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In a surprising turn of events, Randy Edsall couldn’t get it done at Maryland. Actually, that’s really not all that surprising. Finishing with a total record of 22-33 for the Terps, Edsall only had two winning seasons in his five year tenure. In both of those seasons, his team finished a lackluster 7-6, appearing in the 2013 Military Bowl and 2014 Foster Farms Bowl.
There was a good bit of buzz around him when he took the Maryland job. Looking back, he didn’t have a very impressive record prior to coming to College Park. At UConn, he compiled a 74-70 record, finishing four wins above .500. His best season there was a 9-4 finish, capped off by a loss in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
With the move to the Big Ten, Edsall just couldn’t keep up. His Maryland teams there, and in the ACC, were always mediocre. The conference shift, as well as a fat check from Under Armour, spelled the demise for Edsall. While UA has contracts with more successful programs, such as Utah and Auburn, Maryland is their flagship school in terms of tinkering with a plethora of alternate uniforms. To become “Oregon East”, you have to pair the fancy get-ups with on-field success.
And this is where Kevin Anderson comes in. As Athletic Director, his sole football hire was Edsall. With the second go-around, he needs to hit a home run. You’ve got a shiny new deal, and Big Ten TV money, Maryland. It’s time to be good at football.
Not Mike Locksley, Maryland OC
While we’re comparing Maryland with Oregon, there is a perfect example of what not to do. After Chip Kelly left, what did Oregon do? They stayed in house and promoted the offensive coordinator. Yes, Mark Helfrich was at the helm for a National Title Game appearance, but he had the Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback. Exit one player, and look where they are now. Losing to Washington State, and lucky if they finish with six wins.
Fellow Big Ten team Ohio State did the same thing post Jim Tressel. Luke Fickel is a great defensive coordinator, but they didn’t start winning again until Urban Meyer came on board. The moral of the story; go with an outside hire.
Not to mention Locksley’s 2-26 record at New Mexico State.
Kirby Smart, Alabama DC
For Nick Saban’s time at Alabama, Smart has been a name thrown around for head coaching jobs. That is, until the past couple seasons. Because the vaunted Alabama defense is not the juggernaut it once was, Smart is perceived as taken a step back. That is the problem with having a historically great defense. Smart’s defenses are still some of the best in the country, but perception is reality in the world of college football.
And anyways, he has been a coordinator for what feels like forever, the head coaching ship has sailed. right? Wrong, Smart is 39 years old. That is one year younger than Daniel Tosh look-alike Lane Kiffin, Smart’s counterpart on the staff in Tuscaloosa. Smart still has the youth and energy to turn around a program like Maryland.
The other question is, how would his style fit in the Big Ten, Smart has been a coordinator in the SEC his whole carrer? It would actually be a great fit. Alabama scheme has always matched up with pro-style teams, which is the predominant style in the Big Ten. His defenses are built to stop the run, and as we saw when Alabama went down to Athens to face Georgia, it works.
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Justin Fuente, Memphis HC
This a hot name on the coaching carousel. Still relatively unknown to the general public, Fuente could put his stamp on college football in a huge way when his Memphis Tigers face Ole Miss at home on Saturday.
Memphis, you ask? Yes, the basketball school. Last year, Fuente led the Tigers to their first 10 win season since 1938. Yes, ’38. His team is at 5-0 and even if they get their first loss this week, they are still one of the surprise turnarounds in the past two years in college football.
The only issue with Fuente is that he may get greedy. His name is hot enough that he may wait it out for a bigger job than Maryland, especially with both USC’s opening up earlier this week.
Al Golden, Miami HC
The suffix of “Miami HC” may not be accurate for very much longer. With another disappointing year taking place in Miami, they are likely looking to move on. This may not lay completely at Golden’s feet, however. When he took over for the Hurricanes, they were in the midst of suffering NCAA sanctions. Golden brought a positive energy into the program that helped in the short term, but couldn’t be sustained.
It is Miami, though. That is a tough place to win. It is entirely possible that his same style could bring long-term success to a Maryland program that has toiled in mediocrity for a very long time.Before being hired at Miami, Golden had begun the turnaround at Temple, posting 8 and 9 win seasons in his last two seasons out of his four total.