With a full 50% of SEC head coaches entering year one (Derek Mason), two (Bret Bielema, Butch Jones, Gus Malzahn, Mark Stoops), or three (Hugh Freeze, Kevin Sumlin), “honeymoon” seems to sum up more situations than “hot seat”.
Should Florida’s season tank again, I could see them thinking about cashiering Muschamp. But the Gators have enough talent to contend in the SEC East and could get really good really quickly IF they put it all together.
Mark Richt always seems to be one underachieving season from feeling some heat from a disgruntled fan base, but there’s no reason to believe he’s in any imminent danger unless Georgia totally collapses.
Among the new coaches, Malzahn, Freeze, and Sumlin have all earned job security by winning early. Bret Bielema, Butch Jones, and Mark Stoops probably each get at least a couple more years to clean up the messes they inherited. Derek Mason should get a full honeymoon at Vandy.
Mullen and Pinkel have made their fan bases happy and don’t face championship pressure, so they’re safe barring consecutive losing seasons.
Coaches Saban and Spurrier seem to be the most fire-proof coaches in the league. Les Miles should be in that same category, but will always feel a slight bit of pressure as long as CNS is in the same division.
In terms of coaches leaving voluntarily, I think Sumlin will remain on a lot of elite college and pro hot lists unless the Aggie nosedive post-Manziel. Dan Mullen would make a fine coach at a lot of places where it’d be easier to win than Starkville, but he hasn’t shown much of a desire to leave (yet). Should Stoops bring improvement at Kentucky, his brand-name last name probably gets him a lot of looks elsewhere. And Derek Mason will almost certainly use Vandy as a stepping stone to better things if he succeeds. And if a blue blood program opens up (Florida?), you have to think Malzahn listens.
Should Florida’s season tank again, I could see them thinking about cashiering Muschamp. But the Gators have enough talent to contend in the SEC East and could get really good really quickly IF they put it all together.
Mark Richt always seems to be one underachieving season from feeling some heat from a disgruntled fan base, but there’s no reason to believe he’s in any imminent danger unless Georgia totally collapses.
Among the new coaches, Malzahn, Freeze, and Sumlin have all earned job security by winning early. Bret Bielema, Butch Jones, and Mark Stoops probably each get at least a couple more years to clean up the messes they inherited. Derek Mason should get a full honeymoon at Vandy.
Mullen and Pinkel have made their fan bases happy and don’t face championship pressure, so they’re safe barring consecutive losing seasons.
Coaches Saban and Spurrier seem to be the most fire-proof coaches in the league. Les Miles should be in that same category, but will always feel a slight bit of pressure as long as CNS is in the same division.
In terms of coaches leaving voluntarily, I think Sumlin will remain on a lot of elite college and pro hot lists unless the Aggie nosedive post-Manziel. Dan Mullen would make a fine coach at a lot of places where it’d be easier to win than Starkville, but he hasn’t shown much of a desire to leave (yet). Should Stoops bring improvement at Kentucky, his brand-name last name probably gets him a lot of looks elsewhere. And Derek Mason will almost certainly use Vandy as a stepping stone to better things if he succeeds. And if a blue blood program opens up (Florida?), you have to think Malzahn listens.