They all want to coach again, these fired coaches, because coaching is what they do. It’s in their blood, as they say.
James Franklin, Jimbo Fisher, Ed Orgeron — every one of them got paid a fat buyout to go away. And every one of them wants back in the game.
They’re doing the media circuit, letting it be known they’re thirsty for another job. Franklin has vowed to deliver a national championship, despite being unable to achieve that at Penn State, even with its wealth of resources.
Their timing couldn’t be better. Eleven FBS jobs are vacant, including seven at the Power Four level. More firings are coming.
My question: How desperate are these three amigos? Comebacks are possible for fired coaches — so long as they don’t expect to return at the level they exited.
These three got fired from premier programs. A return to coaching becomes more plausible if they’re willing to re-enter a step down from Penn State, LSU or Texas A&M.
UAB’s hiring. So is Oregon State. How bad do you want it, misters Franklin, Fisher and Orgeron? I get the feeling Fisher’s not itching to throw his hat in for the Kent State job.
‘I want to coach somewhere that’s committed to winning,’ CBS Sports quoted Fisher as saying recently during an appearance at Birmingham’s Monday Morning Quarterback Club. ‘Just make sure they give us the resources to be able to win. I know it’s about money, but you’ve got to have the resources to put into the game to win and do it the right way.’
Texas A&M showered Fisher with those resources. He failed to win nearly enough.
If Fisher truly wants back in, he can’t expect a program with the Aggies’ resources to come calling.
Consider Dan Mullen’s path back. His resumé shares some similarities with Franklin’s. Both won at an impressive rate at SEC programs where that doesn’t come easily — Mullen at Mississippi State and Franklin at Vanderbilt. Both then stepped up the ladder and won just shy of 70% of their games at a higher-rung program with demanding expectations. They got fired for it.
Mullen sat out of coaching for three seasons and worked for ESPN before re-entering the coaching biz at UNLV. In other words, he accepted his re-entry would have to come at a level one or two steps down from Florida.
UNLV is a good Group of Five job, but it’s not coaching in The Swamp.
Each of these guys is a little different. Fisher owns the best career winning percentage, compared to Franklin and Orgeron, but his peak occurred the longest ago. Fisher and Orgeron each supplied national championships. Fisher’s came two jobs ago, at Florida State. His career had been trending down for years by the time Texas A&M fired him.
Orgeron supplied one of the great teams in college football history. If only Joe Burrows grew on trees, right?
Franklin most recently tasted a high. His College Football Playoff semifinal appearance last season probably gives him a better chance than either Orgeron or Fisher at returning at something resembling a premier job.
I don’t doubt any of these guys would love to coach Florida — especially Orgeron, who’s living in Miami Beach and relishes the Sunshine State’s shirtless lifestyle.
‘I watch football all day on Saturdays,’ Orgeron told On3 recently. ‘You know what? The game needs a little bit of toughness. They need some leadership. And, I know I can bring that.’
He said he’s willing to take an assistant position coaching the defensive line.
‘I love ball,’ Orgeron told On3.
Now you’re talking. That sounds like a man willing to put on a shirt and return at a level lower than he departed. That’s the path back.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.
