On Sunday, one day after falling to Eastern Michigan at home 30-21, Arizona State parted ways with embattled head coach Herm Edwards.

After four-plus years with the former NFL coach and ESPN analyst on the sidelines in Tempe, the Sun Devils said a loss to the MAC school from the Midwest was the breaking point. Arizona State is currently being investigated by the NCAA for recruiting violations that allegedly occurred under Edwards’ watch, and recruiting has suffered as a result. But athletic director Ray Anderson said at a press conference Sunday they are optimistic about the quality of coach they can attract to Arizona State.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel offered a collection of names Sunday evening, which might perhaps be a starting point.

Harsin is currently the head coach at Auburn, though he might not be much longer. Those around the program very publicly tried to oust him this offseason, and might do so again soon after a 41-12 loss to Penn State over the weekend. Harsin went 6-7 last season, his first with the Tigers. He had a 69-19 record in seven years at Boise State before heading to the SEC.

Kalani Sitake is in his seventh season as the BYU head coach. He has a career 50-30 record as the program’s coach with a 3-2 record in bowl games and two AP Top 25 finishes. He has Pac-12 experience as an assistant.

Jonathan Smith is currently the head coach at Oregon State, and has the Beavers off to an impressive 3-0 start. In his fifth season as the program’s head coach, Smith has taken the Beavers from Pac-12 doormat to respectability.

Tom Herman last coached at Texas, where he won a Sugar Bowl but was driven out after a 7-3 campaign in 2020. He has a 54-22 record as a head coach, with four AP Top 25 finishes in six seasons and a 5-1 record in bowl games.

Troy Calhoun has a 113-76 record in 16 seasons at Air Force. Charles Huff is in his second season coaching Marshall, a team that just pulled off an upset of Notre Dame in Week 2. Matt Entz is the head coach at North Dakota State. Sean Lewis is the Kent State head coach.

Bill O’Brien (Alabama), Todd Monken (Georgia), Derek Mason (Oklahoma State), and Alex Grinch (USC) are all coordinators. O’Brien is in his second season as the Tide’s offensive coordinator. Monken is in his third year as the Georgia OC. Mason arrived at Oklahoma State prior to this season to take over as the team’s new defensive coordinator. Grinch is in his first year with the Trojans but his fourth as Lincoln Riley’s defensive coordinator.