Where Would Oklahoma State Turn if Mike Yurcich Gets a Head Coaching Job This Year?

Let’s get to some post-Tennessee offseason-ish fodder and think about whether Cowboy football could have a new coordinator or two next season?

Glenn Spencer and Mike Yurcich have done fantastic jobs at different times (and unexplainably poor jobs at others) but it’s always worth evaluating improving as Kyle Porter aptly put it in a recent pod, a must-listen on this topic.

In recent coaching cycles, both were considered for head coaching positions — Yurcich at Tulane and Glenn Spencer at Georgia State.

The Pokes have put together some all-time offenses with Yurcich, but playcalling has been criticized. I’d argue that it doesn’t really matter who’s sitting in Yurcich’s chair unless his boss allows him to do his thing.

And it’s hard to envision Gundy parting ways with the record-setting, Rudolph-recruiting Mike Yurcich. But could Yurcich accept a head coaching gig? It’s still fairly early in the cycle, but openings have come up at UTEP and Kent State. It’s pretty easy to imagine watching some Tuesday night MACtion with a Yurcich-coached offense doing insane things.

If such a thing occurred — and to be clear, we are not advocating for either coach to be pushed out the door — where could OSU turn for a replacement? Let’s get a head start on looking around the country at possible new coordinators if Yurcich moves on after five years to bigger and better things.

Two things stick it out as guideposts in this endeavor of considering a candidate:

1. An up-and-comer is a lottery ticket. Just because Iowa State found Matt Campbell doesn’t mean they didn’t have to go through Paul Rhoads and Gene Chizik first. There’s a significant risk this person won’t work out or be better than the status quo. It’s worth noting that if they do, understanding that they could be headed to higher paying assistant jobs or a mid-major head coaching role (see: Basically all of OSU’s past offensive coordinators).

2. An established name could be expensive. Oklahoma was willing to pony up a million bucks to keep Lincoln Riley, a top-shelf OC. Is Oklahoma State a program that can afford that? You pay for proven assets (unless they’re Josh Henson and they give you the hometown discount), and that has to be evaluated.

My two cents: Looking at programs with solid identity and continuity like Kansas State, I’m a fan of Gundy finding his Del Miller.  If Gundy can find an assistant with personal ties that wants to drink Aspen coffee and eat Hideaway pizza for the rest of his tenure, Oklahoma State would be all the better for the continuity and quality that candidate would bring.

The easy name that comes to mind is Todd Monken, an NFL assistant with experience and the moxie that Gundy would respect.  Would he be willing to ride into his sunset years (51 currently) with his pal and give the Pokes a respected voice that Mike will hear out?

If not him, though, here’s a list of my favorite ideas to consider for a potential opening this year (or in the years to come).

Josh Heupel, OC at Missouri

While you’re picking up your jaw at the suggestion of a Sooner hero and castoff, he’s done an incredible job at Mizzou (scoring nearly 40 points a game on SEC teams) after a solid year at Utah State. He’s on a staff that’s been on tenuous ground but could be stabilizing.

He’s mentored quarterback Drew Lock into some insane numbers and could be great at developing the next guy.

He now stands alone. Nobody has thrown more TD passes in a season in SEC history than Drew Lock.

41 — Drew Lock, Missouri — 2017
40 — Andre Woodson, Kentucky — 2007
39 — Danny Wuerffel, Florida — 1996

— Saturday Down South (@SDS) November 24, 2017

Bob Stitt, former HC at Montana (and Colorado School of the Mines)

A sort of cult hero of old amongst the PFB crew (see him requested as a hire in the Bullets five years ago and immortalized in chalk talks here and here) the now-unemployed offensive genius would be a major coup for those longing for creativity. The 53-year old would be a breath of fresh air to the conference.

Enough of an endorsement for me — Dana Holgorsen used one of his plays in West Virginia’s Orange Bowl.

But when the Orange Bowl ended and Stitt got up to put his son to bed, he almost did a double-take. As ESPN’s Lisa Salters was finishing her postgame interview with Holgorsen, she asked about the play that “looked like a volleyball toss” and nobody could quite figure out.

A big smile crept across Holgorsen’s face. “My good friend Bob Stitt at Colorado School of Mines gave me that,” Holgorsen said. [USA Today]

Graham Harrell, OC at North Texas

Briefly an assistant under Dana Holgorsen in Stillwater, the high scoring Texas Tech quarterback could be a great fit at OSU. After spending a couple of years under Mike Leach at Washington State, he’s been calling plays at UNT since 2016.

With college football’s sixteenth-highest scoring offense, Harrell has improved the attack over the last couple of years and mentored unheralded Oklahoma high school quarterback legend to soaring heights.

North Texas QB Mason Fine had himself a day on Saturday throwing down the middle of the field. pic.twitter.com/Q1h6MM8Qzo

— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 14, 2017