Rutgers fired head coach Chris Ash on Sunday, one day after Ash suffered his 32nd loss in 40 games.
Ash arrived at Rutgers late 2015 after a two-year run as Ohio State defensive coordinator, which followed stints at Arkansas, Wisconsin, and Iowa State, among other places. He doubled their win total from 2016 (2-10) to 2017 (4-8) and signed a contract extension that increased his buyout. However, the Scarlet Knights stumbled to 1-11 last year and began 1-3 this season.
With Ash out, who might Rutgers target as candidates? It'll be the second hire for athletics director Pat Hobbs, who hired Ash days after his appointment in November 2015.
MORE: Ash's Buyout Details
Greg Schiano will generate the most chatter, especially after this report. The New Jersey native and former longtime Rutgers head coach (2001-11) is out of football this season after a three-year run as Ash's successor as Ohio State defensive coordinator (and a one-month stint as Patriots' defensive coordinator over the winter). He led the most stable period of Rutgers football before bailing for the NFL and has been a high-demand candidate for FBS jobs over the last few years. At 53 years old with experience and familiarity, Schiano is a logical and attractive candidate.
Willie Fritz has never coached in (or anywhere near) the northeast and has zero Power Five experience but is a revered program builder. The 59-year-old journeyman (FBS, FCS, Division II, JUCO, and high school) won big at Sam Houston State, led Georgia Southern's FBS transition and has increased Tulane's win total in each of his three full seasons.
Another current Group of Five head coach and FCS alum, Mike Houston, is also highly attractive, though he can do better (and will do better after a few years at East Carolina). However, if he's looking for the Power Five opportunity that didn't come last winter and Rutgers is willing to pay, he'd be a phenomenal hire.
Buffalo's Lance Leipold could be on a shortlist, as could Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chip Long, Princeton head coach Bob Surface, Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko, and Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson. Gleeson is a New Jersey native and Surface's former coordinator at Princeton, and while he lacks in experience (this is his first season in the FBS), he's been lauded across the FBS and has done marvelous work with the Cowboys's offensive.
My opinion? Hire Willie Fritz and don't think twice about it.
