Hot Seat Rankings: Temperature rising for Beamer, Golden, Strong
Coaches at Virginia Tech, Miami and Texas are not on the "hot seat" quite yet ... but their chairs are certainly warming up. Here's why.
By
Dennis Dodd
•
3 min read
The 2015 Coaches’ Hot Seat Rankings have had their way, but we’re not done yet. In fact, we’re making a week of the hot seat.
The following five coaches aren't necessarily on the caliente chair yet, but it could warm up quickly with a sub-standard 2015. Call it Five Coaches On The Fence. The five below all had a rating of "3 -- starting to feel the pressure" in the Hot Seat Rankings. They’re all at big-time programs with big-time expectations.
Add ‘em up and the schools listed haven’t won a conference title in a combined 36 years. Yeah, that’s enough pressure to make this list.
Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech: At age 68, Beamer doesn't seem to be nearing the end. Before last season, he got a contract extension through 2019. He is one of only three coaches to beat Urban Meyer's Ohio State. But a cynic might point out that the recent contract extension is part golden parachute, part recruiting aid. After beating the Buckeyes in Week 2, the Hokies finished 5-6 including losses to East Carolina and Wake Forest. Beamer is .500 in the ACC since 2012. To be safe, Hokie Nation better be prepared for a change for the first time in 29 years.
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: Much has been written and said about Ferentz being one of the most overpaid coaches in the country. Until recently, Hawkeyes' fans fiercely defended him. He may have been an underachiever, but he was their underachiever. Since 2005, Iowa has finished no higher than a tie for second in the Big Ten (division or league) and that happened only three times. With the addition of Jim Harbaugh at Michigan and a national champion in Ohio State, the Big Ten isn't getting any easier. Hawkeyes' last conference title: 2004 (shared)
Al Golden, Miami: Are the walls closing in on Golden? The Canes started 6-3 last season and led Florida State at halftime before everything collapsed. Miami lost its last four in a row including an embarrassing rout at Virginia. It seems things have changed quickly for Golden, who was rightly given credit for getting the program through the Nevin Shapiro scandal. Miami gets Nebraska, Cincinnati, FSU, Virginia Tech and Clemson in a row early in the season during the months of September and October. We should have a better idea of Golden's job security by then as he looks to continue past his fifth season. Canes' last conference title: 2003 (shared)
Charlie Strong, Texas: The Longhorns' immediate future is predicated on a playmaking quarterback, and the immediate future at that position does not look bright. Sure, Strong's been at Texas only one season. But at some point, he'll become familiar with the political cauldron that is Texas. The Horns were stultifying to watch last season. They must at least be entertaining after a 6-7 debut for Strong. If not, the boosters, fans, president and athletic director will turn on him fast. Perhaps all at once. Longhorns' last conference title: 2009
Kyle Whittingham, Utah: I believe in Whittingham. I'm not sure if Utes AD Chris Hill does. There was an ugly rift in the offseason concerning assistant coaches' salaries. Weird, since it came after a nine-win season in which Utah beat Michigan, UCLA, USC and Stanford. The sides agreed to a contract extension that gets Whittingham through the 2018 season, which is the junior year of the 2016 signing class. Remember, Whittingham is the guy who replaced Meyer and has won 85 games in 10 years. Until last season, the Utes were struggling in the Pac-12. A dip from 2014 may put Whittingham squarely on the hot seat. The opener against Michigan will be huge. Utah should win, but if it doesn't, beware the next three are against Utah State, Fresno State and Oregon. Utes' last conference title: 2008
