Photos: Pac-12 coaches breakdown
Three head coaches are in their first Pac-12 conference seasons, and four more are at the helm for just their second seasons. As we approach the bulk of the Pac-12 conference schedule, refresh your memory on the men in charge at each school.
SOUTH • Rich Rodriguez, Arizona
Record: 128-89-2 in 19 years, 8-5 at the UA
Takeaway: Rodriguez used a favorable schedule and his high-tempo offense to guide the Wildcats to a bowl win in Year 1. With a new unproven quarterback and more road games, Year 2 could be different.
SOUTH • Todd Graham, Arizona State
Record: 57-34 in six years, 8-5 at ASU
Takeaway: Like Rodriguez, Graham over-performed in Year 1 after his controversial hire after only one year at Pitt. His defense could be among the best in the West, and his offense, like Rodriguez's focuses on speedy tempo.
SOUTH • Mike MacIntyre, Colorado
Record: 16-21 in three years, first year at CU
Takeaway: After firing Jon Embree following just two seasons - a highly unusual move - the Buffaloes turn to the former San Jose State coach, who figures to use the Pistol offense to try to improve an offense was No. 117 in scoring last year. He has a tall task in fixing the nation's worst defense, too.
SOUTH • Jim Mora, UCLA
Record: 9-5 in 1 year at UCLA
Takeaway: The former NFL boss' first year at UCLA couldn't have gone better. The Bruins were exciting and finally featured a star quarterback. Then the Bruins lost by 23 to Baylor in the Holiday Bowl. Mora hopes his UCLA squad was closer to the one that won the Pac-12 North than lost the postseason showcase.
SOUTH • Lane Kiffin, USC
Record: 32-19 in 4 years, 25-13 in 2 years at USC
Takeaway: Last season was nothing short of a disaster for Kiffin, who voted his team No. 1 in the country and then watched it lose five of its last six games to finish 7-6. Making matters worse, the Trojans disrespected bowl officials in the Sun Bowl, leading some to call for Kiffin's job.
SOUTH • Kyle Whittingham, Utah
Record: 42-24 in 8 years at Utah
Takeway: The Pac-12 South's most tenured coach – heck, the only one to be in the league for more than two years - revamped his coaching staff during the offseason, adding former Arizona State boss Dennis Erickson as a quarterbacks guru.
NORTH • Sonny Dykes, California
Record: 22-15 in three years, first year at Cal
Takeaway: When Jeff Tedford's Cal career came to an end, the Golden Bears looked south, to Louisiana Tech's Dykes. The former Arizona Wildcats offense coordinator brings with him a fast-paced offense that led the nation with 577.9 yards last year.
NORTH • Mark Helfrich, Oregon
Record: First year at UO
Takeaway: Chip Kelly's jump to the NFL after four unbelievable seasons - Oregon went 46-7 in his tenure - created an opening for Helfrich, the team's offensive coordinator. How the nationÕs most exciting offense will change, if at all, is yet to be seen. But with 16 starters back from a team that went 12-1 last year, the bar is set high.
NORTH • Mike Riley, Oregon State
Record: 81-67 in 12 years at OSU
Takeaway: The Pac-12's longest-tenured coach posted a one of his most impressive seasons ever last year, going 9-4 6-3 despite being picked by conference media to finish dead last - behind Washington State! - in the Pac-12 North. With nonconference games against Eastern Washington, Hawaii and San Diego State, Riley could reach nine wins again this year.
NORTH • David Shaw, Stanford
Record: 23-4 in 2 years at Stanford
Takeaway: Few in modern league history, save Chip Kelly, can make the kind of claims Shaw can after two years. He's lost only four games, reached two BCS bowls and, last year, defeated Kelly's Oregon to keep the Ducks from the national title game.
NORTH • Steve Sarkisian, Washington
Record: 26-25 in 4 years at UW
Takeaway: With a remodeled Husky Stadium and a senior quarterback, it might be put-up-or-shut-up time for Sarkisian, whose Huskies ended the regular season by giving up rival Washington State's only conference win of the season.
NORTH • Mike Leach, Washington State
Record: 87-52 in 11 years, 3-9 in 1 year at WSU
Takeaway: The quirky, offensive-minded Leach is in a full rebuild on the Palouse. He'll get back to respectability a lot faster if junior Connor Halliday can cement himself as a steady force at quarterback - and if his rushing game improves on its No. 120 national finish last year.
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