Western Kentucky fired coach Mike Sanford on Sunday after only two seasons.
Tennessee offensive coordinator Tyson Helton has emerged as a top candidate to replace Sanford as the Hilltoppers' head coach, sources told ESPN.
Sanford, 36, went 9-16 at Western Kentucky after previously serving as Notre Dame's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
He went 6-7 in his first year with a Cure Bowl appearance but slipped to 3-9 this fall. Western Kentucky won its final two games, including its first-ever win at Louisiana Tech on Saturday, but that couldn't save Sanford's job.