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5 replacements for Gary Pinkel at Missouri

By Cody Williams

Nov 5, 2015; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel looks on prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2015; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel looks on prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 23, 2015; Tulsa, OK, USA; Memphis Tigers head coach Justin Fuente reacts from the sidelines against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane during the second half at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium. The Tigers won 66-42. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2015; Tulsa, OK, USA; Memphis Tigers head coach Justin Fuente reacts from the sidelines against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane during the second half at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium. The Tigers won 66-42. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Justin Fuente

Similarly to Herman at Houston, Justin Fuente has done a phenomenal job with the Memphis Tigers in the 2015 season. Prior to their devastating loss to Navy last week, Memphis was another team outside the Power 5 conferences that had the opportunity to make some real noise in the college football world and potentially climb into the College Football Playoff picture. While those hopes may have been dashed with the loss, it’s still phenomenal what Fuente has done with the program.

Fuente came to Memphis prior to the 2012 season and with Memphis football in the toilet. Over his first two seasons in the program, the Tigers went a combined 7-17, which is unsuccessful by any measure. As Fuente’s recruiting classes have started arriving and he’s been able to establish a culture with the Tigers football program, though, things have dramatically turned around for Fuente and Memphis as a whole.

Memphis went 10-3 last season and tied for first place in the American Athletic Conference. They also earned a bowl victory in the Miami Beach Bowl and finished the season ranked 25th in the polls. With that kind of progress from a young coach in his first head-coaching stint, Fuente has more than proven himself as a quality candidate to move up in terms of the size of the program he’s running, Missouri should unquestionably look to bring him in to replace Pinkel.

Next: No. 1 Kirby Smart

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