News that Brady Hoke will not return to San Diego State next season raises an immediate question: Who will be the Aztecs’ next coach?
SDSU athletic director John David Wicker sent an email Monday morning to members of the Director’s Cabinet, promising a national search and saying that the Aztecs “have many great attributes to sell to potential candidates.”
In his email, Wicker credited Hoke with the program’s turnaround and putting SDSU on a path to 13 seasons of bowl eligibility after being hired in December 2008.
In looking ahead, Wicker wrote, “Our football program is a source of pride for the SDSU community. It is imperative that our football program is successful for the overall health of the athletic program.”
To attract the right candidate, Wicker and SDSU will likely have to pony up. Hoke’s $1.3 million salary ranks eighth in the Mountain West. In fact, it’s $1 million less than the top two in the league — Wyoming’s Craig Bohl and San Jose State’s Brent Brennan — are making.
Wicker spoke Monday afternoon on San Diego Sports 760, the Aztecs’ flagship radio station. He said improving the offense will certainly be a consideration in the hire. San Diego State has lost games this year while scoring 10, 10, nine and zero points.
“That does not mean we’ll hire an offensive-minded coach only,” Wicker said on the radio. “If a coach comes in that meets the criteria we’re looking for and he’s on the defensive side of the ball, but has a great plan, knows who they want their offensive coordinator to be and the philosophy they have on offense, then that’s the way we’ll go.
“The biggest thing is going to be having the appropriate fit for who San Diego State is, the culture within our building, the culture within our team, that values the student-athlete experience. It’s not just wins and losses. I realize that’s what a lot of people pay attention to, but, for me, it’s athletic success, it’s academic success, it’s life skills success. We’re taking 18- to-22-year-old men and we’re helping them grow to being good human beings and leaving San Diego State with a degree and can go be successful the rest of their lives.”
Wicker said he hopes to name a new coach by mid-December at the latest. That time frame is especially important given the NCAA’s early signing period runs from Dec. 20-22.
Here are some early candidates to be the next SDSU football head coach, with their ages in parentheses:
Former San Diego State cornerbacks coach Tony White has earned praise for his job as Nebraska’s defensive coordinator.
(Andy Wilhelm)
SDSU connections
Tony White (44): The Nebraska defensive coordinator was an assistant coach at SDSU from 2009-17, serving as cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator before getting hired in the same capacity at Arizona State. White moved up to DC with the Sun Devils, then was hired away by Syracuse. A top-notch recruiter and talent evaluator, White is drawing high praise this season at Nebraska.
Ryan Lindley (34): SDSU’s career passing leader has coaching experience at both the college and pro levels and deserves at least a courtesy interview after returning to coach the quarterbacks last season and adding OC to his title this year. Could have greatly benefited from a couple more years as OC before opening presented itself.
Zach Arnett (37): Intense, personable former SDSU assistant (2011-19) is available after being fired Monday by Mississippi State.
Could former Boise State and Auburn coach Bryan Harsin be a fit at San Diego State?
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Offensive minds
Kliff Kingsbury (44): A year after being dismissed as head coach of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, Kingsbury has been spending Saturday’s this season as USC’s offensive analyst.
Kingsbury’s reputation for creating offensive fireworks began a decade ago, when he was Offensive Coordinator of the Year for a University of Houston offense that averaged 50 points and 600 yards a game.
Local fans have watched a Kingsbury-coached team before. He coached Texas Tech to a 37-23 upset of No. 14 Arizona State in the 2013 Holiday Bowl.
Brian Lindgren (43): Oregon State OC will be getting looks as a rising talent after directing Beavers unit that ranks among national leaders in scoring, among other offensive categories. Wicker got a first-hand glimpse at Oregon State’s Reser Stadium in September, when the Beavers beat SDSU 26-9.
Ryan Grubb (30): Washington OC has Huskies offense firing on all cylinders. He knows the Mountain West after spending five years at Fresno State.
Will Stein (34): Oregon OC is another rising talent the Aztecs have crossed paths with recently. He was as assistant coach at UTSA from 2020-22, and was on staff when the Aztecs beat the Roadrunners in the 2021 Frisco Bowl. Stein also has served as the quarterbacks coach at Louisville (2014) and Texas (2015-17).
Bryan Harsin (47): The Boise State job is also open, meaning Harsin — a former Broncos player and coach — is probably more of a candidate for a second stint there. But he is an offensive mind who gained experience in the SEC as head coach at Auburn and knows his way around the Mountain West.
Sean Lewis (37): Now the Colorado OC, Lewis opened some eyes as head coach at Kent State. He may want another chance to be his own boss. Colorado’s Deion Sanders took Lewis’ play-calling duties away earlier this season.
Wild card
Jimbo Fisher (58): Recently fired Texas A&M coach is due $75 million from the Aggies over the next eight years. Could definitely afford mortgage payments in San Diego, even at 8 percent interest.
