10. Troy Calhoun (Air Force - Head Coach)
Brilliant guy, has done a very good job at AFA but lets let him beat TCU, BYU, or Utah once before we annoint him the saviour. A mid-major coach who has not won his league. I don't think he would leave anyways for CU, he's an AFA guy who is a perfect fit for that climate.
9. Mike Price (UTEP - Head Coach)
Another mid-major coach who hasn't exactly dominated at the leve he is at although he has done well to win as much as he has at UTEP
8. Todd Graham (Tulsa- Head Coach)
See #7
7. Brent Venables (Oklahoma - Defensive Coordinator)
May be the best on this list but (and a big but) why hasn't anyone else gone after him. Also how well would he fit into the culture at CU, at OU football is king and the program gets the recruits in and through school that they want. The budget is much larger than CU's and in a lot of cases they only have to recruit against Texas. Could we pay enough to get him to leave OU?
6. Eric Kiesau (Colorado - Offensive Coordinator)
Negative is that he will be seen as an extension of Hawk. Positive is that the players know him and as the head man he may be able to get them performing to their abilities. Already has connections in our recruiting areas, transition would be easier.
5. Rich Rodriguez (Michigan - Head Coach)
Uh! No thanks, disaster at Michigan, players don't like him, alums don't like him, a cheater entering a school with a history of NCAA issues is an invitation to further problems.
4. Dave Christensen (Wyoming - Head Coach)
Mid-major coach who has won even less than the others on the list. Wyoming was the best he could do, enough said!
3. Norm Chow (UCLA - Offensive Coordinator)
Not leaving UCLA, great mind, oooold body, his time passed a few years ago
2. Guz Malzahn (Auburn - Offensive Coordinator)
This one I like, would he leave SEC country for CU, I hope so. Creative offensively, makes use of his talent well, motivational, would have credibility with players and potential assistants. If he came how dedicated to staying would he be?
1. Chris Petersen (Boise State - Head Coach)
Hawk II? Mid-major success but in a system and league that is a whole different ballgame. I'm not sure the players would give him a chance after Hawk, may also be to loyal to the BSU system and BSU guys leading to many of the same problems Hawk has had.
Others
Embree-
CU through and through, no coordinator experience but played pro, coached at BCS level, former players would support, motivator.
EB-
Same as Embree, great emotionally, don't know how he would handle top job.
Cabral-
Deserves to be in the conversation but why has he never had a shot as a HC much less a coordinator job. He is a part of CU football but do we turn the program over to him?
An Idea. I am interested in both Cabral and Kiesau, fire Hawk early in the season and give Kiesau the interm tag, Cabral the Assistant HC tag, and see what they do. Give a little better idea of how they would handle things without Coach Funky Karma getting in their way.