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Michigan State football: 4 riskiest head coaching candidates

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 16, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Brian Hartline monitors warm-ups prior to the NCAA football game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Ohio Stadium.
Sep 16, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Brian Hartline monitors warm-ups prior to the NCAA football game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Ohio Stadium. /
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BOULDER, CO – SEPTEMBER 30: Offensive coordinator Sean Lewis claps after an offensive touchdown in the fourth quarter against the USC Trojans at Folsom Field on September 30, 2023 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
BOULDER, CO – SEPTEMBER 30: Offensive coordinator Sean Lewis claps after an offensive touchdown in the fourth quarter against the USC Trojans at Folsom Field on September 30, 2023 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

The second offensive coordinator to make this list, Sean Lewis would probably be the riskiest hire of all because he hasn’t been mentored at an elite program in his career. He was, however, a head coach before, taking over at Kent State in 2018 and going 24-31 in five years before leaving for Colorado’s offensive coordinator position.

Yes, Lewis seemingly took a demotion in order to reinvigorate his career. Either that or he didn’t think he’d be able to get much more out of Kent State.

Either way, he’s now coaching a high-powered offensive attack in Boulder and it would be tough not to see success with the talent that Deion Sanders has brought to that offense. He has Shedeur Sanders at quarterback, Travis Hunter at receiver, and a number of other talented receivers, tight ends, and running backs to work with.

How has that touted offense fared so far this season?

  • Yards per game: 415.8 (41st nationally)
  • Points per game: 33.0 (22rd)
  • Rushing yards per game: 78.7 (122nd)
  • Passing yards per game: 337.2 (8th)
  • Yards per play: 5.2 (82nd)

Not great numbers outside of the points per game and passing yards, but you have to at least admire the turnaround that he’s engineered. All numbers are way up from last year.

But is this enough to give him the reins to another program — a major Power Five program?

Next. 6 head coaching hires that'd make the fanbase revolt. dark

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