Zenger can get head start on search
By firing Charlie Weis on Sunday morning, KU athletic director Sheahon Zenger has the rest of the season to conduct a national search for his next football coach.
On Sunday, Zenger said the bulk of the search could come during the second half of the season. For now, defensive coordinator Clint Bowen will get an extended audition as interim coach. Zenger said Bowen is a candidate for the job — and would be even if he wasn’t serving in the interim role.
Here are some other names to know as Kansas looks for a new football coach:
David Beaty, Texas A&M wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator: If KU wants somebody who can recruit the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, few do it better than Beaty. A former assistant under Mark Mangino, Beaty recruited James Sims to Kansas. Experienced success on Kevin Sumlin’s staff at Texas A&M.
Tim Beck, Nebraska offensive coordinator: Another coach with KU ties; served as an offensive assistant under Mark Mangino from 2005-07 and helped implement the passing game that suited Todd Reesing so well.
Dave Doeren, N.C. State coach: One of the few head coaches on this list; Doeren is a Bishop Miege graduate who worked as an assistant under Mark Mangino before leading Northern Illinois to a BCS apperance. Was passed over during the 2011 search. In the second year of a five-year contract worth a reported $1.8 million annually.
Scott Frost, Oregon offensive coordinator: Known around the Midwest as the QB who led Nebraska to a share of the national title in 1997; Frost is now one of the brains behind Oregon’s turbo-charged “Blur” offense. If KU wants an offensive guru, Frost is an interesting candidate. Would he be interested?
Ed Warinner, Ohio State co-offensive coordinator/offensive line: Another coach with Kansas ties; former offensive coordinator under Mangino during the Orange Bowl season; Warinner has settled into a job under Ohio State coach Urban Meyer
Josh Heupel, Oklahoma offensive coordinator: Another former Big 12 QB; Just 36, Heupel guides Oklahoma’s well-tuned spread offense. Guided Oklahoma to BCS title as a quarterback; understands the Big 12 and recruiting Texas; would he be interested?
Brent Venables, Clemson defensive coordinator: Certainly knows the area. Venables, a Salina native, played for Bill Snyder at K-State and later served as an assistant for Snyder and under Bob Stoops at Oklahoma. Head coaching chances are rare, but would Venables want the KU job?
This story was originally published September 29, 2014 at 6:51 AM with the headline "Zenger can get head start on search."