BOCA RATON – On Saturday (Dec. 7), following FAU’s 49-6 victory over UAB in the Conference USA championship game, head coach Lane Kiffin’s future in Boca Raton was no more, as he accepted an offer to become the head coach at Ole Miss.
With such, FAU President John Kelly and athletic director Brian White must begin with a coaching search, as the two quickly try to replace Kiffin, who finished with 26 wins in three seasons as FAU’s head coach.
Here are some names FAU could look at for the head coaching position:
CURRENT ASSISTANT COACHES
Clemson Offensive Coordinator Jeff Scott
Jeff Scott has been Clemson’s co-offensive coordinator since 2015, but began coaching at Clemson in 2008 as the wide receivers coach. Scott, who turns 39 on Dec. 20, is a Clemson lifer, playing wide receiver at Clemson beginning in 2000.
The main issue preventing a possible move is that Clemson assistants simply do not move jobs often. Besides former Clemson assistant Chad Morris, no Clemson assistant has moved in recent memory.
UCF Offensive Coordinator Jeff Lebby
FAU’s athletic director Brian White’s brother is Danny White, who is currently UCF’s athletic director, so the link between them is there.
Lebby previously coached running backs at Baylor before joining UCF’s staff in 2017 as quarterbacks coach. Lebby was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2019.
UCF Offensive Line Coach Glen Elarbee
At UCF, Glenn Elarbee has seen success in coaching a successful offensive line, even earning a Broyles Award nomination in 2018 for best assistant coach. In 2019, Elarbee was promoted to assistant head coach for offense.
Before UCF, Elarbee served as the offensive line coach at Missouri, where he earned another Broyles Award nomination in 2016.
Florida Tight Ends Coach Larry Scott
Unlike some of the other names on this list, Larry Scott isn’t a flashy name. But he could be a smart hire.
Not only is Scott a presumably capable recruiter, but he also has a 4-2 record as a head coach, when he served as the interim for Miami in 2015. The four wins pushed Miami into the Sun Bowl that season.
Scott has seen success as tight ends coach at Florida, including the utilization of Kyle Pitts, who finished his sophomore season with 610 yards and five touchdowns.
Georgia Offensive Coordinator James Coley
If any head coach on this list knows how to navigate the recruiting climate in South Florida, it’s Georgia offensive coordinator James Coley.
Coley, 46, was born in Miami and attended Miami Norland High School. He later coached at Norland, as well as serving as the offensive coordinator at FIU and Miami. Coley also served as an assistant coach with the Miami Dolphins.
Despite his ties to Miami, his time at Georgia as offensive coordinator could stray FAU away from Coley.
Kentucky Offensive Coordinator Eddie Gran
Earlier Saturday, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic reported that Kentucky offensive coordinator Eddie Gran as a candidate for the FAU job.
The link makes sense, as Gran has coached both at Florida State (2010-12) and Miami (1990-91) and is a well-experienced coach, beginning his career in 1987 as Cal Lutheran’s wide receivers coach.
Given Gran’s ability to recruit well and the success that Kentucky has seen on offense in his time, it makes sense for FAU to consider Eddie Gran as a head coach.
FORMER HEAD COACHES
Butch Jones
Butch Jones was last a head coach in 2017 when he was fired by Tennessee with a 34-27 record in Knoxville.
Before Tennessee, Jones saw some success in the Group of 5 with Cincinnati and Central Michigan, where Jones went 50-27 and won four conference championships.
Jim Leavitt
Jim Leavitt has not been a head coach since he was fired from South Florida in 2009, following an 8-5 season. But he did leave with a 95-57 record at South Florida.
Following South Florida, Leavitt coached briefly with the San Francisco 49ers, Oregon and Colorado, before becoming an analyst at Florida State for the 2019 season.
At 63 years old, Leavitt would not be a long-term option, but simply a transitional coach as the Owls potentially try to breed an in-house assistant as their head coach.
IN-HOUSE OPTION
FAU Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.
Can FAU look in-house for its new head coach? It’s entirely possible, but the options may be limited.
While Weis Jr. is regarded well in both the NCAA and NFL, Weis Jr. would be the youngest ever college head coach at just 26 years old and his experience as a major assistant is limited to his time in Boca Raton.
Despite his NFL experience, which is limited to an offensive analyst with the Atlanta Falcons in 2017, Weis Jr. is likely not ready to be a head coach at this time.
