BillyCarpenter1

Candidates on campus: Collegiate coaches NFL teams might consider

By Joel Buchsbaum
Nov. 22, 2002



LSU coach
Nick Saban

We asked NFL insiders: If you were picking an NFL head coach from the college ranks and everyone was in play, whom would you select? All responses were made anonymously.

1. Nick Saban, LSU — \"A great pro-style coach in the Bill Belichick mold. He is a great teacher and schemer who may not be great at interviews but can motivate his team.\"

2. Tyrone Willingham, Notre Dame — \"A pro’s pro, in my mind. He is like the general that stresses discipline and never jokes around yet always has the best-prepared and motivated soldiers who would die for him.\"

3. Walt Harris, Pittsburgh — \"Was an NFL offensive coordinator and has done a great, great job at Pittsburgh.\"

4. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma — \"He will have a lot to learn about the pro game but will hire top coordinators, listen and learn and is a great motivator.\"

5. (tie) June Jones, Hawaii — \"Most people feel he really wants to stay in paradise. A players’ coach, a passing-game coach and has NFL head-coaching experience.\"

5. (tie) Kirk Ferentz, Iowa — \"Plenty of NFL experience and did a great job of turning the Iowa program around.\"

7. Jeff Tedford, California — \"Great quarterback-offensive coach.\" One expert called him \"another Steve Mariucci.\"

8. Gary Barnett, Colorado — \"He generally wins, and he won at Northwestern.\"

9. Pat Hill, Fresno State — \"NFL experience and a very effective college coach.\"

10. Mike Bellotti, Oregon — \"He made a middle-of-the-road team a perennial Rose Bowl contender and is a pro-type coach.\"