Coaches Carousel

Every year the Coaching Carousel is in full force.  Mainly because expectations are through the roof and schools and administrators demand winners.  Here is a look at three coaches who could be going in opposite directions.

Poised to Breakout

Willie Taggart, South Florida
When Taggart went from being Stanford's running backs coach to the head coach at Western Kentucky, nobody put much thought to it.  However in his first stint as a head coach Taggart only elevated the Hilltoppers from one of the newest FBS schools to beating an SEC School and taking them to their first bowl game.

Taggart is set up to succeed right away.  He's a Florida native and has recruited the state while at Western Kentucky.  South Florida has long been considered a sleeping giant in talent rich Florida and with his ties to the state he could propel the Bulls further than they've ever been.  A big part of that is his relationships with the top high school programs in the state.  When Taggart was up for the job, a lot of those coaches were lobbying for him.  If Taggart can start cashing in on those connections, it's only a matter of time before he elevates the USF program and his appeal to bigger programs.

Better get it going

Randy Edsall, Maryland
When Maryland fired Ralph Friedgen the speculation of who they were going to hire was running rampant.  Mike Leach was a popular name because of his ties to Under Armour.  However Maryland decided to go with Edsall who had just won the Big East and gone to the school's first BCS Game.

There were high expectations for Edsall since he had built up the UConn program and filled it with NFL caliber players.  However his short tenure at Maryland has been anything but good.  Marred by numerous transfers and starters leaving Edsall has only won 6 games in two years. Edsall still has a little time to get things going, but if he suffers through another 4 win season he find himself squarely on the hot seat.  Also doesn't help that James Franklin was the head coach in waiting but wasn't hired and he's gone on to turn Vanderbilt into a legitimate team.

Hot Seat

Lane Kiffin, USC
It was a curious hire when they plucked Kiffin from Tennessee after one year.  Kiffin struggled in the NFL with the Raiders and was fired and with the Volunteers he was know more for running his mouth than winning games.

It looked like Kiffin was going to have the Trojans back on top after a 10-2 season in 2011 and were preseason #1 for the 2012 season.  However the 2012 team vastly underachieved finishing with a 7-6 record.  Pair in the disappointing record and an Athletic Director who doesn't get along with him that didn't hire him.  Makes you wonder how much of leash he is going to get if he has another disappointing season.  Chances are he won't get another shot.

Already Gone

Gary Pinkel, Missouri
Pinkel's career has already been a roller coaster.  He was nearly fired after six season losing five games each year.  However things clicked and Pinkel lead the Tigers to ten wins in three of the next five years.  Pinkel had built the Tigers into one of the premier teams in the Big 12.

However then the news came of Missouri moving to the SEC.  Seemed like a good move.  However the Tigers have been completely over matched.  Their wide open spread offense was unable to get things moving and Pinkel was unable to get #1 overall recuit Dorial Green-Beckham involved in the offense.  The SEC is a cut throat league and the Tigers don't want to get behind too much.  It may end up taking a dream season to save Pinkel's job.