It is that time of year again for the coaching carousel to rear its ugly head. Already from the Mountain West, Brady Hoke has been linked to the Minnesota job, Air Force's Troy Calhoun has said he is not interested in the Colorado job and now Utah's Kyle Whittingham is on the University of Miami's short list to replace Randy Shannon. The Miami Herald is reporting that Miami has five candidates in mind
Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen, Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, Connecticut coach Randy Edsall, Arizona coach Mike Stoops and Utah coach Kyle Whittingham.
To me Dan Mullen should be the front runner since he coached in Florida and was able to make Mississippi State a top 25 team in only two years and then perhaps Jim Harbaugh. The others do not make much sense if Miami is interested in turning Miami into a national power again.
Also, remember that Kyle Whittingham turned down Tennessee last year after they met with him in Salt Lake City and offered him $3 - $4 million per year. Miami has been rumored to offer John Gruden $3 million per year, so I would find it hard to believe the offer to any of these other coaches would get that same type of offer. I understand why Whittingham would be on the short list, but with Utah heading to the Pac-12 -- which is an upgraded job just by the move -- next year it would be a minor miracle if he were to accept the Miami job if offered.
Whittingham has already been quoted by saying he is focused on his current job at Utah. Plus, Whittingham has always lived out West and is comfortable staying where he is at.