The Ever-Spinning Carousel: Tracking Coaching Changes in College Football

The world of college football is known for its intense rivalries, passionate fans, and, perhaps most notably, its ever-revolving door of coaching changes. The pressure to win, coupled with the increasing financial stakes of the sport, has created an environment where head coaches are under constant scrutiny. A few disappointing seasons can quickly lead to a change at the top, setting off a chain reaction throughout the coaching ranks. This article delves into the coaching changes that have occurred, examining the reasons behind the moves, the new hires, and the potential impact on the programs involved.

The Pressures of the Modern Game

The expanded 12-team College Football Playoff has intensified the pressure on coaches. A few consecutive subpar seasons are no longer tolerated, especially considering the substantial investments in rosters. Athletic directors are making decisions faster, and donor patience is wearing thin. The modern landscape demands immediate results, leading to a more volatile coaching environment.

Week 11 of the season often exposes the pretenders, while Week 12 eliminates them. This is the time when athletic directors stop debating and start deciding, when recruits make final judgments about which programs are ascending and which are circling the drain. The early-season excuses are gone, and the "we're still figuring things out" narrative no longer holds water.

Key Coaching Changes and Their Context

Several high-profile coaching changes have already taken place, sending shockwaves through the college football landscape. Let's examine some of the most significant moves:

Power Four Conference Changes

Several American Conference head coaches have been hired by Power Four teams, demonstrating the rising profile of coaches from that conference.

UCLA Bruins

Bob Chesney is reportedly being hired as UCLA’s next head coach. Chesney doesn't have any experience at a West Coast school, so the UCLA move is a little surprising on paper. Chesney brings an elite program-building resume to Westwood, having gone 131-51 overall (.720) across four levels of college football and rebuilt every program he touched.

Florida Gators

After thinking they were landing Lane Kiffin, Florida fans will likely feel disappointed in the decision to hire Jon Sumrall, which would discredit how great the hire is. Sumrall quickly rebuilt Troy before taking over Tulane and bringing the Green Wave to the verge of making the College Football Playoff, and with the added resources, he could build a serious power in the SEC.

Sumrall has done an excellent job building out his staff, hiring former Kentucky DC Brad White and Georgia Tech OC Buster Faulkner. Landing Faulkner is one of the biggest assistant moves of the cycle, as he was being widely mentioned for several head coaching jobs.

Billy Napier was fired after a 22-23 record with the Gators.

Auburn Tigers

The Auburn Tigers filled their vacancy quickly after the season ended, hiring USF head coach Alex Golesh. The move makes perfect sense for Auburn as Golesh has done an outstanding job at USF, and has constantly done more with less. Given Auburn's resources, the Tigers could quickly contend in the SEC if he nails the quarterback position.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

Arkansas Razorbacks

After it was reported that Arkansas was nearing a deal with Alex Golesh, the Razorbacks hired Memphis head coach Ryan Siverfield after the conclusion of the season. Silverfield has experienced a ton of success at Memphis, and will look to lead the Razorbacks back to SEC contention.

Sam Pittman was fired amid a 2-3 start to the season.

Kentucky Wildcats

The Kentucky Wildcats made the decision to fire head coach Mark Stoops. The Wildcats moved quickly to find their next head coach, as they hired Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein who's one of the brightest offensive minds in the game.

James Madison Dukes

James Madison is becoming a pipeline to the Big Ten, as Bob Chesney was hired away by UCLA after replacing Curt Cignetti. Former Florida Gators coach Billy Napier took the job, returning to the Sun Belt where he built himself into a top candidate. James Madison went 40-10 in its first three FBS seasons. The Dukes won a Sun Belt title. They made the College Football Playoff.

USF Bulls

While losing Alex Golesh was a big blow, USF arguably won the coaching carousel landing Ohio State OC and Wide Receivers coach Brian Hartline. The Buckeyes OC has become one of the best recruiters in College Football, and his track record of development speaks for itself. Hartline will certainly get calls for bigger jobs down the line, but this is an incredible get for USF.

Stanford Cardinal

Andrew Luck has found his next head coach, hiring his former teammate Tavita Pritchard to serve as the next head coach of the Cardinal. Pritchard has served several roles at Stanford after his playing career, including serving as the team's offensive coordinator. Having Pritchard and Andrew Luck aligned and on the same timeline sets the team up perfectly to start building for the future.

Troy Taylor was fired amid an investigation into alleged bullying of former players and staff members.

Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State didn’t hire Matt Campbell. They settled for him. After 54 days of chaos (Pat Kraft whiffing on Matt Rhule, Mike Elko, Kalen DeBoer, and watching Kalani Sitake use Happy Valley as leverage for a BYU extension), the Nittany Lions landed on a coach who was never Plan A.

James Franklin got fired at Penn State two weeks ago.

LSU Tigers

The LSU Tigers turned out to be the winner of the Lane Kiffin sweepstakes, which dominated college football for weeks. The next few weeks will have a massive impact on LSU's staff as Lane Kiffin is reportedly bringing a good portion of his staff with him to LSU.

Brian Kelly is out at LSU. Fired. Done. After an embarrassing loss to Texas A&M, the fanbase begged for change, and they got it as the LSU Football team dismissed Brian Kelly on Sunday Night.

Michigan Wolverines

In a shocking twist, the Michigan Wolverines fired Sherrone Moore due to a "Inappropriate relationship with a staff member. The news comes after most of the coaching vacancies have been filled which will likely start a second wave of the coaching carousel. The Wolverines will conduct a wide search as this is arguably the best job to open in the entire carousel.

Michigan State Spartans

The Michigan State Spartans decided on Sunday to fire Jonathan Smith after he won just 1 game in Big Ten play. The Spartans moved quicker than most programs ever have, reportedly hiring former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

After an embarrassing 59-10 blowout against James Madison, Coastal Carolina has fired head coch Tim Beck. The Chanticleers were hoping that Beck could capitalize on the momentum Jamey Chadwell built, but Beck went just 20-18 over his 3 seasons in Conway. The Chanticleers now have one of the most attractive Group of 5 openings making their process interesting to follow.

Tulane Green Wave

Tulane has elevated veteran assistant coach Will Hall to head coach to replace the departing Jon Sumrall. Hall has experience as the head coach for South Alabama, West Georgia, and Southern Miss with a career 70-50 record.

Other FBS Program Changes

Kent State Golden Flashes: Mark Carney (In), Kenni Burns (Out)
Colorado State Rams: Tyson Summers (Interim), Jay Norvell (Out)
UAB Blazers: Alex Mortensen (Interim), Trent Dilfer (Out)
Oregon State Beavers: Robb Akey (Interim), Trent Bray (Out)
Oklahoma State Cowboys: Doug Meacham (Interim), Mike Gundy (Out)
Virginia Tech Hokies: Philip Montgomery (Interim), Brent Pry (Out)
UCLA Bruins: Tim Skipper (Interim), DeShaun Foster (Out)

The Ripple Effect: Coordinator and Assistant Coach Movement

Coaching changes don't just affect the head coach position. They create a ripple effect that extends to coordinator and assistant coach roles as well. New head coaches often bring in their own staff, leading to a flurry of movement among assistant coaches.

Coordinator Changes

North Carolina Tar Heels: Bobby Petrino (In), Freddie Kitchens (Out)
Missouri Tigers: Chip Lindsey (In), Kirby Moore (Out)
Nebraska Cornhuskers: Geep Wade, Rob Aurich, Lonnie Teasley (In), Donovan Raiola, John Butler (Out)
Mississippi State Bulldogs: Zach Arnett (In), Coleman Hutzler (Out)
Iowa State Cyclones: Jimmy Rogers (In), Matt Campbell (Out)
Washington State Cougars: Kirby Moore (In), Jimmy Rogers (Out)
Kansas State Wildcats: Collin Klein, Christian Ellsworth (In), Chris Klieman (Retired)
Texas A&M Aggies: Derek Shay (In), Collin Klein, Christian Ellsworth (Out)
Syracuse Orange: Vince Kehres, Juan Castillo, Jeremy Hawkins (In), Ricky Brumfield, Dale Williams, Joe Schaefer, Robert Wright (Out)
Rutgers Scarlet Knights: Robb Smith, Zach Sparber, Collin Ferrell (Out)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Buster Faulkner, Geep Wade (Out)
Ohio State Buckeyes: Brian Hartline (Out)
Oregon Ducks: Will Stein and Tosh Lupoi (Departed)
LSU Tigers: Joe Sloan (Out), Alex Atkins (In)
Florida Gators: Buster Faulkner, and Brad White (In)
Arkansas Razorbacks: Travis Williams, Co-DC Marcus Woodson, and DL Deke Adams (Out)

The Impact of Coordinator Hires

Coordinator hires can be just as impactful as head coaching changes. A new offensive coordinator can bring a fresh perspective and revitalize a struggling offense, while a defensive coordinator can shore up a porous defense.

Will Stein to Kentucky: Stein turned Bo Nix into the most accurate QB in college football. A first-time head coach with an elite offensive résumé takes over a Kentucky program desperate for an identity.
Bobby Petrino to North Carolina: After a disappointing first season in Chapel Hill, Bill Belichick needed to make staff changes firing offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens. Belichick replaced his offensive coordinator by hiring former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino who served as the Razorbacks interim after starting the year as the coordinator.

The Hot Seat: Coaches Under Pressure

Even after the initial wave of firings, several coaches remain on the "hot seat," facing intense pressure to improve their team's performance. Factors such as win-loss record, recruiting success, and fan support all contribute to a coach's job security.

Hugh Freeze (Auburn): Hugh Freeze checks in at #5, which means every single game is an audition for next season.

The Importance of a Good Hire

The success of a coaching hire can have a profound impact on a program's trajectory. A good hire can revitalize a struggling team, elevate recruiting, and generate excitement among fans. Conversely, a bad hire can set a program back for years.

Charles Huff (Memphis): Charles Huff fixes broken programs. That’s the value proposition Memphis is buying. Not a recruiter who needs five years to build his guys. Not a developmental coach who grows freshmen into seniors. Huff is a fixer - a guy who walks into a disaster, flips the portal, resets the culture, and delivers wins fast.

The Coaching Carousel Never Stops

The college football coaching carousel is a constant cycle of change. As some coaches move up the ranks, others are left behind. The pressure to win and the increasing financial stakes of the sport ensure that the carousel will continue to spin, creating both opportunities and challenges for coaches and programs alike.

FCS Football Head Coaching Changes

Coaching movement in college football can be like a carousel, often from the pursuit of the next best thing - either on the school or coach’s end. Following are FCS football head coaching changes since the start of the 2025 season (with announcement date in parentheses) and toward the 2026 campaign.

Former interim coach Jared Ambrose (Nov. New coach Tom Perkovich (Dec. Former coach Dave Cecchini (Dec. New coach Jeff Behrman (Jan. Former coach Paul Wulff (Nov. New coach Tim Skipper (Dec. Former coach Joe Woodley (Feb. New coach Matt Walker (Feb. Former coach James Colzie III (Dec. New coach Quinn Gray (Dec. Former coach Chris Reisert (Dec. New coach Kris McCollough (Dec. Former coach Trenton Boykin (Nov. New coach Van Malone (Dec. Former coach Larry Scott (Dec. New coach Ted White (Jan. Former coach Kevin Cahill (Feb. Former coach Mike Jacobs (Dec. New coach Joel Taylor (Dec. Former coach Ryan Riemedio (Feb. New coach Thomas Sydeski (Feb. Former coach Kevin Callahan (Dec. New coach Jeff Gallo (Dec. Former coach Bobby Hauck (Feb. New coach Bobby Kennedy (Feb. Former coach Rick Santos (Dec. New coach Sean Goldrich (Dec. Former coach Ray Priore (Nov. New coach Rick Santos (Dec. Former coach Bruce Barnum (Nov. New coach Chris Fisk (Dec. Former coach Steve Enghart (Dec. New coach Matt Rahl (Dec. Former coach Brennan Marion (Dec. New coach Alonzo Carter (Dec. Former coach Chris Hatcher (Nov. New coach John Grass (Dec. Former coach Travis Johansen (Feb. New coach Matt Vitzthum (Feb. Southern U. Former coach Terrence Graves (Oct. New football coach Marshall Faulk (Nov. Former coach Danny Rocco (Dec. New coach Ashley Ingram (Dec. Former coach Mickey Mental (Nov. New coach Eric Kjar (Dec. Former coach Joel Taylor (Dec. New coach Steve Enghart (Dec. Former coach Tony Reno (Feb. New coach Kevin Cahill (Feb.

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