While it doesn’t happen often, it HAS happened that an interim HC has impressed his bosses enough to land the full-time gig and go on to be highly successful with it. Dabo Sweeney, Ed Orgeron, Ryan Day and Brent Key are just a few. Sweeney, Orgeron and Day have all won National Championships, and Key is a hot coaching name these days.
So you’re sayin’ there’s a chance…
Maybe…
Players and some fans have voiced their support for Penn State (5-6, 2-6) interim HC Terry Smith. With that in mind, is there a chance that Smith gets the full-time job? Experts don’t give him any chance of remaining in Happy Valley. Most think he’ll end up joining James Franklin at Virginia Tech. This high-profile job likely requires a high-profile hire, but Smith is very well though of, and if there is a chance at keeping some of Franklin’s recruits committed to the Nittany Lions’, Smith might give them the best chance.
Odds are slim, though.
At the outset, it looked like Tim Skipper had a great shot of having his interim tag removed at UCLA (3-7, 3-4). After a horrid 0-3 non-conference start under Head Coach DeShaun Foster, Skipper was named the interim and the Bruins pulled off the biggest upset of the season at the time, knocking off preseason Big Ten favorite Penn State. Since then, UCLA has lost three in a row to fall out of bowl contention and making it unlikely – but still slightly possible – that Skipper sticks around.
Again, slim, but there’s a chance.
Could Andrew Luck convince his former head coach in Indianapolis, Frank Reich, to remain at Stanford? Reich was put in place before the season but as an interim HC. Now, the Cardinal are 3-7 this season, but Reich has support and a resume that includes his NFL success. If Luck can’t find anyone he likes better, Reich may get the job.
Oregon State is 2-9, but 2-2 under interim head man Robb Akey, who took over for Trent Bay. With the Pac 12 expanding next season, it’s possible, even if it’s unlikely that the former head coach at Idaho and DC at Washington State – who also has some NFL experience – could keep the gig. Losing to Sam Houston State didn’t help, though. If the Beavers defeat Washington State for the second time this season when they meet next week, Akey would win the Pac 12 championship…if that’s still a thing.
The Best Shot
Auburn fired Hugh Freeze and replaced him with D.J. Durkin, the Tigers Defensive Coordinator and the former Head Coach at Maryland. Freeze team was 4-5, having lost five of their past six games. Now 5-6 overall, Durkin is one of the most likely of this large group to keep his job, given his experience and success within the program. If the Tigers somehow defeat Alabama in the Iron Bowl next week and become bowl eligible, Durkin might get a new contract on the field after the game.
UAB is 3-8, 1-6 in conference play. Trent Dilfer was fired after a 2-4 start. Alex Mortensen took over and pulled a major upset in his first game, beating heavily favored Memphis. His team is still just 1-4, but he impressed his AD. And given the number of coaching openings and competition for top candidates, Mortensen has a reasonable chance to retain the job.
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