Potential Coaching Candidates to Replace Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M

Texas A&M parting ways with former head coach Jimbo Fisher leaves the Aggies in a precarious predicament.

With the playoffs expanding to 12 teams next season, conference realignment bringing new competition to the SEC, and the need to maintain the Aggies' elevated status in recruiting, the stakes are high. If A&M hires the right coach who can hold on to a talented roster, the Aggies could quickly get into championship contention. The wrong hire and the Aggies are in deep trouble.

Fisher's 45-25 record as the Aggies head coach, including this season's 6-4 record overall and 4-3 in the Southeastern Conference, wasn't enough to satisfy a fan base frantic to win a national title.

Paying Fisher the largest buyout in college football history, at over $77 million—as well as untold millions in replacing assistant coaches and staffers—demonstrates a willingness to spend whatever it takes to win.

Let's dive into some of the coach candidates who could get the party started properly at Texas A&M.

Mike Elko

If the Aggies seek a coach who understands the strengths and weaknesses of their program intimately, they'll be hard-pressed to find someone more entrenched than the head coach at Duke.

Elko was the Aggies' defensive coordinator under Fisher from 2018 to 2021. The team had a 34-14 record with him, including the 9-1 2020 season that resulted in an Orange Bowl victory and a top 5 final ranking.

Elko went 9-4 last season in his first year at Duke, with a victory in the Military Bowl, and the Blue Devils are 6-4 this season.

Lane Kiffin

Kiffin's name was heavily involved in last season's search to replace Bryan Hasin at Auburn before the Tigers went with Hugh Freeze.

Kiffin is considered an offensive mastermind and one of the more successful coaches to embrace the transfer portal. A&M has struggled with consistency at quarterback, and Kiffin could be the man to fix that problem. A&M's aggressiveness in name, image and likeness and Kiffin's propensity in recruiting could be a great pairing.

Kiffin's buyout at Ole Miss won't be cheap, nor would signing him. After spending $77 million to get rid of Fisher, you have to wonder how much deeper into the pocketbook the Aggies can reach.

Lance Leipold

Leipold denied interest in taking the Michigan State opening last week, and he might want to stick with a Kansas Jayhawks program that he took from a 2-10 record his first season to a 7-3 tally this season, including an upset victory against Oklahoma.

However, turning down the Spartans, who have several challenges, including ongoing litigation after parting ways with former head coach Mel Tucker, is different from overlooking the resources Texas A&M can provide.

Between Buffalo and Kansas, Leipold's 37-33 record isn't gaudy, but considering the rebuilding necessary at both programs, it could be enticing for him and the Aggies to see what he could do with a powerful pulpit at Texas A&M.

Dabo Swinney

How would "Tyler in Spartanburg" feel if Swinney seriously considered leaving the Tigers for Texas A&M? Swinney's clapback on his coach's show to Tyler's questioning his salary got lots of laughs.

However, Swinney also hinted that he could take his show elsewhere if Clemson's expectations are too unattainable. Swinney took Clemson to rare heights by winning two national titles and eight ACC conference championships, and before this season his team won at least 10 games in each of the previous 12 seasons. Despite Clemson's struggles this season, there's a proven track record of success for Swinney.

Swinney has yet to embrace the transfer portal as much as other coaches have, which has become an issue at Clemson. Is he willing to adapt and could he decide that College Station, Texas, is the spot for his future?

Deion Sanders

There might not be a more splashy hire for the Aggies than this Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Sanders knows how to relate to young athletes and is a relationship builder. He brought credibility to Colorado that the school hadn't seen in decades. Colorado is 4-6 after Saturday's 34-31 loss against Arizona and is on a four-game losing streak in Sanders' first season.

It's fair to question Sanders' limited head coaching experience. The losing ledger isn't pretty, but the Colorado Buffaloes only won one game last season and had a program mired in mediocrity before Sanders arrived.

It would be a wild card, but can you imagine the insurance ads with Sanders and Alabama's Nick Saban if they're rivals in the same conference?

Jeff Traylor

Traylor doesn't have the sizzle of Swinney, Sanders and Kiffin, but he's a known commodity in Texas coaching circles. He led the University of Texas, San Antonio, Roadrunners to consecutive Conference USA titles in 2021 and 2022 while winning at least 10 games. Traylor's squad is on a six-game winning streak and is tied for the lead in the American Athletic Conference.

Traylor has also spent time as an assistant coach at Texas, Arkansas and Southern Methodist University.

One of the knocks against Fisher is his struggle to connect with the high school coaching scene in the state. Traylor was a successful preps coach in Texas, and his University of Texas, San Antonio, squad is 36-13 with him as head coach and has three bowl appearances.

Traylor's connection with the state could make him an attractive upcoming hire. Would the Aggies take a chance on a name that won't necessarily win the press conference but could be the next big thing?