2015 Pac-12 coaches hot seat rankings: MacIntyre & Dykes closest to the heat

With the season a couple of weeks over and the dust settled on the coaching carousel, I thought it would be the perfect time to take stock on the temperature of the seats of Pac-12 coaches starting from hottest to coldest.

Hottest

1. Mike MacIntyre Colorado

It is unfortunate that MacIntyre is heading towards a hot seat since he truly has improved Colorado in the two years that he has been there, but he simply has not won enough games, especially within the Pac-12. He needs to get a couple wins in-conference and challenge for bowl eligibility in 2015 or he could be headed towards major scrutiny.

2. Sonny Dykes Cal

Dykes did major work in getting himself some leverage by rebounding from an utterly disastrous 2013 campaign with a five-win campaign in 2014. He is far from out of the woods yet, but the Bears have a lot of talent returning in 2015 and he can put himself in a very comfortable spot if he can get the Bears to a bowl in 2015.

3. Mike Leach Washington State

Leach's team took a bit of a step back after making a bowl game in 2013, but the fact that he is the only Cougar coach to take the program to a bowl the past 10 years should buy him some leverage. However, a second-straight season without a bowl in 2015 could put him fully on the hot seat.

*I would like to note that at this point, none of these coaches are close to the hot seat.

4. Steve Sarkisian USC

Sarkisian is the rare kind of coach who I felt kind of came in a tiny bit on the burner since he was not the big splash that I think many Trojan fans expected to replace Lane Kiffin. He is in more than fine standing at the moment with the excuse of sanctions still in his pocket and with another fantastic recruiting class about to sign on, but he needs to start getting the Trojans closer to winning the conference in a hurry and beating UCLA or he could quickly find himself in hot water.

5. Chris Petersen Washington

Petersen's first year at Washington was a confusing one. The Huskies were loaded on defense with talent, but atrocious on offense and had a season that was very similar to what they would usually have under Sarkisian. The average inaugural campaign can easily be chalked up to growing pains and transition, but Washington fans have sky high expectations and Petersen is going to have to start showing that he can get the Huskies back towards the top of the conference or it will not be a fun tenure in Seattle.

I would like to point out at this point, that all of these coaches are in fine standing.

6. Kyle Whittingham Utah

Whittingham just led the Utes back to a Top 25 finish a bowl win and got a nice extension, so he isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

7. Jim Mora UCLA

Mora seems to get a lot of scrutiny for a guy who wins as much as he does, but he has led UCLA to the highest level and most consistent success that the program has had in decades and has dominated hated USC so I think he is just fine. The only reason I really think that he might have a questionable standing at UCLA is that his name seems to come up for just about every marquee job.

8. Rich Rodriguez Arizona

Rodriguez was sky high in November, but an embarrassment in the Pac-12 Championship Game and a bad start in the Fiesta Bowl that led to a lost hurt his stock a tiny bit. I would not put too much thought into that though as Rodriguez has the Wildcats humming with a consistency the program hasn't seen in more than 10 years and winning the South was a major statement for Rodriguez.

9. Todd Graham Arizona State

Graham has a good thing going in Tempe, getting the Sun Devils right to the top of the South every year since he arrived so he isn't going anywhere anytime soon unless his name comes up for more prominent jobs.

10. David Shaw Stanford

Some might think that Shaw lost stock at Stanford with the Cardinal having a disappointing year in 2014, but I don't see it. He is perfect for Stanford, can recruit well and I think Stanford puts far less scrutiny on their football program than any other in the conference, especially considering how healthy it has been under Shaw.

11. Mark Helfrich Oregon

Helfrich's second season cemented him for the time being as the master of the helm in Eugene.

12. Gary Andersen Oregon State

New coach. Fresh slate.