2023 CFB Coaching Carousel

[Outlaw]

Just now, Roaming Bull said:

the one that got away. Oh what could’ve been had he been the coach and not Strong

Imagine if the deal was STrong had to keep weist and the Gulf Coast offense. Strong should have only focused on his speciality the defense.

[Roaming Bull]

9 minutes ago, Outlaw said:

Imagine if the deal was STrong had to keep weist and the Gulf Coast offense. Strong should have only focused on his speciality the defense.

That should’ve been the deal. If Strong didn’t like it we should’ve let him walk. If a coach fails at a school like Texas it should be a red flag. He had near unlimited resources and was at the preeminent football school for the state and couldn’t get it done. His philosophy and how he handled the players seemed shortsighted.

Had we just elevated Weist we would’ve been in a better position imo. We also probably would’ve side stepped the Scott error.

[Triple B]

3 hours ago, Outlaw said:

CWT didn't have winning win percentage unfortunately at USF and had zero bowl wins.

 

Edited December 4, 2023 by Triple B

[Roaming Bull]

College football coaching carousel

TEAMINOUTANALYSIS

Mike Elko (Duke head coach)Jimbo FisherElko is familiar with the program after spending four seasons as Fisher's defensive coordinator (2018-21). He's aware of the expectations. His 16-9 record at Duke shows that he is able to develop players who can compete at a high level. However, he only has two years of head coaching experience and will have to create top-down unity at a program with a lot of chefs in the kitchen. Mark Stoops would have been a better option, and Elko would be graded higher had the deal with Stoops not imploded. We will have to wait a few years to see if this hire works out, but Elko shares similar coaching characteristics as Stoops.  Grade: B+

Jonathan Smith (Oregon State)Mel Tucker (cause)Smith is the perfect hire for Michigan State. The former Oregon State quarterback rebuilt the Beavers program into a consistent team despite challenges in the recruiting department. Michigan State is bound to be a developmental program in the new-look Big Ten, and Smith has proven that he's one of the best at developing talent throughout his coaching career. Grade: A+

Jeff Lebby (Oklahoma offensive coordinator)Zach ArnettLebby has been successful as an offensive coordinator at Ole Miss, UCF and Oklahoma. However, finding success in the new-look SEC that includes Texas and Oklahoma will be almost impossible for a first-year coach at a program that is constantly fighting an uphill battle like Mississippi State. Grade: C

David Braun (Northwestern interim head coach)Pat Fitzgerald (cause)Fitzgerald was dismissed after an investigation revealed a culture of hazing within the program. He was 110-101 in 17 seasons leading the Wildcats. Braun was tabbed as the team's interim coach at the beginning of the season and has surpassed all expectations, guiding the Wildcats to the brink of bowl eligibility. Northwestern rewarded Braun by removing the interim tag and making him the full-time head coach. Sure, the Wildcats could have tried for a splashier hire, but it's hard to argue with the job Braun has done so far.  Grade: B

Fran Brown (Georgia defensive backs coach)Dino BabersThis is a big jump for Brown, going from a position coach to a head coach in a Power Five conference. It's going to be a tall order for Brown to succeed early on, especially in the expanded ACC. However, the New Jersey native is currently ranked as the top recruiter in the nation, according to 247Sports, and finished No. 8 last year. He will help the Orange replenish that roster through high school recruiting and the transfer portal. Grade: B-

Trent Bray (Oregon State defensive coordinator)Jonathan SmithBray has taken over for Jonathan Smith after Smith left to take the Michigan State job. This is an interesting hire because Bray, who was the Nebraska interim coach for one week as it made the transition from Mike Riley to Scott Frost after the 2017 season, has never actually coached an FBS game. There are two ways to look at this hire. The continuity he provides after being serving on the Beavers staff since 2018 will help them make the transition out of the Pac-12. However, these are uncharted waters for a program that has no home. There's no way to gauge what the blueprint is for this program, so keeping it in-house is probably the right move. Grade: B-

Curt Cignetti (James Madison coach)Tom AllenCignetti was the talk of the college football world during the first two-plus months of the season as he led James Madison into the national conversation with 10 straight wins to open the campaign. He has three double-digit win seasons since taking over the program in 2019, finished in the top three in the final FCS rankings from 2019-21 prior to the program moving up to FBS. It's going to be tough for him to rebuild Indiana, but he is the right man for the job. Grade: A

Sean Lewis (Colorado offensive coordinator)Brady Hoke (retired)Lewis was bound to be a hot commodity at the Group of Five level, and San Diego State struck while the iron was hot. Lewis' one-year tenure as the Colorado offensive coordinator failed not due to anything that he did, but because the Buffaloes simply couldn't block. He has one division championship in four years at Kent State and will give the Aztecs an offensive identity that it lacked last season.  Grade: A-

Willie Fritz (Tulane head coach)Dana HolgorsenThis is a perfect hire for a program that has enormous upside in the Big 12. Fritz turned Georgia Southern around as it transitioned to FBS. Then he transformed the Green Wave into a New Year's Six bowl contender. Houston needs a coach that can succeed fighting a tough battle, and Fritz is the best in the country at that. Grade: A+

Spencer Danielson (Boise State interim head coach/defensive coordinator)Andy AvalosDanielson served as the Broncos' interim head coach over the final three games. He led them to a 3-0 record and became the first interim head coach in FBS history to win a conference title when they topped UNLV in the Mountain West Championship Game. He has served in a variety of roles on the Boise State staff since 2017, so he knows the expectations within the fan base and administration. There is no doubt that he earned the chance to lead the program, and it'll be interesting to see if he can handle the responsibility on a permanent basis for a team that should be contending for New Year's Six bowl games every year.  Grade: B+

Scotty Walden (Austin Peay coach)Dana DimelWalden is one of the hot up-and-coming names in the coaching industry after finding success at Austin Peay, where he posted a 26-14 record in four seasons. His win total increased in each season, culminating with a 9-3 record and FCS playoff berth in 2023. Plus, his four-game stint as the interim coach at Southern Miss in 2020 allowed him to get his feet wet leading an FBS program. He is a native Texan, and the ties to the high school coaches in the state will go a long way towards rebuilding the roster with enough talent to contend in Conference USA. Grade: A-

Bryant Vincent (New Mexico offensive coordinator)Terry BowdenVincent was 7-6 as UAB's interim coach during the 2022 season following the retirement of Bill Clark and led the Blazers to win in the Bahamas Bowl. He served as the New Mexico offensive coordinator last season and helped the Lobos average 6.21 yards per play. He has ties to the Southeastern footprint as a high school and college coach, which will help him build the roster in Monroe. He's a good fit, but this is going to be a tough rebuild.  Grade: B-

Derek Mason (former Vanderbilt head coach)Rick StockstillMason took one year off of coaching last season after serving as the Oklahoma State defensive coordinator in 2022. He was the head coach at Vanderbilt from 2014-20, so his knowledge of the landscape in central Tennessee will be vital to the rebuilding effort in Murfreesboro. He is a master salesman, is well-versed on building defenses and has SEC experience. He's a prefect fit for the Blue Raiders. Grade: A

Bronco Mendenhall (former BYU and Virginia head coach)Danny GonzalesWhat an upgrade from Gonzales to Mendenhall. The former BYU and Virginia coach has a 135-81 record as a head coach, has led teams to Top 25 rankings in either the coaches or the AP poll six times and has ties to the "Four Corners" region of the United States. He is known for his hard-nosed approach, discipline and ability to get the most out of his players. Grade: A+

Jay SawvellCraig Bohl (retired)It's never easy to follow a legend, but that is what Sawvell is going to be tasked with after Bohl's success in Laramie. Sawvell has been on Bohl's staff as defensive coordinator and safeties coach since 20202, and has experience as an assistant at Wake Forest, Minnesota and several other FBS schools. However, it's hard to imagine a first-time head coach jumping in for a legend and quickly contending for a conference title. Grade: C+

Mike ElkoElko left to take the Texas A&M job after posting a 16-9 record in two seasons at Duke.

Curt CignettiCignetti was 52-9 with the Duke prior to being hired away by Indiana.

Ken WilsonWilson went 4-20 in two seasons leading the Wolf Pack.

Willie FritzFritz joined Houston after leading the Green Wave to a 54-47 record in eight years with the program.
 

College football coaching carousel: Tracker, analysis, grades on coach changes, 2023-24 firings and hirings

WWW.CBSSPORTS.COM

 

[CousinRicky]

2 hours ago, Roaming Bull said:

David Braun (Northwestern interim head coach)Pat Fitzgerald (cause)Fitzgerald was dismissed after an investigation revealed a culture of hazing within the program. He was 110-101 in 17 seasons leading the Wildcats. Braun was tabbed as the team's interim coach at the beginning of the season and has surpassed all expectations, guiding the Wildcats to the brink of bowl eligibility. Northwestern rewarded Braun by removing the interim tag and making him the full-time head coach. Sure, the Wildcats could have tried for a splashier hire, but it's hard to argue with the job Braun has done so far.  Grade: B

Just an aside. Northwestern brought in our former coach SH as an advisor this past season. 

[Roaming Bull]

1 hour ago, CousinRicky said:

Just an aside. Northwestern brought in our former coach SH as an advisor this past season. 

Interesting. 2 USFL championships and he took an advisor role. I wonder if he was dipping a toe into the water, or if he is eyeing retirement and just wanted to keep busy.

[CousinRicky]

8 hours ago, Roaming Bull said:

Interesting. 2 USFL championships and he took an advisor role. I wonder if he was dipping a toe into the water, or if he is eyeing retirement and just wanted to keep busy.

I think the latter. Bought a house on a lake in So Carolina as permanent home. Still has the FL homes. Haven't asked if he's going to do the USFL gig. 

[Roaming Bull]

4 hours ago, CousinRicky said:

I think the latter. Bought a house on a lake in So Carolina as permanent home. Still has the FL homes. Haven't asked if he's going to do the USFL gig. 

He has had a hell of a career, and mostly been successful. If he wants to walk away now I wouldn’t blame him. You only live once and enjoying your time is important. 
 

If he three-peated in the USFL he has to get into some hall of fame. Back to back championships are hard to pull off, but three in a row is a greater achievement.

[Bull94]

9 minutes ago, Roaming Bull said:

He has had a hell of a career, and mostly been successful. If he wants to walk away now I wouldn’t blame him. You only live once and enjoying your time is important. 
 

If he three-peated in the USFL he has to get into some hall of fame. Back to back championships are hard to pull off, but three in a row is a greater achievement.

I think there are only 8 teams in the usfl

[Roaming Bull]

2 minutes ago, Bull94 said:

I think there are only 8 teams in the usfl

Never watched