4 candidates Baylor should identify to find its next head coach

The Art Briles era is over at Baylor, but the Bears' era of success may have some staying power.

With three consecutive seasons of double-digit wins in the books and a roster still stocked with talent, Baylor seems primed to remain a Big 12 contender for the foreseeable future, especially if the program picks the right replacement for Briles. Here are four names the Bears should consider as they look to find a new leader for their embattled program:

1. Steve Spurrier

The old ball coach never said he was retiring. Instead, Steve Spurrier insisted when he departed from South Carolina in October that he was resigning because he was no longer the best person for the job. If what Baylor seeks in a new head coach is someone who can rekindle the enthusiasm surrounding the program that Art Briles was able to inspire, nobody would bring more buzz to Waco than the energetic Spurrier.

His track record speaks for itself, and re-entering the college football scene in a more winnable conference than the SEC could be enough to spark the itch necessary for the 71-year-old Spurrier to pick up the headset once more.

2. Lincoln Riley

Oklahoma's offensive coordinator is on track to become one of the hottest coordinators in the country next year, so Baylor might be wise to get ahead of the curve and go hard after Lincoln Riley immediately.

Assembling a staff in May or June could be tough for what would be a first-time head coach, but Riley at least knows the conference well, and would implement a spread offense similar to the one in which Baylor is already immersed. Riley might be the most logical choice on this list, but then, the 32-year-old may prefer to wait until after next season to see what other coaching options present.

3. Mack Brown

Baylor and Mack Brown have one thing in common: Texas. Baylor plays in Texas, while Brown spent 16 years recruiting in the state as the head coach of Texas. Brown has been out of the game since the end of the 2013 season, and while he hasn't seemed particularly interested in other vacancies around the country, the former national champion coach hasn't ruled out a return to the film room at some point. Waco is just a 90-minute drive from his old stomping grounds in Austin, and Brown would even get to coach against the school that parted ways with him, making this job more likely to intrigue Brown.

Poor decisions at quarterback near the end of his Texas tenure led to Brown's eventual downfall with the Longhorns, but the man made the program a powerhouse and he didn't go from brilliant to stupid overnight. Furthermore, Baylor seems set at QB for the next few years with Seth Russell and Jarrett Stidham, which should give Brown time to recruit and develop at the position.

4. Mike Singletary

It might look like an odd fit at first glance, but Mike Singletary's obvious connection to Baylor is that he's one of the greatest players to ever come out of the program.

With Baylor sure to put character at the emphasis of its coaching search, few potential candidates will have a more character-based background than Singletary. The Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker is also likely to be more eager to jump back into coaching than the likes of Spurrier or Brown, and may be easier to attract than someone like Riley. The former San Francisco 49ers head coach was once a candidate to fill Baylor's vacancy in 2002, but the school elected for a more experienced coach and settled on Guy Morriss, which did not end well.