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) /

4 of 5

Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Brent Brennan, San Jose State Head Coach

In his first three seasons as head coach at San Jose State, Brennan had an 8-29 record (5-7 in 2019). But the Spartans will go into the Mountain West title game with a 6-0 record this season after Friday night’s comeback win over Nevada. It’s the program’s first MWC title game berth, and they will face Boise State on Dec. 18. The Spartans and Broncos had been scheduled to play Nov. 28, but now what would’ve been a big game last month will have higher stakes.

Before coming back to be the head coach at San Jose State, Brennan was the wide receivers coach at Oregon State from 2011-2016. Before that, he was an offensive assistant at San Jose (2005-2010), wide receivers coach at Cal Poly (2001-2004), a grad assistant/tight ends coach at Washington (1999) and a grad assistant at Arizona in 2000 under Dick Tomey.

Brennan may want to keep trying to build something at San Jose State, where he has ties dating back to six seasons as an assistant. But this year’s popup success stands to have some bigger schools ready to try to pluck him. A step up to a job in the Pac-12 feels like a logical step when/if the time comes, and the time may be soon if Arizona parts ways with Sumlin.

Home/College Football