Head Coaching Candidate Hot Board – 3.0 – Updated November 28, 2023

The Indiana Hoosiers are moving on from Tom Allen. Who are the coaches that could be candidates for athletic director Scott Dolson? Keep in mind, this list is an attempt to identify coaches we believe IU may look at and might have a chance to hire. 

Most Likely “Finalists”

-Mike Hart – Michigan Running Backs Coach (added for Hot Board 3.0)

Matt Weaver at Peegs.com does an outstanding job and he has reported that former IU running backs coach Mike Hart is interviewing for the job. That does not mean Mike Hart will get the job and other interviews are occurring but Mike Hart is a candidate. Hart played Michigan and had an outstanding career that included a brief stint with the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL. He began his coaching career in 2011 and spent five seasons in the MAC before moving to Syracuse and then IU as the running backs coach from 2017 to 2019. He has been the running backs coach at Michigan and the run game coordinator for the past three seasons. Obviously, Michigan has had a great running game but how much of that can be attributed to Mike Hart? Hart is an impressive interview but he would need a really good plan in place for both coordinator hires and for how he plans to build the IU program for Scott Dolson to make this boom or bust move. 

-Curt Cignetti – HC at James Madison

Cignetti is 61 and was born in Pittsburgh. He is a very experienced coach that played QB at WVU from 79-82. Stops at Pittsburgh, Davidson, Rice, Temple, NC State and was on the original staff of Nick Saban at Alabama as WR and recruiting coordinator. Head coach at IUP, Elon and James Madison. IUP was terrible prior to his arrival, going just 4-10 in last 14 conference games. Finished 12-2 in his first season, finished 53-17 at IUP with three playoff appearances. Moved to Elon who had gone through six straight losing seasons. In his first season, won eight games in a row and got as high as sixth in FCS. CAA Coach of the Year. Back-to-back playoff appearances for only time in history. Head coach at James Madison at end of 2018. Seven game improvement in first season, went 14-2 with appearance in national title game. JMU just moved to Sun Belt after going 19-3 in two separate 2021 seasons due to COVID. 8-3 in first FBS season and JMU is having a great 2023. Cignetti is emerging as a leading candidate for the Syracuse opening.

Paul Chryst – Former Wisconsin Head Coach

Another former Big Ten West head coach that is currently not a head coach, Paul Chryst is likely be examined by Scott Dolson. The 58-year old Madison native is currently a special assistant to Steve Sarkisian at Texas. He was fired from Wisconsin after a 2-3 start. Chryst was 67-26 in Madison but there appeared to be diminishing returns before his ouster. Chryst was 10-3 in 2015, 11-3 in 2016 and 13-1 in 2017. After another ten-win season in 2019, Wisconsin was 4-3 in 2020 and 9-4 in 2021. The Badgers won the Big Ten West three times in his seven full seasons and he was 6-1 in bowl games. The biggest concerns would be that Wisconsin relied on a physical smashmouth running game that is difficult to envision working in Bloomington. In addition, Chryst does not have a particularly engaging personality and he has not shown a willingness to adapt to a different style. If he learned some from Steve Sarkisian and hired a good offensive staff, Chryst could be successful. It was reported that Chryst interviewed with a search firm for Oregon State’s open position.

-Jason Candle – Toledo Head Coach (added to Hot Board 2.0)

The current head coach for the Toledo Rockets should have been included on the first hot board but he was left off for one reason: most coaches at Toledo succeed at Toledo. It is a program with better resources and a bigger budget than every other program they face in the MAC. That said Candle has head coaching experience, his offenses perform well and at only 44 years old, he is a young and exciting option. Previous Toledo coaches Matt Campbell and Gary Pinkel were both successful after leaving the Rockets so there is a history of Toledo coaches performing well at their next stop. The Rockets are currently 11-1 and averaging more than 35 points per game. The concerns would be that Candle has spent his entire career in Ohio, might lack the ability to beat foes that have more resources than his program does and he has no experience as a head coach or as an assistant in a Power Five conference. 

-Tom Herman – FAU Head Coach (added to Hot Board 2.0)

Herman is a hot name for IU right now. He has coached at Houston and Texas and has a career record of 58-30. However, he did finish the 2023 season 4-8 (3-5) with the Owls. That could be explained by the transition from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference and losing expected starting quarterback Casey Thompson for the season but 4-8 is a slight concern. Herman would bring experience and name recognition to the Hoosiers. He is 5-0 in bowl games, including 2-0 in New Year’s Six Bowls. Herman is known as a bright offensive mind and a strong recruiter.

How Big is the Budget? If IU Swings Big, These Candidates Could Be In Play

-Jeff Traylor – UTSA Head Coach 

Jeff Traylor began his coaching career as a high school coach in Texas. After several years, he made the jump to college as a special teams and tight ends coach for the Texas Longhorns in 2015. He was the associate head coach for SMU in 2017 and then the associate head coach and running backs in 2018 and 2019 at Arkansas. Traylor was given the opportunity to lead UTSA beginning in 2020 and has gone 37-13 (as of November 13) with the Roadrunners. They went 7-5 in 2020 and then took off in 2021, going 12-2 (1st in CUSA West) and 11-3 (1st in CUSA West) before jumping to the American Athletic Conference in 2023. After a slow start, the Roadrunners are now 8-3 and 7-0 in conference play. He has no experience anywhere near the Midwest but he is a winner with tons of charisma. Would he want to leave the state of Texas for IU? This would be a phenomenal hire and he’ll be a star in the very near future but it seems unlikely. 

-Willie Fritz – Tulane Head Coach

The biggest knock on Willie Fritz is that he is 63 years old. If the age is not a concern, Willie Fritz becomes a major candidate. He reportedly makes less than three million dollars per season and has won every place he’s coached. Fritz was a major success at Sam Houston State when they were in the FCS and coached Georgia Southern through its transition to the FBS, going 17-7. Fritz was hired by Tulane in 2016 with the Green Wave program in the pits. They improved each season from 2016 to 2019 before dropping down to 6-6 in 2020 and 2-10 in 2021. Fritz bounced back in spectacular fashion, going 12-2 with a win in the Cotton Bowl over USC in 2022 and they are 10-1 (as of November 22) in 2023. Fritz runs a fun offense and his teams are tough as nails. 

-Dave Clawson – Wake Forest Head Coach

It is unlikely Dave Clawson would leave Wake Forest for Indiana. That written, if IU is willing to offer him a huge salary and make promises to invest in the program in a big way, would Clawson listen? The Demon Deacons have had a down season, particularly on offense. Has he had banged his head against the ceiling enough in Winston-Salem? Is he ready for a new challenge? Clawson makes 3.6 million dollars at Wake Forest so if IU offers to add a bunch of money to his paycheck, it could be an interesting choice. Clawson won at Bowling Green before moving to Wake Forest in 2014. He has won been to bowl games in seven straight seasons before 2023 and won 11 games in 2021. His slow mesh offense is interesting and winning at Wake Forest is analogous to winning at IU in terms of needing to do more with less. 

-Jamey Chadwell – Liberty Head Coach

Tom Allen was once a rumored candidate for the open job at Liberty after Hugh Freeze left but the Flames hired Chadwell instead. The 46-year old is 11-0 in his first season there and is considered the man expected to get the Mississippi State head coaching position. If the Bulldogs do not hire him and IU is willing pay something like $7 or $8 million dollars annually, would Chadwell consider IU? If so, he’d be a grand-slam hire. Chadwell toiled in lower levels, winning everywhere he went before moving up to Coastal Carolina in 2017. He became the head coach there in 2019 and the Chanticleers went 5-7 in his first season before taking off in 2020. They went 11-1, 11-2 and 9-3 over the next three campaigns and showcased a unique and high-scoring attack. Chadwell’s offense would be a blast to watch and difficult for Big Ten opponents to prepare for plus it appears perfectly suited for a quarterback like Brendan Sorsby. Chadwell makes a reported four million dollars per season at Liberty.

Wild Card Candidates

-Justin Frye – Associate Head Coach for Offense/OL Coach at Ohio State (moved here from “finalist” category)

Frye is from Elwood, Indiana. He played at IU and is only 39 years old. He worked at Florida, Temple (OL), Boston College (OL) from 2013-2017, UCLA (OL and OC), OSU (2022). Temple was 7th in the nation in rushing yards at 256.5 yards per game. His BC OL paved the way for the nation’s top rusher (Andre Williams)…in 2014, 254.7 rushing yards per game with just 21 sacks surrendered and two NFL drafted linemen. 2016 was ACC leading time of possession and in 2017 they ran for 220.4 yards per game and only gave up 15 sacks all season. At UCLA, worked with Chip Kelly and helped turn around UCLA’s offense. The Bruins have not been particularly successful since he left. Frye would take the IU job with open arms and he’s known as a very good recruiter. The staff he hired, particularly at OC and on the defensive side of the ball would be important. Justin Frye does not have head coaching experience, something that could be seen as a major strike against him. In addition, Frye has worked at places with talent and resource advantages (most recently, Ohio State). He would face the exact opposite at IU. All indications point to IU hiring someone with previous head coaching experience. That makes Frye a longshot at this point in time. 

-Chuck Martin – Head Coach at Miami Ohio (moved down from main list for Hot Board 3.0)

Chuck Martin is the head coach for the Miami (OH) RedHawks. He’s 55 years old and played both football and basketball at Millikin before entering coaching as a Graduate Assistant for Mankato State in 1992. Martin has several stops before becoming the head coach at Grand Valley State from 2004 to 2009. The Lakers were 74-7 under Martin with pair of Division II titles. Martin moved to Notre Dame as a recruiting coordinator and then offensive coordinator for two seasons (2010-2013) before being hired as the head coach in Oxford, Ohio. The RedHawks were just 5-19 in his first two seasons before making a bowl game in 2016. After years of drifting between 5-7 and 8-6, Martin’s RedHawks are 9-2 (6-1) heading into the final weekend of the season. Martin is not considered a serious candidate for the IU job at this time.

-Rod Carey – IU Offensive Coordinator (added to Hot Board 2.0)

Most IU fans will not be thrilled with the inclusion of Rod Carey but IU promoting Rod Carey from offensive coordinator to head coach is a possibility. There is no question Carey would love the opportunity to lead his alma mater and he did improve the offensive line during his stint as interim offensive line coach in 2022 and improved the offense since taking over for Walt Bell. Carey has head coaching experience at Northern Illinois and Temple with moderate success. It would be difficult to envision the hiring of Rod Carey as anything other than a sideways maneuver for IU football.

-Jon Sumrall – Troy Head Coach (moved down for 3.0)

The 41-year old Alabama native is in his second year as the head coach of the Troy Trojans and has amassed a 21-4 record (as of November 21, 2023). The Trojans went 12-2 in 2022 and won the Cure Bowl, finishing ranked 19th in the final AP Poll. They are currently 9-2 and in first place in the Sun Belt’s West division (as of November 22). Sumrall began his career as a GA at Kentucky before moving to coach at San Diego, Tulane, Troy and Ole Miss. He returned to Kentucky as the co-defensive coordinator in 2019 before being named the head coach at Troy prior to the 2022 season. Sumrall is known as a terrific recruiter and a strong defensive coach but the Trojans have put up some points so he’s not averse to having a strong offense. 

-Note-

Hot Board 3.0 is trimmed down. We have removed Bob Chesney, Brent Vigen, Troy Calhoun, Manny Diaz, Will Stein, Dan Mullen, Barry Odom and Pat Fitzgerald from the board. Pat Fitzgerald was at least considered but is no longer a candidate. As of publishing it looks as if Sean Lewis is taking the head coaching position at San Diego State.