The first version of our Florida Coaching Candidates Hotboard posted 10 days ago, Inside the Gators ran down the top 10 candidates at that time (based on Las Vegas odds) with a person who has and will be asked to offer some input during UF's coaching search - sharing their thoughts on many of the candidates.
RELATED: Florida Coaching Candidates Hotboard 1.0
Now, 10 days later, it appears to be a three man race with perhaps two other candidates in the mix as backup options just incase.
The following list is a mixture of what we have heard combined with what I think (always a dangerous combination) of how the board currently shakes out.
It is also written with the understanding that regardless of the rumors out there, I personally don't believe a deal is done with any of the candidates.
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* Recruiting Wire: Florida commit Corral visiting Alabama
* Notebook: Shannon updates QB reps, another OL out
* Offensive line depth will be put to the test
* Take Two: Would Chip Kelly be the best fit at Florida?
* Shannon press conference blog: OL out for rest of year, Zaire status update
* Breakdown: Commits most to least likely to stick with Florida
* Recruiting Wire: Florida commit taking visit
* Thamel: Florida focused on three candidates
* Florida head coaching candidates weekend wrap-up
* Sunday 3-2-1: Thoughts on Florida's latest loss
* Notebook: Shannon saw more fight in Gators, emotional Zaire pushed to play
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THREE LEADING CANDIDATES
To be clear, this is the order in which I would take them if all three were interested and wanted the job
Current: TV | Age: 53 | Record: 46-7
Overview: This is the hot name out there right now with reports all over the board from Florida is digging into his background and talks are underway all the way to terms have already been agreed upon and an announcement is eminent.
Pros: Without knowing how it would turn out, at the moment, not only would he bring the biggest immediate 'wow' factor, his track record suggests that he would have Florida contending with a fun to watch, big-play, explosive offense. Of the top three, he is the one who would likely have Florida contending for a Championship first.
Cons: I have not been shy about the fact that I don't feel that Kelly is the best fit. That however automatically doesn't mean he wouldn't be the overall best hire. My issues are the NCAA infractions, he isn't used to the culture of football in the southeast (SEE BELOW) and if - or more like when - he finds success, he would be on the look-out for greener pastures.
Bottom Line: If this were the old Jeremy Foley led regime, I believe that the infractions would be a deal killer. It doesn't seem to be the case with Scott Stricklin. As I stated above, while I don't doubt that the two sides are in the middle of feeling each other out, I don't believe that a deal has been finalized. If it has been, today or tomorrow will tell the tale. If as some are reporting it is a done deal, there is no reasonable explanation for holding off on the announcement.
Current: Mississippi State | Age: 45 | Record: 66-45
Overview: What you saw Saturday night in the last minute loss to Alabama is exactly what you get when it comes to Mullen - someone who does more with less than anyone else in the SEC.
Pros: He knows offense, he knows quarterbacks, he knows the University of Florida, he knows the state of Florida, he is familiar with the SEC. The only thing he hasn't done, is win the big one. That shouldn't be held against you when you coach at Mississippi State.
Cons: He isn't a great recruiter, but that can be overcome to an extent with the right group of assistant coaches. He is going to consistently have you competing at the highest levels, but is he the guy to take you to the promised land? Maybe not. Also, almost as importantly, at this point, of these top three, he is the one who would be considered a letdown hire. With Florida finishing with a losing record for the second time in five seasons, the Gators need a 'wow' hire, and I don't know that he would fit that bill.
Bottom Line: To me, for the long term future of the Florida football program, looking back 10 years from now, he would probably be looked upon as the best hire. His ceiling may not be as high as the other two, but his basement isn't as low either. He has had overtures and opportunities in the past, but hasn't jumped. I would be willing to bet he would if he was offered the Florida job.
Current: UCF | Age: 42 | Record: 15-7
Overview: He is the hot young up-and-comer heading the No. 1 scoring offense in the nation. If it worked out, of the three top candidates, he is the one you could see still in Gainesville an unheard of 15 years or more.
Pros: Young, energetic, good looking young head coach who's star is skyrocketing. Regardless of competition level, his offense is buzzing along and is fun to watch. Along those lines, he would be a 'fun' coach to follow. Just check out the way he was received for playing scout team quarterback a few weeks ago.
Cons: When you talk about the most successful coaches in college football, they mostly followed one path - they were either coordinators on the team they now coach or a coordinator another team and hired away (SEE BELOW). What do Brian Kelly, Butch Jones and Dave Doren all have in common? They, like Frost now, were all once scorching hot Group of 5, can't miss coaching prospects who tore it up at their respective Group of 5 Conference schools, but then faltered at Power 5 Conference schools. Of those considered the top tier of coaches right now, only Urban Meyer followed that path. There's miss after miss for that one very big success story.
Bottom Line: Along with Kelly, he would be considered the biggest 'wow' hire. It would seemingly be a seamless move. One thing to watch out for though is if the Nebraska job comes open.
TWO TO KEEP AN EYE ON
These following two are both solid, up-and-coming coaches, and may end up being top tier head coaches, but at this point, fair or not, either would feel like a major letdown to many in the Gator Nation.
Bottom Line: There's an interesting post in the Alley where Chris Landry, who said his firm has been hired to provide background scouting info on coaching candidates, has Taggart as Florida's No. 3 option.
Current: Oregon | Age: 41 | Record: 45-50
Current: Memphis | Age: 36 | Record: 16-6
Bottom Line: It would take the top three all saying no to get down to here, but in the unlikely circumstance that that happens, here is a name to keep an eye on more-so than Charlie Strong or even Justin Fuentes.
ADDITIONAL NOTES ON ARGUMENTS MADE ABOVE
* When I talk about not being used to the culture of football in the Southeast, I mean that as the SEC motto goes, 'It just means more.' It is a different animal. Someone with a more laid-back or perhaps aloof personality can get eaten up. Even though he coached at Alabama, I don't know that Jim McElwain was ready for the recruiting wars that go on in the SEC. You can't be Mr. Nice Guy or too laid back or not willing to put in the work and have it work out for you. You have to have some savage to you to get it done in the south. It isn't like that in other places. When Urban Meyer moved from Florida to Ohio State he ruffled some feathers because he was recruiting prospects committed to other Big10 programs. They had a gentleman's agreement in the conference up there that they don't do that. Can you imagine something like that happening in the SEC? Me either.
* Go down the line of top coaches, and their job before their very first big job was at a coordinator level (Patterson, Stoops, Swinney, Fisher, Shaw, Saban - NFL DC - even Kelly himself followed that path)
