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Add Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris and San Jose State head coach Mike MacIntyre to the list of candidates for USF's open coaching position. Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman had the news of Chad Morris's interview:
South Florida has contacted Clemson OC Chad Morris about its HC vacancy and will interview him soon, source says.
— kbohls (@kbohls) December 6, 2012
Morris is Dabo Swinney's offensive coordinator and is in charge of one of the most powerful offenses in college football. The Tigers went 10-2 this season, following an ACC championship last year. Clemson finished in the top 10 nationally in points per game (42.3), yards per game (518.3) and third-down conversion percentage (51.9%). The only drawbacks with Morris are his head coaching experience and possibly his salary. Morris had a distinguished career as a high school head coach in Texas, but he has no college head coaching experience. Also, at $1.3 million he is one of the highest-paid coordinators in the country, and no one is exactly sure how much money USF can pay a new head coach.
Earlier in the day, SB Nation's Steven Godfrey reported the interview with San Jose State's MacIntyre. The Spartans finished 10-2 this season and cracked the BCS top 25 for the first time ever, just two years after a dismal 1-12 record. San Jose State was a well-rounded team this year, finishing in the top 30 nationally in both total offense and total defense, along with 19th in tackles for loss and fifth nationally in sacks. MacIntyre's background is in defense, something USF could certainly use after struggling to get big plays and put away games in 2012.
Another candidate with a defensive background is Butch Davis, the former North Carolina coach who was dismissed in 2011 amid a number of scandals. (He was not given a show-cause penalty by the NCAA and is eligible to return to coaching.) Godfrey's article did not mention an interview, but there is believed to be some mutual interest.
Davis is currently a consultant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and of course was previously the head coach at Miami. He was also the presumed target of Pete Garcia, the SCUMBAGS athletic director, who hastily fired Mario Cristobal on Wednesday. DUFF'D IT!