Nothing tells the truth like the odds. UCLA football is looking for its next head coach of their football program. You can find odds for this search at various places. Neither Tim Skipper nor Jerry Neuheisel were listed in some books, but plenty of other notable names are.
A survey of the highest odds at various outlets has Washington’s head coach Jedd Fisch slightly ahead of the pack, with Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith second and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders third. Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham and the recently fired James Franklin round out the top-five.
There are quite a few head scratchers, as you can see — how is Deion Sanders a realistic choice? — but let’s go through the five wackiest options for the Bruins at head coach among the names we have seen at various shops.
Jon Gruden
The longtime NFL head coach has won a Super Bowl but that took place over two decades ago and he hasn’t coached college football since 1989. Gruden could certainly bring attention to the Bruins but there’s little reason to believe he’s an actual candidate for the job.
Curt Cignetti
Why is this name even here? Cignetti just thrashed the Bruins this past Saturday and he also just signed a long-term extension with the Hoosiers. There’s no reason for Cignetti to look elsewhere with the Indiana program humming right now, especially not for the rebuilding Bruins.
D’Anton Lynn
It would be humorous for Lynn to continue to ping pong from UCLA and USC, but Lynn and the Trojans’ defense have struggled this season. He hasn’t had much head coaching buzz. Lynn is familiar with the UCLA program but seems like a long shot to become the Bruins’ head coach.
Pete Carroll
Come on. This is crazy. Pete Carroll on the UCLA sideline would be a sight to behold after he led the USC program for so long during the 2000s. Carroll is in year one with the Las Vegas Raiders and would likely need to be fired to be searching for a new job this offseason. Carroll hasn’t coached at the collegiate level since leaving USC in 2009.
Troy Aikman
Aikman is a donor for the UCLA program, but the idea of him deciding to try his luck at coaching would be must-see TV for Bruins fans. Aikman is the announcer for ESPN’s Monday Night Football and hasn’t been attached to any coaching rumors over the past few years.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Taking a look at some of the interesting names for UCLA’s next coach
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
