There appears no shortage of candidates to succeed Doba
PULLMAN – Now that Washington State has cut ties with head football coach Bill Doba, speculation about his successor will begin in earnest. Names are not in short supply, but WSU athletic director Jim Sterk has a track record of hiring a non-traditional candidate for high profile positions.
For example, Dick Bennett’s name wasn’t on the tip of everyone’s tongue when he was hired as men’s basketball coach. And last summer’s hire of former UW coach June Daugherty as women’s basketball coach caught many by surprise.
According to Sterk, the national search will begin immediately, though there is no precise timeline or deadline for a decision.
Former Oregon athletic director and WSU football player Bill Moos will serve as a consultant to identify candidates, working with an advisory committee, which Sterk said will include Doba and Ken Casavant, WSU’s Faculty Athletics Representative, among others.
“I thought it was really an honor, for them to even ask, for President Floyd to ask,” Doba said about helping to choose his successor. “I would be more than happy to.”
What type of coach will they be looking for?
“It’s someone who has the experience to be successful in the Pac-10,” Sterk said.
“The person or his staff has to know the Northwest; that helps as far as the recruiting base,” he added, though he did mention Tony Bennett’s success in Pullman without any ties to the area. “I’m not limiting us as far as the geographic or the background of a person necessarily, but we will take that into consideration when we are discussing candidates.
“You have to have at least the experience as a player or as a coach at the Pac-10, the BCS level. There is some difference; there is a big difference depending on the level you go to. I’m not going to say it cannot be overcome, but I think that you consider in candidates, that experience.”
With those criteria in mind, here are 11 names, the starters if you will, listed alphabetically, with their current position, their connection to WSU, if any, and why they may be considered.
Craig Bray
Arizona State defensive coordinator
Former assistant at WSU, 1988-89 and 1994-99
A long-time assistant, he is in his third stint under Dennis Erickson, having worked with him at WSU, Oregon State and Arizona State. Also worked for Mike Price at WSU. Knows the Northwest and has turned the Sun Devils defense into one of the Pac-10’s best.
Dave Christensen
Missouri assistant head coach and offensive coordinator
No direct connection with WSU
His Missouri biography says Christensen played at Washington, though his name doesn’t appear in the school’s all-time letterman list. He coached at Western Washington, Eastern Washington, Spokane Falls and the University of Washington before hooking up with Gary Pinkel at Toledo. Followed Pinkel to Missouri, where current WSU president Elson S. Floyd was formerly president.
Turner Gill
University of Buffalo head coach
No direct connection with WSU
Gill may be the frontrunner at Nebraska but if he doesn’t return to his alma mater, he would be a candidate here. In his two years at Buffalo, Gill has posted 2-10 and 5-7 records.
Bob Gregory
Cal defensive coordinator
Played at WSU from 1984-86
The Gonzaga Prep graduate played at WSU for Jim Walden before delving into college coaching. He spent 12 seasons coaching at various Northwest schools, including Oregon and Boise State, before moving to Cal in 2001. This hasn’t been the best season for the Cal defense, as it ranks seventh in the Pac-10.
Bobby Hauck
Montana head coach
No direct connection with WSU
Hauck has guided the Grizzlies to five consecutive Big Sky titles. He has coached his entire career in the western United States, including stints at UCLA and Washington.
Dirk Koetter
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator
No direct connection with WSU
The former Boise State and Arizona State head coach is well connected in the Northwest, having grown up in Pocatello, Idaho, and having been an assistant at Oregon prior to becoming the Boise State head coach. Fired by ASU last year near the end of a disappointing 7-6 season.
Tim Lappano
University of Washington offensive coordinator
Former assistant at WSU, 1987-91
The Gonzaga Prep graduate followed Erickson to Washington State and stayed, serving as Mike Price’s offensive coordinator. He left to join Keith Gilbertson’s staff at Cal, then bounced around the college ranks until joining Erickson with the Seahawks. He’s been Washington’s coordinator for three years.
Jim Michalczik
Cal offensive coordinator
Former WSU player, 1986-88
Michalczik helped open holes for current WSU assistants Steve Broussard and Timm Rosenbach as an offensive lineman so it’s obvious he knows the Pullman area. After a short NFL career, Michalczik coached with Erickson at Miami before moving back to the Northwest at Montana State. A stint at Oregon State preceded his current stop in Berkeley, where he was named coordinator this season.
Mike Price
UTEP head coach
Former WSU head coach, 1989-2002
This is a no-brainer. Price was mentioned by Sterk at the press conference and is sure to be contacted. Had an 83-78 overall record, took the Cougs to their first Rose Bowl in 67 years and to four other bowls. Announced he was leaving to take the Alabama head coaching position before the 2002 Rose Bowl, but never coached the Tide after a scandal.
DeWayne Walker
UCLA defensive coordinator
No direct connection to WSU
Walker would be an outside candidate, but he has earned accolades for his upgrade of the Bruins defense. He will be a head coach some day, but may not have enough experience yet.
Paul Wulff
Eastern Washington head coach
Former WSU player, 1986-89
Head coach at EWU since 2000, Wulff guided the Eagles to the Football Championship Division playoffs for the third time in four years this season – they play at Appalachian State on Saturday – and is 53-39 in eight years.