21 names to know in Florida’s coaching search, grouped by plausibility

The Florida Gators are in the market for a new head football coach. They moved on from Jim McElwain on Sunday after two-and-a-half seasons, a 22-12 record, two division titles in a down SEC East, one alleged shark-humping saga, and one dubious implication of death threats against him and others connected to his program.

Florida worked to cut down McElwain’s $12.8 million buyout, under the threat that the Gators might fire him for cause. The university reportedly saved about $9 million, and it’s about to go on an expensive hunt for McElwain’s replacement.

The school’s clear No. 1 choice early on.

Mullen has built a competitive program in Starkville, which is no small feat. He’s the annual subject of stay-or-go rumors, and those will only ratchet up with the Florida job open.

He was Urban Meyer’s offensive coordinator at UF from 2005-08, winning two national championships.

His boss at Mississippi State used to be Scott Stricklin, whom Florida hired away as athletic director a year ago. Stricklin wasn’t running the show at MSU when the Bulldogs hired Mullen, but they worked together for years.

Frost is a Nebraskan by birth and college, a former star quarterback for the Huskers. He’d spent his entire career in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest until last season, when he took over in Orlando. He now leads the best mid-major team in the country, with a cutting-edge offense that’s dropping a national-best 51 points per game.

Frost is commonly connected to the still-occupied Nebraska job, but Florida will be interested and offers a way more attractive gig, other than personal ties.

The ex-Bowling Green coach runs a fun, dynamic spread offense. He’s never coached in the Southeast, but an upset of Clemson in October will put him on lots of radars.

Brown is just 37. He led the Trojans to a program-record 10 wins last year and this year is 6-2 with a road win over LSU. He also knows offense, something the Gators have missed.

The former Toledo coach is in his second year in Ames. He has Iowa State ranked No. 14 in the AP Poll this week, the Clones’ highest ranking since 2002. He has a big buyout at ISU and has never coached anywhere in the South.

Durkin hasn’t won a lot yet, but he has Maryland punching above its weight in recruiting. He spent five years on Florida’s defensive staff, first under Urban Meyer and then Will Muschamp. The Muschamp era was bad, but Durkin wasn’t.

The former Arizona State offensive coordinator has the Tigers atop the AAC West. He’s built on Justin Fuente’s strong tenure and has America’s No. 8 scoring offense.

The Tampa native previously turned around WKU and USF with adaptive offense and is righting Oregon’s on-field product while bringing Sunshine State recruits to the Northwest. He’d be a pricier option, already making $2.9 million. There’s a strong case he should be near the top of the list.

A Louisiana recruiting legend and former SEC assistant, Wilson took the Roadrunners to their first bowl ever and the verge of their second.

Georgia’s former offensive coordinator replaced McElwain at Colorado State when the latter took the Florida job. Would be weird to go back to an old well, but Bobo has been successful at CSU and has Southeastern roots.

Florida blog Alligator Army, in its list of potential candidates, on the exciting innovator who’s just yet to prove much at the Power 5 level:

There was a brief moment when Brohm had Purdue looking exciting and dangerous way, way ahead of schedule in September.

Purdue has also lost its last three games to Wisconsin, Purdue, and Nebraska — you know, the Power Five program that has already fired its athletic director this year and will almost surely part company with its head coach soon.

Fuente has great job security in a good fit. The Florida job is top-tier, though, and could woo someone from another good position.

Of the ESPN commentator who’ll be on every school’s wish list, Alligator Army explains:

Kelly is the No. 1 candidate of frustrated Florida fans, 2010-present and also Alligator Army’s all-time Florida wide receivers coach. His Oregon offenses revolutionized college football in a way very reminiscent of Spurrier’s offenses revolutionizing the SEC, and his Ducks were cool and arrogant in ways that harkened back to Spurrier’s halcyon days, too. There are many Florida fans who see Chip Kelly as a squatter Steve Spurrier with fewer visor tosses.

The architect of Clemson’s title-winning 2016 defense will probably be a head coach at some point, but it doesn’t seem like he’s in any rush. His son, Jake, is a four-star linebacker in the class of 2018 who’s currently pledged to Clemson. He’s also a Midwesterner, and if he leaves Clemson, that seems like a likelier region.

Kiffin is coaching a terrific offense in Boca Raton, and he’s got plenty of local recruiting experience. He’s also at FAU for a reason.

Strong was a superb defensive coordinator for Florida from 2003 to 2009. It’s unlikely that Florida would hire him after his tenure leading Texas went so poorly.

Gundy has built something great at his alma mater. He’s admitted to entertaining other offers in the past, but nothing indicates he’s about to leave Stillwater.

Alligator Army says:

I think the primary sticking point for Florida with Miles would be his age. At best, Florida would be getting a coach who could get through a few years before whispers about him needing to retire became the white noise of Florida’s recruiting efforts. Couple that with his likely price tag and the fact that Miles would decidedly not excite a fan base starved for offense, and it’s a bad fit.

The former Florida defensive coordinator just retired from a good job because he’d had enough.

Is rich and retired and has plenty of time to work on his short game.

Is clearly taking the Tennessee job this time around, or maybe next time or the time after that.