Kevin Wilson was a highly-successful offensive coordinator with several programs before becoming the head coach at Tulsa.
While he was at Ohio State, the Buckeyes ranked in the top seven in the nation in total offense during all six of his seasons there. They were also in the top eight for scoring five times.
He was previously the head coach of Indiana, and prior to that, he was an offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, Northwestern, Miami (Ohio), and North Carolina A&T.
But his hiring at Tulsa didn’t lead to the success the Golden Hurricane were hoping for. Wilson was 7-16 over the last couple years and was 3-12 in AAC play. That led to him being fired on Sunday. Wide Receivers coach Ryan Switzer will be Tulsa’s interim head coach.
“With the rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics, we know the importance of positioning our football program and athletic department to thrive and excel in the upcoming years,” Tulsa athletic director Justin Moore said in a press release. “Our standard will be to play in bowl games every season, compete for conference titles, and build a program that everyone connected to the Golden Hurricane will be proud of. Our national search for a new head coach begins today and I am confident that we will attract a strong pool of candidates who want to be at The University of Tulsa and who align with our vision for our football program.”
Here’s some coaches Tulsa could consider hiring to be its next head football coach.
Kansas State Assistant Head Coach Van Malone
Malone hasn’t been a head coach at the collegiate level yet, but he has a good amount of experience as a coordinator and positions coach at several FBS programs, including Tulsa.
Malone, who is also a defensive passing game coordinator and a cornerbacks coach, has been at Kansas State since 2019. Last year, the Wildcats were 18th in passing efficiency defense (118.63) and were 10th in the country with 16 interceptions the season before. Several K-State defensive backs have earned All-Big 12 accolades during Malone’s tenure.
Previously, Malone was a defensive quality control coach at Mississippi State (2018) and a defensive coordinator at SMU (2015-17). He also worked with defensive backs at Oklahoma State (2012-14), Tulsa (2010-11), Texas A&M (2006-09), North Texas (2005), and Western Michigan (2004). He was a wide receivers coach at North Dakota State in 2003, so he has worked with both sides of the ball. He also coached special teams at Western Michigan and North Texas.
Malone has the resume needed to be a great candidate.
Duke Offensive Coordinator Jonathan Brewer
Brewer has familiarity with the region and the AAC.
Brewer is in his first season being the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Duke, which is 8-3 overall this year. Before this, he was a co-offensive coordinator and QBs coach at SMU, which was competing in the American Athletic Conference at the time, from 2022-23. He was also an offensive quality control analyst there from 2018-19.
Brewer also worked under current Duke head coach Manny Diaz when he was the head coach at Miami. Brewer was a senior offensive quality control assistant from 2020-21.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant with a focus on the offensive line at Auburn from 2013-15. He also was an offensive analyst there in 2016 and at UConn in 2017.
Brewer would make sense for Tulsa.
SMU Offensive Coordinator Casey Woods
Woods is a successful coordinator at a current Power Four school who has coaching experience in the AAC.
The Mustangs were eighth in the FBS in scored points per game (38.7) and 16th in yards per game (454.9) in 2023, their last year in the AAC. SMU, which is now 10-1 as a member of the ACC, was fifth in the FBS with 39.3 points per game and was in the top 25 with 444.3 yards per game going into the final week of the 2024 regular season.
Previously, Woods was a tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Missouri. He’s also been an assistant at UAB, Arkansas State, and Auburn.
Tulsa would be smart to consider him.
Jacksonville Jaguars Running Backs Coach Jerry Mack
Mack has experience as a head coach and a coordinator. He would be a good fit for Tulsa.
Before going to the Jaguars, Mack was Tennessee’s running backs coach from 2021-23. Last year, the Volunteers were 10th in the country with 204.8 rushing yards per game. Leading rusher Jaylen Wright was among the 45 running backs in the country to rush for at least 1,000 yards.
Previously, he was an associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach at Rice. He’s also been a head coach at North Carolina Central, a wide receivers coach at South Alabama and Memphis, an OC and quarterbacks coach at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, a passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at Central Arkansas, and a wide receivers/tight ends coach at Jackson State.
With a resume like his, Mack would deserve to be a head coaching candidate for the Golden Hurricane.
UNLV Offensive Coordinator Brennan Marion
Marion is in just his second season as UNLV’s offensive coordinator. He’s done well with the Rebels and has other coaching experience in the southern part of the country.
In 2023, UNLV was 44th in the FBS with 412.7 yards per game and 22nd with 34.4 points per game. The Rebels have continued to be successful on offense this season, even after quarterback Matthew Sluka decided to sit out the rest of the year.
Before this, Marion was a passing game coordinator at Texas in 2022, a wide receivers coach at Pitt in 2021, a wide receivers coach at Hawaii in 2020, an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at William & Mary in 2019, an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Howard in 2017 and 2018, and a running backs coach at Oklahoma Baptist in 2016.
Marion has been a name tied to a few head coaching vacancies the past couple years. The expertise he brings could benefit Tulsa.
Texas A&M Offensive Line Coach Adam Cushing
Cushing has been an assistant at multiple FBS schools and has head coaching experience, which could make him one for Tulsa to consider.
He’s in his first season as Texas A&M’s offensive line coach and run game coordinator. The Aggies are 17th in the country with 208.4 rushing yards per game after Week 13 this season.
Before this, he was a run game coordinator and offensive line coach at Duke for two seasons. And before that, he was Eastern Illinois’ head coach from 2019-21.
Previously, he worked in several roles at Northwestern. While there, he was an offensive line coach (2012-18), an offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator (2009-11), a superbacks coach and recruiting coordinator (2008), a tight ends/H-Backs coach (2005-07), and a graduate assistant who focused on the offensive line (2004).
He could end up being a coach to watch out for during Tulsa’s search.
Incarnate Word Head Coach Clint Killough
Incarnate Word apparently keeps attracting FBS-level coaches. Eric Morris led Incarnate Word for four years, and now is the head coach at North Texas. Then GJ Kinne took over before becoming Texas State’s head coach.
And now Killough might start to see some consideration for FBS head coaching vacancies. He’s continued the success of Incarnate Word, which is where he played from 2013-15. UIW went 9-2 overall in 2023, with one of its losses being a 28-14 game at UTEP. The team was ranked as highly as No. 4 in the FCS polls. The Cardinals ranked first in the Southland in terms of scoring offense, total offense, scoring defense, and total defense.
And now in 2024, UIW earned the No. 6 seed in the FCS playoffs with a 10-2 overall record.
Previously, he was an associate head coach and wide receivers coach. He began coaching at his alma mater in 2018 as a quality control coach with an emphasis on inside receivers. UIW had some explosive passing offenses during that time, as multiple receivers broke school records. Killough does have some FBS experience, having been a defensive backs and special teams graduate assistant as well as a WRs GA at Bowling Green.
Killough certainly is an up-and-coming coach who Tulsa might consider.
