Jimmy Lake's rapid descent at Washington will be discussed in coaching circles for years.
Head coaches can overcome bad coordinator hires, like the one Lake made on offense with John Donovan. They can live down foolish comments about their biggest out-of-state rival. But they can't appear to strike a player on the sideline during a game and then try to explain it as something else.
Washington fired Lake on Sunday, a week after he was suspended for smacking the facemask of walk-on linebacker Ruperake Fuavai, who was barking at an Oregon player near the Huskies sideline during a Nov. 6 game at Husky Stadium. Lake told reporters he merely attempted to separate the players, but the video appeared to show otherwise and, after a week, Washington moved to make a stunning change.
The transition from Chris Petersen to Lake, Washington's dynamic and successful defensive coordinator, made complete sense after the 2019 season. Lake was on the radar for other head-coaching jobs and had upgraded the program's talent level, producing several NFL draft picks on defense. Lake went 3-1 during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and Washington entered this season ranked No. 20 in the AP poll.
But the Huskies opened with a 13-7 loss to FCS Montana, the team's first defeat by the Grizzlies since 1920. Washington's offensive woes continued in a loss to Michigan and the team never really got on track despite four wins. Recruiting has also dipped significantly, a surprise given Lake's prior success on the trail as an assistant. The Huskies are currently outside ESPN's list of top-40 recruiting classes.
Still, no one expected a change in Seattle this year.
The Washington job remains one of the best on the West Coast, boasting a great location, beautiful facilities, strong fan support and long-term tradition. While Oregon undoubtedly has lapped the Huskies on the field, winning 15 of the teams' past 17 meetings, Washington can probably catch up with the right hire. Athletic director Jen Cohen has been in her role since 2016 and has been at Washington for 23 years.
Washington is likely to focus its search on those with previous head-coaching experience and backgrounds on offense. An interesting subplot is the potential for candidate crossover with in-state rival Washington State, which also is conducting an unexpected coaching search.
Here's a look at who Washington could consider to replace Lake.
BYU coach Kalani Sitake
Sitake should be a leading candidate. He has proved himself as a head coach the past two years, producing successful, tough and balanced teams at BYU, which is 19-3 since the start of the 2020 season. Sitake, 46, has Pac-12 coordinator experience at both Oregon State and Utah. Also, despite being a defensive coach, Sitake has produced impressive offenses with strong coordinators (Jeff Grimes, Aaron Roderick). He also could bolster recruiting, especially with top Polynesian players, a key prospect group for Washington over the years. The Huskies have never had a Polynesian head coach.
Chris Petersen
Would the man who built Washington into a playoff team return to fix the program? It seems unlikely but Washington would be foolish not to ask. Petersen, 57, stepped down after the 2019 season, saying he was burned out and wanted to pursue other things. He hasn't closed the door on a return to coaching, although he's working in Washington's administration and also as a Fox analyst. The question is whether he would want this job again, especially because Lake succeeded him and came up under him. From 2016 to 2018, Petersen led Washington to two Pac-12 titles, a CFP appearance, three division titles and a 32-9 record. He probably would be a short-term solution but brings one of the best records of any FBS coach in the past 20 years (147-38).
Cal coach Justin Wilcox
Lake's troubles occurred the same week as a COVID-19 outbreak at Cal, the FBS program most negatively impacted by the pandemic and policies in the city of Berkeley. Immediately, speculation began about whether Wilcox would bolt Berkeley for Seattle, where he served as defensive coordinator in 2012 and 2013. A move from Cal to Washington makes sense for Wilcox, 45, who went 15-11 in the two seasons before the pandemic. He's also rooted in the Northwest, as a former Oregon player who landed his first defensive coordinator job under Petersen at Boise State in 2006. But would Washington want to hire a coach who is just 24-27 overall? And while a bad offensive coordinator hire largely doomed Lake, Wilcox's OC choices haven't really panned out either.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell
He loves Iowa State but might need to make a move as the Cyclones lose much of their core after the season. Campbell is extremely well regarded in college circles, and also has generated NFL interest. The drawback is a lack of ties to the West Coast, as the Ohio-born Campbell has never coached west of Ames, Iowa. But Washington offers some advantages Iowa State doesn't and would be wise to pursue a dynamic young offensive coach who would build a similar culture to Petersen. Campbell, 41, could also be in the mix at USC and seems best suited for jobs unlikely to open (Notre Dame or Michigan). But Washington should at least gauge his interest.
Fresno State coach Kalen DeBoer
He will land a Power 5 job soon, and his track record suggests he will make the school very happy. DeBoer, 47, is only in his second year as an FBS coach, but has delivered with an 8-3 record that includes a win at UCLA. Although he has no Washington ties, he's winning with a former Huskies quarterback, Jake Haener, who has thrived in DeBoer's offense. DeBoer had successful coordinator stints at both Indiana and Eastern Michigan, and an incredible run as head coach at Sioux Falls, going 67-3 with three NAIA national titles.
Nevada coach Jay Norvell
He's another experienced option with roots on offense, and has proved what he can do as a head coach after a long wait for his first opportunity. Norvell is 29-16 at Nevada since the start of the 2018 season. He knows offense and quarterbacks from years as an NFL and college assistant, and spent time in the Pac-12 at both UCLA (offensive coordinator in 2007) and Arizona State (wide receivers coach in 2016). Norvell, 58, is overdue for a Power 5 opportunity, likely in the western half of the country, and would be a smart hire by Cohen and Washington.
Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith
Washington wouldn't be hiring Smith based on his record at Oregon State, which isn't great (15-26) despite some improvement this season. The fact is Washington hasn't been the same on offense since Smith departed as coordinator after the 2017 season. Smith, 42, developed Jake Browning and other quarterbacks under Petersen, and has produced exciting and balanced offenses at Oregon State. He's a California native who knows the Pac-12 well and could thrive in a job with fewer obstacles.
Oregon offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead
By hiring Moorhead, Washington would be able to add a quality coach and hurt one of its rivals at the same time. Washington is thirsting for some offensive innovation after Donovan's tenure, and Moorhead, 48, has made some clear upgrades at Oregon, especially in the run game. The question here on both sides is fit. Moorhead's two seasons at Oregon mark his only experience west of Mississippi, where he took a job (Mississippi State) he wasn't suited for and got fired after only two seasons despite a winning record (14-12). He soon will get another chance to lead an FBS program, but might want to be more strategic, targeting programs closer to his hometown of Pittsburgh.
Central Michigan coach Jim McElwain
Washington might be wise to go the veteran head coach route, and McElwain makes sense, especially for the short term. He's a proven program leader who has won Coach of the Year awards in three different leagues (Mountain West, SEC, MAC). McElwain, 59, has deep roots in the Northwest, as he's from Montana and coached at Eastern Washington. He knows the area well and would bring a clear vision to the struggling Huskies offense. The end to his Florida tenure could hurt his chances, but McElwain boasts a 61-40 record as an FBS coach.
Seattle Seahawks passing game coordinator Dave Canales
While Washington likely will prioritize previous head-coaching experience in the search, Canales is an interesting candidate who is already in the area. He has been on Pete Carroll's Seahawks staff since 2010, working with wide receivers from 2010 to 2017 before switching to coaching Russell Wilson and the quarterbacks beginning in 2018. Canales, 40, is a California native who shouldn't have trouble reconnecting with the state's high school landscape. He can also sell NFL development from his 12 seasons in the pros.
Baylor coach Dave Aranda
The question here is Aranda's interest level and whether he would want to leave Baylor -- especially so soon -- for the Washington job. Washington absolutely should make an attempt to pursue Aranda, 45, who is very much on USC's radar and has seen his stock surge in Year 2 at Baylor. His team is 8-2 and beat previously undefeated Oklahoma on Saturday. Aranda is one of few top candidates from the West Coast, as he grew up in Southern California and attended Cal Lutheran. Although he has never coached in the Pac-12, he has held jobs at Utah State and Hawaii and knows the area well. Aranda's steady demeanor, creative defense and understanding of personnel would make him an excellent hire for Washington if the school can get him.