1. Bobby Petrino, Texas A&M
There’s a chance that this year’s Aggie staff is the most toxic group we’ve seen. Jimbo Fisher, Petrino, DJ Durkin, and Steve Addazio all have some serious skeletons in their closet, but the former Arkansas and Louisville head coach is the one who puts it over the top. How many second chances should he get? It’s a desperate move by a desperate head coach.
2. Tommy Rees, Alabama
This feels like a step back scheme-wise for the Crimson Tide, as Rees’ system is more akin to the pro-style attack of the early-mid 2010s Alabama squads. Yes, Rees will be working with much better quarterback talent than he had in South Bend, but this does not quite seem like a match made in heaven.
3. Chip Lindsey, North Carolina
It’s going to be tough to follow in the footsteps of Phil Longo, whose offenses were some of the best in the nation in each of his four seasons under Mack Brown. Lindsey had some success as the Auburn OC followed by a middling stint as the head coach of Troy before reuniting with Gus Malzahn at UCF last season. We’ve never seen him have any success without Malzahn, so it’s an iffy proposition.
4. Ron English, Louisville
While I really like the hiring of Jeff Brohm back to his alma mater, English as a DC simply doesn’t move the needle. His defenses at Purdue were adequate at best, and this was an opportunity for Brohm to hire someone who brings more to the table.
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5. Brian Ward, Arizona State
A bit of a coaching nomad, Ward has been all over the country in his 25 years of coaching. Arizona State is his seventh different defensive coordinator job in 11 years, which is not a great sign. Add that to the fact that his Washington State defense last season was no great shakes against the same competition they’ll be facing at Arizona State, and it makes for a head-scratcher.
