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Baylor Football: 4 potential candidates who could replace Matt Rhule

By Dante Pryor

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - NOVEMBER 30: Quarterback Charlie Brewer #12 of the Baylor Bears talks with head coach Matt Rhule during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Memorial Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS - NOVEMBER 30: Quarterback Charlie Brewer #12 of the Baylor Bears talks with head coach Matt Rhule during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Memorial Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Sonny Dykes of the Southern Methodist Mustangs looks on against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Sonny Dykes of the Southern Methodist Mustangs looks on against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

2. Sonny Dykes, SMU HC

Sonny Dykes checks all the boxes in a coaching hire. He has previous head coaching experience from his time at Cal. The Bears went from 1-11 in Dykes’ first season (sounds familiar?) to 8-5 and a top 25 finish in year three.

Dykes has ties to the state of Texas as well. Not only is he a Texas-native, but he’s also from the Mike Leach coaching tree. Dykes coached under Leach at Texas Tech from 2000-06. After coaching the Cal Bears, Dykes took over the SMU Mustangs in 2018. In his second year in Dallas, SMU won 10 games and was in contention for the American Athletic Conference Championship most of the season.

He’d fit in Waco because he’s been successful in unique spaces. He had success at Cal which has its academic requirements despite being public. He rebuilt Louisiana Tech before he went to Cal and guided SMU to its best season since the infamous “Death Penalty” in the 1980s. He recruited and developed talent well in Lubbock as a part of Mike Leach’s staff at Texas Tech.

This might make the most sense of any coach outside the program. A Dykes hire might not be one with glitz, but it might be the most practical and make the most sense. Practicality is okay sometimes, too.

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