TCU continues to ‘work through the process’ in the search for its next football coach
SMU coach Sonny Dykes has always been viewed as a frontrunner to become TCU’s next coach since the school parted ways with Gary Patterson on Oct. 31.
And there’s some speculation that Dykes has emerged as TCU’s top target as he’s yet to sign a contract extension with SMU. The Mustangs have offered Dykes a five- to seven-year extension that would make him either the highest paid Group of Five coach, or close to it, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Dykes told reporters Tuesday that some details are still being finalized on the extension and there’s no timetable to sign it. Well, some are drawing the conclusion that the process is being delayed because he may bolt for TCU.
But TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati told the Star-Telegram on Wednesday that the school continues to go through its process that started more than two weeks ago. Dykes remains a strong candidate who checks every box TCU has on its wish list, but Donati hasn’t determined who the best fit is at this point.
Louisiana’s Billy Napier checks a lot of the boxes, too, and has impressed. Iowa State’s Matt Campbell and Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott are others who are under consideration.
“We are still very much working through the process,” Donati said. “No offers have been made to any candidate to this point.”
Nothing is expected to be finalized on TCU’s end until after the regular season as every top candidate is currently coaching. Dykes and SMU travel to No. 5 Cincinnati this weekend.
Donati has said since the process started that he’d like to have the next coach in place by early December with the early signing period starting Dec. 15. Donati also listed a number of credentials he’d like in the next coach such as a sitting head coach with an offensive background who understands today’s era of players profiting off name, image and likeness as well as the ever-growing transfer portal.
Dykes checks all of those boxes and even has ties to TCU after spending the 2017 season as an offensive analyst under Patterson. And SMU’s offense is ranked sixth in the country this season.
Time will tell if that is enough for him to land at TCU, or if the school feels there is a better fit for it. Everyone will know within a couple of weeks.
In the meantime, TCU is preparing to face Kansas in the regular-season home finale on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
This story was originally published November 17, 2021 at 4:22 PM.
