Missouri Football: Top 10 potential candidates to replace Barry Odom

Group of Five candidates

This job has the vibe fit for a Group of Five coach. That is neither a slight nor an indictment of Missouri football. Gary Pinkel, arguably their most successful coach, was plucked from Toledo. Barry Odom had no previous experience and had a modicum of success while at Missouri.

Both prove you don’t have to come from the Power Five to have success.

10. Mike Norvell, Memphis

These names aren’t “technically” in order, but Norvell is lowest on this list primarily because of Florida State. Every opening, Arkansas, Ole Miss, and those that might come open are looking down toward Tallahassee to see what they do.

It’s not much of a secret that Norvell is interested in the Florida State job. Apparently, the feeling is mutual. He’s the name in the Group of Five right now and if FSU falls through, it’s entirely possible he goes back to Memphis — he has a good thing there — until the job he wants opens.

9. Luke Fickell, Cincinnati

There might be a bit of a gap, but Luke Fickell is the second name from the Group of Five. He’s low on this list for two reasons. First, Fickell’s never coached outside of Ohio, and has the perception of a Big Ten coach. His name has been linked to Michigan State if head coach Mark Dantonio retires or is asked to step down. Second, Fickell is a defensive coach. There are whispers they go the other way and bring in a coach that is more offensive-minded.

8. Bill Naiper, Louisiana

Billy Naiper, currently the head coach at Louisiana, has the least amount of head coaching experience on anyone’s short list. Despite the lack of pelts on the wall, there isn’t a person the Missouri administration that could name drop this side of Ryan Day. He could tell AD Jim Sterk what he learned while he was Dabo Swinney’s first offensive coordinator, or how he learned a systematic approach to running a major college program while Nick Saban’s wide receivers coach. Those are quite the learning trees and they might just land him in the SEC.

7. Bryan Harsin, Boise State

Bryan Harsin makes since because of Sterk’s time as an AD in the Mountain West. He, much like Norvell, has his pick of the litter. He’s in a good situation at Boise State — he can recruit at a high level and win every year without experiencing a drop off in wins. He’s paid pretty well, and can wait until he can get the Power Five situation he wants and this might be it.

Harsin’s style of football works in the SEC. He’s an offensive guy, but loves a physical run game and strong defense. Sterk could sell Harsin to Tiger nation.

6. Josh Heupel, UCF

Josh Heupel makes sense at Missouri. Their best offensive success under Barry Odom was when Heupel was offensive coordinator. He left Columbia to take the head coaching job at UCF when Scott Frost left to take Nebraska. There’s a hitch that might or might not happen; Heupel would be a candidate for the Oklahoma job if Lincoln Riley left Norman to coach the Cowboys. Those are whispers at this point, but this is football and anything can happen. Whether that’s a possibility or not, Heupel has to be the first call they make before any other coach from the Group of Five.