Mike Canales, USF's receivers coach and passing game coordinator, has been mentioned by two Utah newspapers as a possible candidate for the head coaching opening at his alma mater, Utah State.
Canales, 47, who played quarterback at USU, graduating in 1984, was mentioned as a candidate for the job by the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News. Utah State coach Brent Guy was reportedly fired Sunday after struggling through four seasons as head coach.
Again, the newspapers aren't reporting that he is being considered, but merely offering his name as a speculative candidate. Canales, who could not be reached for comment Monday, was a finalist when Guy got the job in 2005. Utah State has since hired a new athletic director, Scott Barnes, in March. Canales' son, T.J., is a freshman quarterback at rival Utah this fall.
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
Malzahn still carries some baggage from that odd time at Arkansas. He's a great OC, but I bet he's looking to get into the Big 12 or SEC next.
I think the next OC needs to be a strong recruiter as well. Someone with a knowledge of what to look for in offensive linemen and the type of guy who can really compete with some of the bigger programs we're fighting with this year.
I don't want Marquel Blackwell to be an OC yet, but I wonder if he would be a good addition to the staff.
Posted by: Dave W | November 19, 2008 at 04:42 PM
There's a good college football game to watch tonight on ESPN2 between Ball St and Central Michigan. I'm watchin' with great interest because of the success these two teams are having - especially Ball St. and because I want to see how well two good non-BCS coaches run their teams and play call. Who knows, maybe USF will be contacting one of these two head coaches in a year or two or three to come coach USF?
Posted by: | November 19, 2008 at 04:27 PM
Malzahn would be a good choice for OC but would he even consider USF and working for CJL? It been rumored that he will either go with Todd Graham to his next job (perhaps to K St or the Vols) or will be offered the HC job at Tulsa.
Posted by: | November 19, 2008 at 09:14 AM
Bulliever, Tulsa guy wouldn't be a bad choice either. Good call.
Posted by: Blake | November 18, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Ugh, worst news I've heard since the loss. He may be the only coach on the offensive side of the ball worth keeping. He is the man who should be the Offensive Coordinator. I really hope we are able to keep him and replace Gregory with him.
Posted by: Blake | November 18, 2008 at 05:03 PM
I said about a month ago...we should look to hire someone outside of Leavitt's circle...
Outside of the TampaBay area...We need a new perspective on offense...I am sticking with the OC from Tulsa to replace Gregory...
Look at the points that Tulsa has scored this year:
8/30 @ UAB 1-0 (1-0) W 45-22
9/06 @ North Texas 2-0 (1-0) W 56-26
9/20 New Mexico 3-0 (1-0) W 56-14
9/27 Central Arkansas 4-0 (1-0) W 62-34
10/04 Rice 5-0 (2-0) W 63-28
10/11 @ Southern Methodist 6-0 (3-0) W 37-31
10/18 UTEP 7-0 (4-0) W 77-35
10/26 UCF 8-0 (5-0) W 49-19
11/01 @ Arkansas 8-1 (5-0) L 30-23
11/15 @ Houston 8-2 (5-1) L 70-30
He has a PROVEN track record:
His name is Gus Malzahn...check him out...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gus_Malzahn
Also, we are in the Big leagues now we need to quit hiring HS coaches, if we want to keep getting the Lucrative TV spots...we need to start hiring good people with proven track records.
We are not on a shoe string budget any longer!
Posted by: Bulliever | November 18, 2008 at 11:24 AM
How many losses does the next OC get?
Posted by: Heath Hunt | November 18, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Anybody else remember how Mike Simmonds was arrested for DUI before he ever even started his new job with USF?
Guy should have never been allowed to coach here.
Posted by: RR | November 18, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Yeah, because we all know how the last few HS coaches have worked out for USF in Mike Hobbie and Mike Simmonds.
Posted by: Bull Daly | November 18, 2008 at 09:20 AM
There's probably a good number of very good offensive-minded coaches in the MAC, Mtn West and maybe one or two in the WAC that could be talked into coming to a BCS school , i.e., USF? Seems that those conferences, especially the MAC, are producing really good offensive teams and other 1-A schools are hiring MAC head coaches lately and getting petty good results. Bulls' supporters shouldn't worry about finding a good replacement for Leavitt; however, that won't happen for at least 2-yrs minimum and maybe 3-yrs.
Posted by: Don G | November 18, 2008 at 09:19 AM
I'll take a HS head Coach and former NFL WR like Carter over Canales any day
Posted by: Mack | November 17, 2008 at 11:22 PM
Canales is the best coach we got we need to make him the OC and keep him around coaches with his football smarts don't come around everyday
Posted by: | November 17, 2008 at 09:45 PM
If Canales gets the job maybe he can hire Jim Leavitt as his special teams coach.
Posted by: Al | November 17, 2008 at 06:22 PM
Would be good for him with his son in the state there and it is his alma mater. Wouldn't mind him staying and taking over the full OC duties here though and getting another wr coach. (stop batting down the ball haha)
Posted by: cg | November 17, 2008 at 05:28 PM
If he gets that job, its one less coach we will have to fire.
Posted by: Scott | November 17, 2008 at 05:27 PM