Hot seat watch, Week 1: 5 coaches feeling the heat
3. Kliff Kingsbury – Texas Tech
Last season, Kliff Kingsbury was another hot seat candidate that managed to make it through to the 2018 campaign. His team rallied late and some victories ultimately helped seal the deal when it came to Kingsbury keeping his job.
However, when a coach is on the hot seat and does just enough to buy himself another season, he has to show results right away. If a program appears to be headed through yet another cycle of mediocrity, they’ll jump off fast.
That’s why fast is the key and it’s the type of start Kingsbury and the Red Raiders need. They face an SEC foe at home to begin the season when they take on the Ole Miss Rebels. While not the strength of the SEC, defeating a quality opponent at home to begin the season would help in a lot of ways.
It would inspire confidence in both the program and Kingsbury. It’s the type of building block game that can prepare them for what’s next. It’s also the type of game where if Texas Tech falls short, it won’t affect him as much as other coaches on the hot seat.
Now, if the Red Raiders get blown out and don’t look prepared to face Ole Miss, that won’t help either. Kingsbury needs a strong season and will have more opportunities than other coaches in this category.