The Sam Houston Bearkats have been a tremendous addition to the FBS ranks since joining the fray in 2023. Two years after making the leap up and after narrowly missing the Conference USA Championship Game, the program has been sent into disarray with the news that head coach KC Keeler is headed to Temple.
Who can come in to stop the potential bleeding after the Bearkats lose their leading man?
Replacement Candidates for KC Keeler at Sam Houston
Keeler did an immaculate job of keeping Sam Houston competitive in their first season in the CUSA. He did an even better job of getting the Bearkats to within a game of appearing in the title game a season after that.
And now, we can expect Keeler to do the same with Temple, though that program needs a ton of help.
With Keeler heading to Philadelphia, these candidates should be at the top of SHSU’s list.
Brennan Marion, UNLV Offensive Coordinator
Brennan Marion’s name will be linked to every open FBS job until he lands one. Not only is Marion an offensive savant, he’s an incredible recruiter.
His bread and butter when it comes to recruiting: the state of Texas.
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Who better to come in and — not necessarily clean house but — keep up with what SHSU has built and improve all facets on offense than Marion? He can recruit his preferred state in his own backyard now and bring his incredible offensive scheme to the CUSA.
His Go Go Offense would very well dominate the CUSA defenses and the staff he could build would be one of the most intriguing aspects to watch this entire offseason.
With Marion, SHSU would hit a home run.
Buster Faulkner, Georgia Tech Offensive Coordinator
Buster Faulkner has no ties to the program, but he’s absolutely shown he’s ready for the big time and has no trouble with moving around the country to find the right spot.
With Georgia Tech, Faulkner has taken the Yellow Jackets from ACC bottom dweller to hard-nosed, trench-fighting, run-heavy offense that has put fear in opposing defenses. For him to bring that type of offense to Sam Houston would be a lateral move, so to speak, but one that would be able to recruit new areas.
Faulkner has shown he can bring in talent against the likes of Georgia, so have to think he’d be able to easily showcase SHSU’s offerings to recruits considering options like Kennesaw State, UTEP, or Middle Tennessee all the same.
Faulkner has a ton of things going for him, and though he’s likely set to interview for other jobs, starting at the proverbial ground floor as an FBS coach with the Bearkats might fit his style and his MO perfectly.
Tony White, Nebraska Defensive Coordinator
Tony White has ushered in incredible defensive performance after incredible defensive performance in his time with Arizona State, Syracuse, and now Nebraska. Matt Rhule’s leading man on defense is surely going to be approached by just about every opening, but Sam Houston could be his calling.
He’s thrived at every stop, and White is on the shortlist for each opening that warrants a hard-nosed, hard-hitting, defensive-minded coach to lead their team. The biggest questions for White will be who he can bring with him to help guide the offense.
If Sam Houston likes what White brings to the table on both sides of the ball, don’t be surprised if he’s the first stop.
Glenn Schumann, Georgia Defensive Coordinator
Glenn Schumann is still rising in the coaching ranks. At just 34 years old, Schumann would be one of the youngest head coaches in college football history.
Yet, he’s been preparing for this moment since he was a student assistant back in 2008 with Alabama. After a handful of years with Alabama, he took an official position with Georgia in 2016 and has moved up the Bulldogs ranks ever since.
As the defensive coordinator since 2022, the Bulldogs have reached historic heights. Combine that with the fact that Schumann has an administrative background to his career journey only makes him a more valued commodity for a program like SHSU.
Bringing Schumann in would be truly a new chapter for Sam Houston, but recruiting the southeast like never before could be too enticing to pass up.
Tashard Choice, Texas RB Coach
The first non-coordinator on this list is absolutely Tashard Choice. Making what would be a move southwest down to the Sam Houston campus from Austin, Choice has been rising in the ranks since he first started as an intern with the Dallas Cowboys in 2016.
As Texas’ RB coach, Choice has shown he’s been able to build an incredible unit. His units have been handed some tough injury cards over the years, yet it’s seemingly been next man up for the Longhorns under Choice’s leadership.
If Choice interviews well, don’t be surprised if this is a bit of a long-shot hire with a true boom-or-bust nature. Being a head coach is incredibly different than a position coach, but Choice has been around some good leaders in his short time on the sidelines to prepare him.
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