The Pac-12 has seen quite a few new coaches arrive in the last few years so a number of teams are being patient in waiting for improvements. But a couple of teams need to continue that trajectory of improvement if the head coach is to keep his job. Let’s look at the potential hot seat candidates for 2015 in the Pac-12:
Pac-12 Coaches on the Hot Seat
Mike MacIntyre, Colorado
The Buffaloes showed real signs of improvement last year even if their 2-10 record didn’t show it. They were edged out in double overtime by both Cal and UCLA but also came very close to upsetting Utah and Oregon State. The problem now for coach MacIntyre is that his team needs to take the next step which is to actually win these close conference games. He doesn’t need to worry about getting Colorado bowl eligible yet but they need to be winning four or five games.
Mike Leach, Washington State
Last year was a tough season for the Cougars as they had some real highs and lows over the course of the year. But losses to teams like Rutgers and Nevada seem inexplicable considering this team beat Utah on the road. Connor Halliday is gone for good now and the pressure is truly on Leach to get this program back towards bowl eligibility as the 2014 season was a real step in the wrong direction.
Sonny Dykes, California
Are Cal bowl or bust this season? They came very close last year and it’s not certain that Dykes will be fired if they fell short of six wins. But there certainly is a case to be made that Cal could end up with just three or four wins with a road game at Texas out of conference and the usual gauntlet of Pac-12 foes. If the defense makes the sort of improvements that Dykes has promised through improved recruiting classes then they should finally go bowling but it’s certainly not guaranteed.
Steve Sarkisian, USC
I certainly don’t think Sarkisian starts the season on the hot seat but as USC pulls itself out of the hole created by NCAA sanctions, expectations have started to sky rocket. Many people are expecting a run at the Pac-12 championship game and a challenge for the four-team college football playoff.
The schedule is tough as they draw the top four teams from the Pac-12 North from last year in conference play. The South itself is one of the toughest divisions in the country and they also travel to South Bend to face Notre Dame. Plus there are question marks over the front seven of the defense with players like Leonard Williams now in the NFL. If USC fall well short of this target then it’s not unthinkable for them to move on from Sarkisian and search for a big name replacement.
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