10 Power 5 head coaches most on the hot seat in 2016
By John Buhler
There are a lot of questions surrounding the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football program. Does the triple option still have a place in an era of college football so infatuated with spread offenses? Should Georgia Tech be better able to recruit players from a Power 5 school that is almost a lock to make a bowl? Is it time to move on from head coach Paul Johnson?
After 2014’s ACC Coastal and Orange Bowl victory season, there was no doubt that Johnson’s Yellow Jackets were poised to make some serious noise in the Power 5 in 2015. However, 2015 was an atrocious season on The Flats for the Yellow Jackets, going 3-9 (1-8) with only an improbable field goal return at home against Florida State from going 0-for in ACC play.
Not only did Georgia Tech fail to reach a bowl game for the first time in the Johnson era (since 2008), but the ACC Coastal has amplified its coaching acumen. Larry Fedora has a great program in Chapel Hill. David Cutcliffe isn’t leaving Durham anytime soon. Pat Narduzzi had a great first year with Pittsburgh.
Let’s not forget who joins the ACC Coastal in 2016: The Virginia Tech Hokies replace the legendary Frank Beamer with on-the-rise Justin Fuente formerly of the Memphis Tigers. The Virginia Cavaliers somehow convinced BYU Cougars head coach Bronco Mendenhall to live in a trailer and relocate from Provo to Charlottesville. Lastly, Georgia nemesis Mark Richt now coaches his alma mater’s program with the Miami Hurricanes in Coral Gables.
Johnson has to get Georgia Tech back to eight wins in 2016 to feel good about getting a 10th year as head coach of the Yellow Jackets. The formerly lackluster ACC Coastal is about to get very feisty and are Johnson’s Yellow Jackets ready for the gauntlet?
Next: 6. Steve Addazio, Boston College Eagles