It’s the first week of November, which means college football job huntin’ season is just about the corner. Which means it’s time for current coordinators to make a good impression if they have head coaching aspirations. Both of the Pac-10’s hires last year were coordinators a year ago, Washington’s Steve Sarkisian (USC OC) and Oregon’s Chip Kelly (promoted from OC).
Here are the Pac-10 coordinators with go-to performances in 2009:
1. Nick Aliotti, DC, Oregon: I’ll probably get myself into trouble writing this, but is there an assistant coach in college football having a better season than Aliotti, given his situation coming into 2009? Here’s a guy who has taken more shots than Jose Canseco in recent years (remember “Allow-A-Lot-I?”) from his fan base for the Ducks’ shoddy defense. Some of it was legitimate, some of bogus. Regardless, the survivor Aliotti is thriving this season. He has withstood myriad injuries to Oregon’s secondary to produce the Pac-10’s best defense this season. Combined with an electric offense, it’s made the Ducks a legitimate national title contender, even if the BCS won’t see it that way.
Head coaching chances: Next to none. Aliotti fits in the Jim Lambright-Bill Doba-Keith Gilbertson mold of good-to-great coordinator, but not-so-great head coaching material. There’s a reason why Aliotti, 55, has been a coordinator so long. Nothing wrong with that, other than the size of the paycheck.
2. Sonny Dykes, OC, Arizona: Dykes’ prospects for a better career path widened considerably within the past month when he proved his short passing-game offense was more than Willie Tuitama. Dykes has quickly developed Nick Foles into a bona fide Pac-10 threat at quarterback; outside of Oregon, perhaps the Pac-10’s most feared offense at the moment is the Wildcats.
Head coaching chances: Strong, if the Wildcats finish the season with a big offensive performance against a marquee opponent such as Oregon or USC. The Dykes system isn’t for everyone, but certainly there are college ADs enamored with a pass-happy offense if Dykes can convince them he cares a little about defense.
3. Danny Langsdorf, OC, OSU: Langsdorf produces one of the best offenses year in, year out in the Pac-10. He routinely gets Oregon State quarterbacks to play at a high level. Langsdorf did a nice job transforming Sean Canfield from an inconsistent sort to potential all-Pac 10 first or second team quarterback. He runs an attractive pro-style offense that features the running back but isn’t shy about throwing the ball. And, shouldn’t good things happen to a guy who donates a kidney? Of course they should.
Head coaching chances: To quote Ben Stiller in “Meet The Parents,” strong to very strong. A year ago, Langsdorf was rumored to be going to Miami as offensive coordinator. He’s only 37, so Langsdorf’s window of opportunity should be open for a good 10 years if OSU’s offense continues to thrive.
4. Jeremy Bates, OC, USC: No one would disagree this year’s USC offense is one of Pete Carroll’s best. But just the way Bates has handled freshman quarterback Matt Barkley alone is worth a boo-yah. Barkley’s play for a first-year quarterback is remarkable, particularly with all the injuries the Trojans’ offense has sustained this season.
Head coaching chances: Weak, at least at the moment. One year running the USC offense isn’t enough. But take Barkley to places that Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer visited in college, and Bates should have a sizzling future.
What about?
Nick Holt, DC, Washington: Sure, Holt has had an impact at Washington. But seriously, for a salary of $2 million over three seasons, didn’t you expect that? The proof as to whether Holt is worth taking a shot as a head coach comes two years from now, when he’s had a couple recruiting classes to build a formidable defense.
Bob Gregory, DC, Cal: The Bears’ defense has been a bit of a disappointment in 2009, but Gregory’s resume at Cal is so strong, this season should be considered no more than a blip. Wouldn’t say Gregory is hot at the moment, though.
Mark Helfrich, OC, Oregon: The Ducks offense is all the rage in college football, and Helfrich is the offensive coordinator. But that’s like saying you had a hand in boosting the U.S. economy by purchasing 100 shares of Google stock. Everyone knows the offense is head coach Chip Kelly’s baby, and at the moment, Helfrich is the caretaker.
Nick Daschel covers the Pacific-10 Conference for Buster Sports, and can be reached at ndaschel@bustersports.com
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