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Pick 6: College football coaches on the rise

By WTOP Staff

RALPH D. RUSSO
AP College Football Writer

Now that Chris Petersen has left Boise State for Washington, college football needs another coach from outside the so-called Big 5 conferences that will have his name come up for almost every big job.

Six coaches whose names are likely to come up often when the jobs start coming open this season.

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Matt Campbell, Toledo.

At 34 years old, Campbell begins his third full season as the Rockets’ coach and is still one of the youngest head coaches in the country. The former quarterback at Division III powerhouse Mount Union is 17-9 with the Rockets, who are expected to contend for a MAC title again. If he’s not coaching in a Big 5 conference before he’s 40, it’ll be surprising.

Doc Holliday, Marshall.

It’s taken a few years for Holliday, a native of Hurricane, West Virginia, to sort things out at Marshall but he’s got it rolling now. The Thundering Herd went 10-4 last season and is primed for another big year in Conference USA. The 57-year-old former Mountaineers player and assistant coach also did a stint at Florida under Urban Meyer. If West Virginia were dive back into the coaching market, Holliday seems like an obvious candidate.

Mark Hudspeth, Louisiana.

Hudspeth has put up three straight 9-4 seasons in Lafayette, Louisiana, and become something of a social media sensation for his impressive work in the weight room — he bench presses about as much as a linebacker. The Ragin’ Cajuns are poised for another big year and with his roots in the south, he seems like a natural to eventually land in the SEC.

Pete Lembo, Ball State.

Wake Forest and Connecticut both gave Lembo a look after last season. It was a long look from Wake Forest. The 44-year-old Lembo has won everywhere he has been, including 25-13 in three years at Ball State, a program that had cratered before he took over. Lembo signed a new contract this offseason that makes him the highest-paid coach in the MAC. An even bigger payday might not be far away.

Tim DeRuyter, Fresno State.

The Bulldogs had lost their way. In two years, DeRuyter (20-6) has helped them find it again. Things get tougher this season with quarterback Derek Carr gone and one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the country. If DeRuyter can navigate through those two obstacles and lead Fresno State on another Mountain West title run, interest will be high for the 51-year-old former defensive coordinator.

Willie Taggart, South Florida.

Taggart’s first season with the Bulls started so poorly, he never could dig out. Coming off 2-10 season, some of the shine is off the former Stanford assistant under Jim Harbaugh. Still, the 37-year-old appears to have a bright future and a quick turnaround could put him back on the fast track to bigger things.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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