By: Mike Huesmann
Mike Elko, Duke
Elko is 14-5 in his second year at Duke with a huge win over Clemson this year. His defenses have always been stout, having previously served as DC at Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Wake Forest, and Bowling Green. Elko is another guy who is lining himself up for an elite payday soon and would be near the top of my call list. He won’t leave Duke unless it’s for a blue-blood job, but if I was one of those schools he’d be near the front of my rolodex.
Kalen DeBoer, Washington
I have long said DeBoer would be one of my first calls if I was an elite program and I stand by that statement. He did wonders at Fresno State and in his first year at Washington. Not to mention his domination at NAIA Sioux Falls including 3 national titles. His tutelage of Michael Penix and high powered offense and proven track record will put him on most lists of elite programs looking for a job. He is making north of $4 million a year, this will easily be doubled by another program if the Huskies don’t do it soon.
Lance Leipold, Kansas
Leipold has both won and improved every school he’s coached at. What he is doing at Kansas is truly impressive and people are noticing. His offenses are very creative and finds ways to attack the defense’s weaknesses. At Wisconsin-Whitewater, he won six national championships and finished runner-up once, in eight seasons there. He improved Buffalo and went to three bowl games in six years there. Now in his third year at Kansas, he has won enough and proved himself so much that we may not see a fourth year in Lawrence.
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Troy Calhoun, Air Force
The former NFL assistant Calhoun is in Year 17 at his alma mater. The dedication of the service academies to option football may turn off some, but Calhoun’s success and 12 bowl appearances will be appealing to just as many. If Calhoun has the career ambition to jump to a P5 job this will be the season to do it. The Falcons are ranked and sit at 6-0.
Charles Huff, Marshall
Huff is a man who was in the mix for the Duke job and has Marshall playing a tough brand of football, grinding out yards on the ground with ease. The former Nick Saban assistant is in year No. 3 with the Herd and earned a trip to the Myrtle Beach Bowl last year. Marshall is 4-2 so far.
Jon Sumrall, Troy
The former Kentucky and Ole Miss assistant has barely put a foot wrong in two seasons for Troy. 12-2 last year with a bowl win and 5-2 so far in 2023 with the Trojans looking like an elite defense. His staff are also vastly experienced at the P5 level. With no previous ties to Troy, I would not imagine this is Sumrall’s destination job.
https://twitter.com/TroyTrojansFB/status/1713349633026457981
Rich Rodriguez, Jacksonville State
Could we see the former West Virginia, Michigan, and Arizona coach back at the P5 level? I wouldn’t bet against him with Jax State at 6-2 in their maiden FBS voyage. Rich Rod was among the hottest of coaches while at WVU, he struggled at Michigan, then did well at Arizona before off-the-field issues derailed his time there. Few coaches in recent times have been as innovative on offense.
Jacksonville State defeats Western Kentucky 20-17
Rich Rodriguez has Jax State at 6-2, in the first year of Conference USA play, also the FBS level.
Impressive job from Rich Rod
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) October 18, 2023
Jonathan Smith, Oregon State
This is the most interesting one on the list to talk about. On one hand, Oregon State is in Smith’s blood. He played there and has been an assistant and head coach there. On the other hand, that’s basically all the Beavers have going for them. They pay him a pittance, relatively speaking for a P5 head coach, at $2.4 million a year, they face conference and future insecurity, and they aren’t the attraction he may warrant. A bigger program would triple his salary and offer a better recruiting base.
G.J. Kinne, Texas State
A coach in his first year, Kinne came to Texas State from FCS Incarnate Word which he was also only at for a single season. This may hurt as the reputation of a job jumper may be one he wishes to avoid. Kinne was 12-2 last year before their season ended in the FCS semifinals. Through 7 games his Bobcat team is 5-2 and lighting up the scoreboard in wins over Baylor, Jackson State, and Southern Miss. He has TJ Finley playing lights out, the former LSU and Auburn QB is making all the throws. Kinne also understands the portal as well as anyone as evidenced by the roster overhaul he performed.
I really do think that fans expected Texas State's offense to be subpar tonight are in for a surprise. It doesn't take years to turnaround a program anymore. Kinne's system is quick to install and the portal means the cupboard isn't bare.
— Travis Roeder (@Travis_Roeder) September 2, 2023
Jeff Traylor, UTSA
If you want a coach with roots and connections in the Lone Star state then look no further than Traylor. He had tremendous success as a high school coach in TX before jumping to SMU and later Arkansas as a Chad Morris lieutenant. At UTSA he has proven adept in all areas of running a program. 33-13 over three years plus and a bowl game every year speaks for itself. A slower start this year at 3-3 will be forgotten if they go on a winning streak. This is highly possible considering the slew of injuries he’s faced so far.
