Potential Lance Leipold Replacements at Kansas

Despite the blowout loss to K-State this weekend, Lance Leipold has done a remarkable job elevating Kansas football to national respectability. Once a program teetering on the edge of irrelevance—comparable to those that have faced the NCAA’s death penalty—the Jayhawks reached bowl games in 2022 and 2023, defeated three ranked teams in consecutive weeks last season, and are on pace for another bowl appearance in 2025.

With several high-profile coaching jobs potentially opening this offseason, it’s almost certain that Leipold’s name will be in the mix. That means there’s a real possibility he could be lured away by a bigger opportunity. If the Kansas head coaching job were to open in 2026, it’s worth exploring who the top candidates might be to continue the program’s upward trajectory in Lawrence, based on pure speculation.

Dave Doeren

Record at NC State (13 seasons): 91-69

Age: 53

A Kansas City native, Dave Doeren has brought a level of sustained success to NC State that the program has rarely seen. Over his 13-year tenure in Raleigh, he has missed a bowl game only twice and has become a near lock to win between 7 and 9 games annually.

Doeren previously served as a positional coach at Kansas under Mark Mangino from 2002 to 2005, before leading Northern Illinois to an Orange Bowl appearance in 2012 as head coach. From a program-building standpoint, Doeren carries a Leipold-esque quality—steady, disciplined, and culture-driven.

With NC State sitting at 4–4 this season and coming off a 6–7 campaign in 2024, there’s a realistic possibility he might consider a change of scenery. The biggest obstacle to such a move would be the seven-figure buyout owed to NC State.

Pat Fitzgerald

Record at Northwestern (17 seasons): 110-101

Age: 50

Fitzgerald significantly overachieved during his tenure at Northwestern, widely considered the toughest job in the Big Ten. Under his leadership, the Wildcats made two Big Ten Championship appearances and earned ten bowl berths, a remarkable feat given the program’s historical context.

His success earned him Big Ten Coach of the Year honors from various media outlets in both 2018 and 2020. Northwestern parted ways with Fitzgerald ahead of the 2023 season following allegations of hazing within the program. However, he was cleared of wrongdoing in August 2025.

The primary concern surrounding Fitzgerald’s potential return to coaching is his ability to manage a roster in the transfer portal era, especially after a three-year hiatus from the college game.

Jason Eck

Record at New Mexico (1 season): 5-3

Age: 48

Though Jason Eck has only been at New Mexico for a few months, it’s unlikely he’ll return for a second season. Before arriving in Albuquerque, Eck transformed Idaho into an FCS powerhouse, compiling a 26–13 record and leading the program to national relevance. He’s continued to show his offensive prowess at New Mexico, where the Lobos are averaging 29.2 points per game this season—building on the 31+ points per game average he maintained over three seasons at Idaho.

With New Mexico currently 5–3, Eck’s name has surfaced as a potential candidate should Wisconsin part ways with Luke Fickell. A Wisconsin native, Eck has deep regional ties and previously coached at South Dakota State before taking over at Idaho.

His offensive innovation and program-building ability make him a compelling option, though his short tenure at New Mexico raises questions about long-term fit.

Eric Morris

Record at North Texas (3 seasons): 41-33

Age: 39

Eric Morris is quickly emerging as one of the fastest-rising young coaches in college football. His North Texas squad is off to a 6-1 start in 2025, powered by a top-10 nationally ranked offense averaging 43.3 points per game. Known as a “quarterback whisperer,” Morris made headlines during his tenure at Incarnate Word, where he discovered future Heisman winner Cam Ward as a zero-star recruit.

He’s continued that trend at North Texas, unearthing Drew Mestemaker, a freshman walk-on quarterback who has already thrown for over 2,400 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. Morris also brings familiarity with the Big 12 landscape, having played quarterback at Texas Tech from 2004 to 2008.

Jay Hill

Record at Weber State (9 seasons): 68-39

Age: 50

A former head coach at FCS Weber State, Jay Hill has quickly elevated BYU’s defense into one of the strongest units in the Big 12 since taking over as defensive coordinator.

During his nine-year tenure at Weber State (2014-2022), Hill led the Wildcats to six FCS playoff appearances and four seasons with 10 or more wins, establishing himself as a proven program builder. While his defensive impact at BYU has been undeniable, the primary concern surrounding Hill as a coaching candidate is his recruiting reach.

A Utah native, Hill has spent his entire coaching career within the state—at Utah, Weber State, and BYU—raising questions about his ability to effectively recruit in the Midwest.

Sean Lewis

Record at San Diego State (2 seasons): 9-10

Age: 39

Three—that’s the number of games Kent State has won since Sean Lewis left the program following the 2022 season to become the offensive coordinator at Colorado. After clashing with Coach Prime during his lone season in Boulder, Lewis accepted the head coaching job at San Diego State, where he’s already made an impact.

The Aztecs are currently 6-1, including a notable win over ACC opponent Cal. Lewis, a former tight end at Wisconsin (2004-2007), spent his early coaching career bouncing around various MAC programs, building a reputation for offensive innovation and quarterback development. A team that was supposed to be a bottom feeder in the Mountain West this season, San Diego State is now one of the top G5 contenders for the College Football Playoffs.