We’re up through Week 14 of the season so, as the Coaching Watch guy at College Football America, I’m checking back in with our hot seat coaches from our preseason publication to see where they’re at, and adding some names that could see themselves unemployed come season’s end. This will be our last hot seat update, as the conference title games are this coming weekend. But there have likely already been some coaching changes as of this writing, and we’ll address those on a daily basis.
From College Football America Yearbook Encyclopedia in August:
Randy Edsall, Maryland: Safe as the Terps prepare for their first bowl game as a Big Ten team.
Tim Beckman, Illinois: Safe. After three years Beckman finally has the Illini bowl-eligible.
Bill Blankenship, Tulsa: As anticipated by many, including myself, Tulsa let Blankenship go on Monday.
Mike London, Virginia: Safe, despite a losing season. Virginia announced London would be back in 2015. But expect plenty of turnover as most of his current staff have contracts that expire in January.
Bo Pelini, Nebraska: Remember how I listed Pelini as safe last week? Well, I was completely wrong about that. Nebraska let Pelini go on Sunday.
Dan Enos, Central Michigan: Safe. No rumors floating about as the Chippewas are bowl eligible again.
Norm Chow, Hawai’i: I think Chow gets at least one more year. Think about it — who’s going to take that job, considering there are rumors that the program might go under.
Will Muschamp, Florida: Muschamp resigned in November. The search begins in full this week. Hugh Freeze and Jim McElwain are rumored to be on UF’s short list.
Our Week 7 additions
Brady Hoke, Michigan: The Wolverines played with pluck in their loss to Ohio State. Hoke now awaits interim athletic director Jim Hackett’s decision. No one is sure which way Hackett is leaning. Update (12/2: Hoke was fired by Michigan and a search is underway)
Scott Shafer, Syracuse: Bud Pollquin’s column at Syracuse.com offers a solid read on the pulse around the program after it finished 3-9. Which is to say that there are assumptions that Shafer will be back, but no guarantees.
Paul Rhoads, Iowa State: One game remaining in this sorry season for the Cyclones and there is no real indication that Rhoads’ job is on the line.
Paul Haynes, Kent State: No real speculation around his job. The Golden Flashes did win their second game of the season last weekend. I lean toward safe.
Derek Mason, Vanderbilt: Mason better recruit well. I can see the leash being short if Vandy finishes 3-9 again next year.
Scott Satterfield, Appalachian State: Safe after a 7-5 season in which the Mountaineers won their final six games.
Paul Petrino, Idaho: Safe. Petrino needs more time to get this program back in gear.
Week 9 addition
Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech: The Hokies are bowl-eligible after beating Virginia. Last week former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden told the media that Beamer’s situation felt like his situation at FSU late in his career. After reading several stories coming out of the Hokies’ final regular-season game it seems no one has a read on what the Hokies might do with Beamer. For that reason I lean toward safe.
Week 11 addition
Kevin Wilson, Indiana: The athletic director has already stated that he expects Wilson back in 2015. The Hoosiers beat Purdue in Week 14. Expect him back, but on a short leash.
Week 12 addition
Mike Clark, UAB: Clark did a fantastic job, getting the Blazers to bowl eligibility in his first season. However, the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees fired his athletic director on Sunday and it is expected the UA Trustees will shut down the program on Thursday.
Week 13 addition
Trent Miles, Georgia State: Georgia State hasn’t made progress in two seasons under Miles. Do you jettison him now and look for a new coach? There’s no indication which way administration is leaning.
Week 14 addition
Bobby Hauck, UNLV: Hauck resigned effective Monday.