A comprehensive list of UF coaching candidates

As with every major coaching change in college football, the onslaught of ideas in regard to who will replace the outgoing coach is never far behind.

Such was the case for the Florida Gators, who recently announced Will Muschamp will no longer be the head coach at the conclusion of the regular season.

College football pundits and media members scrambled to compile their lists of most likely candidates for the UF opening and SDS thought it would be ideal to compile a comprehensive list for Florida fans.

Saturday Down South

Our own Brad Crawford theorized about some of the names athletic Jeremy Foley should call first about the head coaching position. Crawford’s top candidates include Bob Stoops, Jim Harbaugh and Art Briles, among others.

ESPN (insider)

ESPN’s Travis Haney jotted down his eight candidates that make the most sense for UF to pursue. He includes no NFL coaches, but his list is filled with proven college head coaches. Some are within Florida’s own conference like Ole Miss’ Hugh Freeze and South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier.

Fox Sports

Bruce Feldman was quick to reel out his list of possible candidates shortly after Muschamp’s dismissal was announced. His list included the usual suspects — Bob Stoops, Rich Rodriguez — but he also had a wild card among his candidates. Feldman expects Auburn’s Gus Malzahn to get some consideration as well.

CBS Sports

Dennis Dodd believes there are eight coaches that are the best fit for Florida. Aside from guys like Rodriguez, Freeze and Stoops, Dodd also adds in intriguing options like Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain and Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy — both offensive-minded coaches.

Athlon Sports

Steven Lassan over at Athlon Sports compiled a comprehensive list of 13 candidates for the UF head coach position. Among the 13 candidates are some lesser known coaching names like Memphis head coach Justin Fuente and UL Lafayette’s Mark Hudspeth. Lasson also mixes in several coordinators at both the NFL and college ranks.

Sporting News

Matt Hayes ponders whether the third time will be the charm for Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops, who is constantly brought up whenever the UF head coach position is available. One name Hayes includes that we’ve yet to see on these lists is current UCLA head coach Jim Mora Jr., who has excelled out west in the Pac-12.

The Gainesville Sun

Among the names on this list are Arizona State’s head coach Todd Graham as well as Stoops, Mullen, Freeze and others. The Gainesville Sun‘s Robbie Andreu also considers TCU’s Gary Patterson as a “home-run hire.”

Orlando Sentinel

Edgar Thompson has a blend of proven head coaches within both professional and college levels. In addition to the popular candidates, Thompson also includes Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin and even NFL head coach and former Oregon head man Chip Kelly.

The Tampa Tribune

The local Tampa Bay newspaper includes only current head coaches on its list, one of which being 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh. Gundy, Mullen, Stoops and Freeze all make another appearance as well.

Bleacher Report

BR’s Barrett Sallee breaks down his top five candidates for the Florida job on video. Names like Jim McElwain and Dan Mullen appear on his list, but he perhaps has one name that may make Florida fans everywhere shudder.

Lane Kiffin.