College football Head Coach ‘Hot Seat Review’ at midseason
By Ronald Evans
College Football Head Coaches in Jeopardy
The college head coaches listed below are counted down from those who should at least make it until the end of the season – to those who could go at any time.
No. 7 – Karl Dorrell – Colorado
Dorrell should get a third season at Colorado, but he is often mentioned as a coach in danger. His record in five seasons at UCLA was a ‘not horrible’ 35-27. Last season, Dorrell led the Buffs to just their second winning season in the last 15, finishing 4-2 in the abbreviated 2020 Pac 12 season. Colorado is 0-4 against FBS teams this season, after an opening win over FCS, Northern Colorado.
In the four losses, Colorado has scored a total of 34 points. An optimistic take is the Buffs will finish 3-9. That could be a couple of wins short of keeping Dorrell in Boulder.
No. 6 – Mike Norvell – Florida State
The Florida State program is not tolerant of losers. Norvell’s predecessor, Willie Taggert was fired before he finished his second season. Rumblings about Norvell began last year, in his first season in Tallahassee. The Noles finished 3-6 in 2020 with one of the wins over an FCS program.
That FCS program (Jacksonville State) beat FSU this season, the second in a four-loss run to open the season. What is saving Norvell so far is the opening OT loss to Notre Dame and two recent wins over a bad Syracuse team and arguably what was earlier this season, the most overrated Power Five team, North Carolina. Based on his solid 38-16, four-season record at Memphis, Norvell should get another year with the Noles. But he may not. After a reported $18M buyout to Taggart, FSU might be reluctant to write another big check to Mike Norvell.
No. 5 – Chip Kelly – UCLA
All was well in L.A. earlier in the season. After 10 wins over three seasons, UCLA and Chip Kelly were expected to have turned the corner. When the Bruins kicked LSU around in game two, there were quick predictions, UCLA was suddenly a Pac 12 threat. Now at 4-2, with a loss to Fresno State and an almost three-touchdown loss to Arizona State, enthusiasm has faded. There are at least four winnable games left this season in Washington, Colorado, USC and California. If Kelly’s team loses two of those four, along with losses to Oregon and Utah, a 6-6 season will not show signs of much progress. A 6-6 regular season with a possible bowl win would likely get Kelly a fifth season at UCLA. That is if he wants it.