College Football Coaches On The Hot Seat

By Camden Joiner on September 26, 2014

Earlier this month I posted an article on the most talented coaches in college football. Now the tables have turned so to speak, as today I’m going to list  the coaches currently on the hot seat.

Prestigious programs have high expectations and the head coaches carry the heavy pressure of consistent success. Hopefully, you won’t find your team’s coach on this list because he might just be on his way out the door.

Image via miamiherald.typepad.com

Will Muschamp, Florida

Will Muschamp was the defensive coordinator at Texas before accepting the head coaching job at UF in 2011. The Gators struggled in his first season going 7-6, but with his first year taking the reigns over he was not yet blamed for the disappointing season.

Muschamp avoided the sophomore slump in his second year leading Florida to the Sugar Bowl. Unfortunately, the Gators lost to the Lousiville Cardinals of the American Athletic Conference and college football fans were shocked at the SEC’s defeat.

Last season, things only got worse for Muschamp as the Gators went 4-8, including a loss at home to FCS school Georgia Southern. So far this season the Gators are 2-1 and the pressure on Muschamp to turn his team around is reaching a boiling point.

Brady Hoke, Michigan

Brady Hoke also accepted a head coaching position in 2011, moving back east from the San Diego State Aztecs. Hoke and the Michigan Wolverines got off to a hot start in his first season going 11-2 and even defeating Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.

The Wolverines back tracked a bit the following year going 8-5 and losing in the Outback Bowl. Things didn’t improve in 2013 when the Wolverines went 7-6 and lost in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl to Kansas State.

However, Hoke’s struggles have really come to light this season as the Wolverines already have two losses to rival Notre Dame and Utah. I wouldn’t be surprised if Brady Hoke is coaching elsewhere next season.

Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia

Under Mike Gundy, Dana Holgorsen was OC for the Oklahoma State Cowboys before accepting a head coaching position at WVU in 2011.

In his first season, Holgorsen led the Mountaineers to a 10-3 season including a win in the Orange Bowl. WVU blew out the Clemson Tigers 70-33 in the Orange Bowl game and the fans were ecstatic about their new head coach.

The following season West Virginia moved to the Big 12 conference. It was quarterback Geno Smith’s final season and many had high expectations for the Mountaineers.

Shockingly, WVU went just 7-6 including an ugly loss to Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl. West Virginia didn’t improve in 2013 going an embarrassing 4-8, 2-7 in Big 12 play. West Virginia is already 2-2 this season and many are calling for the removal of Holgorsen.

Image via nfl.com

Charlie Weis, Kansas

The veteran ball coach Charlie Weis is famous for his days with the Patriots and the Fighting Irish. Kansas fans were understandably excited when they hired Weis from Florida in 2012.

The Kansas Jayhawks are known as a basketball school and many hoped with the hiring of Weis the usually awful football team could be turned around. Unfortunately for KU fans, this would not be the case.

In Weis’ first season with the Jayhawks, they went just 1-11 and failed to win a game in Big 12 play. The second season was a slight improvement when the Jayhawks went 3-9.

This season things aren’t exactly looking up; KU was blown out by another traditional basketball school, Duke, 41-3 in week two.

Mike London, Virginia

London had a couple successful seasons with FCS school Richmond, including with the FCS Championship, before accepting the head coaching position at Virginia in 2010. However, London has failed to reach the same success with the Cavaliers as he did in Richmond.

Virginia went just 4-8 in their first season under London, but coaches are usually given the benefit of the doubt year one. His second season London managed to turn things around leading UVA to a 8-5 season, eventually losing to Auburn in the Chic-fil-a Bowl.

London’s success failed to continue when the Cavs went 4-8 and 2-10 in the following seasons. Virginia already has two losses so far this season and the future is not looking bright for head coach Mike London.

Bo Pelini, Nebraska

Bo Pelini was defensive coordinator for LSU before coming over to Nebraska in 2008. Pelini has found success with the Cornhuskers, but the team has failed to reach a paramount level of success.

In a remarkable feat, Nebraska has manged to lose four games a year every season so far under Pelini. This fares pretty well against the other coaches on the hot seat, but Cornhusker fans are growing tired of mediocrity.

If Nebraska takes a step back this season or continues to remain the same, the Athletic Director will be under a lot of pressure to make a very tough decision regarding Pelini’s future.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format