In April 2016, TCU unveiled a statue of Gary Patterson, the coach who made the program into one of the most consistent and respected in college football.
Unfortunately for Patterson, even a statue doesn't guarantee success and a perfect exit. Since the statue went up, the Horned Frogs have eclipsed seven wins just once (2017). A consistent Big 12 contender that nearly made the first College Football Playoff undoubtedly backslid. This season has brought more losses and angst, especially for Patterson, who blasted SMU for what happened following TCU's loss to the Mustangs last month, and called out a Medium.com post on why he should be fired. Patterson is undeniably a Hall of Fame coach, but he seemed increasingly frustrated with the current climate in college football. Athletic director Jeremiah Donati didn't hire Patterson.
Charting an exit strategy for a legendary coach is never easy, but TCU and Patterson parted ways Sunday, effective immediately, a day after the team fell to 3-5. Jerry Kill will serve as the Horned Frogs' interim coach the remainder of the season.
Patterson, 61, finishes his TCU career at 181-79 in 20-plus years as coach. He led TCU to a perfect season and a Rose Bowl championship in 2010, six conference titles in three different leagues, and six AP top-10 finishes. He's the biggest reason TCU landed a Big 12 invitation.
Replacing Patterson will not be easy, but TCU offers a lot for his successor. Despite being a smaller, private school, TCU provides an excellent combination of resources and location. TCU is the only Power 5 program in the recruit-rich Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The program has a strong donor base, and Donati is a respected, young athletic director.
Several industry sources recently called TCU a top-20 job, possibly the best in the reshaped Big 12. Veteran coaches will be interested. Here's a look at whom TCU could consider to replace Patterson.
SMU coach Sonny Dykes: Several Power 5 schools will pursue Dykes in this cycle, including his alma mater, Texas Tech, but only one offers the location advantage that TCU does. Dykes, 51, lives within walking distance of SMU's campus and loves the area. While he might have to relocate closer to TCU's campus, it would not be a major move. He knows TCU's program after spending the 2017 season as an offensive analyst under Patterson, and also brings strong knowledge of the Big 12, given his roots at Texas Tech and throughout the state. It's unlikely the September spat with Patterson -- or SMU's rivalry with TCU -- hurts Dykes' chances of taking the job. He should be the leading candidate here, and would be wise to make the move, although SMU is willing to shell out big bucks to keep him on the Hilltop.
Louisiana coach Billy Napier: I had heard Virginia Tech and Arizona State are two potential vacancies that would interest Napier, but neither job is open now and TCU might make even more sense. He has passed up Power 5 opportunities before and will be strategic about his next move, as he loves coaching at Louisiana. Napier was in the mix for Baylor's recent vacancy and could see value in moving to the Big 12 at a job where he could win right away. The 42-year-old is mostly rooted in the Southeast but has a roster at Louisiana filled with Texas natives. He knows the area and brings a 35-12 record as an FBS coach.
Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente: Fuente is on the hot seat in Blacksburg, and could soon be out at Virginia Tech, which has fallen off since his first two seasons. TCU might be leery of hiring a coach whose stock has fallen, but Fuente also could simply need a change of scenery to reboot his career. The Tulsa, Oklahoma, native had never worked anywhere near Virginia Tech before taking the job. He has direct ties to TCU as an assistant from 2007 to 2011, including the final three years as offensive coordinator. Fuente, 45, helped dramatically elevate TCU's program with Patterson, and could energize the TCU program with his offense. Despite the recent struggles, he's still 68-53 overall as an FBS coach.
Nevada coach Jay Norvell: If TCU wants an experienced, offensive-minded coach who knows the area, Norvell would be a smart choice. Norvell spent seven years as an Oklahoma co-offensive coordinator for Bob Stoops, then moved to Texas for the 2015 season. He has recruited the state at other spots and brings an offensive scheme that would work well in the Big 12. Norvell, 58, likely has one big move left in his career, and can be selective. But TCU would make a lot of sense for him. Norvell is 28-15 at Nevada since the start of the 2018 season. TCU also has never had a Black head coach in football.
Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko: TCU had historic success with a defensive-minded head coach in Patterson, and could be seeking a similar profile for his successor. Elko, 44, is one of the most respected defensive playcallers in college football, and has spent the past three years coaching in the state for Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M. He would need a strong plan for the offense and for recruiting the area, but TCU should have him on the radar, even if a bit down the list. Elko also brings a viewpoint from the outside as a New Jersey native who held coordinator stints at Wake Forest and Notre Dame before Texas A&M.
Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables: TCU had incredible success with a defensive coach from Kansas who played with Kansas State in Patterson, and could seek a similar profile in Venables. He's the nation's highest-paid assistant at $2.5 million, has two sons on Clemson's team and has turned down chances to run his own program. Perhaps at 50, Venables will see this as the right time to make a move. Venables knows the Big 12 after spending the first 16 years of his coaching career at Kansas State and Oklahoma. The Salina, Kansas, native would be a splashy hire for Donati and TCU, and the Big 12 is becoming increasingly more defense-oriented. But TCU also might want to lean toward offense with Patterson's replacement.
Liberty coach Hugh Freeze: At some point, Freeze will coach in the Power 5 again. His track record on offense and as an elite recruiter will be too attractive for a school to pass up. Freeze is 25-8 at Liberty and 67-40 overall as an FBS coach. He recruited Texas while at Ole Miss, landing top recruits such as offensive tackle Greg Little from Allen High School. Freeze also recruited the state while at Arkansas State. An outspoken Christian, Freeze could connect well at a school such as TCU. The off-field problems that led to Freeze's departure at Ole Miss are a concern for any interested Power 5 school, though he has addressed them publicly multiple times. There would be some risk here for Donati, but also potential payoff on offense and in recruiting.
Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken: He's another veteran option with head-coaching experience and knowledge of the Big 12 from two stints at Oklahoma State. Monken, 55, likely will be in line for Power 5 opportunities as Georgia eyes its first national title since 1980. He has recruited Texas and the Dallas area at multiple previous coaching stops, went 9-5 in his final season at Southern Miss and brings NFL experience from three different teams. Although Monken has never worked in Texas, he spent a total of five years at Oklahoma State and also made assistant stops at LSU and Louisiana Tech.
Utah State coach Blake Anderson: While Texas Tech could not hire the Utah State coach twice in a row, TCU might want to consider Anderson for its vacancy. Anderson, 52, won consistently at Arkansas State but never quite enough to land a Power 5 job. His impressive first season at Utah State, which includes an opening win over Washington State and a 4-1 start to Mountain West play, could help him get on the radar at TCU. Anderson played at Baylor and Sam Houston State, made an in-state stop early in his coaching career at Howard Payne University, and has recruited Texas for a long time. He's 57-39 overall as an FBS coach.
Baylor offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes: He likely would be down the list a bit, but could be an interesting option if TCU seeks a spark on offense and especially with its line play. Grimes has energized Baylor's offense in his first year as coordinator, after a successful run at BYU with quarterback Zach Wilson and others. Grimes, 53, is from Garland, Texas, played offensive line at UTEP and recruited his home state at several Power 5 assistant stops before coming to Baylor. He lacks head-coaching experience but knows the region very well, and could parlay Baylor's success this fall into a big move up.