As Virginia (0-3) progresses through what might be their worst football season of the modern era, something tells me deep down inside that Al Groh will not be back next season.
So, now that we are in the midst of the bye week in our season, it’s time for a coaching candidate discussion. Here are my top choices not including the four I wrote about last week. I’ve also included their current salaries. Please make your choices known by making a comment.
1- Chris Peterson Head Coach-Boise State University $850,000 per year.
Peterson’s record in his first three years at BSU is 38-4. He’s a west coast guy, but has an excellent offensive football mind. He does more with less, although it does scare he me a bit that he recruits a different caliber student-athlete than we typically have here at UVA.
2- Charlie Strong Defensive Coordinator- Florida Gators $310,000 per year
Strong was the first African-American coordinator in SEC history. Amazing to me that it took until 1999 for the SEC to have a black coordinator. Charlie is an excellent recruiter and has been at Florida since 2002. Enough said as we all know the success the Gators have enjoyed during his tenure.
3- Troy Calhoun Head Coach- United States Air Force Academy $725,000 per year.
Coach Calhoun played college football for the legendary Fisher DeBerry at Air Force. Calhoun is a disciplined coach with a offensive mind-set. George Welsh came to Virginia from the Naval Academy and that worked out pretty damn well.
4- Kevin Wilson Offensive Coordinator- University of Oklahoma $385,000 per year.
In college Coach Wilson walked-on to the to North Carolina football team and is one of the top assistants in all of college football. I have a special place in my football-heart for walk-ons. Oklahoma runs an exciting offense and under his tutelage the 2008 OU team had the most prolific offense in the history of college football. Our current offense here in Charlottesville is not exactly what I would call prolific.
5- Jon Tenuta Defensive Coordinator – Notre Dame Fighting Irish Salary is unknown. I’m guessing around $500,000.
Tenuta played college football here at Virginia. He’s one of the brightest defensive-minds in college football. A perfect fit here in Charlottesville. Tenuta has got to be sick and tired of living in South Bend, Indiana! Come home Jon and fix your Alma mater’s football program. Go Hoos.