Fansided

10 college football coaches on the hot seat in 2015

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Nov 22, 2014; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Al Golden (L) congratulates Virginia Cavaliers head coach Mike London (R) after their game at Scott Stadium. The Cavaliers won 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2014; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Al Golden (L) congratulates Virginia Cavaliers head coach Mike London (R) after their game at Scott Stadium. The Cavaliers won 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 11
Next
Nov 22, 2014; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Paul Rhoads watches from the sidelines against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2014; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Paul Rhoads watches from the sidelines against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

Iowa State is anything but a college football factory, but the Cyclones showed promise in Paul Rhoads’ first four seasons as head coach. Iowa State posted a winning season in 2009, which included the first of three bowl games in a four-year period.

Unfortunately, 2009 was the only winning campaign the school has had in the last nine years and Rhoads has led the Cyclones to just five wins over the last two seasons combined. Last season, Iowa State stumbled to a 2-10 record that included an 0-8 mark in Big 12 play – yep, Iowa State even lost to Kansas (and badly, 34-14). The Cyclones were outscored 43-23 and outgained by 191 yards per contest in conference play.

Defense was the team’s biggest problem. Iowa State allowed a staggering 38.8 points per game, 529 yards per contest (worst in FBS), 5.7 yards per carry, 6.5 yards per play (again, last in FBS) and allowed quarterbacks to complete 62.1 percent of their passes.

The outlook for 2015 doesn’t look so good, either. The Cyclones open the season with quality FCS opponent Northern Iowa (a program that has beaten the Cyclones in two of their last four meetings), hated rival Iowa, and MAC title contender Toledo. Then the school begins Big 12 play and finishes with seven consecutive games against teams that went to a bowl game last season – including College Football Playoff contenders TCU and Baylor and perennial heavyweights Texas and Oklahoma.

Another 2-10 or 3-9 season, especially one that ends on a seven or eight-game losing streak, could mark the end of the Paul Rhoads era at Iowa State.

Next: 7. Willie Taggart, USF

Home/College Football