Insider
Travis Haney, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Grading the high-profile coaching hires

There were a half-dozen major head-coaching moves in this most recent shuffle. How did those programs do with their decisions? After discussing the hires with several coaches around the game and adding in my own thoughts, I've given out grades to each of the six.

Here's a preview: Neither Texas nor USC is among my top two hires. Who graded out higher than the two premier openings? And did another school gain more from Lane Kiffin’s firing than the Trojans?

Here are my marks for new coaching hires, shaped by coaches’ opinions.

Washington Huskies

In: Chris Petersen

Out: Steve Sarkisian

Oddly, the biggest winner of Kiffin’s firing at USC was another Pac-12 program. When Sarkisian left for Los Angeles, it finally created the opportunity Petersen wanted in making the move to a power league.

^ Back to Top ^