Whenever there's a coaching change in the Mid-American Conference, it's a good bet Big Ten assistants will be in the mix.
Michigan State aides Don Treadwell, Mark Staten and Pat Narduzzi gained consideration for the Miami (Ohio) opening last year, and Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell was mentioned when the top job at Bowling Green became available.
There's another opening in the MAC, this time at Akron, and Big Ten assistants once again could be candidates.
The Sporting News mentioned Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst and Fickell as possible contenders for the Akron job.
Chryst was a leading candidate to succeed Joe Tiller at Purdue, and he might want to aim a little higher than Akron. Fickell will certainly be a head coach some day, and served as Akron's defensive line coach from 2000-01, but he also could hold out for a more coveted job.
Ohio State wide receivers coach Darrell Hazell, who took a more active role in the team's play calling this season, also should gain some interest for vacancies.