Will East Carolina’s Ruffin McNeill Explore New Opportunities This Offseason?

East Carolina head coach Ruffin McNeill may complete his second straight 10-win season at his alma mater if the Pirates beat UCF on Thursday night and win their bowl game.

With a 35-27 record at ECU, is McNeil likely to hear offers from bigger name programs in the off-season?

McNeil wouldn’t make a lateral move and leave the school he played at to coach another Group of Five member, so if he leaves for another job, it will be with a team in a Power Five league.

Here are some quick facts about NcNeil that will help illustrate the likelihood of him leaving for another job:

• Born in Lumberton, North Carolina
• Played defensive back for East Carolina (1976-80)
• Only coached outside of the south (Texas included) for two seasons
• Assistant for 25 years before being named head coach of his alma mater
• Makes $1.25 million per year, according to USA Today coaching salary list

Listed below are Power Five head coaching jobs currently vacant, or could potential come open, based on media speculation. Potenital vacancies are marked with an asterisks (*). Keep in mind that surprise firings happen after each season that befuddle everyone, including the media. McNeil will likely have more options after January.

Indiana (4-8, 1-7 Big Ten)*

The likelihood of McNeill leaving to lead the Hoosiers is very low. IU is a basketball school that looks like it will always be one. It’s not that the Hoosiers don’t care about football (52, 000 seat Memorial Stadium was upgraded as recently as 2010), its that the state of Indiana is a cold state for top high school talent, and the Hoosiers have had no luck with plucking a few big recruits from football-heavy border state Ohio. IU hasn’t fired head coach Kevin Wilson (14-34) and according to multiple reports is expected to retain him, but don’t be surprised if it lets him loose in the next few weeks. Wilson only makes roughly $60,000 more than NcNeils current contract. Expect ECU to give McNeil raise if the Pirates finish with 10 wins for the second consecutive season.

Michigan (5-7, 3-5 Big Ten)

There’s not too many Group of Five coaches who would turn down the opportunity to coach the most winningist football program of all-time; honestly, not many coaches, no matter where they coached, would turn down a chance to leave the maize and blue in the Big House. Unfortunately, for McNeil (if leading a tradition-rich program is something he cares about) Michigan seems to always be looking for a “Michigan Man” to lead the program back to the glory days. They thought they had that man in Brady Hoke. McNeil has no ties to the state of Michigan or Ohio where the Wolverines heavily recruit and is not likely to receive interest from UM.

Nebraska (9-3, 5-3 Big Ten)

Almost the same can be said for the Nebraska opening, though I think Nebraska could do much worse than McNeil. He would offer the program a fresh face, and he obviously knows how to win a lot of games. Again, the Cornhuskers might be another odd fit given the teams rich tradition and unrealistic expectations. Scratch the Black Shirts off the list.

Rutgers (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten)*

Rutgers will probably keep Kyle Flood since he went 7-5 in the team’s inaugural Big Ten campaign, but was squarely on the hot seat going into 2014 after finishing 6-7 2013. The Scarlet Knights are another conference jumper who, before the season, analysts believed might drop Flood in favor of a new coaching regime to lead the program into its more difficult conference. Rutgers has a lot of upside as the state university in talent-rich New Jersey that may attract McNeil. Keep this job in the short list for next year if Flood has a disappointing 2015 season.

Kansas (3-9, 1-8 Big 12)

The Jayhawks would hit a home-run with hiring McNeil. They need a proven winner to lead the program out of the Big 12 basement, and McNeil has experience as an assistant at Big 12 rival Texas Tech. McNeil spent 10 years on the Red Raider staff, so he’s familiar with recruiting Big 12 country. Kansas also pays well; Charlie Wise was paid $2.5 million per year to lead the Jayhawks. This is the most likely landing spot (so far) for McNeil if he wants to coach an FBS program, but does he want to coach somewhere that hasn’t won more than five games since 2009 and is located in a talent-poor state?

Florida (6-5, 4-4 SEC)

Listed because it’s an open position, but not gonna happen. Reports from yesterday indicate Florida’s primary target is Colorado State coach Jim McElwain, who led the Rams to a 10-2 record this season.

Pirate fans, there’s no need to worry; McNeil will return to coach his alma mater next season. There are no reports (believe me, I looked) of programs showing serious interest in him and he hasn’t indicated he’s interested in pursuing other opportunities.

If NC State’s Dave Doeren is fired after next season (10-14 record with Wolfpack), then you can be nervous that he may leave. McNeil loves his home state of North Carolina and may decide that coaching at his alma mater is the ultimate dream job; there is no moving up.

Unless Kansas makes a crazy offer that can’t be refused, look for McNeil to be in purple and gold next year.