Texas Tech Football: Top 5 Candidates to replace Kliff Kingsbury

4. Neal Brown (HC/Troy)

Neal Brown spent three seasons as the Texas Tech offensive coordinator under Tommy Tuberville from 2010-12, and it is his ties to that regime that could make his name not as popular as it should be among the fanbase.

Brown’s offenses at Tech weren’t the typical air-raid units, but they were largely successful nonetheless. Since leaving Lubbock, Brown has become one of the hottest young head coaches in the country.

Brown has put together a 34-16 record in four seasons at Troy, turning a 4-8 team in his first year into a consistent Sun Belt power. His Trojans won the Sun Belt last season, and came up just short this year, but are a bowl win away from their third consecutive double-digit win season.

It’s a matter of when, not if, Brown takes over at a power five program. If Texas Tech has interest, it would be fair to wonder whether Brown would jump at the opportunity to head back to Lubbock.

Aside from the three seasons he spent there, Brown’s playing and coaching career has been in the South and Midwest. He’s a Kentucky native, who could very well be in play for the Louisville job if Jeff Brohm passes, which you have to figure would be more desirable to him than donning the Matador hat.

Despite his ties to one of the most unpopular coaches in program history, Brown has proven his mettle as a head coach at the group-of-five level, and would be a heck of a grab for Hocutt.