Sources Address ESPN Report Linking Ray Lewis to FAU Football Head Coach Role

FAU football has had one of its worst seasons in a very long time. It was only five years ago when Ole Miss Head Coach Lane Kiffin was leading the Eagles to a bowl game, and the sky seemed to be the limit. Now, they are stuck in a five-game losing streak at 2-8, and they fired Head Coach Tom Herman on Monday during his second season. Not to mention the $4 million buyout with Herman that must be executed.

A 6-16 record over two seasons simply won’t cut it in today’s college football landscape. The most interesting development this morning came from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who reported that two-time Super Bowl champion Ray Lewis has emerged as a candidate for the head coaching position. A model similar to Deion Sanders at Colorado was mentioned.

However, CBS reported that John Talty shut down the rumors, stating there has not been any communication between Lewis’s camp and the university. Additionally, it wouldn’t be the same model, as Deion had experience at the high school and college levels before landing in Boulder.

That said, crazier things have happened, and having a face like Ray Lewis coaching just outside the city of Miami is intriguing. Lewis would be able to recruit and gain the trust of parents and former players who loved watching him play. It would make for a compelling recruitment pitch, but there is a level of execution required to succeed. FAU likely lacks confidence in Lewis’s ability to deliver without any prior coaching experience.

Ole Miss offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. is reportedly a leading candidate for the job. At 31 years old, Weis has a thorough knowledge of the game and is the son of a coaching legend. We will continue to monitor the vacancy as the season concludes next month. An announcement may not be made until January.