Probably not. Okay, there might be one. To be honest, the answer should be an emphatic NO but in this day and age, nothing is ever certain … especially when it comes to head coaching jobs in college football. Major universities around the country don't wait long before they bring out the hatchet. With that said, let's take a quick look at the Mountain West Conference coaches - many of them new - and consider what position they're in for 2012 and beyond. Listed alphabetically.
Chris Ault: Nevada Wolf Pack - The Hall of Fame coach is beloved in Reno and it would take an act of God to get him out. As long as the team has a winning record, the school is fine with the 65 year old who's in his 28th year.
Troy Calhoun: Air Force Academy Falcons - He's done about as well as anyone can do at a military academy. In his sixth season, the 45 year old isn't going anywhere unless he wants to.
Norm Chow: Hawaii Warriors - In his first season as a head coach anywhere, the native islander has come home. The 66 year old will be given at least a couple years before he'll have to start putting Hawaii in bowls on a regular basis.
Dave Christensen: Wyoming Cowboys - The 51 year old is in his fourth season at the helm in Laramie. He's done an admirable job at a place where it isn't easy to recruit. Christensen has taken Wyoming to two bowls in three years and has solid job security unless or until he wants to leave.
Bob Davie: New Mexico Lobos - The former television analyst and Notre Dame head coach seems to have taken on a real challenge as a first year coach in Albuquerque. The 57 year old takes over a team whose record over the last three seasons is 3-33. He'll have at least a couple years to right this sunken ship before any pressure starts to rise.
Tim DeRuyter: Fresno State Bulldogs - Another first year coach, the 49 year old takes over a program that is used to winning. He'll have probably the shortest leash of the new head coaches in the Mountain West. If Fresno State isn't winning by the end of next year, DeRuyter will be gone.
Bobby Hauck: UNLV Rebels - This is his third season in 'Sin City' and the 48 year old may be on the hot seat this season. Certainly UNLV is no powerhouse when it comes to football and the Rebels haven't seen success since the days of Randall Cunningham in the '80s. Hauck will have to show improvement this season or he may be gone.
Rocky Long: San Diego State Aztecs - The longtime veteran coach is in his second season at the helm after being the San Diego State defensive coordinator for three years. The 62 year old has done commendable work with an Aztec program that isn't known for many winning records. Long should be there as long as Long wants … unless the move to the Big East along with Boise State becomes a noose around his collar.
Jim McElwain: Colorado State Rams - Yet another new coach, the 50 year old should have a few years to rebuild Colorado State into a winning club. He takes over a Ram team that has three straight 3-9 records.
Chris Petersen: Boise State Broncos - Heading into his seventh season as head coach, he is arguably the most successful head coach in college football these last half dozen seasons. The 47 year old has shunned other more lucrative head coaching offers and looks to be at Boise State for however long he wants the job.
You say the wrong thing once, a player or players get caught doing something they shouldn't or perhaps an unexplainable bad year occurs; these can change a college's mind and the head coach can be given his walking papers. The only coach with any chance of being fired this year is Bobby Hauck. If he can keep away from the double digit lost column this year, he should be okay and the future does look a bit brighter in Las Vegas.
Sources - Mountain West Conference
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Mountain West Conference Favorite Boise State Broncos - Fan's 2012 Review
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Through thick and thin, Daryle has been a huge fan of college football as well as Hawaii, visiting there as a second home for over 40 years. Go 'Bows!
