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Colorado Coaching Search: Who Does Mike Bohn Want To Coach The Buffaloes?

Bohn has made his criteria clear, now we go through the candidates and try and figure out who it may be.

By Jon Woods
Russ Isabella-US PRESSWIRE

After his disastrous performance at Monday's press conference to discuss the firing of Jon Embree as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, Athletic Director Mike Bohn has been making the local sports radio rounds trying to do some damage control. Once you cut through all the PR and business school speak, a couple of tidbits about what he may be looking for in the next head coach have come to light.

If we take him at his word, these comments, along with him saying he won't hire a coach with baggage (see ya, Tressel and Petrino), make it much easier for us to figure out where he may be looking. Gone are the out of work coaches (no on Tedford, no on O'Brien, no on Chizik, no on Mangino). Gone are the assistants (a whole long list of awesome candidates).

Here's what we are left with. In my story looking at early candidates yesterday I mentioned four guys who would fit this criteria:

Troy Calhoun - Head Coach, Air Force Falcons - Bohn wanted him in 2010. Will he make another run at Troy?

Tim DeRuyter - Head Coach, Fresno St. Bulldogs - Certainly did a number on the Buffs this year. Would be an interesting dynamic with the Bulldogs scheduled to head to Boulder in 2013.

Gary Andersen - Head Coach, Utah State Aggies - Former Utah defensive coordinator has turned the Aggies into a solid program.

Mike MacIntrye - Head Coach, San Jose St. Spartans - Quickly turned the Spartans around and has them on the verge of a Top 25 ranking.

Here are some of the other names that could also work, although some are going to be very hot commodity's this offseason and are significantly less likely (leaving off Charlie Strong and Art Briles because Hell will freeze over before either of them take that call):

Sonny Dykes - Head Coach, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs - Former offensive coordinator at Texas Tech and Arizona. Will have a lot of interest.

Gus Malzahn - Head Coach, Arkansas St. Red Wolves - Former offensive coordinator at Auburn. Will have plenty of offers.

Willie Taggert - Head Coach, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers - Completed turned around an awful Western Kentucky program. At only 35 years old is one of the youngest head coaches in college football.

Dave Doeren - Head Coach, Northern Illinois Huskies - Took over for Jerry Kill at Northern Illinois and has compiled a 22-4 record in two seasons. Former Wisconsin defensive coordinator. Purdue is rumored to be interested.

Butch Jones - Head Coach, Cincinnati Bearcats - The former Central Michigan coach has compiled a 22-14 record at Cincinnati after taking over for Brian Kelly. Could have better offers.

Others: Frank Solich - Ohio, Darrell Hazell - Kent State

One other thing to think about. Bohn hasn't said anything about this "current head coach" being a current D1 head coach... C'mon on down Bob Stitt!

Now, keep in mind that Bohn allegedly said that about his top candidate and assistants and currently unemployed could definitely come into play. But if you had to pull from this list, who do you think Bohn is pursuing? Is there anyone I missed?

By Jon Woods

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