Three victories in a row might make head coach decision easier

Alejandro Solana // Staff Writer

In a bizarre turn of events, Interim Head Coach Ron Cooper has somehow managed to salvage the 2016 season and lead the Panthers to three straight wins – the most recent this past weekend against Conference USA opponent Charlotte.

With their record now at 3-4 with all three wins coming against conference opponents, FIU finds itself as the leader of the East division in C-USA.

Cooper lead the Panthers to three straight wins for the first time since FIU started the 2011 season 3-0 under Mario Cristobal. Ron Turner, the man Cooper replaced after FIU’s 0-4 start resulted in his firing, never witnessed the team win three in a row as head coach.

With the recent success of this team under Cooper, many FIU fans are wondering why Pete Garcia, executive director of sports and entertainment, will look else where for a head coach at the end of this season.

According to FoxSports.com, likely candidates for the head coaching vacancy range from names like Randy Shannon, the ex-head coach at the University of Miami, to Kentucky Head Coach Mark Stoops, who seems to be on the out in Lexington.

Of course, one name that will surface time and time again is Butch Davis. The ex-Miami and North Carolina head coach, as well as one-time NFL Head Coach in Cleveland, has a well-documented relationship with Pete Garcia who will be at FIU for two more seasons after signing an extension earlier this year.

Butch Davis actually hand selected Garcia to join him when he took the Browns job in Cleveland, before Garcia took the job as athletic director at FIU. Davis has been a part of collegiate athletic scandals at UNC, which still could affect his chance of being considered for the head coaching job.

According to Fox Sports’ Bruce Feldman, “I’d expect Pete Garcia to try and lure Butch Davis to take the #FIUHC job, and Butch will really consider it this time.”

“It would be awesome to see a big name like Butch Davis at FIU,” said Adam Machin, an avid Panther football fan.

Machin, a senior majoring in political science, still thinks it is fair to let Cooper prove himself before writing him off.

“After three straight wins, I hope Cooper gets the respect he deserves going forward as a candidate for Head Coach,” he said.

It will be interesting to see who Garcia decides to consider for the head coaching position after the season, but there is no doubt that if Cooper continues to win this season, he will be one of the names tossed around in the discussion.

 

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