Conference Realignment and Coaching News

--The WAC announced it will add UT-San Antonio, Texas State, and the University of Denver as new members in all sports for the 2012 season. The University of Denver does not have a football team.

--Hawaii is close to signing off on joining the Mountain West Conference as a football-only member. All other sports would move to the Big West. With the Western Athletic Conference being depleted of its best teams (Boise State, Fresno State, Nevada) over the next two seasons, Hawaii would have little competition if it remained in the WAC. Travel expenses for Mountain West teams to and from Honolulu may be the issue holding up the move. Hawaii is currently the senior member of the Western Athletic Conference, having joined in 1979.

--Kent State head coach Doug Martin is resigning after the Golden Flashes’ final game on Friday. Doug Martin is 28-53 after seven seasons as head coach. The Golden Flashes did not go to a bowl game during his tenure and never finished better than second in the MAC East (2006).

--Mike Haywood may be the coach of the year, turning around the Miami (Ohio) program. Last season the RedHawks were 1-7 in MAC play. This season the RedHawks are 7-1 in MAC games. Last season the program was 1-11, while this year it finished 8-4. Miami (Ohio) will represent the MAC East in the conference championship game if Kent State upsets Ohio on Friday.

--Minnesota is looking at San Diego State’s Brady Hoke, Air Force’s Troy Calhoun, Temple’s Al Golden, and Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen to possibly be the next head coach in Minneapolis. I’d like to think Dan Mullen would be comfortable staying in the SEC, but all three other candidates would likely upgrade to the Big Ten if given the opportunity.