Bob Simmons Out?

Who is Next?

by: Jason Waganer

October 10, 2000

After three consecutive poor performances against Southern Mississippi, Texas and Missouri, Bob Simmons is more than likely out as head coach at OSU. If that's the case, who is next? Here's our top seven choices for Simmons' replacement in no particular order:

1. Rich Rodriguez -- After a season in which Clemson's offense established a record for setting offensive records, Rich Rodriguez has assumed the title of associate head coach of the Tiger program. Clemson's offensive coordinator guided a Tiger attack that set 26 school records in 1999, more new standards than any Clemson team since the NCAA modern era of record keeping began in 1936.  

2. Gary Darnell -- Last year, Western Michigan won the MAC West Division, becoming the first school in league history to clinch a division title in October. The Broncos also played before the second-largest college football viewing audience in ESPN2 history at the MAC Championship Game. 

3. Watson Brown -- It has been five years since Watson Brown arrived at UAB as the head football coach, but the program has grown by leaps and bounds in that short period of time. 

4. Les Miles -- Looking back on the OSU Cowboys' amazing season in 1997, the major reason for the success might have been offensive coordinator Les Miles. Since Miles' departure, the Cowboys have struggled offensively and have declined each year. 

5. Steve Logan -- After recording his fifth winning season in the past six years, East Carolina is on the brink of a major breakthrough on the national level. The 1999 Pirate squad turned in one of the school's best seasons ever and ranked in both national polls from the fourth week of the regular season until the final poll. The Pirates also earned their third bowl trip under Logan, playing TCU in the inaugural Mobile Alabama Bowl. 

6. Mike Leach -- Leach guided an Oklahoma offense that went from 11th in the Big 12 in 1998 to first in 1999, 101st in the nation to 11th. In just one year, OU total offense numbers improved from 293.3 to 427.2 yards per game. He is now the head coach at Texas Tech. 

7. Mike Gundy -- Mike Gundy, a four-year starting quarterback at Oklahoma State who still figures prominently in the Cowboys' record book, is in his fourth season on the Maryland coaching staff and his first as passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach.