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How Dantonio outranks Meyer, Harbaugh
By Travis Haney
This week, Insider is assessing the stability of the coaching situation for each team in a Power 5 conference. On Monday, we examined the ACC; the Big Ten is up next.
The Big Ten features four first-year coaches and quite possibly the most improved division in the sport. The Big Ten East's top three coaches -- Michigan State's Mark Dantonio, Michigan's Jim Harbaugh and Ohio State's Urban Meyer -- boast a 75.3 career winning percentage. That doesn’t leave much room for anyone else in the division, including Penn State’s James Franklin.
These rankings go in descending order from least to most stable. Keep in mind that stability is not solely determined by whether a program will want to part ways with its head coach if there are perceived failings; often, success will make it difficult, if not impossible, for a program to keep a coach from leaving for a seemingly better job.
Here is the breakdown of each Big Ten coaching situation.
14. Darrell Hazell, Purdue
Fourth season, 6-30 record)
Hazell is fortunate to still have his job after six wins in three seasons. With plenty of remaining roster questions, there’s nothing to suggest that this will be a turnaround season for the Boilermakers.
Purdue, soon to start building a new football facility, and perhaps eager to turn the page, is likely to be hunting for another coach by December. Some agents and coaches have suggested to Insider that Hazell might’ve been fired this past December if not for the number of openings on a similar job tier.
13. Tracy Claeys, Minnesota
First season)
Claeys is something of a “super-interim.” He was, at least by title, promoted last fall to become Jerry Kill’s full-time replacement after Kill’s health forced him to abruptly retire.
But the language in Claeys' contract suggests this is something of a probationary, prove-it period. Claeys received a modest three-year deal worth between $1.3 million-$1.5 million per season.
The buyout is even more revealing. If he were to be let go after this season, the school would pay just $500,000 for the remaining two years of the deal. That puts Claeys in a pressure-filled position for his first full season, particularly with a new AD coming aboard.
12. James Franklin, Penn State
(Third season, 14-12 record)
Most coaches and agents agree, telling Insider that it would take an abysmal season (2-4 wins, for example) for Penn State to make a move this fall. But the staff’s consecutive seven-win seasons have not sat well with the fan base, even with the residual impact of the NCAA sanctions, especially in terms of scholarship limitations handicapping overall depth.
Those same coaches and agents notice things are trending the wrong way in Happy Valley. With Michigan State, Ohio State and resurgent Michigan sharing the same side of the league, it’s difficult to see where Penn State currently fits in the Big Ten. And this is a program with national aspirations, not just regional goals. Franklin is on notice, and his new coordinator hires -- OC Joe Moorhead and DC Brent Pry -- have become absolutely critical.
11. Mike Riley, Nebraska
(Second season, 6-7 record)
Nebraska fired a guy who won nine games a season, so the school isn’t going to be satisfied with what Riley’s team did in Year 1. Optimists will say the Huskers were at least competitive in most every game; pessimists will say Bo Pelini never would’ve gone 5-7 in the regular season.
Being a nice guy will take Riley a certain distance with Huskers fans, but he’ll certainly test that with another season hovering around .500. One agent said the next two seasons are of utmost importance for Riley and his staff to win over Big Red.
“He’d better get back to nine wins, at least,” the agent said.
10. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
(Second season, 10-3)
Harbaugh sure seems to be having a good time at his alma mater, gigging other coaches and pumping life back into one of college football’s great brands. All that said, a skepticism remains around the sport regarding Harbaugh’s longevity in the college level. Multiple coaches and agents still wonder if Harbaugh will eventually head back to the NFL.
Perhaps it’s exaggerated how much Harbaugh covets a Super Bowl ring like the one his brother John owns. Until Jim logs a few more years at Michigan, though, this will continue to be a prevailing theory among other coaches. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking for some, but note that Harbaugh lasted just four seasons at both Stanford and San Francisco before his welcome was worn out to some extent.
9. Urban Meyer, Ohio State
(Fifth season, 50-4 record)
Meyer went 26-2 at Florida in 2008-09, winning a title in 2008, and it seemed as if the Gators would remain atop the college football world. A year later, Meyer was working at ESPN and Florida needed a new coach.
Well, the Buckeyes just went 26-2 in 2014-15, winning a title in 2014. Could it really happen again? OSU doesn’t feel contaminated with toxic player chemistry, as Florida did, but there are still too many parallels to presume that Meyer will just keep rolling for years with the Bucks. Michigan State and Michigan could have something to say about that, too.
Meyer is just 51, but he has already had health concerns. Can he continue to balance his workload with family life, as he promised to his daughters when he took the OSU job?
8. Kevin Wilson, Indiana
(Sixth season, 20-41 record)
After receiving a new six-year deal in January, Wilson is in a very different, more stable place than a year ago. The Hoosiers finally broke through for a bowl season, just the program’s second since 1993. And anyone who watched last season’s team knows how close IU was against the conference’s best; it pushed Ohio State and Michigan State to the final minutes.
Defense remains the gap between where the Hoosiers are and where they would like to be. Wilson may have found the answer in former USF DC Tom Allen, who has a degree from Indiana.
By Travis Haney
This week, Insider is assessing the stability of the coaching situation for each team in a Power 5 conference. On Monday, we examined the ACC; the Big Ten is up next.
The Big Ten features four first-year coaches and quite possibly the most improved division in the sport. The Big Ten East's top three coaches -- Michigan State's Mark Dantonio, Michigan's Jim Harbaugh and Ohio State's Urban Meyer -- boast a 75.3 career winning percentage. That doesn’t leave much room for anyone else in the division, including Penn State’s James Franklin.
These rankings go in descending order from least to most stable. Keep in mind that stability is not solely determined by whether a program will want to part ways with its head coach if there are perceived failings; often, success will make it difficult, if not impossible, for a program to keep a coach from leaving for a seemingly better job.
Here is the breakdown of each Big Ten coaching situation.
14. Darrell Hazell, Purdue
Fourth season, 6-30 record)
Hazell is fortunate to still have his job after six wins in three seasons. With plenty of remaining roster questions, there’s nothing to suggest that this will be a turnaround season for the Boilermakers.
Purdue, soon to start building a new football facility, and perhaps eager to turn the page, is likely to be hunting for another coach by December. Some agents and coaches have suggested to Insider that Hazell might’ve been fired this past December if not for the number of openings on a similar job tier.
13. Tracy Claeys, Minnesota
First season)
Claeys is something of a “super-interim.” He was, at least by title, promoted last fall to become Jerry Kill’s full-time replacement after Kill’s health forced him to abruptly retire.
But the language in Claeys' contract suggests this is something of a probationary, prove-it period. Claeys received a modest three-year deal worth between $1.3 million-$1.5 million per season.
The buyout is even more revealing. If he were to be let go after this season, the school would pay just $500,000 for the remaining two years of the deal. That puts Claeys in a pressure-filled position for his first full season, particularly with a new AD coming aboard.
12. James Franklin, Penn State
(Third season, 14-12 record)
Most coaches and agents agree, telling Insider that it would take an abysmal season (2-4 wins, for example) for Penn State to make a move this fall. But the staff’s consecutive seven-win seasons have not sat well with the fan base, even with the residual impact of the NCAA sanctions, especially in terms of scholarship limitations handicapping overall depth.
Those same coaches and agents notice things are trending the wrong way in Happy Valley. With Michigan State, Ohio State and resurgent Michigan sharing the same side of the league, it’s difficult to see where Penn State currently fits in the Big Ten. And this is a program with national aspirations, not just regional goals. Franklin is on notice, and his new coordinator hires -- OC Joe Moorhead and DC Brent Pry -- have become absolutely critical.
11. Mike Riley, Nebraska
(Second season, 6-7 record)
Nebraska fired a guy who won nine games a season, so the school isn’t going to be satisfied with what Riley’s team did in Year 1. Optimists will say the Huskers were at least competitive in most every game; pessimists will say Bo Pelini never would’ve gone 5-7 in the regular season.
Being a nice guy will take Riley a certain distance with Huskers fans, but he’ll certainly test that with another season hovering around .500. One agent said the next two seasons are of utmost importance for Riley and his staff to win over Big Red.
“He’d better get back to nine wins, at least,” the agent said.
10. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
(Second season, 10-3)
Harbaugh sure seems to be having a good time at his alma mater, gigging other coaches and pumping life back into one of college football’s great brands. All that said, a skepticism remains around the sport regarding Harbaugh’s longevity in the college level. Multiple coaches and agents still wonder if Harbaugh will eventually head back to the NFL.
Perhaps it’s exaggerated how much Harbaugh covets a Super Bowl ring like the one his brother John owns. Until Jim logs a few more years at Michigan, though, this will continue to be a prevailing theory among other coaches. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking for some, but note that Harbaugh lasted just four seasons at both Stanford and San Francisco before his welcome was worn out to some extent.
9. Urban Meyer, Ohio State
(Fifth season, 50-4 record)
Meyer went 26-2 at Florida in 2008-09, winning a title in 2008, and it seemed as if the Gators would remain atop the college football world. A year later, Meyer was working at ESPN and Florida needed a new coach.
Well, the Buckeyes just went 26-2 in 2014-15, winning a title in 2014. Could it really happen again? OSU doesn’t feel contaminated with toxic player chemistry, as Florida did, but there are still too many parallels to presume that Meyer will just keep rolling for years with the Bucks. Michigan State and Michigan could have something to say about that, too.
Meyer is just 51, but he has already had health concerns. Can he continue to balance his workload with family life, as he promised to his daughters when he took the OSU job?
8. Kevin Wilson, Indiana
(Sixth season, 20-41 record)
After receiving a new six-year deal in January, Wilson is in a very different, more stable place than a year ago. The Hoosiers finally broke through for a bowl season, just the program’s second since 1993. And anyone who watched last season’s team knows how close IU was against the conference’s best; it pushed Ohio State and Michigan State to the final minutes.
Defense remains the gap between where the Hoosiers are and where they would like to be. Wilson may have found the answer in former USF DC Tom Allen, who has a degree from Indiana.
