With Mack Brown expected to step down as Texas head coach later this week, the search for a replacement is already in full swing behind the scenes. Texas regents have reached out to several candidates, and as it stands, here are the top choices to replace Brown in Austin:
5. Urban Meyer, Ohio State Head Coach
Meyer has a good thing going at Ohio State, but Texas regents have identified him as a top candidate for the job. He makes $4 million annually, and it wouldn't be easy to pull him out of Columbus after just two years, but the Texas job isn't easy to turn down.
4. Jimbo Fisher, Florida State Head Coach
Fisher's Seminoles are getting ready to play in the National Title game next month, and with another year of Jameis Winston next season it's hard to see Fisher tearing himself away from Tallahassee. Still, there are rumors that Fisher would consider the right offer if it came along, and he'd have to think long and hard about a job as alluring as this one.
3. Art Briles, Baylor Head Coach
Briles has proven himself at Baylor, recruiting well and turning an insignificant program into a Big 12 power. While Briles received a contract extension in November and has outwardly maintained that he's happy in his current job, he'd seriously consider Texas if they came calling.
2. Gus Malzahn, Auburn Head Coach
Malzahn has been a success at every level so far, and he's already labeled Texas as his dream destination. While it might be tempting to wait and see if Malzahn's brilliant first year at Auburn isn't a flash in the pan, he has the Tigers in the National Title game just a year after they went 3-9. Malzahn is definitely interested, and at the moment he looks like a risk worth taking.
1. Nick Saban, Alabama Head Coach
Three out of four national titles. A proven history of turning programs into dynasties. It's obvious why Saban is the top name on the Texas list, and they'll do absolutely everything within their power to make him the head coach in Austin. He has a new contract offer on his table from Alabama, and with every day it sits there unsigned, the odds of Saban going to Texas increase.
While these five are definitely the top choices for Texas from the NCAA coaching pool, we're still hearing rumblings that John Harbaugh, head coach of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, is up there with Malzahn and Saban if he becomes available. Stay tuned for more on the Harbaugh situation later today.
--