Arizona football: 5 candidates to replace Kevin Sumlin as Wildcats coach

TUCSON, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 11: Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Arizona Wildcats watches from the sidelines during the secod half of the NCAAF game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Arizona Stadium on December 11, 2020 in Tucson, Arizona. This years game is the 94th contest of the Territorial Cup. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Josh Heupel, UCF Head Coach

Heupel is near the end of his third season (pending a bowl game) as head coach at UCF, with a 28-7 record (6-3 this season). He first surfaced on the radar as the quarterback at Oklahoma and the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2000, but he is building a robust coaching resume.

In his one season as offensive coordinator at Utah State (2015), the Aggies improved to 60th in the country in scoring offense. In his two seasons (2016 and 2017) as offensive coordinator at Missouri, the Tigers finished 13th and eighth in the country in total offense. Drew Lock became an NFL prospect under Heupel’s tutelage.

In each of Heupel’s first two seasons at UCF, the Knights were top-5 in the country in total offense and top-six in scoring offense. This year they sit second in the country in total offense and eighth in scoring offense, as quarterback Dillon Gabriel enters this Saturday’s action leading the country in passing yards.

Heupel has navigated opt-outs and injuries to keep the success going at UCF this year. He would also bring a fast-paced offense that can get it done via air or ground, so bigger schools may come calling. In some ways, he’s everything Sumlin has proven he’s not as an offensive coach, so Arizona should have an interest.

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