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Hiring coaches is very difficult. by smithwick

As you note, every power program save probably Ohio State, Georgia, and Oklahoma have spent time recently wandering the coaching wilderness for program stability.

I don't think the NFL is some silver bullet either. Certainly coaches at the pro game should be considered for an opening, but you just don't see a lot of head coaches jump from the pro ranks to the college game for good reason; they would rather coach pros than deal with the 24/7/365 grind of blowing smoke up the asses of 17-18 year olds in recruiting which has now extended to having to recruit 14/15/16 year olds too. Mike Tomlin made it clear how most NFL coaches view power college program jobs.

In terms of where ND goes when BK hangs them up in the next 3-5 years, Luke Fickell would be the safest pick. HC experience, has spent time under very successful coaches (Meyer, Tressel), understands big time college football (unlike BK when he was hired), young enough to handle the rigors of the job, and is a Midwestern guy who would likely appreciate the university and its mission more than BK. Not saying he's a homerun hire, but I'd be shocked if he didn't easily replicate double digit win seasons over largely ACC bottom feeders.