FanNation - The Republic of Sport

This week I found out that Toledo head coach Tom Amstutz and Kansas State head coach Ron Prince will not return as head coaches next year. I found both firings kind of odd, as Amstutz is a big hero in Toledo and has just fallen on some tough years and Prince has only been at K-State 3 years, which to me is still too early to fire a head coach. Think about it: He's still playing with some of Bill Snyder's players. I think that Prince must have done something that angered the AD and led him to being fired. Enough of that, here's five coaches that Toledo and five coaches that Kansas State should try to hire:                                          TOLEDO
 
Tim Rose, Toledo DC - I think that Rose would be a good hire for the Rockets. He's been a HC before (Miami, OH 1983-89), and he could leave the system as is. This wouldn't be a sexy pick, but you won't get many of those when you are a MAC team.

Jim Bollman, Ohio State OC - Bollman has been the Buckeyes' OC for 8 years now, and it's hard to remember a team during that stretch that had a troubled offense. If Bollman wants to be a head coach, this would probably be one of the best chances he has.

Kirk Ferentz, Iowa Head Coach - This only becomes an option if the Hawkeyes fire Ferentz, which I think there is a good chance of happening. Ferentz is a good coach that has fallen on hard times, much like current Toledo head coach Tom Amstutz. Ferentz would be staying in Big 10 area, and if he does a good job as Rockets head coach he might get another shot at a big school.

Glen Mason, Former Minnesota HC - Mason would be a very good hire. He has coached in the MAC before (Kent State 1986-87), did a wonderful job in that part of the country at Minnesota (64-57 record), and he's not a coach anywhere else(He is currently a commentator for the Big 10 Network). I say that Toledo should take a shot to hire Glen Mason.

Darkhorse Pick: Lloyd Carr, former Michigan HC - This was a darkhorse that took me a while to think up. Carr has been rumored to be close to the Syracuse head coaching position, but Toledo is a better deal: it's in a conference that is winnable, and like all the coaches on this list, it's in part of the country where he is use to recruiting. If Carr really wants to come back and coach, Toledo would be an excellent place to go.

                              Kansas State

Jim Leavitt, South Florida HC - Leavitt is very familiar with Kansas State: he was a linebackers coach and then Defensive Coordinator from 1990 to 1995, when the Bulls hired him. He was a leading candidate for the job three years ago, and once again he has to be the front runner. I think that this situation might make Leavitt consider the job a little more, as the Big East has gotten better over the three years since K-State last went after him.

Will Muschamp, Texas DC - Muschamp has been a candidate for a head coaching position for the last couple years at Auburn, and now he's at Defensive Coordinator Heaven, also known as Texas. The two DC's before the one's that served last year left the Longhorns to head coaching positions (Greg Robinson for Syracuse and Gene Chizik to Iowa State). Muschamp is a proven coach, and I think the Wildcats would be smart to hire him if they have the chance.

Dave Christensen, Missouri OC - Missouri is running over everyone so far this year (except OK State and Texas), and it seems to be with the offense that Christensen runs. He was a finalist for the Washington State job last year, but he missed out as the Cougars hired Paul Wulff. He will probably be a head coach eventually, and he just might get his chance with Kansas State.

Gary Barnett, former Colorado HC - People in both Boulder and Manhattan may wince when they hear the name Gary Barnett. Yes, he caused a big mess at Colorado, but he still has a lot of success. He currently has an 85-82-1 record as a head coach (coached Northwestern and Colorado), and he had a 49-39 record as a head coach in the Big 12. He would need a big win early to prove himself, but I think that Barnett can still be a head coach.

Darkhorse Pick: Bill Snyder, former Kansas State HC - Snyder is the man who rebuilt Wildcats' football, and they might get him back to do it again. He still lives in Manhattan, and his final years were not bad ones. The hire would only be good for a year or two, but just enough to help them get going again. He could basically be an interim head coach and lead the school in finding the perfect replacement. That replacement could be the guy who's #1 on this list.