By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports activities
Can you’re feeling it?
That’s the new seat beginning to burn.
Coaches as of late are paid exorbitant sums of cash with basically assured contracts. No person ever will get fired for trigger and the buyouts are outrageous.
So, earlier than you go feeling unhealthy for anybody on this record, keep in mind that they receives a commission life-changing cash to win video games.
And after they don’t win sufficient video games, they receives a commission egregious quantities to not coach. Should be a pleasant gig, huh?
Listed below are the Coaches within the West on the Scorching Seat heading into the 2025 season.
1. Brent Brennan
Arizona’s Brent Brennan has one shot to avoid wasting his job in Tucson.
Hiring Dino Babers because the offensive coordinator final yr was one of many worst teaching choices within the historical past of Arizona soccer. Credit score Brennan, although, for rapidly transferring on from Babers and overhauling the offensive system heading into this season.
It higher work, or Brennan can be out of a job.
2. Lincoln Riley
USC is trending within the flawed course. The Trojans are 15-11 during the last two seasons after ending final yr 7-6. That’s not the usual in L.A.
Lincoln Riley’s groups have constantly carried out worse every season. His first yr, they gained 11 video games. In his second yr, they gained eight. And final yr, simply seven.
It’s unlikely that Riley will survive one other sub-par season. USC will come up with the money for the buyout.
3. Justin Wilcox
Every yr, Justin Wilcox does simply sufficient to avoid wasting his job. It’s a endless cycle with Cal soccer.
If the athletic division wasn’t broke, they in all probability would have already fired him. Nonetheless, Wilcox has tailored to the brand new period higher than most.
He has constantly introduced in expertise via the portal and has the Bears in an affordable place. Dropping the whole working again room and Fernando Mendoza to the portal was a nasty look, although.
4. Timmy Chang
At a sure level, the Hawaii athletic division should decide.
Timmy Chang enters his fourth yr and not using a profitable season and an general document of 13-25. The Warriors have been near bowl eligibility, nevertheless, with back-to-back five-win seasons.
If UH ends the yr with one other shedding season, Chang could be on the lookout for a brand new job.
5. Jay Sawvel
In Jay Sawvel’s first yr as a coach, Wyoming went 3-9. It was probably the most losses the Cowboys had in a single season since 2015.
Wyoming is simply too good of a program to have lowered expectations. That many losses isn’t acceptable and Sawvel wants to show it round rapidly.
This yr is important to get this system again on observe.
6. Sean Lewis
San Diego State gained simply three video games in Sean Lewis’s first yr.
The 9 losses had been probably the most the Aztecs had in a single season since 2008. That’s a troublesome tablet to swallow for a program that’s used to profitable.
And with the transition to the Pac-12 coming in 2026, this upcoming season is important to set the muse. It’s now or by no means.
7. Trent Bray
Oregon State can’t have one other collapse. The Beavers misplaced six of their remaining seven video games final yr, together with an unsightly blowout to California and an embarrassing loss to Nevada.
Now with Maalik Murphy below middle, there are not any excuses for an additional sub-.500 season.
On the very least, OSU ought to get to a bowl sport. If the Beavs fall quick, it’s truthful to begin the drum beat for change.
Miller covers School Basketball and School Soccer in addition to Method 1 racing as a Senior Author and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports activities.
