Big Twelve Football Coaches On The "Hot Seat" In 2014

The wold of college football has always been brutal on coaches. The University of Texas is the latest example of how the, "what have you done for me lately?" mentality can cause a fanbase and regents to turn on a successful coaching staff.

Going into the 2014 season there are three conference coaches that must perform, and perform well, to call off the hounds and save their jobs. Here's a look at the guys who could be in their final season on the sidelines with their respective schools.

Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia: In 2011 the Mountaineers crushed Clemson, 70-33, in the Orange Bowl. The next year they lost, 38-14, to Syracuse in the Pinstripe bowl and in 2013 they saw their win total drop to just four (two of them were William & Mary and Georgia State). You could make a legitimate argument that West Virginia is sliding in the wrong direction under the one time Oklahoma State offensive coordinator. Holgorsen is 21-17 through his first three seasons at the helm but is only 6-12 in conference play since joining the Big XII.

Reason To Be Optimistic - Holgorsen has a senior quarterback in Clint Trickett and is an offensive mastermind.

Reason To Be Pessimistic - West Virginia returns seven starters on a defense that allowed opponents an average of 4.7 yards per carry in conference play.

Paul Rhoads, Iowa State: I've long been a fan of Rhoads because he gets a lot out of his players and I believe that he's a fantastic coach. However, in five seasons in Ames he's collected a 27-36 record and is 1-2 in bowl games. The Cyclones haven't won a bowl game since beating Minnesota, 14-13, in the `09 Insight Bowl and a three-win season in 2013 put fans on edge.

Reason To Be Optimistic - Rhoads has 10 guys returning with starting experience and Mark Mangino as a new offensive coordinator.

Reason To Be Pessimistic - A guy who prides himself on defense, Rhoads has to rebuild a Cyclones defense that gave up an average of 40 points per game in conference play last season.

Charlie Weis, Kansas: With just four wins in two seasons you have to say that, up to this point, the Charlie Weis experiment at Kansas has been an epic failure. Weis is just 1-17 in Big XII Conference play (West Virginia suddenly blushes) and is 0-8 against Top 25 opponents. He's also winless on the road at Kansas.

Reason To Be Optimistic - The Jayhawks return 17 starters from last year's squad that tripled the win total from the season before.

Reason To Be Pessimistic - The Jayhawks will play five of their final eight games on the road against WVU, Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma, and Kansas State.