According to the Gators site on Rivals

[615hawg]

the "coaching hot board" list to replace Urban Meyer includes:

Randy Edsall (UConn head coach)
Larry Fedora (So. Miss head coach)
Kirk Ferentz (Iowa head coach)
Jon Gruden
Jim Harbaugh (Stanford head coach)
Dan Mullen
Will Muschamp
Gary Patterson
Chris Petersen
Mike Shanahan
Greg Schiano (Rutgers head coach)
Bob Stoops
Stever Spurrier
Charlie Strong
Kyle Wittingham (Utah head coach who replaced Meyer)

I know this is a preliminary list, may just be someone's opinion, and is very likely to change, but hopefully Petrino's name remains off the list, though I'd have a hard time thinking it will for long.

Some of the names on here are very unlikely in my opinion, some are obviously names we all expect to get the job.

[hog_fan]

It won't be Strong. If it was he would never left to be the Cardinals coach. They knew this was likely coming. I think Stoops is who they go after. If he says no then not sure, but they got a list of who they want and in what order.

[WBOBO]

I figured Lane Kiffin would be on their short list.

[615hawg]

I figured Lane Kiffin would be on their short list.

Funny thing about Harbaugh, the write up about him is he has too much of a Lane Kiffin personality, which wouldn't be a good fit for the Gators ha

[mmhogs17]

It won't be Strong. If it was he would never left to be the Cardinals coach. They knew this was likely coming. I think Stoops is who they go after. If he says no then not sure, but they got a list of who they want and in what order.

they have only known he was thinking about stepping down for the last week

[HamShank]

If Meyer is in on this search as he says he is, then I don't think he would ever endorse hiring Petrino.  I can't imagine the two like each other very much.  I also think he would be much more inclined to endorsing Whittingham, Mullen, or someone that has worked with/for him in the past.

[moses_007]

I doubt Stoops would be interested, since he is making around $4 mil at OU.  I would think the Iowa coach would be the best choice.

[pedrothelion]

I would think that since Meyer is going to remain employed by Florida in some capacity that they will go with some one in his coaching tree.

[Lake City Hog]

If Meyer is going to be involved with the football program on a different level, then I think that the University of Florida has cut their list of candidates way down. Very few Head Coaches will consider that job if they think Meyer will be looking over their shoulder. ( Another JFB situation in the making?)

[615hawg]

If Meyer is going to be involved with the football program on a different level, then I think that the University of Florida has cut their list of candidates way down. Very few Head Coaches will consider that job if they think Meyer will be looking over their shoulder. ( Another JFB situation in the making?)

interesting....hadn't thought about that

[eathill5]

I doubt Stoops would be interested, since he is making around $4 mil at OU.  I would think the Iowa coach would be the best choice.

Stoops flirted with ND, there was too much smoke not to be any fire.  Florida would pay that. 

Either way this is good news as far as the Hogs are concerned. I don't wish anything bad for Meyer but we have recruited FL hard the last couple of years. Now you have new coaches at 2 of the big 3 Florida schools.  Could mean some recruits.

[HawgAdvocate]

If Meyer is going to be involved with the football program on a different level, then I think that the University of Florida has cut their list of candidates way down. Very few Head Coaches will consider that job if they think Meyer will be looking over their shoulder. ( Another JFB situation in the making?)

This will be the deciding factor for all the candidates. It's the very reason Bowden has said he won't remain in Tallahassee during his retirement, so as not to make it any harder on Fisher. With Meyer staying in Gainesville, the next coach will have to have a great relationship with Meyer.

[Oklahawg]

Sounds like a novice tossing out enough names to ultimately find a finalist or two and feel good about it.

Dan Mullen (MS State) and Kyle Whittingham (Utah) are the "coaching tree" choices

Kirk Ferentz (Iowa) and Jon Gruden (ex-NFL) ae the "glamor name" choices.

Stoops is sick of the attention he gets at every opening.

[athunt]

Why do people continue to throw Greg Schiano's name around? What has he done except win a big thursday night game a few years ago with Ray Rice and Brian Leonard?

[MuskogeeHogFan]

I doubt Stoops would be interested, since he is making around $4 mil at OU.  I would think the Iowa coach would be the best choice.

Gotta disagree. Stoops came to OU from where? Florida where he was their DC and was successful.

He has made all the money anyone could want to make at OU but the next couple of years at OU are going to be lean years and he was already taking heat for the this past season as well as his tendency to not get the team to produce in BCS games.

Florida has a pipeline of talent that is nearly unmatched anywhere in the country and you don't have to run all over the country to land that talent.

If Stoops went anywhere, in my opinion, I think it would be back to Florida to end his career as a HC. I would be very surprised if he wasn't their #1 candidate unless...Meyer remains closely involved with the program as Florida's statement tends to indicate.

If that is the case then Florida will not land a top HC from a BCS program because there isn't a coach of any repute that wants Urban Meyer looking over his shoulder and judging whether or not he is handling things the way Urban Meyer would.

Florida is going to have to make a decision about what they really want.

[3kgthog]

Stoops would be better off to stay in the Big XII where he can remain one of the top 2 teams with ease. The SEC is a fight he should want no part of.

[lawhawg]

If Meyer is going to be involved with the football program on a different level, then I think that the University of Florida has cut their list of candidates way down. Very few Head Coaches will consider that job if they think Meyer will be looking over their shoulder. ( Another JFB situation in the making?)

There are very few coaches who whouldn't consider the job regardless of what Meyer does.  It's still one of the best jobs in the country.  A good, not great, coach could step in and compete for BCS bowls every year.  I just hope Bobby comes out and says he isn't interested early like he did with the Auburn opening.  I don't think he's going, but it would be good for our team if he nipped that in the bud.

[WilsonHog]

Apparently Tom Jurich is a little concerned about Charlie Strong.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4774047

[Oklahawg]

Apparently Tom Jurich is a little concerned about Charlie Strong.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4774047

I don't believe Jurich would make that much noise over nothing. If Strong is a candidate then they theory is "hire someone familiar with the staff who won't completely change everything" is the choice.

[Boarcephus]

Apparently Tom Jurich is a little concerned about Charlie Strong.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4774047

I would be stunned if Strong left UL after they were the only school that finally gave him his opportunity.

[Queen Hog]

Looks like Urban is just taking a leave of absence according to Mortenson on ESPN.

[ErieHog]

Why do people continue to throw Greg Schiano's name around? What has he done except win a big thursday night game a few years ago with Ray Rice and Brian Leonard?

The same reason they keep mentioning Ferentz, who's primary accomplishment at Iowa is being a decent second place team in a year when the ACC, Big XII,  PAC-10, and Big East couldn't put together two teams with a pulse.

The man is Houston Nutt, playing in a snowpile.

[athunt]

The man is Houston Nutt, playing in a snowpile.

Houston love snow!