December 16, 2008

Tom Dienhart
Rivals.com College Football Senior Writer

With Gene Chizik off to Auburn, Iowa State is searching for a coach for the second time since 2006.

Athletic director Jamie Pollard was super secretive in his last search, involving few in the process. Expect that again to be the case.

The job is one of the most difficult in the BCS ranks. An early leader was thought to be Buffalo's Turner Gill, but Gill announced Tuesday that he plans to be at Buffalo next season.

A top target could be Oklahoma co-offensive coordinator Jay Norvell, who interviewed for the job the last time it opened.

Others to watch include Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst, Tulsa coach Todd Graham, St. Louis Rams offensive line coach Steve Loney (a former Iowa State assistant under Dan McCarney), Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill, Pittsburgh Steelers running backs coach Kirby Wilson and Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley. Long-shot targets could be East Carolina's Skip Holtz and TCU's Gary Patterson.

Changes coming on the bayou?

Most expect LSU's Les Miles to select a new defensive coordinator. Current co-coordinator Bradley Dale Peveto is a candidate for the head-coaching post at Northwestern State (La.), and fellow co-coordinator Doug Mallory likely would stay at LSU in some capacity. So would Peveto, if he doesn't land the Northwestern State job.

Among those thought to be possibilities are former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis, UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker, former Syracuse coach Greg Robinson, Ole Miss defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix and USC defensive coordinator Nick Holt.

Weis likely to shake up staff

Charlie Weis survived at Notre Dame, but his staff may be shaken up. Among those who could be gone are offensive coordinator Mike Haywood, defensive line coach Jappy Oliver and offensive line coach John Latina. Strength and conditioning coach Ruben Mendoza also may be gone.

Another Mallory at Miami?

The Miami University job soon may be filled. The leader may be Illinois co-defensive coordinator Curt Mallory, whose father, Bill, was coach at Miami from 1969-73.

Other contenders are believed to be Michigan State offensive coordinator Don Treadwell, Marshall defensive coordinator Rick Minter, New Orleans Saints running backs coach Aaron Kromer (a former RedHawks offensive lineman and assistant) and Notre Dame's Haywood.

Trojan talk

Early talk is Carl Smith may be a prime candidate to be the quarterback coach at USC. Trojans coach Pete Carroll is shuffling his staff, promoting John Morton from receivers coach to offensive coordinator after Steve Sarkisian left to coach Washington.

Smith worked with Carroll in New England (1997-99) and at USC, coaching quarterbacks in 2004. He has been out of coaching since a two-year stint (2005-06) as offensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Zook looking for new OC

With Mike Locksley off to coach New Mexico, there is a good chance Illinois coach Ron Zook will make a run at hiring USF pass game coordinator/receivers coach Mike Canales to run the offense.

Others who apparently are on the radar are former Syracuse offensive coordinator Mitch Browning and former Miami University coach Shane Montgomery. Zook also could promote quarterbacks coach Kurt Beathard into the OC post.

Locksley isn't expected to take any full-time Illini assistants to Albuquerque with him.

Pump-ing it up at New Mexico State

The Pump Brothers, best known for their work in basketball, are leading a search that most think will lead to New Mexico State hiring a minority.

San Francisco 49ers secondary coach Vance Joseph may be of interest to New Mexico State. He last coached in college in 2004 at Bowling Green. Pittsburgh Steelers running backs coach Kirby Wilson also is a prime candidate.

In addition, keep an eye on San Jose State linebacker coach Kent Baer, USC linebacker coach Ken Norton and Nebraska secondary coach Marvin Sanders.

EMU wants to hire a coach by Christmas

Word is Eastern Michigan would like to hire a coach by Christmas. The names floating around are Notre Dame defensive coordinator Corwin Brown, Grand Valley State (Mich.) coach Chuck Martin, Iowa receivers coach Erik Campbell, New Orleans Saints tight ends coach Terry Malone, Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson and Louisville defensive coordinator Ron English.

All have University of Michigan ties except Martin.

Expect big search at Army

Army will hire a new coach after Stan Brock was let go after two seasons. Liberty coach Danny Rocco could emerge as a candidate, as could South Carolina defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson. New York Jets quality control coach Ben Kotwica, a former Army player, could be involved. But this figures to be a wide-reaching and varied search.

More buzz

Oklahoma State may wait until after its Holiday Bowl trip to name a new defensive coordinator. Tim Beckman left to take the Toledo coaching job. Word is the runner-up for the Toledo job was Grand Valley State's Martin. Expect Martin to continue to be a target for bigger jobs. If you recall, Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly is a former Grand Valley State coach. ? Clemson's search for a defensive coordinator appears to be focused on former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis and former Auburn defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads. ? Word is new Syracuse coach Doug Marrone will hire an offensive coordinator even though he held that post with the New Orleans Saints. His top target might be New England Patriots receivers coach Bill O'Brien, who was offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech from 1995-2002 and at Duke from 2005-06. ? Look for Marcus Arroyo, who had been co-offensive coordinator at San Jose State, to be Wyoming's coordinator under new coach Dave Christensen. Wyoming's new defense coordinator is expected to be Marty English, who had been the Cowboys' linebacker coach. ? Word is former Virginia offensive coordinator Mike Groh and UConn offensive coordinator Rob Ambrose have interviewed for the Towson job.

Tom Dienhart is the national senior writer for Rivals.com and Yahoo! Sports. He can be reached at dienhart@yahoo-inc.com.