The Post-Gazette’s Paul Zeise has released his list of some tentative names to keep an eye on for potential candidates to replace the recently departed Todd Graham. Many names are familiar ones, but there are a few others.

The list of coaches that Pitt has apparently contacted includes Ohio State interim head coach Luke Fickell, Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads, Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops, Northern Illinois coach Dave Doeren, Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst, and former Illinois head coach Ron Zook.

Zeise also mentions several others as possibilities – guys we’ve all heard before and either have ties to Pitt or the area, including Teryl Austin, Tom Bradley, Greg Gattuso, Frank Cignetti, and Sal Sunseri.

A few of these names intrigue me, but some aren’t all that enticing, in my opinion. Paul Rhoads, for example, did a fine job while he was Pitt’s defensive coordinator, but his track record at Iowa State has been extremely unflattering in the past three years since he’s been the head coach.

For more on Pitt’s coach search and Todd Graham’s departure, check out SB Nation Pitt blog Cardiac Hill.