Who’s in and who’s out: KU football coaching search bracket down to 16 candidates

By Staff     Nov 7, 2018

FILE — Former LSU head coach Les Miles watches during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Just as University of Kansas athletic director Jeff Long, no doubt, has been able to cross certain names off his list of possible football coaches to hire, the program’s long-suffering supporters are weighing in on which candidates they would back at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

The fan base has spoken, and 16 potential coaching candidates have been eliminated from contention in KUsports.com’s 2018 KU Football Coaching Search Bracket.

Eliminated in Round 1:

Mike Locksley – Alabama offensive coordinator

Lance Leipold – Buffalo head coach

Army head coach Jeff Monken yells to officials during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Tulane on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, in West Point, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Bret Bielema – Former Arkansas and Wisconsin head coach

Mike Norvell – Memphis head coach

Butch Jones – Former Tennessee and Cincinnati head coach

Mike MacIntyre – Colorado head coach

Todd Graham – Former Arizona State and Pitt head coach

FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, North Carolina State head coach Dave Doeren reacts during the second half an NCAA college football game against Boston College, in Raleigh, N.C. The Wolfpack are coming off consecutive losses to Clemson and Syracuse entering Saturday's game against Florida State. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

Ed Warinner – Ohio State O-line coach

Tim Beck – Texas offensive coordinator

Ken Niumatalolo – Navy head coach

Jeff Tedford – Fresno State head coach

Chris Creighton – Eastern Michigan head coach

North Texas head coach Seth Littrell, center, watches from the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Frank Wilson – UT-San Antonio head coach

Brian Bohannon – Kennesaw State head coach

Craig Bohl – Wyoming head coach

Dan Enos – Alabama quarterbacks coach and associate head coach

Only the most promising names survived. But now the choices start to get a little more difficult. Major Applewhite or Willie Fritz? Bryan Harsin or Matt Wells?

These aren’t easy decisions. Imagine how Long feels.

Here’s a look at our Round 2 matchups. Make your selections Thursday, before we move on to the Elite Eight on Friday.

RIGGINS REGION

• Les Miles – Former LSU and Oklahoma State coach head coach vs. Greg Schiano – Ohio State defensive coordinator

• Chris Klieman – North Dakota State head coach vs. Neal Brown – Troy head coach

HADL REGION

• Jeff Monken – Army head coach vs. Jim McElwain – Former Florida and Colorado State head coach

• Major Applewhite – Houston head coach vs. Willie Fritz – Tulane head coach

SAYERS REGION

• Dave Doeren – North Carolina State head coach vs. Scott Satterfield – Appalachian State head coach

• Bryan Harsin – Boise State head coach vs. Matt Wells – Utah State head coach

REESING REGION

• Seth Littrell – North Texas head coach vs. Troy Calhoun – Air Force head coach

• Jim Leavitt – Oregon defensive coordinator vs. Jason Candle – Toledo head coach

— Now’s your chance. Pick KU football’s next head coach at our bracket: 2018 KU Football Coaching Search Bracket

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52707Who’s in and who’s out: KU football coaching search bracket down to 16 candidates