n/a
Maurice Linguist
Linguist was 14-23 in three seasons with the Bulls (2021-23)
n/a
Brent Brennan
Brennan was 34-48 in seven seasons as the pinnacle coach of the Spartans.
Main Applewhite (Promoted from offensive coordinator position)
Kane Wommack
Wommack left an amazing basis with the Jaguars, and it is now as much as Applewhite to maintain the momentum moving into the precise course. He’s 15-11 general as a head coach as he led the Houston Cougars for two-plus seasons from 2016-18. He made bowl video games in his two full seasons, and his familiarity with the South Alabama program ought to permit 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 High 25 throughout 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, nevertheless, it does not actually soar off the web page. He’ll have numerous 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 strong 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. Nonetheless, 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 quick dividends.
Grade: B+
Kalen DeBoer (Washington)
Nick Saban (retired)
DeBoer turned loads of heads at Washington and developed a repute 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 scenario he’ll inherit in Tuscaloosa.
Grade: A
Mike Elko (Duke)
Jimbo Fisher
Elko is aware of 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. Nonetheless, he solely has two years of head teaching expertise and must create top-down unity at a program with numerous cooks within the kitchen. Mark Stoops would have been a greater choice, and Elko could be graded greater had the take care of Stoops not imploded. We must wait a number of 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. Nonetheless, discovering success within the new-look SEC that features Texas and Oklahoma shall be nearly unattainable for a first-year coach at a program that’s continually 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 firstly 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. Positive, the Wildcats may have tried for a splashier rent, but it surely’s onerous to argue with the job Braun has finished thus far.
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 will be a tall order for Brown to succeed early on, particularly within the expanded ACC. Nonetheless, the New Jersey native is at the moment ranked as the highest recruiter within the nation, in response to 247Sports, and completed No. 8 final yr. 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 fascinating 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 really coached an FBS sport. There are two methods to have a look at this rent. The continuity he supplies after being serving on the Beavers workers since 2018 will assist them make the transition out of the Pac-12. Nonetheless, these are uncharted waters for a program that has no house. There isn’t any approach to gauge what the blueprint is for this program, so maintaining it in-house might be the precise transfer.
Grade: B-
Curt Cignetti (James Madison)
Tom Allen
Cignetti was the discuss of the faculty soccer world throughout 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 on this system in 2019, completed within the prime three within the closing FCS rankings from 2019-21 previous to this system shifting as much as FBS. It will be powerful for him to rebuild Indiana, however he’s the precise 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 monitor 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 scorching commodity on the Group of 5 degree, and San Diego State struck whereas the iron was scorching. Lewis’ one-year tenure because the Colorado offensive coordinator failed not because of 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 monumental upside within the Large 12. Fritz turned Georgia Southern round because it transitioned to FBS. Then he remodeled the Inexperienced Wave right into a New Yr’s Six bowl contender. Houston wants a coach that may succeed combating a tricky 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 once they topped UNLV within the Mountain West Championship Recreation. He has served in a wide range of roles on the Boise State workers since 2017, so he is aware of the expectations inside the fan base and administration. There isn’t any doubt that he earned the possibility to steer this system, and it will be fascinating 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 likely one of the scorching 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 good 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 throughout 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 faculty coach, which can assist him construct the roster in Monroe. He is an excellent match, however that is going to be a tricky rebuild.
Grade: B-
Derek Mason (former Vanderbilt coach)
Rick Stockstill
Mason took one yr off of teaching final season after serving because the Oklahoma State defensive coordinator in 2022. He was the pinnacle coach at Vanderbilt from 2014-20, so his data 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 High 25 rankings in both the coaches or the AP ballot six occasions 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 straightforward to observe a legend, however that’s what Sawvell goes to be tasked with after Bohl’s success in Laramie. Sawvell has been on Bohl’s workers as defensive coordinator and safeties coach since 2020. His earlier stops embody Wake Forest, Minnesota and several other different FBS faculties. Nonetheless, it is onerous to think about a first-time head coach leaping in for a legend and shortly contending for a convention title.
Grade: C+
Bob Chesney (Holy Cross)
Curt Cignetti
Chesney may not 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 implies that Chesney ought to have the ability to hit the bottom working.
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 profitable 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 alter at Troy … which is an effective factor. Parker does not have head teaching expertise which does make this a danger 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 house. 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 extensive receivers coach underneath Kill for the final two seasons after going 20-40 in 5 seasons at UNLV from 2015-19. Sanchez has a tricky act to observe after Kill’s dramatic turnaround of a once-dormant program.
Grade: D
