We continue our look at the coaches on the hot seat around the country. This week it’s the ACC which has seen many of its top teams struggle outside of Florida State and Clemson. So who is on the hot seat in 2015?
ACC coaches on the hot seat
Al Golden, Miami:
Miami head coach Al Golden is probably on the hottest of all the hot seats in college football right now. The Hurricanes were 6-3 at one point last season before they lost three straight to finish the regular season including losses at Virginia and home to Pittsburgh then went onto lost to a mediocre South Carolina team in the Independence Bowl. What seemed to make things worse for Golden was that Miami had a number of players drafted high in the NFL draft in May, adding fuel to the fire that the problem in South Florida was the coaching not the talent on the field.
Mike London, Virginia:
In fairness to Virginia, they generally play a tough out of conference schedule and 2015 is no different as they have UCLA on the road plus Notre Dame and Boise State at home. Consistently playing tough schedules like this does make it difficult to become bowl eligible. The Cavaliers did improve last year after a dismal 2-10 season in 2013, but the fan base needs something to cheer about whether that be a bowl game or just a win over big rivals Virginia Tech.
Scott Shafer, Syracuse:
It’s been a tough off-season in Syracuse, they’ve had the whole debate over un-retiring the #44 jersey and the team just went 3-9 with just one conference win. More worrying is that out of their nine defeats only one was by seven points or less (NC State). But Shafer did take the Orangemen bowling previously so should get time to improve this team provided Syracuse is more competitive in 2015.
Larry Fedora, North Carolina:
The academic scandal doesn’t help the Tar Heels long term with recruiting as they whole institution awaits punishment. A solid campaign last year was quickly soured when they were blown out 35-7 by their rivals NC State followed by a 40-21 loss to Rutgers in the Quick Lane Bowl. With Gene Chizik added as defensive co-ordinator they should see improvements straight away so it’s very possible that North Carolina could improve to seven or eight wins but if they were to win less than six it could be Fedora’s last season in Chapel Hill.
