Potential Candidates to Become the Next UW Football Coach

Here are some possibilities, including one with a connection to Husky athletic director Troy Dannen.

Troy Dannen, on the job as the Washington athletic director for just three and a half months, probably never envisioned he'd be looking to hire a new Husky football coach so soon.

Yet with Kalen DeBoer off to coach Alabama after guiding the UW to the College Football Playoff championship game, Dannen is tasked with just that.

During his introductory press conference in early October, the new Husky athletic director made it clear how important it is to have a successful football program for the health of an overall athletic department. 

"Football is the economic animal and the economic engine in every department," Dannen said. "You have to feed that engine, because if you don't feed that engine and it dies, it takes a lot away from other programs."

So who will be DeBoer's UW coaching successor?

Kansas State coach Chris Klieman — who has a Dannen connection — might be a good place to start to see if he has any interest. Klieman served as an assistant football coach at Northern Iowa when Dannen was in his first year as athletic director at the school in 2008.

Klieman, 56, is 111-37 overall as a head coach, which includes winning four FCS National Championships for North Dakota State from 2014-18, before moving to Kansas State in 2019. He has a 39-24 record with the Big 12 school. 

The UW will receive a $12 million buyout for DeBoer's departure that could cover buyouts for several potential candidates. Arizona's Jedd Fisch, Kansas coach Lance Leipold and Klieman each have buyouts in the $6 million range.

Husky offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb naturally will receive some consideration for the job. He's made it known in the past he wants to become a head coach rather than make a lateral move to another OC job.

A decision on a UW head coach has to come fairly quickly. NCAA rules enable players with a departing coach to have a 30-day window to enter the transfer portal, from the date when their coach accepts another job. 

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