5 College Football Head Coaches Who Saved Their Jobs in 2015

5 College Football Head Coaches Who Saved Their Jobs in 2015

By Andrew Frosceno

December 12, 2015

5 College Football Head Coaches Who Saved Their Jobs in 2015

Mark Richt — Every season sees head coaches enter the year with speculation that they must have great seasons to save their jobs. Some coaches, like Georgia's Mark Richt, didn't do enough to save their jobs. However, some did a great job and bought themselves some more time to be employed. These guys did what they had to do to keep their job in 2016.

Every season sees head coaches enter the year with speculation that they must have great seasons to save their jobs. Some coaches, like Georgia's Mark Richt, didn't do enough to save their jobs. However, some did a great job and bought themselves some more time to be employed. These guys did what they had to do to keep their job in 2016.

5. Willie Taggart

Willie Taggart USF

5. Willie Taggart

Willie Taggart USF — Taggart was 6-18 in his first two seasons at South Florida and showing very little progress with the team. However, this season, he found a potential long-term solution at QB with Quinton Flowers, and got the team to a bowl game with an 8-4 record. They just missed out on winning the AAC East and look to be on the upswing. Taggart saved his job and now could be building a program.

Taggart was 6-18 in his first two seasons at South Florida and showing very little progress with the team. However, this season, he found a potential long-term solution at QB with Quinton Flowers, and got the team to a bowl game with an 8-4 record. They just missed out on winning the AAC East and look to be on the upswing. Taggart saved his job and now could be building a program.

4. Bret Bielema

Bret Bielema

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4. Bret Bielema

Bret Bielema — Bielema hasn't gotten off to a smooth start at Arkansas after he left Wisconsin. His first season saw him go 3-9, followed by a 7-6 season last year. They started 2-4 this season, and he could have been let go if they missed a bowl game and finished under .500 again. However, they caught fire and ended up winning five of six to finish 7-5 and get into a bowl. That run very well could have saved his job.

Bielema hasn't gotten off to a smooth start at Arkansas after he left Wisconsin. His first season saw him go 3-9, followed by a 7-6 season last year. They started 2-4 this season, and he could have been let go if they missed a bowl game and finished under .500 again. However, they caught fire and ended up winning five of six to finish 7-5 and get into a bowl. That run very well could have saved his job.

3. Larry Fedora

Larry Fedora

3. Larry Fedora

Larry Fedora — Fedora's Tar Heels had a couple of uninspiring years where they finished 7-6 and 6-7 over the last two years. It surely wasn't the growth they wanted to see in their program and could have put him on the hot seat. However, a breakthrough 2015 saw UNC go 11-2 and reach the ACC title game. Not only did it save his job, but it got him a brand new contract extension.

Fedora's Tar Heels had a couple of uninspiring years where they finished 7-6 and 6-7 over the last two years. It surely wasn't the growth they wanted to see in their program and could have put him on the hot seat. However, a breakthrough 2015 saw UNC go 11-2 and reach the ACC title game. Not only did it save his job, but it got him a brand new contract extension.

2. Kirk Ferentz

Kirk Ferentz

2. Kirk Ferentz

Kirk Ferentz — There was talk that perhaps it was just time for a new face for the Iowa football program. Perhaps things got a bit stale and ran its course for the school and their coaching legend. A dream season changed all that. Iowa was undefeated heading into the Big 10 title tilt and came within a yard of being in the playoff. Ferentz could now stay a Hawkeye for however long he wants.

There was talk that perhaps it was just time for a new face for the Iowa football program. Perhaps things got a bit stale and ran its course for the school and their coaching legend. A dream season changed all that. Iowa was undefeated heading into the Big 10 title tilt and came within a yard of being in the playoff. Ferentz could now stay a Hawkeye for however long he wants.

1. Bob Stoops

Bob Stoops

1. Bob Stoops

Bob Stoops — After a disappointing 2014 season that ended with Oklahoma getting pounded by Clemson in a bowl game, there were people calling for Stoops' job. Just like Ferentz, perhaps things ran its course for Oklahoma and Stoops. However, a great season that saw the Sooners win the Big 12 and reach the playoff bought Stoops some more years at the helm for Oklahoma.

After a disappointing 2014 season that ended with Oklahoma getting pounded by Clemson in a bowl game, there were people calling for Stoops' job. Just like Ferentz, perhaps things ran its course for Oklahoma and Stoops. However, a great season that saw the Sooners win the Big 12 and reach the playoff bought Stoops some more years at the helm for Oklahoma.

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