-18 wasn’t enough to keep him there. He’s in his first year at FAU, which could be one roadblock to going back to Iowa State.
