Current SEC head coach shows up on FOX Sports list of candidates for open FIU job

Could Florida International land Kentucky coach Mark Stoops?

That’s a possibility floated by FOX Sports’ Dieter Kurtenbach in a list of nine candidates for FIU’s coaching job. On Sunday, Dan Wolken of USA Today reported that the school had fired Ron Turner after FIU started 0-4. The school later sent out a release that confirmed the news.

Here’s what Kurtenbach said about the Stoops-to-FIU scenario:

If Stoops is out at Kentucky — it’s trending that way now — he could fall down to FIU. His success at Florida State still carries weight in South Florida.

It remains to be seen if Stoops will be available at all. The Wildcats are 2-2 after scratching out a victory over South Carolina on Saturday. It’s easy to see a situation where he’s given one more year to turn things around in Lexington if the Wildcats win at least two more games.

Among the names with SEC ties, Kentucky offensive coordinator Eddie Gran, Florida defensive coordinator Geoff Collins, Mississippi State offensive coordinator Billy Gonzales and former Kentucky coach Joker Phillips are listed as possibilities for FIU by Kurtenbach.