List of Potential XFL Head Coaches

XFL Football discussion.
GregParks
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List of Potential XFL Head Coaches

Post by GregParks »

Sometime in the next month or two, I'd expect the XFL to name the head coaches to its franchises (presuming those franchises are revealed in February, as has been referenced by Dwayne Johnson). Some coaches may already be lined up given the comments Jim Monos has made on his podcast noting they will surprise some people.

To that end, I wanted to come up with a list of folks who could potentially be XFL Head Coaches for 3.0. It's difficult because we don't know what the XFL brain trust's philosophy on hiring head coaches will be. I've divided it up into three categories: One, NFL coordinators and position coaches who may be out of a job with the recent firings. Many of them will remain in the NFL when new head coaches get hired, but this is how XFL 2.0 got Jonathan Hayes and Winston Moss.

The second category is former NFL head coaches and those who have been coaches in secondary leagues before, including the last incarnation of the XFL. Some have been out of the coaching profession for a while but have some name value to be attractive. XFL 2.0 got June Jones, Jim Zorn, and Kevin Gilbride from this category.

The third category is college coaches who were recently let go and have not been hired elsewhere. Some include big names that are probably too big for the XFL, but I wanted to be all-inclusive. I'm not as on-top of the college coaching ranks as much as the pros, so there are probably some that I missed. Anyone wishing to suggest additions to the list are welcome to do so. Bob Stoops came to XFL 2.0 from this category (sorta).

In the same vein, there's also the CFL avenue, where XFL 2.0 got Marc Trestman. Again, I'm not as plugged-in to the CFL aspect of it, so if there are any coaches available after the most recent CFL season who the XFL may be interested in, suggest away.

I'm only listing people who are currently out of a job; while Pep Hamilton left an analyst job at Michigan to be head coach of the Defenders, I find it extremely unlikely (though not out of the question) that anyone would leave the security of a prominent college or pro job to accept an XFL offer. Besides, if I included those, then that list would basically be everyone in the college and pro coaching profession. As coaches get hired elsewhere, I'll edit this document to note that so we can see what contenders are left as time goes on. Anyway, here we go (in no particular order):

NFL coaches part of recently fired staffs

Anthony Lynn Hired by SF as Assistant Head Coach
Greg Olson Hired by Los Angeles Rams as Offensive Assistant
Jerome Henderson Retained by New York Giants as DB Coach
Pat Shurmur
Tom Cable
Tyke Tolbert Hired by Chicago as WR Coach/Pass Game Coordinator
Curtis Modkins Hired by Minnesota as RB Coach/Run Game Coordinator
Ron Milus Hired by Indianapolis as DBs Coach
Jason Garrett
Mike Munchak
Bill Lazor
Lovie Smith Hired by Houston as Head Coach
Mike Shula Hired by Buffalo as Senior Offensive Assistant
Chris Tabor Hired by Carolina as ST Coach
Ed Donatell Hired by Minnesota as Defensive Coordinator
John DeFilippo
Reggie Herring
Juan Castillo Hired by Washington as TE Coach
Bill Kollar Retained by Denver as Defensive Consultant
Mike Pettine Hired by Minnesota as Assistant Head Coach
John Pagano
Danny Crossman Retained by Miami as ST Coach
Tom McMahon Hired by Las Vegas as ST Coach
George Godsey Hired by Baltimore as TE Coach
Charlie Strong Hired by University of Miami as LB Coach
Eric Studesville Retained by Miami as RB Coach
Darrell Bevell Hired by Miami as QB Coach/Pass Game Coordinator
Rick Dennison Hired by Minnesota as Senior Offensive Advisor
Brian Schottenheimer Hired by Dallas as Assistant Coach
Keenan McCardell Retained by Minnesota as WR Coach
Chris Ash Hired by Las Vegas as DB Coach
Paul Guenther Hired by Minnesota as Senior Defensive Assistant
Patrick Graham Hired by Las Vegas as Defensive Coordinator
Tim Kelly Hired by Tennessee as Senior Offensive Assistant/Pass Game Coordinator
George Warhop Hired by Houston as OL Coach
Freddie Kitchens Hired by South Carolina as Senior Analyst
David Culley
Joe Brady Hired by Buffalo as QB Coach
Ken Norton, Jr. Hired by UCLA as ILB Coach
Keith Butler
Jim Haslett Hired by XFL as Head Coach
Aaron Kromer Hired by Buffalo as OL Coach
Matt Cavanaugh
Rob Ryan Hired by Las Vegas as Senior Defensive Assistant
Vic Fangio

Past NFL head coaches/XFL2.0 coaches/Secondary league retreads
June Jones Hired by XFL as Seattle Offensive Coordinator
Tim Lewis Hired by XFL as Arlington co-Defensive Coordinator
Mike Singletary
Mike Martz
Jonathan Hayes Hired by XFL as Offensive Coordinator
Marc Trestman
Bob Stoops Hired by XFL as Head Coach
Jerry Glanville Hired by MLFB as Head Coach
Steve Spurrier
Jeff Fisher Hired by USFL as Michigan Head Coach
Jim Zorn
Jeff Jagodzinski Hired by USFL as Philadelphia Offensive Line Coach
Bob Sanders Hired by Tampa Bay as OLB Coach
Mike Tice Hired as Director of Development, NFL Alumni Academy
Winston Moss
Ted Cottrell
Rick Neuheisel
Wade Phillips Hired by XFL as Head Coach
Kevin Gilbride
Norm Chow Hired by European League of Football as Head Coach
Dennis Erickson
Brian Billick Hired by ASU as Offensive Analyst/Advisor to the Head Coach
Pep Hamilton Promoted by Houston to Offensive Coordinator
Ray Hamilton
Donnie Henderson Promoted by ASU to Defensive Coordinator
Mike Smith
Ron Turner
Ken Whisenhunt
Rex Ryan
Dick Jauron
John Fox Hired by Indianapolis as Senior Defensive Assistant
Dom Capers Hired by Denver as Senior Defensive Assistant
Chuck Pagano
Mike Mularkey
Jay Gruden Hired by LA Rams as Offensive Consultant
Mike McCoy Hired by Jacksonville as QB Coach
Cam Cameron
Adam Gase
Brad Childress
Joe Vitt
Eric Mangini
Dirk Koetter
Jim Tomsula Hired by Rhein Fire as Head Coach
Gregg Williams Hired by XFL as Defensive Coordinator
Norv Turner
Gary Kubiak
Chan Gailey
Mike Sherman
Mike Shanahan
Marty Mornhinweg

Recent college coaches
Steve Addazio Hired by Texas A&M as OL Coach
Ed Orgeron
Jake Peetz Hired by Los Angeles Rams as Offensive Assistant
Daronte Jones Hired by Los Angeles Rams as Defensive Assistant
David Cutcliffe Hired by SEC as Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Football Relations
Butch Davis
Dan Mullen Hired by Lake Oconee Academy as a Contributing Resource
Tim Brewster Hired by Jackson State
Justin Fuente
Gary Patterson Hired by Texas as Special Assistant to the Head Coach
Jimmy Lake
Matt Wells
Skip Holtz Hired by USFL as Birmingham Head Coach
Mark Dantonio
Paul Johnson
Les Miles
Chris Petersen
Bo Pelini
Art Briles
Mark Helfrich
Charlie Weis
Darrell Hazell
Doug Marrone Hired by New Orleans as OL Coach

Recent CFL coaches
Jaime Elizondo Hired by XFL as Offensive Coordinator
DeVone Claybrooks
Last edited by GregParks on Thu Sep 15, 2022 10:21 am, edited 58 times in total.
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Re: List of Potential XFL Head Coaches

Post by Tank55 »

I know I'm the only one, but I'd love to see one of these leagues hire Paul Johnson and have a team run the option.
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Re: List of Potential XFL Head Coaches

Post by Tank55 »

If the Renegades return and Bob Stoops is done, Gary Patterson makes a ton of sense. He's finalizing a job as an advisor with Texas, but have to think he'd be interested in a part time head coaching gig in the Metroplex.
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Re: List of Potential XFL Head Coaches

Post by 4th&long »

Thx for compiling list.

I think some of these ar emiss noted but I get the drift - of course all of these are USFL candidates as well.

But many will be unavail as $$ in NFL or NCAA will be greater. It may be lifestyle choice or people getting second chance (Haley).

Greg - who are your top 8 LIKELY candidates?

PS. Boy NE sh#t the bed
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Re: List of Potential XFL Head Coaches

Post by super390 »

Les Miles to New Orleans?

I mean, sure, he failed in his responsibilities as a college coach, but pro players are adults and New Orleans doesn't care.
GregParks
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Re: List of Potential XFL Head Coaches

Post by GregParks »

4th&long wrote: Sat Jan 15, 2022 10:16 pm
Greg - who are your top 8 LIKELY candidates?
I can't say any one is more likely than another at this point. As mentioned in the OP, we don't have any clue what the "new" XFL is looking for in its coaches: Head coaching experience? College experience? Are they going to have to settle for retreads or can they attract up-and-comers? I think XFL 2.0 getting coaches with varied backgrounds was a good idea (or it just happened to work out that way). But as I've stated before, I'd much prefer the league give first-time HC opportunities to experienced NFL assistants than go after the Spurriers and Zorns of the world - the exception being someone the level of a Wade Phillips. Hue Jackson revealing that he was approached to coach in the new XFL before accepting the Grambling State job is not terribly promising in terms of who they're trying to attract.
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Re: List of Potential XFL Head Coaches

Post by Gopher123 »

GregParks wrote: Sat Jan 15, 2022 4:15 pm Sometime in the next month or two, I'd expect the XFL to name the head coaches to its franchises (presuming those franchises are revealed in February, as has been referenced by Dwayne Johnson). Some coaches may already be lined up given the comments Jim Monos has made on his podcast noting they will surprise some people.

To that end, I wanted to come up with a list of folks who could potentially be XFL Head Coaches for 3.0. It's difficult because we don't know what the XFL brain trust's philosophy on hiring head coaches will be. I've divided it up into three categories: One, NFL coordinators and position coaches who may be out of a job with the recent firings. Many of them will remain in the NFL when new head coaches get hired, but this is how XFL 2.0 got Jonathan Hayes and Winston Moss.

The second category is former NFL head coaches and those who have been coaches in secondary leagues before, including the last incarnation of the XFL. Some have been out of the coaching profession for a while but have some name value to be attractive. XFL 2.0 got June Jones, Jim Zorn, and Kevin Gilbride from this category.

The third category is college coaches who were recently let go and have not been hired elsewhere. Some include big names that are probably too big for the XFL, but I wanted to be all-inclusive. I'm not as on-top of the college coaching ranks as much as the pros, so there are probably some that I missed. Anyone wishing to suggest additions to the list are welcome to do so. Bob Stoops came to XFL 2.0 from this category (sorta).

In the same vein, there's also the CFL avenue, where XFL 2.0 got Marc Trestman. Again, I'm not as plugged-in to the CFL aspect of it, so if there are any coaches available after the most recent CFL season who the XFL may be interested in, suggest away.

I'm only listing people who are currently out of a job; while Pep Hamilton left an analyst job at Michigan to be head coach of the Defenders, I find it extremely unlikely (though not out of the question) that anyone would leave the security of a prominent college or pro job to accept an XFL offer. Besides, if I included those, then that list would basically be everyone in the college and pro coaching profession. As coaches get hired elsewhere, I'll edit this document to note that so we can see what contenders are left as time goes on. Anyone, here we go (in no particular order):

NFL coaches part of recently fired staffs

Anthony Lynn
Greg Olson
Jerome Henderson
Pat Shurmur
Tom Cable
Tyke Tolbert
Curtis Modkins
Ron Milus
Jason Garrett
Mike Munchak
Bill Lazor
Lovie Smith
Mike Shula
Chris Tabor
Ed Donatell
John DeFilippo
Reggie Herring
Juan Castillo
Bill Kollar
Mike Pettine
John Pagano
Danny Crossman
Tom McMahon
George Godsey
Charlie Strong
Eric Studesville
Darrell Bevell
Rick Dennison
Brian Schottenheimer
Keenan McCardell
Chris Ash
Paul Guenther
Patrick Graham
Tim Kelly
George Warhop
Freddie Kitchens

Past NFL head coaches/XFL2.0 coaches/Secondary league retreads
June Jones
Tim Lewis
Mike Singletary
Mike Martz
Jonathan Hayes
Jerry Glanville
Steve Spurrier
Jeff Fisher
Jim Zorn
Jeff Jagodzinski
Bob Sanders
Mike Tice
Winston Moss
Ted Cottrell
Rick Neuheisel
Wade Phillips
Kevin Gilbride
Norm Chow
Dennis Erickson
Brian Billick
Pep Hamilton
Ray Hamilton
Donnie Henderson
Mike Smith
Ron Turner
Ken Whisenhunt
Rex Ryan
Dick Jauron
John Fox
Dom Capers
Chuck Pagano
Mike Mularkey
Jay Gruden
Mike McCoy
Cam Cameron
Adam Gase
Brad Childress
Joe Vitt
Eric Mangini
Dirk Koetter
Jim Tomsula
Gregg Williams

Recent college coaches
Steve Addazio
Ed Orgeron
Jake Peetz
Daronte Jones
David Cutcliffe
Butch Davis
Dan Mullen
Tim Brewster
Justin Fuente
Gary Patterson
Jimmy Lake
Matt Wells
Skip Holtz
Mark Dantonio
Paul Johnson
Les Miles

GP, you must put in some time generating these lists. I refer to them a lot so thank you for doing it.

You said in another thread to possibly look at coaches that were with the Bills during the Brandon/Whaley/Monos years. I agree, I think there is a strong chance 1 or 2 coaches comes from that. Anthony Lynn was very respected in the organization during that time and he is probably my favorite name on your list to be considered. Also, that group hired Rex Ryan so they liked him but they also fired him. He would definitely fit a coach who would love being on camera though.

Here are some more names to possibly add to your list but maybe you left them off for some reason.

Norv Turner
Gary Kubiak
Chan Gailey
Mike Sherman
Bob Stoops
Marc Trestman
David Culley (coached in Buffalo)
Mike Shanahan (very unlikely but who knows he would definitely be a surprise)
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Re: List of Potential XFL Head Coaches

Post by Gopher123 »

Naturally, now that I double checked that these names were unemployed yesterday, I see this morning it appears Gary Kubiak has taken a job with the European League of Football. It was a tweet so take it with a grain of salt but I have really no idea why anyone would make that up.

It goes to show as to why it’s hard to rule out any of these long time coaches. Who could have predicted him making that move?
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Re: List of Potential XFL Head Coaches

Post by 4th&long »

Gopher123 wrote: Sun Jan 16, 2022 9:12 am Naturally, now that I double checked that these names were unemployed yesterday, I see this morning it appears Gary Kubiak has taken a job with the European League of Football. It was a tweet so take it with a grain of salt but I have really no idea why anyone would make that up.

It goes to show as to why it’s hard to rule out any of these long time coaches. Who could have predicted him making that move?
Just as advisor - https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/alternativ ... w-panthers

Could Kubiak go USFL or XFL - sure.

Some others that were on the list prematurely ie Greg Olson -

But the point is well taken - anything is possible just remember NFL $$ for even position coaches today is pretty high.

GP made a good list - Koetter, Whisenhunt and G Williams - I could see as HC's in USFL/XFL too.
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Re: List of Potential XFL Head Coaches

Post by GregParks »

With Olson I was assuming (a) The Raiders would not retain Bisaccia (though it wouldn't surprise me if they did now) and (b) if they did retain him, he might want to assemble his own staff. Either way, Olson could be looking for work.

Gopher123, yes, the list took a while to compile :) I'll edit the list to add those you've suggested.
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