STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State head coaching search has been a whirlwind.
Just a day after Patriots special teams coordinator Joe Judge seemed primed to take over at his alma mater, he was named the head coach of the New York Giants.
With MSU now missing on one of their top candidates, it’s back to the drawing board to a degree in Starkville. That said, here are a few potential options to replace recently fired Joe Moorhead:
Steve Sarkisian — Alabama offensive coordinator
While it may not have been the first name that came to mind at the beginning of MSU’s head coaching search, Steve Sarkisian has quickly risen to the top of potential candidates.
A source close to the situation told The Dispatch on Wednesday nothing is imminent with Sarkisian’s hiring, but he could be in the mix.
A seven-year head coaching veteran who spent the past season as the offensive coordinator for Nick Saban at Alabama, he compiled a 46-35 record between stops at Washington and University of Southern California.
Success aside, Sarkisian comes with some baggage. He was fired at USC due to a handful of alcohol-related incidents — issues that were later found to have occurred during his time at Washington.
Beyond the off the field problems, Sarkisian would offer a compelling addition to an Egg Bowl rivalry that already features fiery Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin.
Sarkisian was Kiffin’s replacement in Los Angeles after the former was famously left on the tarmac when he was ousted as head coach at USC. Sarkisian also took over as the Alabama offensive coordinator when Kiffin left his post with the Crimson Tide to become the head coach at Florida Atlantic.
Mike Leach — Washington State head coach
There’s perhaps no greater wild card in college football than Mike Leach.
As outspoken as coaches come, he’s earned a reputation for his brashness — something that could bode well for a blue collar program like MSU.
While Leach doesn’t have any obvious ties to MSU or the state of Mississippi, he reportedly interviewed for the head coaching vacancy with Athletic Director John Cohen in recent days. A source with immediate knowledge of the situation also told The Dispatch Wednesday he was “not off the table” as a potential candidate.
And while Leach’s personality would drive most athletic directors insane, there’s a method to the madness. Running a wide-open air raid offense known for its gaudy passing numbers, he’s compiled a 139-90 record in 18 years between stops at Washington State and Texas Tech.
Say what you will about Leach, but he’s won everywhere he’s been — notably at places that lack the glitz and glam of their Power Five Conference competitors.
Todd Grantham — Florida defensive coordinator
After guiding MSU to one of its best defenses in school history, Todd Grantham would enjoy a homecoming of sorts should he land the job.
Grantham — who has spent the past two seasons on Dan Mullen’s staff at Florida — was also an assistant under Mullen during the 2017 season — his last in Starkville. A longtime assistant coach in college and the NFL, he worked as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Georgia between 2010 and 2013 before a three year stop at Louisville.
There’s some question as to how Grantham would handle running his own program, but his familiarity with MSU would give him insight into the school and team no other coach on this list has.
Billy Napier — Louisiana head coach
It ain’t over till it’s over — at least that’s been MSU’s approach to Louisiana head coach Billy Napier. After publicly denying his candidacy for the job, Cohen has reportedly made another run at the former Alabama and Clemson assistant this week.
Napier’s name has long been linked to the MSU opening but the interest hasn’t been there thus far.
Following an 11-3 season this year, his name also figures to be in the running at Baylor given Matt Rhule’s departure to the NFL.
Should Napier look to make a jump, it’s likely he’d do it at Baylor rather than try and compete in the ever-powerful SEC West.
It isn’t totally out of the question Cohen can convince Napier to take on the job, but it’d be far fetched at this point.
Other names to watch
Bill Clark — UAB head coach
Skip Holtz — Louisiana Tech head coach
Troy Calhoun — Air Force head coach
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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