Chip Kelly
Quick Bio: Known for his offense, Chip Kelly had major success at Oregon before heading to the NFL. Kelly was 46-7 in four seasons as the Ducks head coach, and there’s speculation he may be looking to get back into the college game after having little success in his last couple seasons in the NFL.
Pros: Kelly’s offense was potent at Oregon, and he helped develop some really good quarterbacks, including Heisman winner Marcus Mariota. He helped lead Oregon to a National Championship, two Rose Bowls, and a Fiesta Bowl in his four years as head coach.
Cons/Questions: Kelly hasn’t been in college football since 2012, and his time in the NFL, specifically at San Francisco, has tarnished his shine a bit. Not only that, but there are many questions about some NCAA issues that he was involved with at the tail end of his Oregon tenure.
Les Miles
Quick Bio: Les Miles was fired just four games in to the 2016 season at LSU after a disappointing start and repeated failures to live up to expectations. But Miles had found success at LSU before then and has a track record of success.
Pros: Miles had a winning percentage of 77 percent at LSU and helped lead the Tigers to a national title in 2007. He helped take them to another appearance in the title game in 2011 as well. Miles certainly has SEC experience, something Vol fans will crave in their next head coach.
Cons/Questions: Although he took LSU to a title game twice, Miles was notorious for underperforming with the Tigers. His LSU teams often slipped up once or twice against inferior opponents, and they were often overshadowed by Nick Saban’s Alabama squads. He was also known for being stubborn about his offense and refusing to adjust it to more modern day approaches.
