The Search For The Next Oregon State Coach Continues

Well it’s been 7 weeks or so since Gary Andersen said “thanks but no thanks” to $12 million dollars and reportedly headed back to Utah. Meanwhile Oregon State is still in coaching purgatory, floating around with no real idea where we are going. While other jobs have opened and been filled, and in one case opened again (I’m looking at you Rocky Top), Oregon State is still chasing clues and putting pins in the map like they are looking for Carmen San Diego. Here is the latest in what seems to be a long stream of rumors and speculation with no clear end in sight.

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Beau Baldwin

He got the job!

Well maybe not... cause the search appears to be ongoing. Apparently there was a flight from Corvallis to Oakland yesterday, so maybe Barnes and Co are hand delivering his new sideline gear.

I still think it’s gonna be Baldwin, but with each passing day I get less and less sure.

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Lance Anderson

Speaking of that plane to the bay area, Stanford DC and one time BYU finalist Lance Anderson, is apparently in the running according to Bruce Feldman.

While it doesn’t bring the excitement of a young offensive mind, we could do a lot worse than the dude who has engineered are pretty consistent defense for the Cardinal. Plus OSU would only have to change one letter on anything that says Coach Andersen.

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Jeff Tedford

The former Cal coach apparently said no thanks.

Honestly I don’t blame him. He has done well at his Alma Mater, makes decent money already and would be jumping into a tough rebuild during what is likely the twilight of his coaching career.

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Jonathan Smith

He’s been interviewed according to basically anyone with any insider knowledge. The former OSU QB has no HC experience and still is a little raw. His UW team under-performed on offense this season and many purple and gold covered fans want him gone. This would be the ultimate in risky hires, but he has spent over half a decade at the side of one of the best coaches in the country so who knows.

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Cory Hall

Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Well he is the only man standing in the Valley Football Center, as the rest of the staff was given their walking papers on Sunday. Given the tailspin that ended the season, I see very little chance he is named the head man, but his energy and recruiting prowess may be enough to keep him on the next staff.

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Bryan Harsin

Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images

The current Boise State head man had been rumored as a potential candidate, but I’ve seen nothing linking him directly to OSU. Has had success in Boise, but hasn’t been able to match the standard set by coach Peterson. Harsin will face off against Tedford and former OSU QB Marcus McMaryion in this weekend’s Mountain West title game.

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Les Miles

Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Umm yea that appears to have gone nowhere. I doubt the interest level was ever very high from Miles and furthermore I doubt OSU could pay him what he wanted and be able to pay a competent staff. The thought was fun to talk about, but I doubt that rumor ever had any real legs to it

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June Jones

Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images

We can probably cross him off the list. He recently signed an extension with his CFL team dropping his interim title.

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Mystery Candidate

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Really what else does he have to prove in Tuscaloosa?

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When will this search end? Who knows at this point. I wouldn’t be surprised if they hired someone as I hit publish on this article. Conversely it wouldn’t surprise me if we went into this coming weekend with the same answers we have now. The sooner the better though, cause with the new early signing day recruits are gonna want to know who is in charge, and the new coach needs to fill a bunch of empty offices in the VFC.