When the coaching carousel stopped spinning after the 2017 season, UCLA gleefully hopped off, convinced they had their man.
Chip Kelly, the most coveted available coach, was on his way to Westwood. UCLA had finally swung big and made a home run hire. Florida State also drew strong reviews for swiping Willie Taggart from Oregon. Taggart had deep roots in the region and viewed FSU as a dream job. While Jeremy Pruitt didn't arrive at Tennessee with the same fanfare, he provided closure after a messy and embarrassing search, and brought strong coordinator credentials from his time at Alabama.