Sports Illustrated lists trio of SEC assistants ready for head coaching gigs
A few SEC names appeared Thursday on a Sports Illustrated list looking at the 30 hottest names on this year’s coaching carousel.
The piece written by Bruce Feldman was divided into two 15-name sections, with up-and-coming sitting head coaches being listed first, and rising assistant coaches being listed second.
Both of LSU’s coordinators made the cut as rising assistant coaches. Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda was No. 2 on the list, while OC Matt Canada came in at No. 12.
“The highest-paid coordinator in college football, Aranda backs it up on the field with his results. In 2016, LSU’s defense allowed the fewest touchdowns (16) and fewest touchdowns per game (1.3) in the country,” Feldman said. “If Canada can get the Tigers to start lighting up the scoreboard and at least crack the top five in scoring offense in the SEC—something that hasn’t happened since 2011—he’ll likely be in the mix for some FBS head coaching jobs.”
The list of rising assistants also included Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt at No. 8.
“Being a coordinator under Nick Saban often leads to a head coaching job, and Pruitt, 43, appears to be the next in line,” Feldman said. “We’ll see what Pruitt (who is currently making $1.3 million per year) would be willing to leave Tuscaloosa for.”