Coordinators who are moving on up

Coordinators with the potential to become head coaches emerge every year. Here are five who could make that leap after this season.

Updated: August 15, 2005, 2:29 PM ET
By Todd McShay | Scouts, Inc.
Each year a handful of top college football coordinators are plucked from their roles as X's and O's gurus and placed in the position of commander-in-chief. This can be an opportunity for the top coordinators to reach the once unthinkable million-dollar salary plateau. Head coaches realize the value of an elite coordinator and would rather take a budget hit than lose their right-hand man to another school. Often, however, transition is inevitable.

Although there are other coordinators who could make a top-five list for their play calling and scheming alone, the following five coordinators display the best head-coaching potential. When the inevitable process of firing and hiring begins at the end of the 2005-'06 college football season, these coordinators should be kept in mind:

Chris Petersen, Offense, Boise State
Dan Hawkins receives and deserves a good deal of credit for Boise State's unthinkable offensive production in the past four years. However, Petersen has been the coordinator of this unit since Hawkins' arrival and he, too, deserves recognition for what has been an unparalleled four-year run. The Broncos have finished either first or second nationally in scoring offense in three of four seasons under Petersen. Even after returning just three starters from the 2003 team, Petersen was able to quickly mold QB Jared Zabransky and reload an offense that set a school record with 48.9 points per game. Petersen is young, energetic and creative. In reality, it's surprising that Hawkins was able to keep his offensive coordinator on staff after 23 head coaching jobs opened up following the 2004-'05 season. Petersen should be at the top of many lists when programs look to fill their head coach vacancies at the end of this season.


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Todd McShay

Scouts Inc.
  • ESPN College Football and NFL Draft Analyst
  • Joined ESPN in 2006
  • Played quarterback in high school and was a backup QB for the University of Richmond.

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