Holtz, Golden top candidates to replace Kelly

With Brian Kelly now at Notre Dame, and the University of Cincinnati head-coaching job vacant, the search for Kelly’s replacement has officially begun.

Bearcat fans may not have long to wait before a new coach is hired, as Athletic Director Mike Thomas is hoping to name a new head coach before the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, according to wlwt.com.

Current head coaches from around the country as well as current employees in the Bearcats football program are being considered for the job.

Possible candidates already working in the system include associate head coach and defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs, and offensive coordinator and offensive Line coach Jeff Quinn.

Before coming to UC in 2007, Coombs was the head coach at Colerain, a suburban high school in Cincinnati. In 16 seasons, Coombs helped Colerain become nationally ranked and led the team to seven undefeated regular seasons, 10 playoff appearances and finished his career with a 161-34 record.

Known for his emphasis on defense, Coombs’s 2006 Colerain team recorded six shutouts, and in his first year with the Bearcats, the defense led the nation in interceptions and takeaways.

Quinn, the other UC candidate and the current interim head coach, has coached the last 21 seasons with Kelly and it is speculated he will follow him to Notre Dame.

Other possible candidates include current head coaches from other universities.

East Carolina University’s Skip Holtz, and Temples Al Golden are two other possible replacements.

Holtz is the son of the famous Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz, and is known for rebuilding the East Carolinas football program from scratch.

Holtz inherited a program with just three wins in 25 games, however in the last three years he led the Pirates to three winning seasons, three bowl appearances and two consecutive conference USA championships. 

Like Holtz, Golden is known for rebuilding a program from scratch.

Golden is in his fourth year at Temple and inherited a 3-31 program that had not seen a bowl game in 30 years. Golden slowly rebuilt the program and in 2009 he led the Owls to the Eagle Bank Bowl and their first winning record since 1990.

No matter who gets hired, there is no question that they will have big shoes to fill.

After an undefeated season and back-to-back Big East championships, the Bearcats showed that they and ready to take their program to the next level, the only remaining question now is who is going to lead them.