Tier List: Ranking Texas A&M Football Head Coaching Candidates

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A tier hires for Texas A&M Football

I think hires of the two names in this tier would be perceived very differently nationally, but I’d have about the same level of excitement for either. Maybe that makes me crazy! But it’s true!

Feb 1, 2023; Ohio State football coach Ryan Day talks with the media during an off-season news conference. He and other Ohio State football coaches addressed the media in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch /

Ryan Day: Now, before you freak out, let me say this: there are reasons to be wary here. Getting Day out of Columbus would be a huge coup, but not one without risks. Day inherited one of the top programs in the entire nation by both team talent and on-field results when he succeeded Urban Meyer at Ohio State, but he has yet to win a national championship. He has lost to Michigan two years in a row, and will have to try to reverse that trend up in Ann Arbor. Point being, he may not be able to maximize the talent on the A&M roster if he hasn’t been able to do so with the Ohio State roster.

That said, though, that’s a slight worry when compared to the upsides here. Day is a very bright offensive mind, has a lot of experience running a huge program, and is a great recruiter. I think he could build a great staff and get the Aggies rolling sooner rather than later.

Kansas State’s head coach Chris Klieman walks along the sidelines before the game against Texas Tech, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, at Jones AT&T Stadium. /

Chris Klieman: Yes, I’m putting these two on the same level. Why? There are certainly question marks here. He’s not exactly put together an amazing record as head coach of the Wildcats. He’s had a lot of success as an HC, but most of that came at lower levels. He’s been solid in Manhattan, but has he been great? Why put him in the A Tier?

Well, Klieman is the top coach in the entire nation, for my money, at doing more with less. I like his style and his brand of football, and I think Aggie fans would as well. I think he could recruit well off of his success and A&M’s natural advantages. I’d be really thrilled if Klieman were to be named the guy.