While Jeff Brohm is the first choice to be the next head coach, there are more candidates out there that would be great hires.
All is not lost if Louisville doesn’t get Brohm. UofL will likely be one of the top schools looking for a coach this year and they have a head start on everyone. Louisville can pay for a top coach and they have the facilities and the support for and from the athletic department that candidates will want to be a part of. While Jeff Brohm is the guy that most fans want, here are a few guys that would still be a great fit at Louisville.
Ryan Day - Ohio State Offensive Coordinator
Louisville is a prime spot for a guy that is at the top of the list of the “young up-and-comers” to start their head coaching career. Day is only 39 years old but he’s been a coach at the college or NFL level for 16 years now. Day got his start at New Hampshire as a tight ends coach after playing in Chip Kelly’s offense there. Day built his resume from that point on coaching at multiple schools on the east coast before moving onto the NFL to coach quarterbacks for Chip Kelly.
Day has been the offensive coordinator for Urban Meyer for the last two years and the OSU offense has averaged over 500 yards per game both years. Day has shown the ability to run pass heavy offenses as well as run heavy schemes. The fact that he was chosen to be the interim head coach when Meyer was suspended to start the season says a lot. There are two other coaches on that staff that have been head coaches in the past.
Mike Norvell - Memphis Head Coach
Louisville will more than likely go after a coach with an offensive background and Norvell is about as good as you can get if that’s what you want. Norvell’s offense has been in the top 5 in yards per play in both of the last two seasons. In 2016 and 2017 he utilized Anthony Miller and Riley Ferguson to field one of the best passing offenses in the country in both seasons. This year, Norvell’s rushing offense is ranked 6th in the country and his star running back is averaging 9.48 yards per carry. His offense is versatile and he’s shown the ability to elevate the game of lowly rated recruits.
A concern with Norvell will be his defenses as well as how recruiting has gone during his time at Memphis. However, he recruited at a high level during his time as Arizona State’s offensive coordinator.
Neal Brown - Troy Head Coach
Neal Brown has as many wins over ranked teams at Troy as UofL has over the last five years. Brown is another coach with a great reputation for his offensive scheme. I’ve actually been very impressed by the defense in the games that I’ve watched. Troy is having a “down” year on defense this year and they’re ranked 38th in yards per play. They’ve been in the top 25 each of the previous two years.
Brown is a UK guy, so I’m sure there will be plenty of fans that will write him off just because of that. But, Brown’s balance and record at Troy can’t be dismissed. He doesn’t have the high powered offense that some other have, but he has a little more head coaching experience and he’s done well everywhere he’s been.
Luke Fickell - Cincinnati Head Coach
I’m not sure that Louisville can go with a defensive coach with this hire, but if they do I think Luke Fickell is the guy. Cincy was in a bad spot when he took over last year but he went to a bowl game in his first year and has them in position to possibly knock of UCF for the conference title this year. Cincy has a top 5 defense and the offense holds their own in the top 50.
What I really like about Fickell is his staff. He has a nice mix of veteran assistants and young guys. He’s been able to land recruits with better offers and he also gets great effort out of his players. I have a strong belief that Louisville should be able to recruit Ohio and Missouri much better than they do and his current staff would be able to do that here, in my opinion.
THE GUY YOU WON’T LIKELY GET BUT YOU HAVE TO TRY
Brent Venables - Clemson Defensive Coordinator
There isn’t much of a chance at all that Brent Venables would leave Clemson to go anywhere; let alone Louisville. He has built a great reputation at Clemson for his outstanding defenses as well as his passion and intensity on the sidelines. But, Venables is coaching his son right now and he’s only in his freshman year. Then you can throw in all of the reasons he would pass on going to a team in the same division as Clemson as well as a team that is a step down from potential spots he could end up at in the future.
You do have to try, though. Louisville can pay well enough to get a guy like Venables and he is arguably the second best option for UofL. Venables has said that he won’t listen to offers until after a season after a bad loss earlier in his career, so he might not even be on Tyra’s list. Vince wants a coach in place before the early signing day.
