UNC football coaching candidates: Jon Sumrall, Arthur Smith and more names to watch

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Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall has had a terrific debut season at Tulane, and the Green Wave are 9-2 with legit Playoff hopes. He went 23-4 in two seasons revitalizing the program at Troy. The 42-year-old is the hottest name in the Group of 5 ranks and is well-regarded in coaching circles for his ability to connect with people and feel for the game. He has strong ties in the South from his time as an assistant at Kentucky and Ole Miss. It wouldn’t be surprising if he were UNC’s top target, and this would be a great hire for the Tar Heels if they can make it happen.

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Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell has won big everywhere he’s been and runs an innovative, fun offense. At Coastal Carolina, he went 31-6 in his last three years before leaving for a bigger payday at Liberty. He led the Flames to the Fiesta Bowl in his first season and is 21-3 entering the regular-season finale of Year 2. The 47-year-old from Tennessee was passed over a few years ago for some SEC jobs for which he could’ve been a good fit.

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UNLV head coach Barry Odom has completely turned around the Rebels in less than two years. He has made smart hires, giving chances to two young coordinators who have worked out great in OC Brennan Marion and DC Mike Scherer. Odom spent four seasons at the helm of his alma mater Missouri, going 25-25 in what was a very tough time for the Tigers after the retirement of Gary Pinkel. Odom clearly has learned a lot since then. He’s 18-7 at a place that hadn’t won more than eight games in a season in 40 years.

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Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, still only 44, has gotten the Cyclones into Playoff consideration with a 9-2 record in his ninth season. Campbell has posted seven winning seasons in Ames, including a No. 9 finish in 2020. With a gifted quarterback in sophomore Rocco Becht expected to return and other promising young talent (five freshmen or sophomores start on offense, four on defense), Campbell might have an even better squad next year, so the timing of a move might not make sense.

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Marshall head coach Charles Huff was a respected assistant at Penn State, Alabama and Mississippi State before taking over the Thundering Herd. The 41-year-old from Maryland is 30-20 in four seasons and has Marshall 6-1 in the Sun Belt.

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James Madison head coach Bob Chesney has gradually risen up the coaching ranks, from Assumption College to Holy Cross and now to the Dukes, who are 8-3 despite losing 13 players to Indiana when the Hoosiers hired away Curt Cignetti.

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Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea also is expected to draw some interest. His fourth season back at his alma mater has been his best, with the Commodores beating Alabama for the first time in 40 years. They are 6-5 and bowl eligible. Lea came to Vanderbilt after a stint as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator, and UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham also spent extensive time working in the Fighting Irish athletic department.

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One defensive coordinator who we hear might be in play is Georgia’s Glenn Schumann.

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Another coordinator North Carolina might look at is Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock.

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One potentially intriguing option with very strong ties at North Carolina is Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who we hear has some traction with key people in Chapel Hill.

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Dan Mullen has been out of coaching since 2021 and has to some degree replaced Brown in the studio at ESPN.

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