Kansas coaching search: Les Miles and 5 candidates to replace David Beaty

1. Neal Brown, Troy Head Coach

Brown has built things quickly at Troy, with 10 wins in 2016, 11 wins last year and a 7-2 mark so far this year with three regular season games and a bowl game to go. He is a candidate to make the jump to a Power 5 school, but three straight 10-plus win seasons and a second Sun Belt title might seal his departure as schools step over each other to interview him. And before you dismiss his success as a mere product of being in a small conference, the Trojans upset LSU in 2017 and beat Nebraska this year.

Brown came back to Troy as head coach after being quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at Kentucky (2013-14) and Texas Tech (2010-2012). So he’s got proverbial “big school” experience, and the offenses at Texas Tech and Kentucky both improved steadily under his guidance. He was wide receivers coach (2006-2007), then offensive coordinator (2008-2009) at Troy before he left for Texas Tech.

There’s a pretty big difference between building a solid program at Troy and doing the same at Kansas, even with the idea of having more resources. But Brown is young (38) with a solid resume, and he’s offensive-minded.

Brown may have some eye on getting a better job at a bigger school, now or in another year or two, and he wouldn’t be blamed for that. But if Long sticks to the profile he offered, Kansas’ interest in one of the top Group of 5 head coaches out there should be a no-brainer.