There are a million things to think about when selecting a new head football coach. Salary, morals, previous record — all these things put together are things to consider in making the best choice and ensuring the right person leads the program.

Another aspect that must be considered is the talent on the current roster.

Transfers are almost unavoidable. It’s a fact of college football that players come to play for the coaching staff. When that changes, players can change their minds.

No matter what coach comes in after this season, one of their top priorities needs to be to keep redshirt freshman quarterback Kawaun Jakes under center.

The offense’s progress is undeniable with Jakes running the system. In the seven games since Jakes took over for injured redshirt senior quarterback Brandon Smith, the Topper offense has averaged 371.8 yards and 25 points per game. In the three previous games? 218 yards and nine points.

Jakes has taken the bumps and bruises that come with a season like this, and he’s produced better than any of the three quarterbacks that have come before him in the past three seasons. His 509 rushing yards rank second on the team with a team-high-tying five touchdowns.

Though the future is uncertain, Jakes knows how to win over the new coach, whoever it turns out to be.

“I’m just coming back and trying to compete,” Jakes said. “I don’t know what’s ahead for the future, but I’m just going to come back and try to compete.”

There will be bigger, more pressing on-the-field issues for the new coach — like actually getting the defense to stop someone — but keeping a gem of a player like Jakes should be considered.

That he has a grasp on what it means to run an offense as a first-year starter speaks volumes about Jakes’ football I.Q.

This season, Jakes has run all types of offenses that seemingly vary from one play to the next. The read option, the four-wide spread and under-center plays have all been a part of Western’s failing repertoire of offensive sets.

Jakes said he wants to stay as a quarterback. He’s not willing to convert to wide receiver the way redshirt freshman Marcus Vasquez did.

And he shouldn’t. Jakes’ talent is far too vast. He’s a four-year starter if he wants to be. He should treat his game as such.

“It would be a disappointment,” Jakes said. “But if there’s a dude that beats me out, I’d just have to take that. Just take it.”

Don’t worry, Kawaun. You shouldn’t have to worry about anybody taking your spot. Any coach would salivate over a young talent that has already made his offense light-years better in less than a season, despite everything crumbling around him.

There will be challenges, and things will have to improve around Jakes for this to work. The offensive line must improve its protection. Jakes has to start making better reads when he drops back and know when to step up in the pocket or tuck it and run — he has seven interceptions against only eight touchdown passes this season.

But those struggles come with any young quarterback. It’s a natural process.

So a note to the next coach: Develop Kawaun Jakes. He might be the key to making the Toppers relevant by that 2012 mark Athletics Director Wood Selig has set.