As is the norm when we see an oddly timed coaching opening, tons of names are thrown out there. Some realistic, many unrealistic. Today we cut through the list and I give you a shortlist of realistic candidates (I said realistic, Iowa fans. You’re not losing Brian Ferentz that easy) who won’t become the Wildcats’ next coach.
Brian Hartline
Offensive Coordinator, Ohio State
I was, and remain, skeptical of Hartline getting the promotion to OC at Ohio State but he’d be a home run for Northwestern. However, the job would not be good for Hartline. He’s an elite recruiter and won’t want to take a job where recruiting top players is this difficult. Hartline’s close to getting a good head coaching job, he won’t take this project while being so close to a better job.
Joey Lynch
Offensive Coordinator, Vanderbilt
While I think Northwestern will struggle to get a decent name, I do think they will go for a bigger name than this. Lynch has done alright at Vanderbilt under Clark Lea and has ties to the Midwest from a long tenure at Ball State but his fit ends there. He is checking the boxes of Midwest connections and experience at an academic powerhouse, but this feels like too much of a 4th or 5th choice type hire.
https://twitter.com/tmcclelland/status/1677829797144064000
Jim Leonhard
Former Interim Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator, Wisconsin
Another guy who is too close to a big job to take on this project. We are all surprised that he is still unemployed, whether it be as HC or DC. Leonhard should get a good job before too long and he’s not a guy who needs to build his resume at a gig like this. There are simply too many negatives at Northwestern right now for him to say yes.
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Bryan Harsin
Former Head Coach, Auburn
Harsin is a better coach than he showed at Auburn, his record at Boise proves it. He was a good coach who took a job that was a terrible fit for him, he’s not the first to make that mistake and certainly won’t be the last.
Going back west looks to be his next move, and there will be another job as head coach in his future but Northwestern isn’t it. After the way things ended in Auburn and the alleged improprieties, the NU administration won’t want to have to answer those questions. If it were just about the football he’d be a better hire, but that ship has sailed and there’s more to this.
Kalen Deboer
Head Coach, Washington
I have trouble viewing this one as realistic but plenty of keyboard warriors and NU fans are throwing it out there. I’ll be blunt here, he is too good for this job and it will offer zero appeal for him.
Deboer is a top-10 coach in America and on the cusp of getting an elite, blue-blood job if he decides to leave Washington. I don’t care that his roots are in the Midwest, he’s also practical and realizes he’s on the verge of getting a playoff contender job, there’s no need to take a bottom-feeder job and clean up this mess.
