Here is a look at his background as a head football coach at the FBS level and reasons why UCLA may want to inquire about him becoming their next head football coach.
He had demonstrated the ability to take a team to the college football playoff championship game. Sonny Dykes has a track record of reviving FBS football programs and producing surprising outcomes. In his first season at TCU, he won 13 games and guided the Horned Frogs to a College Football Playoff appearance before losing to Georgia in the national championship game.
Before becoming the head coach at TCU, he achieved comparable success at Louisiana Tech, where he won a conference title in 2011 and led the team to nine wins, including road victories over Illinois and Virginia, in his last season there. Although he had a less successful tenure at Cal, he was able to lead the Golden Bears to a bowl game win in his third season, winning eight games there following a five-win campaign in his second season as head coach. At SMU and after his first season there as the head coach of the Mustangs, he led SMU to three straight seasons of seven or more wins, including in 2019, and guided SMU to a 10-win season.
Last season as the coach at TCU, he led the Horned Frogs to a nine-win season that included a bowl victory, and this season, TCU is 2-0 with an impressive road win at North Carolina. He has the football program heading in the right direction, and he has been able to navigate the changes in the college football landscape.
Dykes is renowned for his creative and effective offensive plans, which Bruins' fans would welcome. Fans of UCLA, who have frequently called for a more thrilling and dynamic offense following some underwhelming offensive performances against Utah and New Mexico this season, could find the possibility of hiring him as a good candidate to be UCLA's next head coach a good idea.
Texas, a major college football recruiting hot spot, is a state that Dykes knows well. In addition, he has recruiting connections in the state of California from his team, being the head coach of the Cal Bears, where he was a coach before moving to Texas. By doing this, UCLA may be able to draw in elite high school players, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, rather than depending solely on transfer portal players like was primarily the case under Chip Kelly.
Here once again is the criteria breakdown of the ten things that potential UCLA head coaching candidates are being evaluated on.
Criteria No. 1: Yes
TCU has not had NCAA infractions and cleverly had a good game plan against a team in the college football playoffs who were involved in an advanced scouting NCAA investigation.
Criteria No. 2: Yes
He is not known as an elite college football recruiter, but is usually ranked in the top 4 within the Big 12 conference recruiting rankings during his tenure at TCU.
Criteria No. 3: Yes
He has gradually proven that he has had good head coaching success, especially with his accomplishments during the 2022 season.
Criteria No. 4: No
He has not been a Big Ten head or assistant coach during his coaching career up to this point.
Criteria No. 5: Yes
His teams throughout the years have not had difficulties putting up points through the years on offense.
Criteria No. 6: Yes
He may not get a ton of five-star or even four-star recruits year in and year out, but he has developed players from when they are true freshmen to productive players as upperclassmen.
Criteria No. 7: Yes
His record pay, which was further raised following the team's 2022 College Football Playoff berth, is evidence of TCU's major donors supporting him and shows the magnitude of the university's and its fans' backing him as their head coach of their football program.
Criteria No. 8: No
He played baseball at Texas Tech and was never a coach at UCLA.
Criteria No. 9: Yes
This one is somewhat of a close call, but Fort Worth, where TCU is located, ranks as the 12th largest city in the United States by population and is the fourth largest populous city in Texas. This qualifies him coaching in a major market.
Criteria No. 10: Yes
There were no known conflicts with Dykes and UCLA while he was a coach at Cal, so technically, he gets this point for this criteria because he doesn't have a bad relationship with UCLA.