There are three new head coaches in the Mountain West Conference for the 2013 season, but they replaced successful coaches who either moved on to bigger programs or retired. This year, there were a few head coaches who likely felt the heat as they began the season. Nearly halfway through 2013, are there any coaches who might be feeling the heat of the hot seat?
Here’s a rundown of each coach in the West Division and where they stand – or in this instance, sit – as the Mountain West takes on the second half of the 2013 season with a league that hasn’t seen a lot of success this year (listed alphabetically).
Ron Caragher – San Jose State: The new head coach has had a bumpy first season with the Spartans. A bowl game this year after 2012’s sensational year might be iffy. Caragher will be given a couple seasons and let’s face it, San Jose State has never been a football power, so average win-loss records might be okay in Silicon Valley.
Norm Chow – Hawaii: In his second year with the Rainbow Warriors, Chow has won only three contests over a 17 game stretch and is 0-5 currently. The team’s play has been sporadic with way too many mistakes. The school will probably give him another year to perform but as it stands, Norm’s seat must be feeling warm about now.
Tim DeRuyter – Fresno State: The only thing warm regarding the Bulldogs is how they are scorching opponents while becoming a BCS-buster. They’re 22nd in the nation right now and the only place DeRuyter may be going is to a bigger program. Regardless, for right now, DeRuyter’s performance as a head coach at Fresno State over the past two years is sizzling.
Bobby Hauck – UNLV: Hauck was on the hot seat last year but somehow survived. And now, well, ah, what three wins in-a-row will do for someone who has been a perennial hot seat candidate for the past four seasons – and yes, we said three wins which is more than Rebel fans have enjoyed in any one year since Mike Sanford’s inglorious 5-7 record back five seasons ago. A bowl game would be a reach at this point; but, the fact that the words bowl and game are in the same sentence as UNLV offer a picture of a hot seat that has cooled somewhat in the desert. Unless there’s a complete collapse during the rest of the year, expect Hauck to be around for another season.
Rocky Long – San Diego State: Considered one of the better coaches in college football, Long and the Aztecs were projected to be a possible BCS-buster, but that idea was crushed in the opener by Eastern Illinois from the FCS. An 0-3 start didn’t bode well for Long but they’ve rallied for two wins. Long won’t be on any hot seat this season but if San Diego State ends up with a losing record, Long could be a hot seat candidate next year.
Brian Polian – Nevada: A first-year head coach replacing a Hall of Famer is quite the position to be in but retired Chris Ault didn’t leave the cupboard bare. An assistant coach in college since he left school, Polian is 3-3 right now with his first ever stint at the top spot and will be given some time before he becomes a nominee of any hot seat list.
Source: Mountain West Conference
Related articles:
Is Pac-12 Best Conference in Country?
Mountain West as the BCS-Buster Conference? It’s a bust
The six real candidates for USC Trojans head coaching job
Mountain West Conference Championship: Round 1
