Examining the candidates for the next head coach for Louisville football

Mike Norvell – Memphis

Head Coach

Mike Norvell, who is Is from the Todd Graham coaching tree, followed Graham from Pittsburgh  where he served as offensive coordinator at Arizona State. In 2016, then Memphis head coach, Justin Fuentes, left to assume the same role at Virginia Tech. Memphis would hire Norvell as his replacement.

He currently has a 24-12 record in his first stint as a head coach. In his first 2 seasons he lead Memphis to two consecutive bowls, although they both resulted in a loss. In 2017 he lost to Matt Camlbell and his Iowa St. Cyclones in the Liberty Bowl.

Norvell is the highest paid head coach outside the Power 5 conferences currently making $1.86M. He’s worth putting on the list, but I think he’s further down the list. Also, would Louisville fans want a coach from Memphis St?

Seth Littrell – North Texas

Head Coach

Seth Littrell is a 40 year old offensive mastermind. In two seasons he served with UNC as Associate HC of Offense in 2014 & 2015, he was able to help lead the offense to eye catching numbers.

In 2014, he helped lead UNC’s offense to a 43rd overall ranking in Total Offense (27th Total Passing, 73rd in Total Rushing). In 2015 helped lead UNC to the ACC Championship Game where they lost to Clemson 45-37. They finished 10-3 overall with an 8-0 ACC Coastal Division record. They would lose a shootout to Baylor in the Russell Athletic Bowl 49-38 while finishing the season ranked 12th overall in Total Offense (28th Total Passing/13th Total Rushing).

Littrell was hired as head coach of N. Texas in 2016. In his first 2 seasons he had a record of 14-13, but his team showed massive improvement in his 2nd season as head coach going 9-5 and finishing 13th overall in Total Offense (12th Total Passing/48th Total Rushing).

Sitting at 7-3 thus far in 2018 with wins over SMU and a road win @Arkansas. His team is currently averaging 37pts/g and ranks 21st overall in Total Offense (11th Total Passing/89th Total Rushing).

Littrell is a name I think would generate considerable buzz amongst the Cardinals fanbase. His offense is exciting and highly productive. The question is will he be available? Rumors have it he may be in line to replace Bill Snyder at Kansas St.

Les Miles 

Former LSU Head Coach

Certainly a coach whose name carries weight. Miles, otherwise known as the “Mad Hatter” earned that nickname for his risk taking play calling at critical times and his unorthodox personality.

He lead LSU to becoming 2007 National Champions and his LSU program won the SEC title in both 2007 and 2011.

Not a coach I would want cause he’s a Power 5 conference retread. He’s 65 years old and has been out of coaching now for a couple seasons working on his acting chops. (Yes, you heard that right. Click here to check it out.) Yet, I’ve heard many Cardinals fans bring his name up in excitement and we at BigRedLouie have heard his name might actually be more in play than many would think.

Brent Venables – Clemson

Defensive Coordinator

The unanimous choice for many across the country as the top coordinator in college football. Blue blood programs have tried to lure Venables out of Death Valley the past few seasons to lead their programs as head coach to no avail.

Arguably the biggest reason for Clemson’s emergence as a perennial national championship contender, Venables has a proven track record as a defensive coordinator at both major college blue blood programs Oklahoma and Clemson. Venables is a fiery, intense coach. A great recruiter and a great developer of talent. His name carries weight amongst high school recruits as they line up and jump to the opportunity to play for him.

While it’s not likely Venables is to leave Clemson at this time, Tyra has to try. He’s one of the best options available and the benefits would be felt two fold. While getting arguably the best coordinator in the country to lead your football program, you’d be weakening your biggest incoherence, divisional foe.

Outside of Brohm, Venables may be the biggest name on Cardinals fan’s wishlists.

Ryan Day – Ohio State

Offensive Coordinator

After taking over in an interim role as HC for Urban Meyer during his 3 game suspension, Ohio St was able to go 3-0. One of those wins was over a good TCU Horned Frogs team.

Day not only served as OC under Urban Meyer at Ohio St, he’s also served under his mentor Chip Kelly at both NFL stops, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Only 39yrs old, Day is rumored to be the target of multiple programs both at the college level and the NFL.

Day certainly would be an interesting hire and bring some new excitement to the Cardinals football program. My worry would be being so young, with virtually zero head coaching experience, how long would he be here before he got bigger eyes for somewhere else!  My guess would likely be not long.

Dave Aranda – LSU

Defensive Coordinator 

The other big time defensive coordinator on the list. Dave Aranda is the current defensive coordinator for the LSU Tigers. His LSU defense currently ranks just outside the Top 30 in Total Defense at 31st and 12th in the country in Scoring Defense.

He’s currently in his 3rd season at LSU as defensive coordinator and before that he served 3 years as defensive coordinator for the Wisconsin Badgers. Leading up to this season, in 5 consecutive seasons as defensive coordinator, Aranda’s defenses have ranked Top 12 nationally in Total Yards. Also his defenses have ranked among the Top 10 in Scoring Defense 4 of the past 6 years.

He’s helped Wisconsin and LSU go a combined 3-2 in bowl games as coordinator of their defenses. Of which Cardinals fans remember the dominant performance over the Cardinals in the 2016 Citrus Bowl where they neutralized a Heisman lead, Lamar Jackson offense.

Aranda has the resume. He’s only 42 yers old and appears ready to lead a program on his own. The question is would he take the Cardinals job?

With all his recruiting ties in the South and Louisville with a rich history of being bake to lure talent from the Sunshine State and other states in the South to go along with the upgrade in facilities, I think Louisville could pull Aranda to Louisville if he wants job.