Tressel Leaving OSU

With Jim Tressel leaving Ohio State, the question on the mind of everyone is who will succeed the coach who went 106-22 at Ohio State? More importantly Tressel went 9-1 against Michigan. Ohio State also produced more NFL draft pics then any other school in the country between the years of 2001-2011 (66).

Buckeye assistant coach Luke Fickell, who was the co-defensive coordinator,from 2004-2010 has been named the interim head coach but. It will be boarder line impossible to replace a coach with success like Tressel’s. Here are the candidates that I believe will be on the Ohio State “short list” to hire. The list of Top 10 coaches that I have put together of that could possibly replace Tressle.

10. Mike Stoops: Head Coach- Arizona: Stoops is a former Iowa graduate, and Ohio native. He is currently the head coach of the Arizona Wild Cats. His record at the PAC 12 school is 40-45. Yes below 500. But Stoops has turned a failing program around. In the six seasons hes been in Tucson, he has finished as high as 2nd in the PAC 10. Stoops has finished the last three seasons with a 23-16 record. He has proved that he can turn a program around. With the NCAA sanctions that maybe coming down on OSU this could be the type of personality the Buckeyes could use to help get the ship back on course. With Big 10 ties and being an Ohio native this could put Stoops on the Ohio State short list.

9. Luke Fickell: Current interim Ohio State Head Coach: Fickell was a Buckeye stand out from 1992 to 1996. He has been on the coaching staff at OSU since Tressel arrived in Columbus in 2001. You may remember Fickell’s name from talks of him leaving for a job with Brian Kelly at Notre Dame last season. Fickell stayed in Columbus to stay with Tressel at his Alma mater. A lot of people would like for someone from Tressels coaching staff to take over so the culture doesn’t change around Buckeye Nation. With all of the negative outlook that these infractions have caused it maybe time to move past the “Jim Tressel Era” in Columbus.

8. Darrell Hazell: Head Coach-Kent State: Hazzel was an assistant coach at Ohio State from 2004 to 2010 and has been highly considered as one of the top wide receiver coaches in the country. Hazell was named the Kent State head coach this off-season. It is not to late to come back to Columbus and take over from a coach he learned a lot from. The knock against Hazell would be the same as Fickell. He has never been a head coach, but Hazell was very well known as a “players coach.” He would be a heavy favorite by OSU players to come back as the new Buckeye head coach.

7. Gary Pinkel: Head Coach-Missouri: Pinkel has been in Columbia for 11 years. He has posted a 150-86 record in his head coaching career that spans from Toledo to Mizzou. Pinkel has won the Big XII North Division 3 times, and is an Akron, Ohio native. Pinkel is a provin head coach, but he is 59 years old, and his age may be a factor in the decision. He has set a slandering in Columbia, and is well respected and loved by the Tiger fan base.

6. Mark Dantonio: Head Coach-Michigan State: Dantonio was the Big 10 Coach of the Year, and lead his Spartans to an 11-2 record in 2010. But like Pinkel, Dantonio is in his mid 50’s. At 55 years old, and was sidelined last season with some health issues. The El Paso native racked up 33-19 record in East Lansing. Dantonio was also the defensive coordinator at Ohio State from 2001 to 2003. Including the year the Buckeyes won their first National Championship in 34 years, 2002.

5. Gary Patterson: Head Coach- Texas Christian: Patterson has no ties to OSU, but the success he has on the field with the TCU Horned Frogs is 2nd to none. Patterson has a 98-28 record with TCU. He was the National Coach of the Year in 2009, and was a 3 time Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year. The lack of ties to the Big 10 area may hurt in recruiting but Pattersons “defense first” mentality maybe the best fit for Ohio State.

4 .Bo Pelini: Head Coach-Nebraska: Pelini is a Youngstown, Ohio native. Pelini is a former Ohio State Player, and was a co-captain his senior year with the Buckeyes. Pelini was just given a contract extension and a raise by Nebraska this off season. It maybe hard to leave a job with such job security. Pelini is 30-12 as a head coach, and is 43 years old. He would be a great fit for Ohio State. He recruits the Ohio area very well, and could be at the program for a very long time. Will the big contract the NU Athletic Director Tom Osborne gave Pelini be enough to keep him in Lincoln?

3.Chris Petersen: Head Coach-Boise State: Petersen is a lot like Patterson. No real ties to Ohio State, but a lot of success on the field. Petersen is a 3 time National Coach of the Year, and 2-0 in BCS Bowl Games. He has racked up a 61-5 record in Boise. The biggest knock against Petersen really isn’t his fault, but its the lack of success that Dan Hawkins had at Colorado. After leaving a Boise State, Hawkins went 19-39 in Boulder, after going 53-11 with the Broncos. Petersen has no mid-west ties. That could hurt his chances of recruiting at Ohio State, but the guy has done nothing but win, and win on the biggest stage. He will be a top candidate for any major job in the country.

2. Bob Stoops : Head Coach-Oklahoma: To me Stoops is the legit number one candidate for the OSU job. He is from Ohio, and has shown that he still wants to coach. Stoops has a better than an .800 wining percentage in his 13 years in Norman. He, like Pelini, has recently received a raise to stay in Norman. Stoops won a National Championship in 2000, and has captured seven Big XII Championships. He is a two time National Coach of the Year. Oklahoma has finished in the final AP top 10 eight times in his 13 years. Stoops will not leave Norman if the Buckeyes get a long term Post Season ban, and it will also cost Ohio State $4.3 million to buy Stoops out.

1. Urban Meyer: Former Florida Head Coach: The first name that will come up any time a big time college coaching job opens. Meyer is a Toledo, Ohio native. He coached at Ohio State as an assistant, and won two National Championships with the Florida Gators. Meyer has a 104-23 record in his head coaching career. Meyer is only 46, but left Gainesville with health concerns. He said that the stress of the job caused it. I believe that Meyer is done coaching, but he will be the first guy Ohio Sate contacts if they feel Luke Fickel is not the right fit in Columbus.