Vanderbilt fired Derek Mason today after nearly seven seasons as head coach of the Commodores. The Vandy job is an interesting case study because with SEC TV deals and a $6.9 billion endowment, they can pay a lot of money. However, it's a profoundly difficult place to be competitive. Here is a list of possible candidates (note: OutKick founder Clay Travis, a Nashville resident and Vanderbilt Law grad, helped with these suggestions):

Jamey Chadwell - The Coastal Carolina head coach will be a sexy name for openings at bigger programs. A program you've never thought of as a football power is 9-0 and in the top 15 in the AP poll this week. Chadwell played quarterback in college in Tennessee, at East Tennessee State.

Steve Sarkisian - Sarkisian had personal issues at USC that led to his exit as head coach of the Trojans five years ago. However, his time at Alabama working as Nick Saban's offensive coordinator these past two seasons has reinvigorated his candidacy to be a head coach again. His offense, led by Mac Jones this season, is absolutely electric.

Joe Brady - Brady was the architect of the insane LSU offense with Joe Burrow last season, and he's doing a solid job in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers this year. Just 31 years old, he is a wunderkind who is very much in the Sean McVay / Kyle Shanahan mold of someone who can scheme creative ways to move the ball and get points on the board.

Billy Napier - Like Jamey Chadwell, Napier has led a Sun Belt team to surprising success this season -- at 8-1, the Ragin' Cajuns are no. 20 in this week's AP poll. Napier was born in Tennessee and it feels like a matter of when and not if he lands a power five job.

Hugh Freeze - Freeze, like Sarkisian, lost a high profile job due to personal issues when he exited Ole Miss in 2016. How long you think people deserve to be out of work or out of the limelight over scandals is a matter of opinion, but it's undeniable that you get greater latitude for comebacks in this line of work when you win football games. Freeze has Liberty at 9-1 and no. 25 in the AP poll in his second season there.

Jeff Monken - Monken is in his seventh season as coach of Army. It's always a little weird to think about poaching someone from one of the military universities. However, Monken will have options if he wants them. Just look at Army's record in the years before and after he got there:

Ricky Rahne

12 Candidates for Vanderbilt Football Head Coach