(UPDATE 12/6: Washington Makes a Home Run Hire with Boise State's Chris Petersen)

With Steve Sarkisian leaving for USC, Washington’s search for a new head coach is already underway. The Huskies went 34-29 under Sarkisian’s watch, including an 8-4 mark in 2013.

Washington is a program that’s capable of winning Pac-12 titles, and a renovated Husky Stadium certainly doesn’t hurt the appeal of the coaching job.

Sarkisian isn’t leaving the cupboard bare, and the Huskies should have a core capable of winning eight games once again in 2014.

Washington should have no shortage of interested candidates. Here’s a look at 10 possible replacements for Steve Sarkisian.



10 Candidates to Replace Steve Sarkisian at Washington



Beau Baldwin, head coach, Eastern Washington

Baldwin is a longshot, but the 41-year-old coach has a track record of success at Eastern Washington and will get a chance to move up the coaching ladder in coming seasons. Baldwin played at Central Washington, coached there as an assistant in 1994-2002 and spent one year as the head coach in 2007 (10-3). Baldwin is 54-21 in six seasons as Eastern Washington’s head coach, including a 2010 FCS Championship. In seven years as a head coach, Baldwin does not have a losing record and has been to the playoffs in four of those seasons.

Tim DeRuyter, head coach, Fresno State

In two years with Fresno State, DeRuyter is an impressive 19-5, with a win over Boise State in 2013 and a chance to win a conference title against Utah State on Dec. 7. Prior to taking the top spot at Fresno State, DeRuyter went 1-0 as an interim coach at Texas A&M and served as an assistant at Air Force, Nevada, Ohio and Navy. DeRuyter wouldn’t be a “name hire,” but the California native is ready for a chance to run a BCS program.

James Franklin, head coach, Vanderbilt

If Franklin wasn’t interested in USC, it’s unlikely he would take the Washington job. However, as one of the rising stars among head coaches, Franklin has to be mentioned for BCS job openings. The 41-year-old coach is 23-15 in three seasons at Vanderbilt – arguably the toughest job in the SEC. The Commodores have played in back-to-back bowls and will be invited to a third this year. Franklin has guided the program to an 11-13 mark in the SEC and finished in the top 25 of the Associated Press poll last season. The third-year coach has also increased Vanderbilt’s profile on the recruiting trail, improving from a No. 56 national rank in 2011 to No. 26 in 2013. Franklin also has one year of NFL experience and spent one season in the Pac-12 at Washington State (1998).

Jim McElwain, head coach, Colorado State

McElwain just finished his second year as Colorado State’s coach, guiding the Rams to an 11-14 mark in that span. The Rams have made significant improvement from 2012 to 2013 and should play in a bowl this year. Before taking over at Colorado State, McElwain was Alabama’s offensive coordinator from 2008-11 and spent time in the NFL with the Raiders. McElwain also has experience from stops at Louisville, Michigan State and Fresno State. While the overall record at Colorado State will raise some eyebrows, McElwain clearly has the Rams on the right track and would be a good fit anywhere on the West Coast.

Jim Mora, head coach, UCLA

Mora already has a good job at UCLA. However, Mora played at Washington and has said before this (Washington) is his dream job. In two seasons with the Bruins, Mora is 18-8. UCLA won the Pac-12 South in 2012 and finished second in the division in 2013. Mora also coached with the Seahawks from 2007-09, but his one-year tenure as head coach resulted in a disappointing 5-11 mark. Mora has surrounded himself with a good staff at UCLA, which has helped to reel in back-to-back top-20 recruiting classes. Washington has excellent facilities, and a renovated Husky Stadium has added to the appeal for this job.



Chad Morris, offensive coordinator, Clemson

Morris is considered one of college football’s top assistants and is due for a shot to run a program. Even though Morris is an excellent offensive coordinator, but he has no collegiate head coaching experience. Under his direction, Clemson averaged 518.3 yards per game in ACC contests this year. Morris' background on offense would fit in well with the Pac-12, especially with the talent that is already accumulated in Seattle for next season.



Doug Nussmeier, offensive coordinator, Alabama

Nussmeier is a rising star in the assistant ranks and is a name familiar to many around Seattle. The Oregon native played at Idaho and coached for three years at Washington under Steve Sarkisian. Nussmeier has spent the last two years coordinating Alabama’s offense, which ranks second in SEC games in 2013 in yards per game (491.4) and first in yards per play (7.4). Nussmeier does not have head coaching experience.

Chris Petersen, head coach, Boise State

Petersen’s name always comes up in connection with BCS jobs openings, but the California native has been reluctant to leave Boise State. In his eight years with the Broncos, Petersen compiled a 92-12 record, including seven years of at least 10 wins. Boise State finished 8-4 in 2013, but injuries and youth played a large role in the final record. Prior to taking the top job at Boise State, Petersen worked as an assistant at Pittsburgh, UC Davis and Oregon. Petersen reportedly pulled his name out of the mix at USC, but perhaps he would be willing to listen at Washington, especially since it would keep him in the Pacific Northwest. And coaching at Washington is a lower-profile media market than coaching at USC.

Gary Pinkel, head coach, Missouri

Pinkel is a longshot to be in the mix, but it’s worth noting his mentor is former Washington coach Don James, and he worked as an assistant in Seattle from 1979-90. Pinkel has been successful at two coaching stops, recording a 73-37-3 mark at Toledo and a 101-62 record at Missouri. The Tigers are 11-1 this season and in the mix for a BCS bowl pending the outcome of the SEC Championship. Coaching in the SEC is the pinnacle for any college football coach. However, Missouri could be the No. 5 job in the East Division, which makes winning consistently against Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee a difficult task.

Justin Wilcox, defensive coordinator, Washington

Wilcox could follow Steve Sarkisian to USC, but the 37-year-old coach should be in the mix to take the top spot at Washington. Wilcox does not have head coach experience, but the Oregon native has worked as a successful defensive coordinator at three different programs (Boise State, Washington and Tennessee). Wilcox would ease the transition from Sarkisian, but does Washington want to hire a proven head coach?