FAU hasn’t enjoyed a winning season and won a bowl game since 2019 – when Lane Kiffin was the head coach. But that won’t change with Tom Herman leading the team.
Herman was fired as FAU’s head coach this week. He was 6-16 during his tenure. The Owls were 2-8 overall and 0-6 in AAC play before the program decided to move on.
“I extend my appreciation to Tom Herman for his dedication to our university and our student-athletes,” FAU athletic director Brian White said in a press release. “I informed Tom of my decision this morning and then met with the staff and team. We firmly believe in our ability to win championships and compete for bowl games, and that remains our standard.
“A national search begins immediately.”
Here are some names FAU might consider.
New Customer Offers at BetMGM
Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms
Duke Running Backs Coach Willie Simmons
Simmons, having been a head coach in the state of Florida, has the kind of experience FAU might be looking for.
Simmons is in his first season at Duke after previously being the head coach at Florida A&M. In six years there, Simmons went 45-13 and 34-5 against SWAC opponents. In 2023, a year when Simmons was the SWAC Coach of the Year, the Rattlers won their first SWAC title and the Celebration Bowl. They also were fifth in the FCS rankings. He coached multiple All-American players like Isaiah Land, who was the Buck Buchanan Award winner in 2021.
Before going to Florida A&M, Simmons was the head coach at Prairie View A&M from 2015-17. He had a winning record there as well, going 21-11.
Previously, he was an offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Alcorn State (2012-14). But he also has other FBS experience, having been an offensive coordinator, running backs coach, and passing game coordinator at Middle Tennessee (2007-11). He was also a graduate assistant at Clemson in 2006.
Jacksonville Jaguars Running Backs Coach Jerry Mack
Mack has experience as a head coach and a coordinator. He’s recruited in the area and has familiarity with the state, so he would be a good fit here.
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 FAU.
Alabama Tight Ends Coach Bryan Ellis
Ellis has only been at Alabama for less than a year. But if he were willing to leave for a Group of Five head coaching opportunity, FAU might make sense.
Last season, when Ellis was an offensive coordinator at Georgia Southern, the Eagles were in the top 50 in the country with 30.2 points and 419.5 yards per game. And that was a down year compared to the other teams he’s worked with.
In 2022, which was Ellis’ first as Georgia Southern’s OC and QBs coach, the Eagles were in the top 20 in the FBS with 466.7 yards per game and scored 32.7 points per game.
Before that, Ellis was Western Kentucky’s co-offensive coordinator and inside receivers coach. In 2021, the Hilltoppers were second in the country with 44.2 points per game and 535.3 yards per game while leading the FBS with 433.7 passing yards per game.
He was WKU’s OC and quarterbacks coach from 2019-20 and was an assistant there from 2014-16. From 2017-18, he worked with quarterbacks at USC.
Ellis obviously knows how to develop high-flying offenses, so he would be a good candidate.
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 a member of the ACC, was tied for sixth in the country with 39.9 points per game scored going into Week 13 of this season.
Previously, Woods was a tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Missouri. He’s also been an assistant at UAB and Auburn.
Woods coached wide receivers and was a recruiting coordinator at Arkansas State in 2012 when the Red Wolves went 10-3, earned a Sun Belt title, and won the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
FAU would be smart to consider him.
Birmingham Stallions Defensive Assistant Anthony Blevins
Blevins has experience at the pro and collegiate levels and knows the region well.
A former XFL player, Blevins played at UAB and was a cornerbacks coach there in 2012. Since then, he was an assistant in several roles for the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants focusing on special teams and defensive secondaries. He coached players like Pro Bowlers Justin Bethel, Budda Baker, and Michael Thomas.
In 2023, he took an offer to be the head coach of the XFL’s Vegas Vipers, but he never led the team during a season due to the UFL’s merger.
Blevins’ expertise should make him a potential candidate.
