UT Coach Search- My Picks

The deed has been done. Fulmer's been fired, and now UT Athletics Director Mike Hamilton is searching for a new head football coach. I've known Hamilton a long time. He doesn't throw curveballs. 

Common opinion had him waiting until after the season to fire Fulmer, but if the Vols lost to South Carolina, I predicted Hamilton would make the move immediately. He did, and the decision was announced on Monday during an emotional press conference.

You're only as good as your last prediction. But based on what Tennessee needs, and my knowledge of how Hamilton operates, here is how I stack the contenders for the UT head coaching job:

1. Brian Kelly, Cincinnati.  He's won a national title at the Division II level, won a conference title in the MAC, and now has the Bearcats contending in the Big East. He does it with an up-tempo offense. He's from Massachusettes. Sounds a lot like Bruce Pearl, doesn't he?  He leads my list.

2. Tim Brewster, Minnesota.  Like Kelly, Brewster hasn't been at his current school very long (1 year). He recruits nationally, which is a must for Tennessee's next head coach. Early this season, he had the Golphers contending for a Big 10 title. Recent losses to Michigan and Northwestern have hurt, but he's still got Minnesota in the mix for a big time bowl game.

3. Mike Leach, Texas Tech.  I love this guy. He sounds like Central High Head Coach Joel Helton, with Hal Mumme's haircut. He's done weathercasts for a Lubbock TV station. His teams score 150 points a game. Selfishly, I'd love to cover this guy. He could easily be at the top of my list.  I mean, I really want to put him there. After beating heads with Texas and Oklahoma each year, do you really think he's afraid of facing Florida and Alabama?  But I am not sure all that Texas oil money will let him leave easily. Also, his association with Mumme, who had NCAA issues at Kentucky could give Hamilton some concern.

4. Butch Davis, North Carolina.  I know, he's focused on building a national championship program at.. North Carolina?  Uh, wrong sport Butch. That job belongs to Roy Williams. Davis has big-time credentials and the Vols could offer money North Carolina can't ( he's not going to make more than Roy), but Chapel Hill ain't a bad place to live and the ACC is high profile enough to keep Butch happy.

5. Lane Kiffin, Unemployed.  But not for long. He's likely a west coast guy. I might rank him higher if his freakin' agent would just call me back. Come to think of it, I should put him at THE TOP of my list because his freakin' agent WON'T call me back. I mean, it's not like he's got a job already! Call me, maybe I can help.

6. Jon Gruden, NFL Tampa Bay.  Uh, I saw him at Shoney's last week. Or was it the airport? No, I think that was him at the express check-out at Food City, or maybe it was in Jim Haslam's skybox at Neyland Stadium. I don't know. A lot of people look like this guy. All I know is he says he's happy in Tampa, but next time I see him at Sam & Andy's I'll ask again.