Pac-12 Spring Coach Hot Seat Rankings
12. Kyle Whittingham, Utah
A made man at Utah, the big concern is not losing him to a bigger gig – like USC next year? 2019 might have ended with a massive thud, but Utah went from the Mountain West in 2010 to winning at least a piece of the Pac-12 South in three of the last four years and having a realistic shot at the College Football Playoff last season.
Record With Team: 131-64
2019 Pac-12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 9
2018 Pac-12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 7
– Full Schedule Analysis
11. Mario Cristobal, Oregon
Oregon is on the verge of powerhouse status again. After winning the Pac-12 title and a Rose Bowl, there can be one down year without much a blip. Huge things are ahead thanks to all talent he’s amassing in Eugene.
Record With Team: 21-7
2019 Pac-12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 4
2018 Pac-12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 2
– Full Schedule Analysis
10. Nick Rolovich, Washington State
He’ll get the new head coach first year break. However, things can’t fall too far – the offense has to at least be Washington State-like with one of the nation’s best passing games.
Record With Team: 0-0
– Full Schedule Analysis
9. David Shaw, Stanford
He’s an NFL coach the second he decides it’s time, but first he needs to prove that 2019 was simply a quirk. The Cardinal were decimated by injuries in a 4-8 season. Fortunately, three Pac-12 championships, and an 86-34 record in nine years buys him several dozen benefits of the doubt.
Record With Team: 86-34
2019 Big 12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 11
2018 Big 12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 12
– Full Schedule Analysis
8. Herm Edwards, Arizona State
More consistency would be a major plus, but after two years at the helm he has ASU in a nice place. However, this is when the recruiting classes need to start kicking in and more starts to happen in Pac-12 play after going 9-9 in the conference over the last two years.
Record With Team: 15-11
2019 Pac-12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 6
2018 Pac-12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 1
– Full Schedule Analysis
7. Justin Wilcox, Cal
He has improved from five wins to seven to eight. It’s going to be tough keeping him around, even if Cal struggles this season against a rough schedule. His defensive skills alone are getting him long looks for a next-gig-up.
Record With Team: 20-18
2019 Pac-12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 8
2018 Pac-12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 6
– Full Schedule Analysis
6. Jonathan Smith, Oregon State
It’s still a bit of a rough run being the Oregon State head coach in a strong Pac-12 North, but he improved the program from two wins to five. Everyone wants the former Beaver QB to succeed, and he’s creating something solid.
Record With Team: 7-18
2019 Pac-12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 5
2018 Pac-12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 3
– Full Schedule Analysis
5. Jimmy Lake, Washington
Ohhhhhh, no. There’s no grace period here. Chris Petersen left the program in more-than-capable hands, and Lake needs to make Washington a major player in the Pac-12 title chase again. He’s fine for a year no matter what, but it’s his first time as a head man.
Record With Team: 0-0
– Full Schedule Analysis
4. Karl Dorrell, Colorado
He wasn’t that bad as the UCLA head coach from 2003 to 2007 – Chip Kelly should be so lucky to win 35 games in five seasons. However, he’s not Eric Bieniemy – the former Buff star and current Kansas City offensive coordinator that Colorado couldn’t get. A bowl season will be a great step, a losing campaign will keep the questions coming about the hire.
Record With Team: 0-0
– Full Schedule Analysis
3. Kevin Sumlin, Arizona
Two losing seasons in two years is bad enough, but making things worse is how Herm Edwards is doing okay up the road at ASU. He was able to survive the offseason, but after a 9-15 run in two years, this is it.
Record With Team: 9-15
2019 Pac-12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 3
2018 Pac-12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 5
– Full Schedule Analysis
2. Chip Kelly, UCLA
Kelly lost a total of seven games in four seasons as the Oregon head coach. One of those was a Rose Bowl and another was a national championship. His UCLA teams have dropped 17 games in two years. From last year’s piece, “he won’t get fired even with another 3-9 year.” He went 4-8. There had better be a bowl game soon in UCLA’s future.
Record With Team: 7-17
2019 Pac-12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 2
2018 Pac-12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 9
– Full Schedule Analysis
1. Clay Helton, USC
But … how? The 2017 Pac-12 Championship and Rose Bowl-winning season feels like it was forever ago. Winning eight games and beating UCLA and Utah last year was nice, but the USC head coach isn’t supposed to go 13-12 in two seasons. To be fair, he has a young team with a whole lot of promise, but … Urban Meyer is still a studio analyst.
Record With Team: 40-22
2019 Pac-12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 1
2018 Pac-12 Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 4
– Full Schedule Analysis