Oct 2, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll with GM John Schneider pre game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Seahawks’ coaching search ‘wide open’; hire will report to GM

John Schneider’s partnership with Pete Carroll resulted in one Lombardi Trophy and another Super Bowl appearance. Now, Schneider said he must “look forward” as he helps lead the Seattle Seahawks’ search for a new head coach.

Schneider met with reporters Tuesday for the first time since the Seahawks announced Carroll would not remain their head coach after 14 seasons.

Carroll, 72, will assume an advisory role within the organization instead.

“Pretty emotional press conference the other day,” Schneider said. “When I say your emotions are all over the place, it’s moving on from a very, very historic partnership and amazing, amazing level of success and achievement that Pete and myself are extremely proud of.

“I look forward to being able to call Pete and text him. He’s already texting me like crazy all the time like, ‘Hey Johnny, what’s going on with this and that?’”

It marks Schneider’s first search for a head coach. He and Carroll joined Seattle in the same offseason in 2010. Schneider joked that he was prepared to lead that head-coaching search but found out the franchise had already decided on Carroll.

Carroll reported directly to owner Jody Allen, who has controlled the team since her brother Paul Allen passed away in 2018. But now, the structure will change and the eventual hire and his staff will report to Schneider.

“Our setup earlier was … the coaching staff did not fall under my umbrella, and now it will,” Schneider said. “It’s not necessarily a Jody Allen decision or choosing this person or that person, it’s just a contractual situation.”

Schneider said the team has not decided whether to consider candidates from the college ranks. Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh — Carroll’s old rival in both the Pac-12 and the NFC West — is testing the NFL waters again, having interviewed with the Los Angeles Chargers.

“It’s wide open still,” Schneider said. “There’s so much movement in college football already.”

The Seahawks have requested interviews with at least eight candidates, per multiple reports:

–Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero
–Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham
–Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson
–New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka
–Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris
–Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn
–Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik
–Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith

Schneider said Jody Allen has been “concise” in describing what she wants the Seahawks’ next head coach to bring.

“We want to keep our positive culture, everything that’s been created here … ” Schneider said.

“There’s so many special people in this building. It’s amazing to be on the phone with all these agents and the people that are interested in this position and to be able to explain to them, ‘Hey, there’s a foundation here that’s incredible.’”

–Field Level Media

Dec 18, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; iNew England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick reacts in the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. The Raiders defeated the Patriots 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons interview Bill Belichick for HC vacancy

The Atlanta Falcons interviewed six-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Belichick for their vacant position on Monday.

It is the first known interview for Belichick since he and the Patriots parted ways last week. Belichick had coached New England since 2000.

Belichick, 71, ranks second in NFL history in head-coaching wins (regular season and playoffs) with 333. He trails only Don Shula’s 347 in that category while ranking third in regular-season wins (302), behind Shula (328) and George Halas (318).

He spent five seasons as head coach of the Cleveland Browns (1991-95) before making history with Tom Brady in New England. They won Super Bowls in the 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016 and 2018 seasons. Belichick also won two Super Bowls as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants.

After the Patriots’ 4-13 season in 2023, Belichick hit the market, and BetMGM on Monday pegged the Falcons as the +200 favorites to be his next team.

The Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders may also show interest in Belichick, and after the Dallas Cowboys’ unceremonious playoff exit on Sunday, the coaching legend was linked to America’s team, though the job is not yet open.

Atlanta has interviewed six candidates for its job, four of whom have yet to hold a head-coaching role: Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and Ravens assistant head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver. The Falcons also interviewed San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who was the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach in 2018 and Carolina’s interim coach for 12 games in 2022.

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2022; Boone, North Carolina, USA; Troy Trojans head coach Jon Sumrall on the sidelines against the Appalachian State Mountaineers during the second half at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Tulane hires Troy’s Jon Sumrall as head coach

Tulane hired Troy’s Jon Sumrall to be its next head football coach on Friday.

Sumrall was an assistant coach for the Green Wave from 2012-14, and he guided Troy to a 23-4 record in his two seasons as the Trojans’ head coach.

Tulane needed a replacement for Willie Fritz, now the head coach at Houston after going 54-47 in eight seasons — including 11-2 in 2023.

Sumrall was the Sun Belt Coach of the Year in 2022 and won his second straight conference championship this season. The Trojans (11-2) will play Duke in the Birmingham Bowl Dec. 23.

Sumrall, 41, was a linebacker at Kentucky from 2002-04 before working as an assistant coach at San Diego, Tulane, Troy, Ole Miss and his alma mater. He was Kentucky’s co-defensive coordinator in 2021 before taking the job at Troy.

–Field Level Media

Nov 19, 2022; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA;  UAB Blazers interim head coach Bryant Vincent  talks to the side judge against the LSU Tigers during the second half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Louisiana Monroe names Bryant Vincent head coach

Former New Mexico offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent was named head coach at Louisiana Monroe on Tuesday.

Vincent, 48, compiled a 7-6 record as the interim coach at UAB during the 2022 season.

He replaces Terry Bowden, fired last month after going 10-26 in three seasons with the Warhawks — 2-10 in 2023.

“We are fired up to welcome Coach Bryant Vincent to our Warhawk family and lead ULM football,” athletic director John Hartwell said in a news release. “Coach Vincent is bringing passion, positivity and a proven plan to guide our football program to levels of success we have not seen since becoming an FBS program.

“He is a relationship guy, and that will resonate with our student-athletes, prospective recruits, his coaching staff, the University, Northeast Louisiana and all of Warhawk Nation.”

Vincent’s New Mexico offense finished in the top 20 nationally in red-zone offense (14th) and rushing (19th) in his first season with the Lobos in 2023.

ULM will introduce Vincent at a news conference Wednesday at 11 a.m. CT.

“I am beyond excited and honored to be the Head Football Coach at ULM,” Vincent said in a release. “I am confident with the leadership and vision of President Dr. Ron Berry and Athletic Director John Hartwell that we will build a championship program.

“Now is the time for the Warhawk family to all come together as one.”

With Vincent as the interim coach, UAB averaged 30.1 points and 438.2 yards per game and won the Bahamas Bowl in 2022. He was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Blazers from 2018-21.

He also coached in the Sun Belt Conference in two separate stints at South Alabama (2011-13, 2015-17), the latter as the offensive coordinator.

–Field Level Media

Nov 20, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Virginia Cavaliers head coach Bronco Mendenhall looks on from the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Report: New Mexico targeting Bronco Mendenhall

New Mexico is targeting former BYU and Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall to fill its coaching vacancy, ESPN reported Tuesday.

Mendenhall, 57, compiled a 135-81 record in 17 seasons as the head coach of the Cougars (2005-15) and the Cavaliers (2016-21).

He led BYU to 11 straight bowl games and took Virginia to three in a row, including the Orange Bowl during the 2019 season. His teams were 7-7 in bowl games.

When Mendenhall stepped down at Virginia in December 2021, he said he was not retiring from coaching.

New Mexico fired head coach Danny Gonzales last month after he compiled an 11-32 record in four seasons at his alma mater, including a 4-8 record in 2023.

–Field Level Media

Oct 15, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A Washington Commanders helmet on the sideline against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Commanders hire DBs coach Jim Salgado

The Commanders hired former Bills defensive backs coach Jim Salgado on an interim basis, ESPN reported Wednesday.

Washington fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and DBs coach Brent Vieselmeyer last Friday.

Buffalo parted ways with Salgado after six seasons following last season’s playoff loss against Cincinnati.

He joined the Michigan State staff for 2023 but was available following coach Mel Tucker being fired by the Spartans.

Before joining the Bills, Salgado coached at Princeton (2013-16) and Syracuse (2005-08).

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2022; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; The logo of the Syracuse Orange is seen on a helmet during the second half of their game against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Syracuse targets Georgia’s Fran Brown as head coach

Georgia assistant Fran Brown is a leading candidate to become the next Syracuse head coach, per multiple reports.

Brown, 41, is in his second season as the defensive backs coach for the unbeaten Bulldogs. He previously held similar positions at Rutgers, Baylor and Temple.

Brown is a New Jersey native who has recruited the Northeast region throughout his coaching career. He’s ranked as the No. 1 recruiter in the nation by 247Sports.

Syracuse fired eighth-year coach Dino Babers on Nov. 19 with a 41-55 record.

Interim coach Nunzio Campanile led the Orange (6-6, 2-6 ACC) to a 35-31 win over Wake Forest last Saturday to gain bowl eligibility.

Others linked to the vacancy include Holy Cross head coach Bob Chesney, Toledo head coach Jason Candle and Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White.

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA;  Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko looks on before the game against the Lafayette Leopards at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Take 5: Texas A&M candidates to replace Jimbo Fisher

After digesting the $77 million buyout Texas A&M owes fired coach Jimbo Fisher, the next logical question is who will replace him.

The Aggies will no doubt swing for the fences, with athletic director Ross Bjork acknowledging the expectation is that Texas A&M “should be relevant on the national scene.”

The record buyout coming Fisher’s way is evidence that money is little obstacle in the Aggies’ quest to become nationally relevant. Supported by a wealthy booster base and NIL money, Fisher was able to haul in impressive recruiting classes, but was not able to beat marquee opponents with any consistency.

The resources available to the next head coach no doubt makes Texas A&M a highly desirable destination. However, time is of the essence with the upcoming transfer portal opening Dec. 4.

Several are Aggies likely to strongly consider moving on to new schools, with freshman wide receiver Raymond Cottrell the first to announce he’s leaving. But can Texas A&M land a big-name coach before season’s end — especially one who may be in the College Football Playoff picture?

With that, here are five early candidates to replace Fisher in College Station.

–Deion Sanders, Colorado
Sanders’ name will come up with most any opening at a major program. Despite the Buffaloes’ struggles following a 2-0 start, there is no denying the impact Sanders has had in Boulder. That’s from turning the program around on the field to infusing the entire city — heck, the nation — with Buffaloes football fever. The financial gain to the entire area is undeniable as well. Question is, would he leave Colorado after just one year, especially if son Shedeur Sanders returns for his senior season? Deion’s five-year contract at Colorado is for $29.5 million — money that Texas A&M can dwarf. But do the Aggies and their boosters believe he’s ready to compete in the SEC just yet?

–Kalen DeBoer, Washington
One of the most respected coaches on the West Coast, DeBoer has done an impressive job in building the Huskies into a College Football Playoff threat in just two years. One drawback is that DeBoer’s recruiting map has largely been on the West Coast. But like the others who have turned around major programs in seemingly the blink of an eye, DeBoer works the transfer portal well. Washington was DeBoer’s breakout job after a two-year stint at Fresno State, and the 49-year-old is revered in Seattle. But if the Aggies’ priority is to revitalize their offense, DeBoer may garner strong attention.

–Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
Kiffin, 48, is completing his fourth season at Ole Miss, and he rebuffed other potential openings last year. His contract carries a large buyout — the figure isn’t publicly known — but Kiffin is another offensive mind that could get the most out of Texas A&M’s current talent pool, help retain those considering transferring out of College Station and pluck marquee names out of the portal. Kiffin also knows how to compete in the SEC, getting the Rebels inside the Top 10 in the CFP.

–Dan Lanning, Oregon
The Ducks are backed by plenty of Phil Knight money, so the Aggies will have to appeal to Lanning on other levels. The 37-year-old Missouri native took over at Oregon just two years ago after Mario Cristobal left for Miami. The entire coaching staff was new at the time, but Lanning has been able to elevate the Ducks into national title contenders by recruiting well and working the portal. He cut his coaching teeth under the likes of Nick Saban and Kirby Smart, so a return to compete against his mentors in the SEC could prove enticing.

–Mike Elko, Duke
Elko, 46, is highly respected and likely to garner interest from multiple programs. However, Texas A&M has the inside edge as Elko served as Fisher’s defensive coordinator from 2018-21. He left to take over Duke two years ago, and had the Blue Devils ranked in the top 15 earlier this season after being named the ACC coach of the year in 2022. Elko accomplished the feat by working the transfer portal extremely well — something the Aggies’ next head coach must do to help fortify the depth chart. The biggest question may be whether Elko is ready to leave Duke after only two seasons, but Texas A&M may prove to good an opportunity to pass up, and Elko has already made 10 stops during his 25-year coaching career.

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA;  San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans reacts during the third quarter against the Washington Commanders at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Texans hire 49ers DC DeMeco Ryans as head coach

The Houston Texans hired DeMeco Ryans as their head coach Tuesday afternoon, multiple reports said.

The hire was widely expected after the NFL Network and KPRC2 in Houston reported Monday that the Texans planned to finalize a deal with Ryans after a second interview. With Ryans’ San Francisco 49ers losing in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, he was freed up to complete a second interview with Houston, per NFL rules.

The Texans’ official Twitter account posted earlier Tuesday that the team had “completed additional discussions with DeMeco Ryans regarding our head coaching position.”

Ryans, 38, spent the past two seasons as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. He was their inside linebackers coach for three seasons before that.

A former linebacker, Ryans spent the first six seasons of his playing career with the Texans, who selected him with the first pick of the second round in the 2006 draft. He was Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2006 and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2007 and 2009.

Ryans also spent 2012-15 with the Philadelphia Eagles.

In 140 career games (139 starts), Ryans amassed 970 tackles, 13.5 sacks, seven interceptions, seven forced fumbles and 10 fumble recoveries.

His work with the 49ers’ defense drew plaudits. He assumed the coordinator position after Robert Saleh left the team to take the New York Jets’ head job. The Niners allowed the fewest points (16.3) and yards per game (300.6) in the NFL in 2022 and generated 30 takeaways.

Ryans replaces Lovie Smith, who was the second straight Texans coach to be let go after one season. The Texans went 3-13-1 in 2022 and will pick second in April’s NFL draft.

The 49ers have requested to interview Steve Wilks for their defensive coordinator vacancy. Wilks is under contract with the Carolina Panthers, where he was the defensive coordinator and interim head coach in 2022. Carolina interviewed Wilks for the full-time head coach gig before hiring Frank Reich.

–Field Level Media

New Purdue coach Ryan Walters helped turn around the Illinois defense and was named the top assistant in college football in 2022.

Purdue hires Illinois DC Ryan Walters as head coach

Purdue hired Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters as its new head coach on Tuesday.

This is the first head coaching job for Walters, 36, who was named college football’s top assistant coach in 2022. He has been with the Illini for two seasons following a six-year tenure on the Missouri coaching staff, the last two as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator.

“From an early point in the search process, Coach Walters stood out because of the energy, passion and intelligence he displayed as a defensive coordinator in both the Big Ten Conference and Southeastern Conference,” athletic director Mike Bobinski said in a news release. “His meteoric rise in the coaching profession is in large part due to his unique ability to connect with his student-athletes as both a coach and mentor. With that in mind, we look forward to the culture and atmosphere of success he and his staff will instill in and around our football program, and we see him as a perfect fit for our University and this community.

Walters received a five-year contract and replaces Jeff Brohm, who left last week to become the head coach after six seasons and a 70-36 record in West Lafayette, Ind.

Under Walters, Illinois held seven opponents to 10 or fewer points in 2022. The Illini rank No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (12.3) and No. 2 in yards allowed per game (263.8).

“I am incredibly humbled and honored to serve as the head football coach at Purdue University,” Walters said. “I am grateful to Director of Athletics Mike Bobinski and to President (Mitchell) Daniels for this incredible opportunity. Purdue is a world-class university, and our football program will pursue the same excellence exhibited across our campus. My wife Tara and I, along with our boys, are beyond excited to join the Purdue and West Lafayette communities. Boiler Up!”

Brohm’s brother, Brian Brohm, is serving as the Boilermakers’ interim coach for the Jan. 2 Citrus Bowl against LSU.

Purdue (8-5) finished atop the Big Ten West division and lost to Michigan in the Dec. 3 conference title game.

Walters played safety at Colorado from 2004-08. He began his coaching career as a student assistant with the Buffaloes in 2009 before spending time at Arizona (2010-11), Oklahoma (2012), North Texas (2013) and Memphis (2014).

–Field Level Media