DeShaun Foster (Las Vegas Raiders RB coach)
Chip Kelly
The timing on Kelly’s choice could not have been worse. Many of the “splash rent” choices had been already off the board and UCLA’s roster is not in a terrific state after years of lackluster recruiting efforts. Enter Foster, a younger however largely unproven coach who hasn’t even held a coordinator place in his eight-year teaching profession. There’s purpose for optimism with Foster, although: he is a program legend, a participant’s coach and an absolute grinder on the recruiting path that ought to enhance expertise acquisition efforts.
Grade: B-
Invoice O’Brien (Ohio State offensive coordinator)
Jeff Hafley
Hafley’s choice to return to the NFL in February left Boston Faculty scrambling for a brand new head coach late within the sport, however the Eagles managed to discover a stable alternative in O’Brien. He brings each NFL and school head teaching expertise after stints with Penn State and the Houston Texans, and he is intimately accustomed to the New England space from his time on the Patriots’ employees.
Grade: B
Sherrone Moore (Michigan offensive coordinator)
Jim Harbaugh
Moore was all the time the favourite the succeed Jim Harbaugh if he left for the NFL, and Michigan wasted little time with the promotion. Moore guided the Wolverines by way of a tough three-game stretch throughout Harbaugh’s second suspension on the finish of the common season and “handed” the check by successful all three — together with the heated rivalry with Ohio State. What the 37-year-old lacks in head teaching expertise, he makes up for with continuity and locker room respect. Now, can he hold it going at one in every of school soccer’s blue bloods?
Grade: B
Ken Niumatalolo (UCLA tight ends coach)
Brent Brennan
Niumatalolo was a star at Navy for the higher a part of his 16-year profession, however issues went south throughout his closing three seasons. He reportedly will not run the pure triple possibility with the Spartans, which is an indication that he has advanced into the brand new period of the game. Nevertheless, we do not know the way efficient he truly will be operating a brand new scheme.
Grade: C+
Pete Lembo (South Carolina particular groups coordinator)
Maurice Linguist
Lembo was a key cog at South Carolina, tutoring a constant particular groups unit that all the time performed sound and ranked close to the highest nationally in most related classes. He additionally has teaching expertise at each the FCS and FBS ranges with stints at Lehigh, Elon and Ball State. Whereas he did lead Ball State to a few nine-win seasons, he did not win a bowl sport or put the Cardinals ready to compete on the convention degree. This looks like a good rent to deliver stability again, however Lembo’s ceiling is perhaps a bit low.
Grade: C+
Main Applewhite (Promoted from offensive coordinator position)
Kane Wommack
Wommack left a terrific basis with the Jaguars, and it is now as much as Applewhite to maintain the momentum moving into the best path. He was 15-11 in two full seasons with the Cougars with a pair of bowl video games. His familiarity with the South Alabama program ought to enable him to maintain it at a comparatively excessive degree.
Grade: B
Brent Brennan (San Jose State)
Jedd Fisch
Brennan was 34-48 in seven seasons as coach of the Spartans, which included a 7-1 document and No. 24 closing rating within the AP Prime 25 through the 2020 season. He has three bowl sport appearances during the last 4 seasons. Whenever you take the COVID-19 season off of his resume, nonetheless, it would not actually soar off the web page. He will have plenty of work to do following Fisch’s success because the Wildcats transfer into the Large 12.
Grade: C+
Jedd Fisch (Arizona)
Kalen DeBoer
Fisch is a stable rent, given the circumstances. He wanted simply three years to construct into Arizona right into a 10-win staff and brings a wealth of collegiate and NFL expertise to the job. Nevertheless, Washington followers ought to mood their expectations because the Huskies transfer to the Large Ten and substitute an enormous quantity of manufacturing. This one could not pay instant dividends.
Grade: B+
Kalen DeBoer (Washington)
Nick Saban (retired)
DeBoer turned loads of heads at Washington and developed a status as a quarterback guru. There shall be a studying curve as he adjusts to the SEC, however DeBoer has been a winner at each cease in his profession, together with three NAIA nationwide titles Souix Falls. He appears to be constructed for the high-pressure state of affairs he’ll inherit in Tuscaloosa.
Grade: A
Mike Elko (Duke)
Jimbo Fisher
Elko is accustomed to this system after spending 4 seasons as Fisher’s defensive coordinator (2018-21). He is conscious of the expectations. His 16-9 document at Duke exhibits that he’s capable of develop gamers who can compete at a excessive degree. Nevertheless, he solely has two years of head teaching expertise and should create top-down unity at a program with plenty of cooks within the kitchen. Mark Stoops would have been a greater possibility, and Elko can be graded increased had the cope with Stoops not imploded. We should wait just a few years to see if this rent works out, however Elko shares comparable teaching traits as Stoops.
Grade: B+
Jonathan Smith (Oregon State)
Mel Tucker (trigger)
Smith is the proper rent for Michigan State. The previous Oregon State quarterback rebuilt the Beavers program right into a constant staff regardless of challenges within the recruiting division. Michigan State is certain to be a developmental program within the new-look Large Ten, and Smith has confirmed that he is the most effective at creating expertise all through his teaching profession.
Grade: A+
Jeff Lebby (Oklahoma offensive coordinator)
Zach Arnett
Lebby has been profitable as an offensive coordinator at Ole Miss, UCF and Oklahoma. Nevertheless, discovering success within the new-look SEC that features Texas and Oklahoma shall be virtually not possible for a first-year coach at a program that’s continuously combating an uphill battle like Mississippi State.
Grade: C
David Braun (Northwestern interim head coach)
Pat Fitzgerald (trigger)
Fitzgerald was dismissed after an investigation revealed a tradition of hazing inside the program. He was 110-101 in 17 seasons main the Wildcats. Braun was tabbed because the staff’s interim coach initially of the season and has surpassed all expectations, guiding the Wildcats to the brink of bowl eligibility. Northwestern rewarded Braun by eradicating the interim tag and making him the full-time head coach. Certain, the Wildcats might have tried for a splashier rent, nevertheless it’s laborious to argue with the job Braun has finished up to now.
Grade: B
Fran Brown (Georgia defensive backs coach)
Dino Babers
It is a huge soar for Brown, going from a place coach to a head coach in a Energy 5 convention. It is going to be a tall order for Brown to succeed early on, particularly within the expanded ACC. Nevertheless, the New Jersey native is at the moment ranked as the highest recruiter within the nation, based on 247Sports, and completed No. 8 final 12 months. He’ll assist the Orange replenish that roster by way of highschool recruiting and the switch portal.
Grade: B-
Trent Bray (Oregon State defensive coordinator)
Jonathan Smith
Bray has taken over for Jonathan Smith after Smith left to take the Michigan State job. That is an attention-grabbing rent as a result of Bray, who was the Nebraska interim coach for one week because it made the transition from Mike Riley to Scott Frost after the 2017 season, has by no means truly coached an FBS sport. There are two methods to have a look at this rent. The continuity he gives after being serving on the Beavers employees since 2018 will assist them make the transition out of the Pac-12. Nevertheless, these are uncharted waters for a program that has no dwelling. There isn’t any option to gauge what the blueprint is for this program, so retaining it in-house might be the best transfer.
Grade: B-
Curt Cignetti (James Madison)
Tom Allen
Cignetti was the speak of the school soccer world through the first two-plus months of the season as he led James Madison into the nationwide dialog with 10 straight wins to open the marketing campaign. He has three double-digit win seasons since taking up this system in 2019, completed within the prime three within the closing FCS rankings from 2019-21 previous to this system transferring as much as FBS. It is going to be powerful for him to rebuild Indiana, however he’s the best man for the job.
Grade: A
Manny Diaz (Penn State defensive coordinator)
Mike Elko
This marks Diaz’s second teaching stint within the ACC, having beforehand posted a 21-15 document at Miami. Diaz definitely is aware of protection and has a confirmed observe document as a recruiter, however he nonetheless has one thing to show as a head coach.
Grade: B-
Sean Lewis (Colorado offensive coordinator)
Brady Hoke (retired)
Lewis was certain to be a sizzling commodity on the Group of 5 degree, and San Diego State struck whereas the iron was sizzling. Lewis’ one-year tenure because the Colorado offensive coordinator failed not attributable to something that he did, however as a result of the Buffaloes merely could not block. He has one division championship in 4 years at Kent State and can give the Aztecs an offensive identification that it lacked final season.
Grade: A-
Willie Fritz (Tulane)
Dana Holgorsen
It is a excellent rent for a program that has huge upside within the Large 12. Fritz turned Georgia Southern round because it transitioned to FBS. Then he reworked the Inexperienced Wave right into a New Yr’s Six bowl contender. Houston wants a coach that may succeed combating a troublesome battle, and Fritz is the most effective within the nation at that.
Grade: A+
Spencer Danielson (Boise State interim head coach/defensive coordinator)
Andy Avalos
Danielson served because the Broncos’ interim head coach over the ultimate three video games. He led them to a 3-0 document and have become the primary interim head coach in FBS historical past to win a convention title after they topped UNLV within the Mountain West Championship Sport. He has served in quite a lot of roles on the Boise State employees since 2017, so he is aware of the expectations inside the fan base and administration. There isn’t a doubt that he earned the possibility to steer this system, and it will be attention-grabbing to see if he can deal with the accountability on a everlasting foundation for a staff that ought to be contending for New Yr’s Six bowl video games yearly.
Grade: B+
Scotty Walden (Austin Peay)
Dana Dimel
Walden is without doubt one of the sizzling up-and-coming names within the teaching business after discovering success at Austin Peay, the place he posted a 26-14 document in 4 seasons. His win complete elevated in every season, culminating with a 9-3 document and FCS playoff berth in 2023. Plus, his four-game stint because the interim coach at Southern Miss in 2020 allowed him to get his toes moist main an FBS program. He’s a local Texan, and the ties to the highschool coaches within the state will go a great distance in the direction of rebuilding the roster with sufficient expertise to contend in Convention USA.
Grade: A-
Bryant Vincent (New Mexico offensive coordinator)
Terry Bowden
Vincent was 7-6 as UAB’s interim coach through the 2022 season following the retirement of Invoice Clark and led the Blazers to win within the Bahamas Bowl. He served because the New Mexico offensive coordinator final season and helped the Lobos common 6.21 yards per play. He has ties to the Southeastern footprint as a highschool and school coach, which can assist him construct the roster in Monroe. He is a very good match, however that is going to be a troublesome rebuild.
Grade: B-
Derek Mason (former Vanderbilt coach)
Rick Stockstill
Mason took one 12 months off of teaching final season after serving because the Oklahoma State defensive coordinator in 2022. He was the top coach at Vanderbilt from 2014-20, so his information of the panorama in central Tennessee shall be important to the rebuilding effort in Murfreesboro. He’s a grasp salesman, is well-versed on constructing defenses and has SEC expertise. He is a prefect match for the Blue Raiders.
Grade: A
Bronco Mendenhall (former BYU and Virginia coach)
Danny Gonzales
What an improve from Gonzales to Mendenhall. The previous BYU and Virginia coach has a 135-81 document as a head coach, has led groups to Prime 25 rankings in both the coaches or the AP ballot six instances and has ties to the “4 Corners” area of the US. He’s identified for his hard-nosed strategy, self-discipline and skill to get probably the most out of his gamers.
Grade: A+
Jay Sawvell (Wyoming defensive coordinator)
Craig Bohl (retired)
It is by no means simple to comply with a legend, however that’s what Sawvell goes to be tasked with after Bohl’s success in Laramie. Sawvell has been on Bohl’s employees as defensive coordinator and safeties coach since 2020. His earlier stops embrace Wake Forest, Minnesota and several other different FBS faculties. Nevertheless, it is laborious to think about a first-time head coach leaping in for a legend and rapidly contending for a convention title.
Grade: C+
Bob Chesney (Holy Cross)
Curt Cignetti
Chesney won’t be a family title, however he did an amazing job at Holy Cross with 4 straight Patriot League titles and playoff appearances from 2018-22, the final of which included an undefeated common season. He takes over a James Madison program that thrived underneath Cignetti, which signifies that Chesney ought to be capable of hit the bottom operating.
Grade: A+
Jon Sumrall (Troy)
Willie Fritz
Tulane made a splash in changing Fritz, who left for Houston. The Inexperienced Wave landed a rising star in Sumrall. He posted a 23-4 mark in two seasons at Troy whereas successful back-to-back Solar Belt championships. The 41-year outdated comes from a defensive background and is aware of the panorama at Tulane after working because the Inexperienced Wave’s co-defensive coordinator from 2012-14.
Grade: A
Gerad Parker (Notre Dame offensive coordinator)
Jon Sumrall
Parker is a pure match for a Trojans program that has had success hiring coaches from the identical tree. Parker has labored with Neal Brown (West Virginia) and Jon Sumrall (Tulane) throughout their time at Troy. Brown and Sumrall mixed for 5 double-digit win seasons main the Trojans, with the failed Chip Lindsay experiment coming between their respective tenures. Do not count on something to vary at Troy … which is an effective factor. Parker would not have head teaching expertise which does make this a threat however solely a minor one.
Grade: B+
Jeff Choate (Texas co-defensive coordinator)
Ken Wilson
Choate led Montana State to back-to-back FCS playoff appearances in 2018-19, and jumped to Texas the place he served as co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach since 2021. The previous Montana Western linebacker has teaching expertise all around the area, which can assist him promote this system to highschool recruits and switch gamers trying to get nearer to dwelling. The mix of FCS teaching success and ties to the world make him an ideal match.
Grade: A
Tony Sanchez
Jerry Kill
Kill stepped down after main the Aggies to a 17-11 and two bowl appearances during the last two seasons. Sanchez has been the huge receivers coach underneath Kill for the final two seasons after going 20-40 in 5 seasons at UNLV from 2015-19. Sanchez has a troublesome act to comply with after Kill’s dramatic turnaround of a once-dormant program.
Grade: D
