XFL Houston Head Coaching Candidates

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MikeMitchell
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XFL Houston Head Coaching Candidates

Post by MikeMitchell »

* POST BLACK MONDAY UPDATE 1/13*

The XFL is going to be hiring it's head coaches in the next month or so. It's one of their top priorities before quarterbacks are signed. The head coach is going to be the face of the franchise along with the QB. So these are going to be very important hires. Having ties to the actual region would be a huge plus. Black Monday in the NFL is right around the corner. That could create a scenario where more potential head coaches become available.

Here is a short list of coaches that I think could be candidates for The XFL Houston franchise.

Bruce Matthews- Retired Offensive Line Coach- The 57 year old NFL Hall of Fame offensive lineman and a former teammate of Oliver Luck with The Oilers. Matthews has been out of the coaching ranks since 2013. The legendary Matthews family is a huge fixture in the football world. Matthews is one of the most well respected and loved players from his generation. Matthews has always been a great leader and was a first ballot hall of famer as a result. Whether or not, he would consider a return to the coaching ranks is unknown but he'd be someone to contact.

Major Applewhite- Former Houston Cougars Head Coach - Star QB at Texas. Signed with The Patriots after college career but decided to end his playing career to pursue a career in coaching instead. Has worked under several big name coaches like Mack Brown and Nick Saban. Only 40 years old. He was the youngest offensive coordinator in college back when he ran Alabama’s offense. Rose up the ranks to become The Houston Cougars Head Coach the last 3 seasons. Went 15-11 but 0-3 in bowl games, was just recently let go and replaced by Dana Holgorsen, an Oliver Luck hire when he was AD at West Virginia. Applewhite still coaching at Cougars stadium but as an XFL coach would be an odd twist.

Frank Bush- Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers Miami Dolphins- Not high profile by any means but he has the resume and some check marks. Bush is a former scout and played for The Houston Oilers. Has been coaching in the NFL as a defensive coordinator and special teams coach since the mid 80's. Coordinated defense with The Texans. Bush is the kind of football lifer that gets ignored when it comes to head coaching interviews.

Jeff Fisher- Former NFL Head Coach 22 years of head coaching experience despite only being 60 years old. Coached over 360 NFL games. Going 178-171-1 over his career. Has the dubious distinction of being the head coach with most career losses in NFL history. Despite being a California native, Fisher is a difficult sell in LA or St. Louis where things went downhill fast for Fisher. Houston is an easier sell because Fisher rose to fame coaching The Oilers and then taking The Titans to the Super Bowl. As reported recently in a Sports Illustrated feature article, Fisher has been consulting with the AAF. He was offered a job coaching one of those teams but he turned it down because he wants another shot at The NFL. The coaching carousel in the NFL is wrapping up and no head jobs became available for him. Unless Jeff latches onto an NFL staff as a high ranking assistant. Maybe he’d reconsider coaching in a league besides The NFL.

Klint Kubiak- Denver Broncos Quarterbacks Coach- This is an outside the box hire. Only 31 years old. Keep in mind, Sean McVay is only 32. Former college QB and son of former Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak. Klint Kubiak has been coaching for 8 years, 4 in the college ranks and 4 in the pros. Klint is born and raised in Houston and has ties to the region. He's an up and coming NFL assistant.
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