A rising star? An ex-SEC boss? See top candidates for Southern Miss coaching job
The search is on for a new head football coach at Southern Miss after the school let Will Hall go following the 41-28 loss to Arkansas State.
It will be a critical hire for USM athletic director Jeremy McClain, who initially hired Hall and is on the clock to bring aboard fresh leadership that can return the Golden Eagles to prominence.
A key factor for McClain in his search will be ties to the school and the region. Each hire McClain has made at USM has had some kind of regional tie. But the AD did say in a recent press conference that it won’t be the most important thing on his list.
“It adds to that if a candidate has connections,” McClain said. “I think recruiting is always relationship-based. It doesn’t mean someone outside of the area can’t come in and create those relationships. It will be on my list as something to consider, but it will not be at the top of my list.”
The hiring of a search firm to assist in a nationwide vetting of candidates also suggests USM could be more open to a bringing in an outsider.
With McClain open to looking outside of the USM and state network and a contingency of the fan base clamoring for a non-local to run the show, we decided to take a look at some names that could be of interest to the school and the football program that do not have any ties to USM or Mississippi.
Brennan Marion, UNLV Offensive Coordinator
There may not be a name more popular among the USM fan base than that of the architect of the Go-Go offense. Marion’s UNLV offense is currently fifth nationally in scoring using a unique RPO, spread-power system predicated on a ground attack that often utilizes two running backs set to the same side of the shotgun quarterback.
Marion’s name is fast-growing in popularity and has already been linked as a potential candidate to the just-opened offensive coordinator position at Oklahoma. But Marion has strong coaching connections from his time at Texas and multiple previous stops at Power Conference schools.
Only an interview will reveal Marion’s prowess when it comes to managing the transfer portal and NIL, a top factor for McClain, due to his working at five different schools in the last six years.
Bryan Harsin, former Auburn head coach
Harsin is a free agent with plenty of experience in the Group of Five. He’s a Boise, Idaho-born veteran who has spent much of his career in that area, including seven seasons as the Broncos head coach with 69 wins in that span.
He has spent three years in the Southeast, though. Before Boise State, Harsin was a one-and-done Sun Belt coach at Arkansas State and most recently spent two years at Auburn.
The primary concern is his relationships with players, particularly after running out a “miserable” Bo Nix while at Auburn.
Jimmy Rogers, South Dakota State head coach
Rogers, and just about any FCS head coach from the Dakotas and Montanas, would draw strong interest from G5’s looking for a new leader.
The second-year head coach may be the prize catch after going 15-0 and winning a national title in his first season. Rogers was groomed on the defensive side of the ball where he was named FCS Coordinator of the Year in 2022.
Southern Miss could feasibly triple Rogers’ $310,000 salary, but so could just about anyone else.
Patrick Toney, Arizona Cardinals defensive backs coach
Toney is a quick-rising defensive mind that drew the interest of the NFL prior to the 2023 season, which led to Billy Napier plucking former USM defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong from Alabama to replace Toney — who had served as Florida’s co-defensive coordinator.
Only 34 years of age, Toney has already produced numerous NFL draft picks from his time as Louisiana’s safeties coach and eventual defensive coordinator during the Ragin’ Cajuns’ run atop the Sun Belt.
The biggest question is whether Toney has the capacity to run an FBS program, along with his own interest in doing so after voluntarily leaving the Gators and taking a pay cut to jump to the NFL.
Bill Clark, former UAB head coach
Another one of the most popular names among USM fans, Clark is reportedly ready to get back into the game. Clark is responsible for rebuilding UAB football from literal scratch and putting together a 49-26 record as head coach of the Blazers.
He resigned just before the 2022 season for health reasons, but will be a hot candidate for G5 schools if he’s ready to grab the reigns of a head coaching job again. The biggest challenge for USM will be who it may have to compete with for Clark’s services.
With UAB slogging through a disastrous year two under Trent Dilfer, the Blazers could be on the market for a coach soon and would likely welcome back the Birmingham area native with open arms.
Bryant Vincent, ULM head coach
Southern Miss could make waves if it manages to swipe the program leader of a division rival. Vincent has the Warhawks on the brink of their first bowl game since 2012 in his first season as coach after running Clark’s offense at UAB.
It’s no secret ULM’s athletic budget sits at the bottom of the Sun Belt and the lack of monetary support has played a significant factor in the team producing one winning season since rejoining college football’s upper level in 1994.
Southern Miss could give Vincent’s $600,000 salary an immediate boost and lure him with better resources and improved institutional support. But, similar to Rogers, there are many G5 programs that could do the same.
Travis Williams, Arkansas defensive coordinator
While the Sam Pittman era at Arkansas hasn’t exactly been a rousing success, it has produced strong defenses that have already led to another G5’s rise. Before Williams, Barry Odom parlayed his Razorback defense into the head coaching gig at UNLV where the Runnin’ Rebels are becoming College Football Playoff contenders.
Williams quickly had success, himself. His first defense in 2023 was the school’s best since 2014 and best pass defense since 2011. His two seasons have also coincided with the development of potential first round draft pick Landon Jackson.
The 41-year-old also helped build high-ranking defenses at Auburn and vastly improved UCF’s defense in his two seasons in Orlando. Williams is known as a player’s coach and has drawn strong praise for his game-planning abilities.
Tim Drevno, Ohio State offensive quality control
It’s time to get really off the wall. Drevno has an elite history working with offensive lines throughout his career and most recently spent an off season working with the Buckeyes as the staff put together one of the top transfer classes to date.
While he has no direct ties to USM, he did coach Frank Gore Sr’s offensive line as the San Francisco 49ers OL coach from 2011-13, where his entire starting offensive line was named to the All-Pro teams in 2012. His three years as offensive coordinator at Michigan led to three consecutive 2,000-yard team rushing seasons.
Drevno also coached OL at USC and UCLA where he produced multiple first round draft picks. Whether or not the 55-year-old is interested in a head coaching gig (and in a region of the country he’s never lived in) remains to be seen. But he could provide an immediate fix to the Golden Eagles’ long struggling offensive line play and has deep connections in the coaching ring.
This story was originally published October 24, 2024 at 11:31 AM with the headline "A rising star? An ex-SEC boss? See top candidates for Southern Miss coaching job."
