The Big Ten actually has few legit bad coaches. The conference is made up of either established guys or coaches who haven’t had long enough to render a judgment.
The bigger issue when identifying coaches that have something to prove is not finding a bad coach, but rather identifying programs that may be looking to change the narrative or make a statement to turn things around.
In my opinion, there are two coaches in the Big Ten that are in real do-or-die mode. The other three are just looking to change the bad mojo. Nonetheless, their storylines will be interesting to monitor.
The list of coaches without baggage currently within the conference is pretty short. Jim Harbaugh for the Michigan Wolverines is in good standing after after two great years. Wisconsin and Nebraska head coaches Luke Fickell and Matt Rhule, respectively, are so new and shiny that grace will be provided.
Let’s dive into the top five Big Ten coaches with something to prove this fall.
5
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Why There’s Something to Prove
Kirk Ferentz will never be fired from his position as head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, but the question should be asked whether he is holding the program back. We all know his son, Brian, is his offensive coordinator, but blatant nepotism aside, the Hawkeyes haven’t won a Big Ten title since they were co-champions in 2004, and they are an obvious a step or two behind Michigan and Ohio State each year.
4
Mel Tucker, Michigan State
Why There’s Something to Prove
Mel Tucker is entering his fourth season as head coach of the Michigan State Spartans. Much like Ferentz, Tucker is nowhere near getting fired. He needs to be on this list though, because after an impressive 11-2 season in 2021, Michigan State cratered to 5-7 in 2022. This year is very important for Tucker to prove this team is moving in the right direction.
3
David Braun, Northwestern
Why There’s Something to Prove
Placing David Braun here is a bit of a cop-out considering he was thrown into the Northwestern Wildcats head coaching position due to off-field stuff this year, but his name needs to be noted because of the situation and because he has no prior head coaching experience. If he wants to stick around, he needs to do more than just be a caretaker.
2
Ryan Day, Ohio State
Why There’s Something to Prove
Everyone reading this article knows why Ryan Day is on this list. I disagree with most about how hot his seat needs to be, but it is pretty obvious that if Day can’t beat Michigan, the natives will be more restless than they already are. If Ohio State wants to be the flag-bearer of the Big Ten again, it needs to knock back the challenge from “that team up north.”
1
Tom Allen, Indiana
Why There’s Something to Prove
Now we get to a man that might actually be on the hot seat. Tom Allen had the Indiana Hoosier football program on the right track in 2020, evinced by a 6-2 campaign that almost resulted in a trip to Indy. Since that season, Allen has gone 6-18 and 2-16 in Big Ten play. This program has fallen off a cliff, and Allen needs a big year to change the momentum of the program.
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