The ones that would be interested that he might consider would be UCLA (they seem like they have a larger slate of candidates than I expected), South Carolina (not going to come open, Beamer just got an extension and Tech has their guy), and Clemson (Daboās not going anywhere).
None of the other current/potential openings would be able to sell him to their fanbase imo.
UCLA is probably the most interesting one, but there is enough smoke around Chesney (no idea why heād take that job to be honest. One more year at JMU and youāll get a better one), Tommy Reese, the current staff, DāAnton Lynn, and Jason Eck (I think he might hold off for Wisconsin next year) that I donāt see them going off book.
Maybe if Lincoln Riley shocks the world and USC comes open?
And if Lane moves, the Ole Miss candidates would be Sumrall #1 with a bullet (if the barners havenāt already hired him by then) and then potentially elevating members of their current staff or Ryan Silverfield.
Shoot, Chesney plays his cards right and heās in Happy Valley this winter instead!
I donāt think TEās leaving (even after my emotional outburst after Wake, it was a weak moment lol) but with how wild west the sport feels right now I canāt entirely count out that scenario coming up
Itās been a great year, but not sure the track record warrants whatever commitment some one would need to make to yank him from Charlottesville.
Iād put Narduzzi, Jake Dickert (although that prob has a hefty buyout, prob wouldnāt leave after a year - maybe for Wisconsin when that opens up) and Diaz as coaches higher on the totem pole.
Excluded the guys I donāt think would move from current situations. Maybe Brohm would be interested elsewhere but I bet Louisville locks him up.
Elliottās contract ends after next season, right? Thatāll be his fifth year. Am I crazy to think that he still hasnāt earned an extension yet? This year has been phenomenal but thereās no evidence these results can be replicated. Next year is huge year for UVA football and TE.
You canāt keep stringing out on giving the extension. Making TE go into next season as a lame duck is essentially a vote of no confidence and would turn him off and turn off future candidates. Worst of all, it it would hamstring all recruiting efforts during the season an almost force a restart of the program during the 26/7 offseason no matter who is coaching in 27.
They donāt need to give TE a massive 6 year deal but a modest extension to create a bridge and provide stability to the program is the right thing to do.
Absolutely have to extend, but I would like to err towards higher salary over longer contract as much as possible. Keep the buyout in a place where youāre not completely screwed if it gets to a point where you have to pay it.
The halls of CFB mediocrity are littered with programs who gave extensions to coaches after one good season while trying to outbid a non-existent suitor.
I honestly donāt care about the extension or salary as long as the buyout is manageable. If you get to something unwieldy I think there is a good chance we regret it by 2028 which would be the worst possible time to be rebuilding a program and be a little cash strapped.
You make some excellent points. If an extension keeps the momentum going, keeps the donations flowing, Iām all for it. Even better if itās modest extension like you mentioned. He needs to prove this season wasnāt a fluke. If he can maximize the resources heās given, build another solid team from the portal, and not lose winnable games ā¦ give that man all the money he wants.
I asked ChatGPT (free version) for a list of Power Conference head coaches that received an extension despite an overall losing record.
Came back with Mike Locksley and Matt Ruhle. It also snuck in Coach Prime which is not really true, but close.
I think there are unfortunate parallels to Locksley here (not so much Ruhle, but still cautionary). Although, Locksley had two Bowl seasons before his extension FWIW.
