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Clemson Candidates
Possible Clemson Coaching Candidates
10-13-08
Tommy Bowden is now out as Clemson's head coach. Bowden in 10 years at Clemson went 72-45 with 8 bowl appearances, but not a single ACC Championship. In the preseason Clemson was ranked #9 nationally and was the favorite to win the ACC this season. He came to Clemson after a 12-0 finish at Tulane in 1998 to replace Tommy West.
Clemson is a good football job. It offers the best fanbase in the ACC, the best facility in the ACC, and is a program that has produced a national championship. No, it's not at the level of an Alabama or Florida, but it is certainly up there with the Texas A&M's and Michigan State's of the college football world.
Terry Don Phillips has never had to hire a football coach at Clemson, Bowden was there before he was. Phillips' biggest hire was head basketball coach Oliver Purnell, who came from mid major Dayton. In my personal opinion he'll go after a coach that likes to play tough and physical football. Coaches who run gimmick offenses aren't likely to be looked at. If they go the coordinator route, I'd look for a defensive coach.
This is a list of possible Bowden replacements.
Dabo Sweeney(Clemson interim Head Coach)-Sweeney is very popular with fans, players, and the Clemson administration. For the past six seasons he has been the WR coach at Clemson and has been noted as one of the best recruiters in the country. Sweeney is an Alabama graduate and coached at Alabama prior to taking his position at Clemson. He'll coach the Tigers final 6 games this season
Bobby Johnson(Vanderbilt Head Coach)-Johnson is a graduate of Clemson and despite his 25-51 record at Vandy, has done a good job with the Dores. Johnson also did a very good job as Furman Head Coach prior to taking the Vandy job(record of 60-36). This season Johnson has the 'Dores in the top 25 at 5-1
Skip Holtz(East Carolina Head Coach)-Each season at ECU Holtz's teams have gotten better. This season Holtz opened the year hot with 2 upset wins over Virginia Tech and West Virginia, but since has had some bad losses to NC State, Houston, and Virginia.
Rich Stockstill(Middle Tennessee State Head Coach)-Stockstill was a very popular assistant under Tommy West and Tommy Bowden at Clemson. He also was an assistant at South Carolina under Holtz and Spurrier. As coach of MTSU he led the Blue Raiders to their first ever bowl in 2006 and this season pulled off an upset win over Maryland.
Bud Foster(Defensive Coordinator Virginia Tech)-Foster is a 3 time winner of the Broyles award and nearly every season is coaching a top 5 defense. He knows how to recruit the Carolinas and Virginia(all very important to Clemson) and he is part of the ACC's best program since it expanded. Foster has made it clear he wants a head coaching job, but would like it to be at a big school.
Will Muschamp(Defensive Coordinator Texas)-Muschamp has now been the DC at Texas, Auburn, and LSU. At each stop he's done big things. He's a graduate of Georgia(75 miles from Clemson) and knows how to recruit the Southeast. It was rumored that if Petrino didn't take the Arkansas job, that Muschamp was the next candidate on the Hogs list.
Jim Leavitt(Head Coach South Florida)-Leavitt has been at USF since 1997. He started that program and has a 84-48 record with the Bulls. Leavitt's tough defensive style could be appealing to a Tiger fanbase that wants to get back to that style. Would he leave USF though? Clemson could certainly pay him plenty(Bowden made over 2 million).
Tommy Tuberville(Auburn Head Coach)-Clemson has been described as "Auburn with a Lake", so why wouldn't the Auburn head man look at this job? Tuberville has a record of 84-36 with the Tigers, but seems to be on the hotseat with Tiger fans each season. Would he be ready to make a change? A&M and Arkansas both talked with Tuberville last season, but he wasn't interested.
Charlie Strong(Florida Defensive Coordinator)-Strong was an assistant under Lou Holtz for 3 seasons at South Carolina so he knows the Palmetto State well. He has interviewed for head coaching jobs in the past, but hasn't landed a HC job yet. Strong will be looked at, but wouldn't be a first choice for Clemson
Jim Grobe(Wake Forest Head Coach)-Many would argue that Grobe is the best head coach in the ACC. His 50-40 record isn't great, but he went to the Orange Bowl at one of the toughest 1-A jobs in the country. Since 2006 The Demon Deacons are 24-6. Grobe did talk to Arkansas last season, but decided to stay in Winston-Salem.
Rich Rodriguez(Head Coach Michigan)-Yes, Michigan is a much better job than Clemson, but how happy is Rodriguez at Michiga. A 2-4 start and a loss to Toledo have some questioning his ability with the Wolverines. Rodriguez is a former offensive coordinator at Clemson prior to taking the WVU job. He has spoken highly in the past about his times at Clemson. Probably a long shot, but definitely a name that will at least be contacted.
Bobby Bentley(Head Coach Presbyterian College)-Who? Well, for those outside the Palmetto State Bentley is a former High School Coaching legend at Byrnes High School in the upstate of South Carolina. Bentley produced current Clemson QB Willie Korn and built a program that is ranked #1 nationally by USA Today. Another long shot at the job, but we've seen guys like Todd Dodge, Art Briles, and Gus Malzahn given chances after big runs at high school programs
Butch Davis(Head Coach North Carolina)-Davis is turning the Tarheel program and has UNC at 5-1, but why would he choose Clemson over UNC? Well, Clemson is certainly a much better job than UNC. It's a football school, with fans that will support the program more than Heel fans will. Davis is an Arkansas guy, like AD Terry Don Phillips. Of course keep in mind that Davis turned down his homestate job last season.
Matt Barber
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