Three coaching candidates to watch after Lane Kiffin leaves Ole Miss originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As the college football world awaited clarity in the Lane Kiffin sweepstakes, Ole Miss has quietly assembled a contingency plan focused on two primary coaching candidates with Tulane’s Jon Sumrall and USF's Alex Golesh. A third name that could enter the conversation is Louisville’s Jeff Brohm.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementYahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger reported that Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter has initiated preliminary conversations with Sumrall and Golesh, and both are view as candidates for the Oxford job. Carter’s internal list has since centered on these two coaches with Southeastern recruiting experience and program-building.
Sumrall enters as the strongest fit philosophically. The former Troy head coach built a reputation for defensive-led turnarounds before taking over Tulane, where he has gone 19-7 in two seasons.
The Green Wave defense improved immediately under his direction, and his team captured a conference championship game berth in Year 1. Sumrall is also a top target for Florida’s opening, complicating the timeline but detailing his rising national profile. His recruiting ties across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama give him credibility in SEC markets.
Brohm brings the most extensive resume. He posted a 93-56 FBS record across Western Kentucky, Purdue and Louisville, including Purdue’s first Big Ten West title in 2022. His Cardinals finished 8-4 this season amid rumors of an extension. Brohm’s offensive guidance and quarterback development history appeal to a Rebels program seeking continuity without Kiffin.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOle Miss is expected to move rapidly if Kiffin exits, leaning on coaches with portal and NIL acceptance and capable of sustaining its playoff outcome.
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