Let's talk about the next Cajuns head coach - not Crowton

I've cried long enough, I'm ready to move on. Bustle has to go or I'll go on another meltdown after the season.

1st choice


Bryan Harsin -- offensive coordinator at Boise State.

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Bryan Harsin is entering his 10th season as a member of the Bronco football staff and his fifth as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The 32-year-old is one of the top young assistant coaches in the country and one of the youngest offensive coordinators in Division I football.

After serving as tight ends coach from 2002-05, Harsin was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2006 when Chris Petersen was named head coach. He was a graduate assistant with the Broncos in 2001.

In four seasons leading the Bronco offense, Harsin has continued to build upon the high octane attack that Boise State fans have become accustomed to. Harsin helped put together the most potent scoring offense in the country in 2009, as the Broncos averaged an NCAA best 42.21 points per game. As a unit, the Bronco offense finished the season ranked 10th in total offense (450.21 ypg), 26th in rushing offense (186.07 ypg) and 29th in passing offense (264.14 ypg). Perhaps most impressively, however, was Boise State's Division I leading five sacks allowed through 14 games.

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Pros -- Young guy. Very good offensive mind, he's been part of the Boise State program through their rise to legitimate status. Boise's offense is very good and fun to watch, molded a good qb in Kellen Moore.

Cons -- Young with no head coaching experience. Probably holding out for a better job, maybe even the Boise job eventually. Would probably cost too much.


Mark Hudspeth -- Wide Receivers/Passing Game Coordinator at Mississippi State

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An ultra-successful head coach at the Division II level and a native of Louisville, Miss., Mark Hudspeth returns to his home state to coach wide receivers and coordinate the passing game at Mississippi State.

Hudspeth comes to Mississippi State from North Alabama, where he spent the past seven seasons as the head football coach. Hudspeth led the Lions to a 66-21 record, with a pair of Gulf South Conference championships and five NCAA playoff appearances.

In 2008, Hudspeth led UNA to its fourth-consecutive 10-win season, posting a 12-2 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II semifinals. The Lions led the Gulf South Conference and ranked sixth nationally, scoring 41.3 points per game. In 2007, Hudspeth led the Lions to a 10-2 record and reached the national quarterfinals.

In 2006 the Lions had an 11-1 record, won a GSC title and a spot in the quarterfinals of the Division II playoffs. Hudspeth was selected Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year for the second time by his peers and was also selected Region 2 Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.

In 2005, Hudspeth led a UNA squad that went 11-3 and reached the semifinals of the Division II playoffs for the second time in three years.

The Lions went 4-7 in Hudspeth's first season, then posted a 13-1 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals in 2003. For his efforts, Hudspeth was named GSC Coach of the Year in just his second season as a collegiate head coach. He was also selected NCAA Division II Region 2 Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.

Prior to his stint at North Alabama, Hudspeth served as the offensive coordinator at the United States Naval Academy in 2001. Hudspeth was the offensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach at Delta State University from 1999-2000. He helped lead the Statesmen to a NCAA Division II National Championship in 2000, and his offense broke 21 school records, 12 Gulf South Conference records, and six NCAA Division II records that year.

Hudspeth served as the head coach at Winston Academy in Louisville, Miss., in 1996 and 1997. He led Winston Academy to a 25-1 record over two seasons including an undefeated record in the regular season.

In 1994-95 Hudspeth served as the wide receivers/tight ends coach and then the running backs coach at Nicholls State University.

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Pros --
Was a really successful coach at Northern Alabama, made the move to Mississippi State to try to get a D1 job. Learning offense from Dan Mullen has to be a positive.


Cons -- Lack of D1 experience, he came to Miss State to get a D1 job. I don't know if he was aiming higher than the Sun Belt, although this could be a good stepping stone.


Terry Bowden -- Head Coach University of Northern Alabama

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As head coach of the Auburn Tigers from 1993-98, he won 73 percent of his games and posted the best opening five-year run of any head football coach in school history. Also during his time at Auburn, Bowden became the first college coach in 50 years to win his 100th career game by his 40th birthday.

In his first season at Auburn he became the first coach in Division I-A history to have an undefeated and untied season in his first year as a Division IA head coach.

Prior to becoming head football coach at Auburn, Bowden built two programs from the ground up as head coach at Salem College (W.V.) and Samford University (Ala.). When he took the job at Salem in 1983 he became the nation’s youngest head coach in college football at age 26.

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Pros -- He has head coaching experience and success at a major football team. Built up a couple of programs before his stop at Auburn.

Cons -- He's winning at UNA with around 20 BCS conference transfers. Been out of D1 football for over 10 years.