Coaching Carousel (Boise State)

For what use to be a community college and one of the lowest level coaching jobs in the FBS, Boise State has done a great job of building their program into arguably the best non AQ program in all of college football.  Boise State will be going to their 12th straight bowl game and has won their conference nine times since joining the FBS in 1996.

Dirk Koetter was the coach that got the program's success going with Dan Hawkins continuing that success.  However it wasn't till Peterson took over that the team went to new heights.  Under Peterson the Broncos have won 89% of their games, won two BCS Bowls, and finished ranked in the top 10 four times.  Peterson also went toe to toe with many elite teams to open the season beating Oregon, Virginia Tech, and Georgia in different seasons.  With all his success he was pegged to leave Boise at some point and take over a bigger program.  However his choice to stay along the west coast and be at a place that doesn't have a lot of overbearing media has lead to him staying at Boise for many years.  Until now, Peterson accepted the Washington job in what looks like a great fit.  That now means the Broncos will be looking to carry on their new tradition with their fourth head coach since 2000.

In the past it was just next man up.  When Koetter left for Arizona State, Hawkins was an assistant on staff and hired to replace him.  When Hawkins left for Colorado the school hired the offensive coordinator named Chris Peterson.  Unlike the two previous coaches that left, Peterson's success lead to his assistants getting hired at other programs.  Bryan Harsin left to run Texas' offense and Brett Pease took over at Florida.  Justin Wilcox was the defensive coordinator at Tennessee, Washington and now at USC.  I don't see a coach on the Broncos staff that looks ready to take over.  For the first time since Koetter was hired, they have to go out and find somebody.  Should be interesting to find out who they hire.

Possible Candidates

Bryan Harsin (Arkansas State Head Coach)
Here is the favorite to get the job.  Harsin was Chris Peterson's offensive coordinator for five season before leaving to become the co-offensive coordinator at the University of Texas.  After two years there he left to take over the Arkansas State program where he lead them to a 7-5 record.  Harsin's ties to the program and head coaching experience make him the ideal candidate.  The only thing that would prevent him from getting this job is a home run candidate coming from nowhere.  Don't see that happening.

Justin Wilcox (USC Defensive Coordinator) 
Wilcox agreed to go with Steve Sarkisian to USC, but that was before Chris Peterson agreed to take the Washington job.  Wilcox was the defensive coordinator at Boise State for four years and was there when they knocked off Adrian Peterson and Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.  He's since coached in the SEC and the Pac 12.  I don't know if he'll take this job or if they'll offer it to him, but if Harsin isn't the guy.  Wilcox should be.

Beau Baldwin (Eastern Washington Head Coach)
If Boise doesn't go with a coach that has previous ties they could look to one of the most successful teams in the FCS.  Beau Baldwin is having great success, including winning a National Title in 2010.  Baldwin has worked his way up the coaching ladder and could be due for a FBS job.  Coaching in Washington he knows the area that he'll need to recruit.  I don't know if they'll consider him, but if they look to the FCS, he's there guy.

Bobb Stitt (Colorado School of Mines Head Coach)
I brought up Bob Stitt as a possible choice for the Wyoming job and think that Boise State would also be a good fit.  Boise as we known isn't afraid to do things differently. Hiring a Division II coach could be a reach for this program, but his creative offense should fit in with the Broncos.

Jeff Tedford (Former California Head Coach)
If Tedford wants to get back to being a head coach, the Boise job would be a great landing spot.  It's not a BCS job, but it's darn near close.  Peterson had a lot of success recruiting California and Tedford's contacts within the state should help him out.