Fulmer, Tuberville and Barnett among big-name coaches looking for jobs in down college market

Fulmer, other big-name coaches looking for jobs

Phillip Fulmer is ready to go. He’s got a staff picked out, a wealth of knowledge gained over a year spent picking the brains of other football coaches and he’s even kept up on recruiting.

All the former Tennessee coach needs now is a job. But that might be hard to come by this year because relatively few college football teams are likely to be in the market for a coach. And most of the spots that do come open probably won’t meet Fulmer’s standards.

“I’m not going to put myself and my family in a position where I’m going to a place that is a stepping-stone … a place that doesn’t have a history of doing well,” he said in a recent phone interview. “I’m looking for a place that has some history. If I have to sit or not coach that’s kind of the way it’s going to be I guess.”

Fulmer, who was ousted last year by Tennessee after a long and mostly successful run with the Volunteers, is one of several coaches with eye-catching resumes currently out of the business but hoping to get back in.

Also keeping an eye out for openings these days are former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, former Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione, out of coaching the last two seasons, ex-Colorado coach Gary Barnett, who hasn’t coached the last four seasons, and former Minnesota coach Glen Mason, three seasons removed from his last game with the Gophers.

All of those coaches have kept busy and involved with college football by taking broadcasting jobs.

“That great thing about being at ESPN is you get to a lot of sites and can visit with a lot of coaches,” said Franchione, who has been working as a radio analyst for the network. “You get to see all the other programs. Coaches, when they are coaching, don’t get to do that.

“You get to evaluate a lot of different programs and see how people do things … From Pete Carroll at USC to Urban Meyer at Florida to Frank Spaziani at Boston College. I think sometimes because of doing all that, I’m almost a better coach today than I was two years ago.”

Coaching turnover tends to be cyclical. Coming into this season, 21 coaches were in their first seasons with a new team.

Heading into Thanksgiving, three teams have already fired their coach, a number that is down from last season. Early changes have been a trend in recent years because it allows schools to get a jump on reaching out to top candidates.

Fulmer was forced out at Tennessee in the first week of November last season and his replacement, Lane Kiffin, was hired before the month was over.

While the world — or at least it seems that way — waits for Notre Dame to decide the future of Charlie Weis, only Memphis, UNLV, San Jose State and Western Kentucky are actively searching for a coach.

None of those falls into the category of a “place that has some history,” as Fulmer put it.

The conventional wisdom is that Al Groh is on his way out at Virginia after three losing seasons the last four years.

Louisville’s Steve Kragthorpe also appears to be on shaky ground after three mediocre seasons at a school that has made a large financial investment in its football program during the last decade.

Michigan’s Rich Rodriguez appears safe for at least one more season — barring some serious NCAA sanctions that could lead the school to rethink its commitment.

Colorado’s Dan Hawkins and Illinois coach Ron Zook have both received votes of confidence from their bosses, despite their teams’ struggles.

It is always wise to expect the unexpected when it comes to coaching changes, too. A month ago, nobody would have figured Kansas coach Mark Mangino would be in danger of losing his job, but after allegations by players that Mangino has been verbally abusive and insensitive, there might be an opening in Lawrence soon.

NFL defections can create job openings. But the pros seem to have soured on college coaches since some big-name guys — Butch Davis, Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban come to mind — didn’t pan out in the NFL.

There are no likely retirements, though there always talk about Spurrier deciding he’s had enough at South Carolina and would rather play golf full-time.

With that as the backdrop, here’s a look at coaches waiting for a call and where they might end up.

Phillip Fulmer

Record: 152-52 in 17 seasons at Tennessee with one national championship, two SEC championships and three other appearances in the conference title game.

Destination?: There were rumors Memphis reached out to Fulmer, but you can guarantee that won’t happen. Maybe Virginia? Though would the Cavaliers want to pay that kind of money? Think Fulmer may be waiting another year.

Tommy Tuberville

Record: 110-60 in 14 seasons at Auburn and Mississippi, with one SEC championship and three other appearances in the conference title game.

Destination?: Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich likes to hire big names. The irony of Tuberville taking Bobby Petrino’s old job — Petrino once interviewed for Tuberville’s job WHILE Tuberville was Auburn’s coach — is just too cool.

Dennis Franchione

Record: 107-81 in 16 seasons at Texas A&M, Alabama, TCU and New Mexico, with two Western Athletic Conference titles with TCU.

Destination?: Franchione has already been linked to the UNLV job.

Gary Barnett

Record: 78-71-1 in 14 seasons with Northwestern and Colorado, with Big Ten title at Northwestern and Big 12 title at Colorado.

Destination?: Fair or not, Barnett’s reputation took a hit in his final years at Colorado because of how he acted in the aftermath of allegations of the program using sex and alcohol to woo recruits. Any school that hires him will have to deal with some criticism. There could be some openings in the Big Ten next year (Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota) that might fit Barnett.

“The critical elements is an athletic director and a president who are committed to what you are doing,” Barnett said. “I really believe you have to have both to have chance to be successful.”

“The job is so hard and complex you need total support at the top from those above you.”

Glen Mason

Record: 123-121-1 in 21 seasons at Kent State, Kansas and Minnesota.

Destination?: Same as Barnett, maybe he lands a Big Ten gig in a year.