He had a ton of success at USC and is probably going to get fired by the Raiders soon.
The list:
Steve Sarkisian...will be a head coach one day, sooner than later. Obviously young...maybe that would be a good thing. I'm not so sure about USC coordinators. They look great, but I think Pete Carrol could win with any assistaint he chooses.
Gary Patterson...solid coach, 65-25 at TCU. Knows the pressure of TN football after having coached at TTU in the early 80's. This could be good.
Chris Petersen...has picked up where Hawkins left off but is still getting it done. Petersen is an in vogue choice...but he will leave Boise...sooner than later. Again, BSU was built by Hawkins. The only thing Peterson has done that Hawkins hasn't was win a BCS game with a few fluke plays. He may be good, but I would like to see him prove himself more.
Glen Mason...old school but can coach and can win. Wasn't his lifetime record like .500? In the Big 10, too.
Ron Zook...laugh all you want but there is no better recruiter in the nation. Florida canned him because he wasn't improving. This has to be a joke. Zook sucks and the Big 10 sucks more.
Jeff Tedford...likes the laidback atmosphere at Cal but money talks. Cal isn't good either. Tedford is vastly overrated.
Dan Hawkins...doubtful he'd leave CU but a brilliant offensive coach that might want a chance with unlimited facilities. He may turn Colorado around, but right now he is well under .500 there.
Bob Stoops...OU is back at number 1. Why would he consider leaving. Maybe for that taste of playing the best, toughest conference in the nation. UT can match the money of OU but... Why did you even list this?
Lovie Smith...again, don't laugh. I won't.
Grobe...might be a player. He has done well, but he may be getting a little old. Also, the ACC is really bad.
Butch Davis....dark horse. Would be exceptional if we could get someone like him. People say we missed our chance.
* = Denotes previous connection to TN
In order:
Steve Spurrier *
Bobby Johnson
I wrote this till my hands numb, but could you imagine Steve Spurrier in a Vols Visor? I know people say he hates Tennessee, but he is not happy with USC, I would be thrilled to have him. You want Florida steaming, you would have it. I still think they could make this happen.
Real opinion list -
1. Will Muschamp ( #1 Choice )
2. Lane Kiffin
3. Steve Sarkisian
4. Marty Mornhinweg ( Philadelphia Eagles O.C. )
5. Josh McDaniels ( New England Patriots O.C. )
6. Jim Grobe
Will Muschamp is my #1 choice, he is young, energetic, a GREAT defensive minded coach & has SEC experience. If he could get a good O.C. in here things would be good. ( IMO i dont think Dave Clawson is that bad or is making bad play choices, i think it's Crompton messing the plays up & calling the wrong audibles at the line. )
Lane Kiffin is young, energetic, has NFL & college experience, was a good O.C. @ USC, & could get some top recruits in.
Steve Sarkisian dont know much about this guy all i know is he is a good O.C. & can recruit!
Marty Mornhinweg & Josh McDaniels track records speak for themselves both have led record setting offenses in the NFL & has worked with Pro Bowl & Super Bowl players. Would bring discipline & heart to this program.
My wish list but none of these would never happen -
1. Jon Gruden
2. Bill Cowher
3. Butch Davis
4. Bob Stoops
5. Ron Zook ( Mainly for recruiting )
6. Jim Leavitt
7. Jimmie Johnson
8. Lovie Smith
If anyone thinks that a BIG name coach from the SEC will leave their school to come to Tennessee your mistaken.
Jon Gruden will not leave the NFL to come to Tennessee unless he is fired from TB, & with the way their season is going so far he wont be fired
Bill Cowher will be the next HC of the Cleveland Browns or the Oakland Raiders! He wont even consider Tennessee he is a NFL guy
Butch Davis will not leave North Carolina he will build that program to be one of the best in the ACC.
Bob Stoops will be @ Oklahoma for many years to come. He has built a great program @ OU, always ranked in the top 10 & has great recruiting classes. Granted he has lost 5 of his last 6 bowl games it is just a matter of time before OU brings home the National Championship.
Ron Zook could be a realistic choice. He is a great recruiter & would more than likely leave Illinios for Tennessee, but IMO he is not a great coach.
Jim Leavitt will be @ USF until he retires if anyone hasnt noticed they are ranked 12th right now & are favorites to win the Big East, BCS bound.
Jimmie Johnson is way to old & IMO is past his coaching years.
Not much i can say about Lovie Smith i just dont see him even considering coming to the College ranks.
There are few guys on that list that are awful, only a few that may actually work, and I don't know if any of those guys would come.