What direction do most Southeastern Conference schools go when hiring new head football coaches? Regardless of the prominence of the program, there is no set path to success.
Former Auburn coach Gene Chizik
We examined the hiring decisions of the six original members of the Southeastern Conference West Division since the league split into divisions in 1992.
Here is a look at the coaches who have been hired, when they were hired and the circumstances of their departures:
AUBURN
TERRY BOWDEN, 1993
Previous job: Head coach, Samford
Departed: 1998. Resigned at midseason with an overall record of 45-23-1. Went 11-0 in 1993 and became first coach to win his first 20 games at a Division I-A school. SEC Championship Game in 1997.
TOMMY TUBERVILLE, 1999
Previous job: Head coach, Ole Miss
Former Alabama coach Mike DuBose
Departed: 2008. Resigned with an overall record of 85-40. Had 13-0 season and won SEC championship in 2004. Went 11-2 in 2006. SEC Championship Game in 2000, 2004. Had six-game winning streak against Alabama.
GENE CHIZIK, 2009
Previous job: Head coach Iowa State
Departed: 2012. Resigned after a 3-9 season with a overall record of 33-19. Went 14-0 and won the BCS national championship in 2010. Won three bowl games.
ALABAMA
MIKE DUBOSE, 1997
Previous job: Defensive line coach, Alabama.
Departed: 2000. Resigned after a 3-8 season with an overall record of 24-23. Won SEC championship in 1999.
Nick Saban has won championships at LSU and Alabama
DENNIS FRANCHIONE, 2001
Previous job: Head coach, Texas Christian.
Departed: 2002. Resigned with an overall record of 17-8 to become head coach at Texas A&M.
MIKE PRICE, 2003
Previous job: Head coach, Washington State.
Departed: 2002. Coached through spring practice but resigned without coaching a game after a scandal involving a strip club in Pensacola.
MIKE SHULA, 2003
Previous job: QB coach, Miami Dolphins.
Sylvester Croom became the first African-American head football coach in the SEC
Departed: 2006. Resigned after a 6-6 season with an overall record of 26-23. Went 10-2 in 2005 after winning the first 10 games and rising to No. 2 in the polls.
NICK SABAN, 2007
Previous job: Head coach, Miami Dolphins.
Current status: Has an overall record of 67-13 in his sixth season. Has won two BCS championships and will play for a third this season.
LSU
GERRY DINARDO, 1995
Previous job: Head coach, Vanderbilt.
Departed: 1999. After going 2-7 overall and 0-7 in the SEC, was fired with one game remaining in the 1999 season with an overall record of 32-24-1.
Houston Nutt coached at Arkansas and Ole Miss
NICK SABAN, 2000
Previous job: Head coach, Michigan State.
Departed: 2004. Resigned to become head coach for the Miami Dolphins. Won the SEC championship in 2001 and the BCS national championship in 2003.
LES MILES, 2005
Previous job: Oklahoma State.
Current status: Is 85-20 overall. Won the national championship in 2007. Won SEC championships in 2007 and 2011.
ARKANSAS
DANNY FORD, 1993
Tommy Tuberville coached at Auburn and Ole Miss
Previous job: Was a consultant at Arkansas after leaving Clemson in 1989.
Departed: 1997. Fired after a 4-7 season with an overall record of 26-30-1. SEC Championship Game in 1995.
HOUSTON NUTT, 1998
Previous job: Head coach, Boise State.
Departed: 2007. Resigned after going 8-4 in 2007 with an overall record of 75-48. Two SEC Championship Games.
BOBBY PETRINO, 2008
Previous job: Head coach, Louisville.
Departed: 2012. Fired with an overall record of 34-17. Went 21-5 his last two seasons.
Mississippi State
SYLVESTER CROOM, 2004
Previous job: Offensive coordinator, Detroit Lions
Departed: 2008, The first African-American head football coach in the SEC, resigned with an overall record of 21-38.
DAN MULLEN, 2008
Previous job: Offensive coordinator, Florida.
Current status: Has an overall record of 29-21. Best finish has been fourth in the SEC West.
Ole Miss
TOMMY TUBERVILLE, 1995
Previous job: Defensive coordinator, Texas A&M
Departed: 1998. Resigned to become head coach at Auburn. Had a record of 25-20 amid inherited NCAA sanctions.
DAVID CUTCLIFFE, 1998
Previous job: Offensive coordinator, Tennessee.
Departed: 2004. Fired after a 4-7 season with an overall record of 44-29.
ED ORGERON, 1999
Previous job: Defensive line coach, Southern California
Departed: 2008. Resigned after going 3-8 with an overall record of 10-25.
HOUSTON NUTT, 2000
Previous job: Head coach, Arkansas
Departed: 2011. Fired with an overall record of 24-26 after losing 14 consecutive SEC games.
HUGH FREEZE, 2012
Previous job: Head coach, Arkansas State
Current status: Is 6-6 in his first season.
- Phillip Marshall
- Auburn Insider - AuburnUndercover