A list of 11 possible candidates to replace Chan Gailey as head coach of the Georgia Tech football team.

Terry Bowden, former head coach Auburn: Bowden, 51, has been out of coaching since leaving Auburn midway through the 1998 season. He has made it clear to friends that he is ready to return to coaching. Bowden won 20 straight games to start his career at Auburn and took the Tigers to the 1997 SEC championship game. He was the 1993 national coach of the year.

Gary Crowton, offensive coordinator, LSU: Crowton, 50, was Georgia Tech's offensive coordinator in 1994 after which he became the head coach at Louisiana Tech and BYU. Crowton has also been the offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears.

David Cutcliffe, offensive coordinator, Tennessee: Cutcliffe, 53, is considered to be one of the best quarterbacks coach in college football. He tutored both Peyton and Eli Manning and has turned Erik Ainge into one of the best passers in the SEC. Had five winning seasons in six years at Ole Miss. He wants to be a head coach again.

Randy Edsall, head coach, Connecticut: Edsall, 49, was Georgia Tech's defensive coordinator in 1998 and was named head coach at UConn in 1999. He has guided the Huskies move into Division I-A. This is Connecticut's fourth year in the Big East. The Huskies were 9-3 this season.

Skip Holtz, head coach, East Carolina: Holtz, 44, is in his third season at East Carolina. The Pirates finished 7-5 this season and are headed to their second consecutive bowl. Holtz spent eight seasons working with his father, Lou, at Notre Dame and South Carolina. He was head coach at Connecticut for five seasons (1994-98) where he had a record of 34-23.

Jimbo Fisher, offensive coordinator, Florida State: Fisher, 42, is considered to be one of the best offensive coordinators in college football. He left LSU, where he developed QB Jamarcus Russell into the NFL's No. 1 draft choice, to join Bobby Bowden's staff this season. He has a connection with Georgia Tech AD Dan Radakovich from his days at LSU.

Paul Johnson, head coach, Navy: Johnson, 50, knows the state from his days at Georgia Southern, where he was part of Erk Russell's original staff in 1982. Johnson came back to Georgia Southern and won Division I-AA national championships in 1999 and 2000. He was 62-10 at Georgia Southern. He has had unprecedented success at Navy, where his teams have posted five straight winning records and have gone to five straight bowls.

Glen Mason, former head coach, Minnesota: Mason, 56, took Minnesota to seven bowl games in eight seasons before a conflict with the athletics director led to his dismissal after the 2006 season. He led Kansas to a 10-2 season in 1995. Also in 1995 he took the job at Georgia replacing Ray Goff only to change his mind a week later to remain at Kansas.

Will Muschamp, defensive coordinator, Auburn: He's only 36 years old but has worked under two of the best defensive minds in the business, Nick Saban and Tommy Tuberville. Played a big role in LSU string of No. 1 recruiting classes under Saban. Is expected to get an interview for the job at Ole Miss. Also knows Radakovich from his days at LSU.

Charlie Strong, defensive coordinator, Florida: Strong, 47, has worked for three of the best head coaches in the business: Lou Holtz, Steve Spurrier, and Urban Meyer. One of the top minority head coaching candidates in college football. He should have been a head coach by now. Was interviewed for Vanderbilt job when it hired Bobby Johnson. Excellent recruiter.

Jon Tenuta, defensive coordinator, Georgia Tech: Tenuta is a no-nonsense football coach in the mold of George O'Leary. In his five years at Tech he has kept the Yellow Jackets among the national leaders on defense. The only questions about Tenuta is his ability to handle the political aspects of the job. If Tenuta is not the next head coach, there will a strong move to keep him at Tech.