While House is not officially gone at the moment, we all know this is inevitable at this point. Until the coaching board is fired up, lets discuss:

1. Jim Leonhard

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Following his retirement from a 10-year career in the NFL, Leonhard joined the Badgers’ staff as defensive backs coach in 2016. He became defensive coordinator less than a year later and went on to be named a finalist for the Broyles Award, presented to the nation’s top assistant coach, in his first season running UW’s defense.

With Leonhard on staff, Wisconsin’s defense has quite simply been one of the nation’s most complete and high-performing units.

When Fickell got the Wisconsin gig, Leonhard passed on several NFL DC offers including Green Bay. He is currently an analyst for Illinois. Clearly waiting for his next big move. Would he consider a college DC opening? Or is he waiting for a HC position..

2. Clark Lea

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While at Notre Dame, Lea molded a defense that led the Fighting Irish to an appearance in the 2020 ACC Championship Game by finishing the regular season 10-0 and with a No. 2 national ranking.

Lea’s defense finished 2020 ranked eighth nationally in fumbles recovered (10), 12th in third-down conversion percentage (31.4), 14th in scoring defense (19.7), 17th in rushing defense (113.0), 17th in tackles for loss/game (7.5) and 25th in total defense (343.6).

In their final game of 2020, the Fighting Irish held Alabama to 31 points in the Rose Bowl, marking the Crimson Tide’s lowest point total of the season and more than two touchdowns below its 11-game average of 49.7 points/game. It was also Alabama’s lowest point total since the national title game on Jan. 7, 2019, when it lost 44-16 to Clemson.

The No. 2 regular season ranking for the Fighting Irish was their highest since 2012. Notre Dame also claimed a 47-40 double-overtime victory against No. 1 Clemson. Lea was named one of 15 semifinalists for the Broyles Award, presented to the best assistant coach in college football.

Currently the HC at his alma mater Vanderbilt. Although the record for the commodores is in the dumps, it would be hard to see any movement this season. Crazier things have happened though.. With deep roots to Brian Kelly, this proven DC would be a great pick up.

3. Dave Aranda

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Now entering his sixth season as a defensive coordinator at a Power 5 Conference school, Aranda’s defense has ranked in the Top 12 nationally in total yards five times. His defense has also ranked among the top 10 in scoring four of the past six years. Since taking over as the defensive coordinator at Utah State in 2014, Aranda’s defenses have given up a touchdown or less in 45 of 93 games.

Self explanatory. Elite defensive mind. Taking his chance in the HC world with Baylor. Should be on the market again soon. Same story as Lea..too soon to look?

4. Morgan Scalley

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Scalley, who owns a reputation as one of the brightest defensive minds in the business, was a finalist for the Broyles Award in 2019 when the Utes ranked second in the FBS in total defense. He has instilled the culture and identity of the Utah Defense known as RSNB – standing for Relentless, Smart, Nasty, Ballhawks.
Utah has led the Pac-12 five times in his seven seasons as defensive coordinator in rushing defense (2016, '18, '19, ’20 and ‘21) —ranking third in the nation in 2019 and fifth in in 2018.
The Utes have finished atop the conference in sacks and tackles for loss three times under Scalley, most recently back-to-back in 2021 and ’22. The team also finished the 2018 season ranked 11th nationally and first in the Pac-12 in sacks.
Utah has finished in the top-half of the Pac-12 in total defense six times in the past eight seasons, ranking second nationally and first in the league in 2019.
Over the past four seasons, Scalley's defense has held opponents to 15 points or fewer 24 times, tied for ninth-most by a Power Five program.

Has spent 16 seasons at Utah. Routinely in conversations as one of the best assistants in the league. Can we make an offer he cant refuse?

5. William Boom Muschamp

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In all, Muschamp has coached 38 defensive backs that have been taken in the NFL Draft -- 21 in the first three rounds -- including eight first-round selections, most recently Lewis Cine in 2022.

He got his start as a graduate assistant at Auburn in 1995-96 before taking defensive coaching positions at West Georgia (1998)) and Eastern Kentucky (1999). He moved to Division I in 2001 as a linebacker coach on Nick Saban’s staff at LSU before being promoted to defensive coordinator from 2002-04. The Tigers won the BCS National Championship in 2003.

He followed Saban to the Miami Dolphins as assistant head coach in 2005. In 2006 he was named defensive coordinator at Auburn, where he served until 2007. He was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Texas from 2008-2010 before being named head coach at Florida in 2011. In 2015, Muschamp moved to Auburn as defensive coordinator, and in 2016 was named head coach at South Carolina, where he served through the 2020 season.

Has kept up with the game by riding with Kirby at Georgia as the Co-DC. Would be very difficult to pull him away from Kirby. One would think Schuman makes a jump soon and Will becomes the DC as a place holder until Kirby trains his next great one. Worth a shot.

6. Steve Clinkscale

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Clinkscale was hired as the defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach ahead of the 2021 season. He is in his third season with the Wolverine defense in 2023, having been elevated to Co-Defensive Coordinator ahead of the 2022 campaign.

Under Clinkscale's direction, U-M has ranked top-30 in the NCAA in pass defense and top 20 in pass defense efficiency in consecutive seasons, including a No. 5 national ranking in efficiency in 2022. Michigan had the NCAA's No. 8 scoring defense in 2021 and the No. 7 scoring defense in 2022. Opponents threw more interceptions (14) than touchdowns (11) against the U-M secondary in 2022, completing just 55.9 percent of their attempted passes.

Clinkscale has coached two NFL draft picks at Michigan: first-round selection Daxton Hill and second-round pick D.J. Turner. Hill was All-Big Ten first-team (2021) and Turner was a second-team honoree (2022); Vincent Gray and Brad Hawkins (third team, 2021) have also earned all-conference honors during his tenure.

Clinkscale joined the Wolverines' staff after spending five seasons (2016-20) at the University of Kentucky under head coach Mark Stoops in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).