This story is about Published Dec. 2016

Who will be the next head coach at Baylor? A breakdown of candidates, latest rumors Share This Story On... Twitter

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Staff Photographer The Baylor Bears take the field before the opening kickoff of the Northwestern State University Demons vs. the Baylor University Bears NCAA football game at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas on Friday, September 2, 2016. (Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News)

By Adam Grosbard , Staff Writer Contact Adam Grosbard on Twitter: @AdamGrosbard

Baylor is nearing the end of the 2016 season. Soon Baylor will need to begin a search for a full-time head coach. Interim Jim Grobe had the Bears off to an admirable 6-0 start before the season soured in the second half amid weekly off-field distractions. But the Baylor athletic department has done little to show it will take off the interim tag. Most new head coaches are hired toward the end of November or early December, so the Baylor coaching search could begin in earnest soon. New Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades spoke with the Waco Tribune in September about what he wants in his new head coach. The main criteria that Rhoades desires are as follows: 1. Runs an up-tempo offense that matches Baylor's style. 2. Head coaching experience. 3. Texas connections. 4. Builds a strong culture and runs every part of the program. With those four factors in mind, let's look at some of the possible head coaching candidates this offseason and how they would fit at Baylor. Rumored candidates

Blake Anderson

AP Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson celebrates as he walks off the field after an NCAA college football game where they defeated Troy 35-3, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, in Troy, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Current position: Arkansas State head coach since 2014 Previous three coaching stops: North Carolina (offensive coordinator, 2012-2013), Southern Miss (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, 2008-2009), Louisiana-Lafayette (offensive coordinator, 2007) Offensive style: Runs an up-tempo offense Head coaching record: 22-14, 0-2 in bowl games Texas connections: Grew up in Texas, spent first two years of college at Baylor before transfer to Sam Houston State Culture implementation: Anderson broke Arkansas State's streak of five different five head coaches in five seasons and turned the Red Wolves into the Sun Belt Conference champions in 2015. Questions that need answering: Is Anderson high-profile enough for a new Baylor athletic director that wants to make a splash to change the perception of the program? Reports about the candidate and Baylor: FootballScoop reported that Baylor and Anderson are in negotiations for the position. Sonny Dykes

AP California head coach Sonny Dykes, center, walks along the sideline during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Washington State in Pullman, Wash., Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Current position: California head coach since 2013 Previous three coaching stops: Louisiana Tech (head coach, 2010-2012), Arizona (offensive coordinator, 2007-2009), Texas Tech (co-offensive coordinator, 2005-2006) Offensive style: Runs the "Bear Raid," essentially an Air Raid attack that he tweaked for his time at Cal Head coaching record: 41-45, 1-1 in bowl games Texas connections: Is a Big Spring native who played baseball at Texas Tech and got his coaching start in Texas high school football. Coached at Texas Tech for several years and has recruited Texas heavily at both his head coaching stops. Culture implementation: Dykes tried to leave Cal last year, communicating with Missouri, Virginia and South Carolina before signing an extension with Cal. Questions that need answering: Is Dykes ready for a change of scenery as his days at Cal seems numbered? If he does want to leave, is Baylor appealing with its various scandals? Does Baylor want a coach with a losing record? Reports about the candidate and Baylor: Dykes was reported to be on Baylor's short list by 247sports.com. ESPN reported that Dykes is now the focus of Baylor's coaching search following Chad Morris' renewed commitment to SMU. Larry Fedora

AP North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora listens on his headset during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Miami, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Current position: North Carolina head coach since 2012 Previous three coaching stops: Southern Mississippi (head coach, 2008-2011), Oklahoma State (offensive coordinator, 2005-2007), Florida (offensive coordinator/running backs coach, 2002-2004) Offensive style: Runs a pro-style, up-tempo spread offense Head coaching record: 74-43, 3-4 in bowl games Texas connections: A College Station native who played at Austin, coached for four years in Texas high school football and six years at Baylor in the early 1990s Culture implementation: He has built North Carolina into one of the top ACC teams but has yet to break through with a defining bowl victory. But the hiring of disgraced former Illinois head coach Tim Beckman after several allegations of abuse of players raised some eyebrows. Questions that need answering: Would the idea of returning to his Texas roots trump the known quantity at North Carolina for Fedora? And will the hiring of Beckman be too big of a black eye for Baylor to ignore given the current climate around the university? Reports about the candidate and Baylor: Fedora was reported to be on Baylor's short list by 247sports.com. P.J. Fleck

Getty Images KALAMAZOO, MI - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach P.J. Fleck of the Western Michigan Broncos celebrates after defeating the Toledo Rockets 55 - 35 at Waldo Stadium on November 25, 2016 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

Current position: Western Michigan head coach since 2013 Previous three coaching stops: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (wide receivers coach, 2012), Rutgers (wide receivers coach, 2010-2011), Northern Illinois (wide receivers coach, 2007-2009) Offensive style: Runs a pro-style, up-tempo spread offense Head coaching record: 28-21, 1-1 in bowl games Texas connections: None to speak of -- only one WMU player is from Texas Culture implementation: His "Row the Boat" mantra at WMU has even caught on with students who chant it during games. Questions that need answering: Will Fleck's lack of Texas connections hurt his equation with the Baylor search committee? With Purdue already reportedly interested in his services, will Fleck get a job offer closer to his Midwest roots? Reports about the candidate and Baylor: D-FW radio personality and Baylor alum Matt Mosley tweeted that Fleck is "in play" for Baylor. Mike MacIntyre

AP FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2016, file photo, Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre stands on the sideline during the team's NCAA college football game against Oregon in Eugene, Ore. Colorado plays Arizona this Saturday. No. 16 Colorado is relatively healthy, already bowl-eligible and has plenty to play for, leading No. 13 Utah by a game in the Pac-12 South. (AP Photo/Thomas Boyd, File)

Current position: Colorado head coach since 2013 Previous three coaching stops: San Jose State (head coach, 2010-2012), Duke (defensive coordinator, 2008-2009), New York Jets (defensive backs coach, 2007) Offensive style: Though he was a receivers coach once upon a time at Ole Miss, he is far more known as a defensive coach. Head coaching record: 34-50 Texas connections: Was once the Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach. Recruits Texas heavily and successfully as head coach of Colorado. Culture implementation: Not only is Colorado bowl eligible for the first time since 2007, the Buffaloes are a top-10 team and in the driver's seat for a spot in the Pac 12 championship game and maybe even a playoff spot if a few things fall their way. Questions that need answering: Would he leave a top-10 team and strong recruiting class for a Baylor program that has a lot of holes to fill on the depth chart and only two commits in the 2017 class? Does Baylor want a defensive-minded head coach instead of an offensive-minded one? Reports about the candidate and Baylor: D-FW radio personality and Baylor alum Matt Mosley tweeted that MacIntyre is "in play" for Baylor. However, MacIntyre said after the Pac-12 championship game that he will not leave Colorado for Baylor. Phil Montgomery

AP Photo Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery gestures to an official in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against SMU in Tulsa, Okla., Friday, Oct. 7, 2016. Tulsa won 43-40 in overtime.

Current position: Tulsa head coach since 2015 Previous three coaching stops: Baylor (offensive coordinator, 2008-2014), Houston (offensive coordinator, 2003-2007), Texas high school football (1995-2002) Offensive style: Worked under Art Briles for over a decade as an offensive assistant so he knows the Baylor offense inside and out. Head coaching record: 14-10, 0-1 in bowl games Texas connections: Texas native, went to Tarleton State, spent eight years coaching high school football in the state and 11 years as an assistant coach at the collegiate level in the state Culture implementation: Montgomery took a team that won two games the year before he arrived to a bowl game in his first season at Tulsa. Questions that need answering: If Baylor wants a clean start from the Briles era, can it really bring back his old right-hand man? Does Montgomery want to leave Tulsa after just two seasons? Reports about the candidate and Baylor: Montgomery was reported to be on Baylor's short list by 247sports.com.

Other potential candidates

Dino Babers

AP FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, file photo, Syracuse head coach Dino Babers on the sideline during the first half of an NCAA football game against the Connecticut in East Hartford, Conn. Babers followed Wake Forestâs Dave Clawson from Bowling Green to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Now he's trying to follow him up the Atlantic Division standings. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, File)

Current position: Syracuse head coach since 2016 Previous three coaching stops: Bowling Green (head coach, 2014-2015), Eastern Illinois (head coach, 2012-2013), Baylor (special teams/receivers coach, 2008-2011) Offensive style: Has run Baylor offense since he left for his first head coaching job Head coaching record: 41-23, 1-0 in bowl games Texas connections: Spent four years coaching at Baylor as well as two years earlier in his career as an assistant at Texas A&M Culture implementation: Watch this video of Babers in the Syracuse locker room after this season's upset of Virginia Tech and you can see how he runs his program. Click here to view the video on your mobile app.

Questions that need answering: If Baylor needs a fresh start from the Art Briles era, can it bring in one of his former assistants? With the new TV package for the ACC Network, is leaving for the Big 12 in Babers' best interest?

Sonny Cumbie

Staff Photographer TCU Co-Offensive Coordinator Sonny Cumbie is pictured during a media briefing in the Four Sevens Team Room on the TCU campus, Texas photographed on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. (Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News)

Current position: TCU offensive coordinator since 2014 Previous coaching stop: Texas Tech (co-offensive coordinator, receivers coach, 2011-2013) Offensive style: Runs a spread offense similar to Baylor's Head coaching record: None Texas connections: Abilene native who played at Texas Tech before his brief NFL career, has coached exclusively in the state of Texas Culture implementation: If you're going to trust someone to run a program without any previous experience, a protege of TCU head man Gary Patterson is a pretty good place to start. Questions that need answering: Rhoades said that he is willing to give the job to the right assistant coach if that candidate arises -- does Cumbie fit that mold? And if Cumbie declined the job offer to be Texas' offensive coordinator last year in favor of his comfortable life in Fort Worth, would he do the same to a head coaching job at one of TCU's rivals and a program dealing with controversy?

Todd Graham

Getty Images TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 08: Head coach Todd Graham of the Arizona State Sun Devils walks the sidelines during the second half of the college football game against the UCLA Bruins at Sun Devil Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Current position: Arizona State head coach since 2012 Previous three coaching stops: Pittsburgh (head coach, 2011), Tulsa (head coach, 2007-2010), Rice (head coach, 2006) Offensive style: Defensive coach but Arizona State runs a spread offense under him Head coaching record: 88-54, 5-3 in bowl games Texas connections: A Mesquite native who got his coaching start in Texas high schools and whose first head coaching job was at Rice, recruits Texas heavily still with 15 players on his Arizona State roster hailing from the Lone Star State Culture implementation: He has ruffled some feathers in Tempe with his bravado, declaring his the Sun Devils national championship contenders before finishing last season 6-7. Questions that need answering: Is a move to Baylor appealing to a man with a Pac 12 job? Does Baylor want a head coach that feeds the media so many sound bites?

Lane Kiffin

Getty Images KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 15: Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 15, 2016 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Current position: Alabama offensive coordinator since 2014

Previous three coaching stops: USC (head coach, 2010-2013), Tennessee (head coach, 2009), Oakland Raiders (head coach, 2007-2008) Offensive style: Runs a pro-style, up-tempo spread offense Head coaching record: 35-21 in college, 5-15 in NFL Texas connections: Limited recruiting in the state while at Alabama, USC Culture implementation: His head coaching stops left a lot to be desired. He left Tennessee after one season and caused riots on his way out. His USC tenure was unsuccessful by Trojan standards but he dealt with the brunt of the Reggie Bush sanctions after Pete Carroll jumped ship to the NFL. Questions that need answering: Has his run with Nick Saban helped Kiffin overcome his past flaws? Does Kiffin want to inherit another head coach's scandal like he did at USC? Does he have enough Texas connections to succeed in the competitive recruiting market?

Les Miles

Staff Photographer LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles joins his team in singing the school song following a 37-27 win against the TCU Horned Frogs in NCAA college football action at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, August 31, 2013. (Brad Loper/The Dallas Morning News) 09012013xSPORTS2

Current position: Unemployed since September Previous three coaching stops: LSU (head coach, 2005-2016), Oklahoma State (head coach, 2001-2004), Dallas Cowboys (tight ends coach, 1998-2000) Offensive style: Runs a slower-paced offense, one of the reasons he fell out of good standing in Baton Rouge, but has said he is willing to modernize his offense. Head coaching record: 141-55, 8-6 in bowl games, one national championship (2007) Texas connections: Recruited Texas heavily and successfully during his time at LSU, Oklahoma State Culture implementation: Les Miles had a series of detractors for various things at LSU, but it's hard to forget how his players carried him off the field when he they defeated Texas A&M last year as rumors swirled about Miles' job security. Reports about the candidate and Baylor: CBS Sports reported that Miles is a candidate to replace Briles.

Questions that need answering: After years at a school with LSU's resources, would Miles want to go to a small, private university? Rhoades says he believes Baylor is a top-level job, but does it have the clout to draw a national championship-winning coach?

Lincoln Riley

AP Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley is pictured during an Oklahoma NCAA college football practice in Norman, Okla., Monday, Aug. 10, 2015. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) 08192015xPUB 08182015xPUB

Current position: Oklahoma offensive coordinator since 2015 Previous two coaching stops: East Carolina (offensive coordinator, 2010-2014), Texas Tech (wide receivers coach, 2006-2009) Offensive style: Runs an Air Raid offense that made Baker Mayfield into a national name in Riley's first year in Norman Head coaching record: None Texas connections: Lubbock native who played at Texas Tech before starting his coaching career as a Red Raider, still recruits Texas heavily at Oklahoma Culture implementation: Without head coaching experience it's hard to judge him here, but Oklahoma's offense went from 464.7 yards per game the season before Riley's arrival to 530.2 per game in his first season in Norman. Questions that need answering: Rhoades said he is willing to hire a rising-star assistant, but is Riley the right guy for what Rhoades wants? Mike Singletary

AP Los Angeles Rams defensive advisor Mike Singletary is shown before an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Current position: Los Angeles Rams defensive assistant since 2016 Previous three coaching stops: Minnesota Vikings (special assistant to head coach/linebackers coach, 2011-2013), San Francisco 49ers (head coach, 2009-2010, linebackers coach, 2005-2008), Baltimore Ravens (linebackers coach, 2003-2004) Offensive style: Always known as a defensive coach Head coaching record: 18-22 in NFL Texas connections: Houston-native who earned All-American honors as a junior and senior linebacker at Baylor in 1979 and 1980 Culture implementation: He has never coached at the collegiate level, but Singletary is a Baylor legend who cares deeply about the program and already said he would "absolutely" consider coaching at his alma mater after Briles' dismissal. Questions that need answering: Does Baylor want to hire one of its own legends even if he has no collegiate coaching experience?

Candidates out of the running Jeff Brohm

AP Western Kentucky coach Jeff Brohm shouts at a player during Western Kentucky's 60-6 win over Marshall in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, in Huntington, W.Va. (Austin Anthony/Daily News via AP)

Current position: Western Kentucky head coach since 2014 Previous three coaching stops: Western Kentucky (offensive coordinator, 2013), UAB (offensive coordinator, 2012), Illinois (quarterbacks coach, 2010-2011) Offensive style: Runs a high-tempo, pass-heavy offense Head coaching record: 28-10, 2-0 in bowl games Texas connections: None to speak of -- only one player on WKU is from Texas and he has no experience coaching in the state Culture implementation: In his second season, Western Kentucky improved from 8-5 to 12-2 with a Conference USA championship and a bowl win over Miami. Questions that need answering: Would Baylor overlook Brohm's lack of Texas connections to hire one the hottest young names in coaching circles? And what exactly does Brohm -- who once turned down an offer to be Nick Saban's offensive coordinator at Alabama to stay at Louisville -- want in his next coaching job? Reports connecting the candidate to Baylor: Yahoo! Sports reported that Baylor will interview Brohm for the job. Plan for next season: Brohm has accepted the position as head coach of Purdue. Jim Grobe

Staff Photographer New Baylor head football coach Jim Grobe responds to reporters questions during the Big 12 Conference Football Media Days at the Omni Dallas Hotel, July 19, 2016. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)

Current position: Baylor interim head coach since May Previous three coaching stops: Wake Forest (head coach, 2001-2013), Ohio (head coach, 1995-2000), Air Force (linebackers coach, 1984-1994) Offensive style: Always a defensive coach but has allowed Baylor to continue running the Briles offense since he took over Head coaching record: 116-119-1, 3-2 in bowl games Texas connections: None before he coached at Baylor Culture implementation: Grobe, known as an all-around nice guy, but his control over the program could be in question after his assistants issued a release in support of Briles, their old boss, without checking in with him first. Questions that need answering: Does Grobe, who was retired before he came back to coach at Baylor, even want to keep coaching after this season? Does Baylor view Grobe as a long-term answer? Plans for next year: Grobe announced that he has no plans to coach in 2017. Tom Herman

AP FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2016, file photo, Houston coach Tom Herman stands on the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Cincinnati in Cincinnati. A person with direct knowledge of the discussions says Herman has told the school he is leaving to become the next coach of the Texas Longhorns. Herman would replace Charlie Strong, who was fired Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, after three consecutive losing seasons at Texas. The person confirmed Herman's move to Texas on condition of anonymity because neither school had yet publicly announced the decision. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

Current position: Houston head coach since 2015 Previous three coaching stops: Ohio State (offensive coordinator, 2012-2014), Iowa State (offensive coordinator, 2009-2011), Rice (offensive coordinator, 2007-2008) Offensive style: Runs a spread offense Head coaching record: 22-4, 1-0 in bowl games Texas connections: Was a graduate assistant at Texas before he served as an assistant at Sam Houston State, Texas State and Rice, now is dominating the recruiting scene at Houston at UH Culture implementation: If you don't think Herman's players love him, then you need to see how crazy they went when he got a grill after they won the American Conference championship last season. Questions that need answering: How much loyalty does Herman have to Rhoades, the man who hired him at Houston? Wouldn't Herman rather wait take one of the higher-profile Power Five conference jobs he's expected to be offered, like Texas or LSU? With Baylor's swirling scandals, is a move from Houston to Baylor even a move up for Herman? Plans for next year: Herman accepted the position as head coach of Texas. Chad Morris

Getty Images DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 26: Head coach Chad Morris of the Southern Methodist Mustangs enters the field before a game against the Navy Midshipmen at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on November 26, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Current position: SMU head coach since 2015 Previous three coaching stops: Clemson (offensive coordinator, 2011-2014), Tulsa (offensive coordinator, 2010), Texas high school football (1994-2009) Offensive style: Runs an up-tempo offense Head coaching record: 4-14 in college, 169-38 in high school Texas connections: Texas native, went to Texas A&M, was a Texas high school football coach for 16 years and won consecutive 16-0 state titles at Lake Travis, recruited Texas heavily while at Tulsa, Clemson, now a head coach at in-state SMU Culture implementation: He has certainly changed the culture at SMU from the downtrodden June Jones era but has yet to find a way to win at SMU. Questions that need answering: Is Morris willing to leave SMU after just two seasons? Will the appeal of a jump to the Big 12 competition entice Morris to Waco? Reports about the candidate and Baylor: 247sports.com reported that Morris is one of the top candidates to replace Briles. Morris denied the Baylor rumors but there were additional reports that the two parties exchanged some contract figures. But it appears that Morris is asking for too much money for Baylor's liking. Plans for next season: Morris has informed his SMU players he will be returning to the Hilltop next season, according to multiple reports. Twitter: @AdamGrosbard

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