Since the news of Beaty's firing broke, the inevitable rumor mill of who will be the next coach of the Jayhawks has been swirling across the internet and social media. One potential candidate is NC State head coach Dave Doeren. Doeren briefly flirted with Tennessee last year and reportedly wanted the Kansas job in 2011 when they ultimately hired Charlie Weis. Doeren received a payday after the Tennesse
e search and was an assistant at Wisconsin in 2011. Thus, he may not be inclined to pursue such an opportunity.
Doeren is a Kansas native and served as an assistant for the Jayhawks under Mike Mangino. That culminated in a Big XII championship and Orange Bowl birth. Would Doeren leave the building Wolfpack program? Would he want to take over a program that is 6-39 in their last 45 contests? I don't know for sure.
For now, Doeren is saying all the right things. He has talked, as recently as Sunday November 4, about his love for Raleigh. More importantly, his family's love for Raleigh and NC State. He is building a program is on the verge of the best season in school history. He is putting together top-20 recruiting classes.
On the other hand, he has to try to overtake Clemson for any shot of ACC glory. Clemson is in the midst of an Alabama like run. Doeren also faces a relentless fan base that often thinks of itself more highly than it should. How do I know? I am a part of that fan base. Should we want more? Yes! Should we expect more? Yes! But, it is global domination realistic right now? No!
At Kansas, he would face an epic rebuild. An almost impossible rebuild, if you ask me. At the same time, expectations will be much lower and he would probably have the time to build.
At NC State, he is leading a program that has been on the "verge" for 20 years now. With one program changing win, the lid could be blown off this thing and he could put himself on a basketball level pedestal in Raleigh. It could be Case, Sloan, Valvano, Yow and Doeren. Or, it could be those former four and the "next" guy.
No matter what he would do in Lawrence, he would never reach a level equal to that of their basketball program.
All of that being said, my heart of hearts tells me that Coach D will be in Raleigh for the foreseeable future. The athletics program is a top 20 program in intercollegiate athletics and improving. The men's basketball program is on the rise. The baseball team is a perennial tournament host. The women's basketball program is coming off consecutive tournament appearances. The other non-revenue sports are taking off as well. That all bodes well for the football program. It means more exposure, and more exposure means more money. More money means more resources for things like recruiting, facilities, salaries, and more.
As for who I think will end up in Kansas? No idea! Jeff Long is forever connected to Bret Bielema. Long also has ties with Les Miles from when they worked together at Michigan. Miles has Big XII experience prior to his tenure at LSU as the HC at Oklahoma State. Clemson DC, Brent Venables, seems to be the ideal candidate. Venables played for Bill Snyder at Kansas State, coached at Oklahoma under Bob Stoops, and has built a defensive juggernaut at Clemson. But, would he leave Clemson for Kansas? Probably not. Most Group of Five candidates? My advice would be to STAY AWAY!
That brings me to Lane Kiffin. Kiffin has been working to rebuild his reputation for what seems like forever. This would be a nice Power Five landing spot for him. He would have the time to build a foundation, get back into kids' living rooms at the P5 talent level, and impress some people by getting to a couple of bowl games. Then, he could find himself back at a top tier program. Kansas, could also make a run at a bigger name once the ship is righted. It could be a win/win scenario for both. 
