33 coaches who could be next for big jobs

The college football coaching carousel doesn’t look much different than it did entering the season, but some of the candidates to move up certainly do.

Florida has yet to fire Billy Napier, but the decision in Gainesville seems more about when, not if, the Gators move on from their fourth-year coach. Although the Florida job seemed likely to open, mainly because of a tortuous schedule that only gets tougher in October and November, the job is appealing enough to trigger other notable vacancies. Baylor and Arkansas are the other Power 4 programs generating the most attention for possible changes, as both teams have had some shaky moments early on.

But for now, the jobs cycle is quiet, other than at Fresno State and Utah State, which opened during the summer.

The intrigue through the first month of the season has come with the coaches — mainly Group of 5 head coaches and Power 4 coordinators — who have helped their chances of landing bigger jobs when the carousel really starts spinning in the next six to eight weeks. After researching them and talking to industry sources, these are the coaches who have stood out in those two categories — dividing them into top names and others to watch — as well as a few non-primary playcallers to track.

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G5 head coaches | Power coordinators | Non-playcallers

Group of 5 head coaches

The Group of 5 market is relatively strong, thanks to some early-season upsets, candidates who continue to grow their profiles and some long-established names. The coordinator pool seems a bit shallow right now, so those leading Group of 5 programs — especially with meaningful Power 4 experience — could be in demand when the searches begin.

Top names to watch

Barry Odom, UNLV Rebels : He’s unquestionably the top Group of 5 coach in this year’s market. Odom has several factors working in his favor, including his continued success with the Rebels. After leading UNLV to the Mountain West championship game in his first season, Odom recorded two road wins against Big 12 opponents — Houston and Kansas — in the first three games. Odom, 47, came to UNLV from Arkansas, which could soon have an opening and likely would consider a former successful defensive coordinator. He also was far from a disaster as head coach at Missouri, going 25-25 with bowl-eligible teams in each of his final three seasons. Odom also should be on the radar at Baylor, as athletic director Mack Rhoades promoted him to head coach while at Missouri. Odom’s background is on defense, but he has hired a notable group of offensive coordinators, including Josh Heupel and current OC Brennan Marion. Of course, Odom’s job at UNLV just got a lot harder as QB Matthew Sluka announced he won’t be playing again this year due to “representations” that were not upheld.)

Alex Golesh, South Florida Bulls: Golesh has stabilized an underachieving South Florida program in his first head-coaching opportunity and could soon move up to a bigger job. The 40-year-old brings an appealing mix of exciting offense and pedal-down recruiting, and he has worked in different regions of the country. Golesh lacks a clear signature win at USF, but his teams competed with Alabama in each of his two seasons, and pushed Miami in the first half last week. He should also be helped by the blistering success of Heupel’s offense, which he helped coordinate at both UCF and Tennessee before coming to South Florida. Golesh also spent time under Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and could be a fit both in the Southeast and Midwest.

Jamey Chadwell, Liberty Flames: Chadwell is no stranger to this type of list, and he comes off of a Fiesta Bowl appearance following the 2023 season. He’s 17-1 since coming to Liberty from Coastal Carolina and 47-7 since the start of the 2020 season. Chadwell’s offenses are annually among the most efficient and productive in the country. He’s 115-58 overall as a head coach at five programs — two FBS, one FCS, two Division II. The hesitancy on Chadwell, 47, continues to be his zero Power 4 experience, not even as a low-level assistant. He also makes more than $4 million annually at Liberty, so he has less incentive to leave for just any Power 4 opportunity. But the Tennessee native has coached all over the ACC and SEC footprint and could be an interesting choice for the right opening.

Jon Sumrall, Tulane Green Wave: Sumrall has the look of a future SEC coach. The only question is: Would he make the jump so soon? He’s only in his first season at Tulane after a 23-4 run at Troy that included back-to-back Sun Belt titles and a No. 19 AP finish in 2019. In theory, Sumrall, 42, could have stayed at Troy and vaulted directly to a Power 4 job. Instead, he returned to Tulane, where he was co-defensive coordinator from 2012 to 2014, and has a team that could contend in the AAC but already has two losses. Would Power 4 athletic directors still be fired up about Sumrall if Tulane goes, say, 7-5, especially with five years left on his deal? They should be. He’s an excellent coach with experience at two SEC programs (Ole Miss and Kentucky) and deep roots in the South. “He’s done a helluva job,” an industry source said.

Jeff Traylor, UTSA Roadrunners: Traylor doesn’t necessarily fit the spirit of the list as UTSA sits at 2-2 with blowout losses to both Texas and Texas State. UTSA could be headed for a long season. But his overall success with the Roadrunners — and the Power 4 jobs that could open in the cycle — make him impossible to ignore in this category. Traylor, 56, is one of the most connected and liked coaches within his home state of Texas. He led UTSA to consecutive Conference USA titles in 2021 and 2022, winning league coach of the year honors both times, and is 41-16 overall in four-plus seasons. Traylor was an Arkansas assistant and made a good impression there despite the team’s struggles. He also could be a top candidate at Baylor if there’s a vacancy.

Jake Dickert, Washington State Cougars: There is a lot to like about Dickert’s profile, which has kept improving this season. He already has been a Power 4 coach before the Pac-12 breakup, took over a very difficult situation in 2021, won the Apple Cup and made the first of two bowl games. Dickert guided Washington State through another difficult time last summer and has his team at 4-0 with another dramatic Apple Cup win in Seattle. His overall record of 19-16 doesn’t jump out per se, but he owns two wins against Wisconsin, two against Washington and one against a top-15 Oregon State last fall. The 41-year-old spent time at top FCS programs North Dakota State and South Dakota State early in his career and understands how to build programs that lack endless resources.

Jason Candle, Toledo Rockets: He has a résumé that normally would have landed him a Power 4 job long ago. Candle has two MAC titles and four seasons of nine or more wins. The two-time MAC Coach of the Year operates an exciting offense and has pushed Power 4 opponents, most recently Mississippi State, which had no answers for Toledo in a 41-17 loss on Sept. 14 in Starkville. Candle has interviewed for several Power 4 jobs — Duke, Boston College, Indiana — without landing them, but a third consecutive strong season could push him over the top. “It’s not like he’s an unknown,” an industry source said. Candle, 44, has never worked outside his home state of Ohio, and his delay in leaving Toledo might raise concerns for some schools.

GJ Kinne, Texas State Bobcats: Athletic directors like young coaches with exciting offenses. Kinne checks both boxes, in addition to having Texas roots and connections to Gus Malzahn. Kinne led Incarnate Word to the FCS semifinals in his only season as head coach and then opened his FBS tenure with a road upset of Baylor. He went 8-5 in his first season at Texas State, which is 2-1 and poised to challenge for the Sun Belt title this fall. Kinne is just 35 and only began his coaching career in 2017, after five years bouncing around the NFL and CFL as a quarterback. He likely would be on Baylor’s list if the job comes open, and would be a natural candidate for most Big 12 jobs the next few years. “He’s a stud,” an industry source said. “This game is getting younger and younger.”

Worth keeping an eye on

Bob Chesney, James Madison Dukes: Chesney is somewhat similar to Sumrall. Both surely will be Power 4 coaches if they maintain their trajectories, but both are in their first seasons – and for Chesney, his first at an FBS program. Chesney, 47, already has a signature win from last week’s historic 70-50 triumph against North Carolina. He went 44-21 at Holy Cross with three top-25 finishes, and was in the mix at Syracuse before coming to JMU. Chesney has strong ties to the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, and he could soon be a strong candidate for ACC, Big Ten and certain Big 12 jobs.

Ryan Silverfield, Memphis Tigers: After inheriting the Memphis job from Mike Norvell, Silverfield went 8-3 in his first season but then 13-12 over the next two, sparking hot-seat conversation ahead of the 2023 season. But he responded with a 10-win season that could have been even better, and a Liberty Bowl championship, his third straight bowl win. Silverfield, 44, had been a career offensive line coach before being promoted at Memphis and lacks coordinator experience, but he also coached with the NFL’s Lions and Vikings. Memphis is off to a 3-1 start that includes a win over Florida State. If the Tigers can win the AAC, Silverfield could have opportunities to move up. But, as an industry source noted, “He’s exactly where he’s supposed to be.”

Jeff Monken, Army Black Knights: Monken was a finalist for the Kansas job in 2021 and has been in the mix for other Power 4 opportunities, including Vanderbilt. Like other service academy coaches, he has been hurt by the perception that he could only run triple-option offense, even though he has augmented the scheme several times at Army. Monken, 57, has been by far the most successful Army coach in decades, recording consecutive 10-win seasons in 2017 and 2018 and consecutive nine-win seasons in 2021 and 2022. Army is 3-0 in its first season in the AAC and has a very winnable stretch upcoming. If Monken can replicate his success as an independent within a solid Group of 5 league, he should get more looks for openings. “Now’s his time to leave,” an industry source said.

Chris Creighton, Eastern Michigan Eagles: He’s maybe the best example of a coach who has done exceptional work under the radar and should be getting more recognition. Creighton isn’t the flashiest candidate, but he knows how to do more with less and has brought once-unthinkable consistency to Eastern Michigan, which has made six bowl games under him after reaching just one previously. The 55-year-old is among the growing contingent of coaches with small-school roots who have maximized their first opportunities in the FBS. He would be a good fit at Iowa State if Matt Campbell moves on, and should be considered for certain Big 12 and Big Ten jobs. “He’s a world-class guy, it just seems like every year he’s 7-5 or 8-4,” an industry source said. “But Creighton’s the only one that’s had success at Eastern Michigan.”

Thomas Hammock, Northern Illinois Huskies: One of the challenges and obstacles Group of 5 coaches face is generating recognition beyond their local area or league. Hammock doesn’t have to worry any more after Northern Illinois’ Week 2 win at then-No. 5 Notre Dame, which marked the biggest upset in MAC history. His emotional postgame interview and media tour during the following week familiarized many more people with the 43-year-old former NIU running back. Hammock wasn’t a major candidate for many head-coaching jobs other than NIU. He has had an uneven tenure, going from winless in 2020 to a MAC title in 2021 to three wins in 2022. But if he can build on a solid 2023 season with a special one this fall, he could enter the radar for bigger jobs.

Power 4 coordinators

The coordinator market has thinned out quite a bit. Promising playcallers are out there, but some might need another season or two before they’re viewed as bona fide Power 4 head-coaching candidates. For most, a move to a Group of 5 head-coaching job also would mean a significant pay cut. “The long-tenured established coordinators have all gotten jobs,” an industry source said. There’s a belief in the industry that the upcoming carousel could feature more retreads — Justin Fuente, Dan Mullen, Bryan Harsin, Bill Clark — than coordinators, but strong performances could change the calculus for some schools.

Top names to watch

Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann: He has maintained Georgia’s defensive dominance since taking over as the team’s primary coordinator in 2022. Schumann is an excellent tactician and recruiter, and has spent his entire career around two of the game’s elite coaches in Nick Saban and Kirby Smart. His predecessor, Dan Lanning, has had immediate success in his first head-coaching opportunity. But sources note that Schumann, 34, is quite different from Lanning and certainly more connected to the Southeast region. “Is he a Dan Lanning?” an industry source said. “Somebody’s going to give him a chance.” Also, will the fact that Schumann has only worked at Alabama and Georgia help or hurt his chances for jobs at programs with less history or resources?

Penn State Nittany Lions offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki: The impact he has had on programs is profound and soon could vault him into leading his own team. Kotelnicki, 44, helped transform Kansas under coach Lance Leipold, as the Jayhawks ranked fifth nationally in yards per play and 18th in scoring during Kotelnicki’s final two seasons as coordinator. Kansas seemingly misses him, too, as the team is 1-3 this fall. Penn State, which struggled mightily to generate explosive plays last season, is fifth nationally in yards per play and seventh in yards per game, after setting a team total offense record with 718 yards Saturday against Kent State. “He’s going to be a hot name, with what he did at Buffalo and Kansas,” an industry source said. Kotelnicki is a Minnesota native who has spent the bulk of his career in the Midwest and could be an interesting fit for Big Ten, ACC or certain Big 12 jobs.

Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kane Wommack: Alabama is one of those kingmaker coordinator programs where those who succeed in calling plays typically get head-coaching opportunities. Wommack left a head-coaching role at South Alabama, where he went 22-16 with a 10-win season in 2022, for a chance to improve his overall profile with the Tide. Wommack, the son of longtime college coach Dave Wommack, has strong roots in the South but also worked in the Midwest, including as Indiana’s defensive coordinator for two seasons. He’s only 37 and should soon get another opportunity to oversee a team. “He’s the total package,” an industry source said. “But it would take something special for him to leave.”

USC Trojans defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn: He has generated a lot of attention for his work in patching up a broken Trojans defense, which isn’t elite yet but functions at a much higher level under the first-year coordinator. Lynn also did very good work last year at UCLA, which finished second nationally against the run and produced the first defender selected in the NFL draft (Laiatu Latu). Lynn is only 34 and, until 2023, had only coached in the NFL, working for five teams. His goals may take him back to the pro level, where he certainly could get on the head-coaching radar soon. But if Lynn wants to stick around the college game, he should generate some looks from schools.

Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive coordinator Tony White: White interviewed for UCLA’s coaching vacancy and should continue to generate Power 4 interest. He’s a dynamic personality who has worked in different regions and for different head coaches. Nebraska’s defense might not be as strong as the 2023 version, which could hurt White a bit, although the team should finish with a better overall record. The 45-year-old White comes from the Rocky Long coaching tree but also worked as a coordinator for Herm Edwards (Arizona State) and Dino Babers (Syracuse) before coming to Nebraska with Matt Rhule. “There are not a lot of diverse candidates,” an industry source said of White, who is Black and Asian. “And Nebraska’s got a lot of hype right now.”

Worth keeping an eye on

Tennessee Volunteers defensive coordinator Tim Banks: Heupel’s offense always grabs the attention at Tennessee, but more are taking note of the Vols’ growth on defense under Banks, especially after how the team won at Oklahoma. The Vols rose from 35th in scoring defense to No. 22 last year, and they are No. 5 through the first four games while leading the FBS in fewest yards allowed per game (176). Banks, 52, hasn’t generated much buzz so far as a head-coaching candidate but brings coordinator experience from four schools, and has worked extensively in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and mid-South. He would be a good fit for AAC and MAC jobs and might rise even higher. “Now, everybody’s talking about that defense, knowing that he’s the CEO of defense there,” an industry source said. “They’re hot right now.”

Clemson Tigers offensive coordinator Garrett Riley: Name recognition isn’t a problem for Riley, and not just because of his older brother, Lincoln. Garrett Riley won the Broyles Award in 2022 as the nation’s top assistant, helping TCU reach the national title game as the Horned Frogs’ playcaller. His first season at Clemson was bumpy, as the offense ranked 50th in scoring and 98th in yards per play. A 3-point opener against Georgia to begin the season didn’t ease concerns, but Clemson has scored 125 points (118 on offense) in its past two games, as quarterback Cade Klubnik is surging. If Clemson can maintain its trajectory and return to the College Football Playoff, Riley, only 35, could be on the radar for certain head-coaching jobs.

Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson: The Hurricanes are firmly in the CFP mix thanks to an explosive offense — No. 2 nationally in yards, No. 4 in scoring — led by quarterback Cam Ward, a top Heisman Trophy candidate. There will be continued intrigue around Ward and the Canes, which should help Dawson, 47, on his fifth stint as an FBS coordinator. Dawson has had some mixed results but operates an exciting Air Raid-style scheme and comes from the Hal Mumme coaching tree. The Louisiana native might need to replicate the production after Ward departs — “This year puts him on the radar for next year,” an industry source said — but could generate interest for jobs in the South and Southeast.

Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator Will Stein: Like many coordinators on the list, Stein oversees a unit that will be closely watched on a national level and, if successful, could propel the team to a long-awaited CFP spot. The transition from predecessor Kenny Dillingham to Stein could not have been smoother, as Oregon went from No. 10 in scoring under Dillingham in 2022 to No. 2 in Stein’s first season. Stein is only 34 and landed his first on-field college assistant job in 2020, so some additional seasoning might be needed. But he has spent time around Bobby Petrino and Tom Herman, and he was part of very successful UTSA offenses before coming to Oregon.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden: He hasn’t been a head coach since 2015 at Miami and might be content to remain a well-paid coordinator at one of the nation’s highest-profile programs. Golden, 55, was a somewhat surprising choice to be Marcus Freeman’s defensive coordinator but has done a very good job, as Notre Dame ranks No. 8 nationally in fewest points allowed (18.2) since his arrival. Although things ended poorly in Miami, Golden had bowl-eligible teams in each of his past full seasons as a head coach. He has deep roots along the East Coast and now in the Midwest. The key question here could be: Does he want to lead a program in the portal/NIL era?

Texas A&M Aggies offensive coordinator Collin Klein: He likely could have remained at Kansas State, his alma mater and where he’s beloved, and gone straight to a Power 4 head-coaching role. But Klein, who spoke with Notre Dame about its coordinator vacancy in early 2023, left the comforts of the Little Apple for a higher-profile playcalling role where he would make more money but also help his chance to land a better Power 4 head-coaching role. Texas A&M’s offense is off to an uneven start, and it might take a year or two for Klein to truly position himself for a big jump.

SMU Mustangs offensive coordinator Casey Woods: Rhett Lashlee’s top lieutenant could soon oversee his own program, perhaps even SMU if Lashlee ends up moving on to a job such as Arkansas. Woods, 41, is in his third season as the Mustangs’ offensive coordinator and also chief of staff, and he previously was Missouri’s recruiting coordinator. He also worked with Lashlee at Auburn and helped revive UAB’s program with Bill Clark. A former Tennessee wide receiver, Woods has strong roots in the South and in the SEC, but recently has added AAC and ACC experience. He was in the mix for Middle Tennessee’s recent coaching vacancy.

LSU Tigers offensive coordinator Joe Sloan: He worked directly with Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels last fall and also in 2022, and he was a fairly obvious choice to replace Mike Denbrock as the team’s primary coordinator. Sloan is just 37 but has held a coordinator title since 2019 at Louisiana Tech, where he also served as recruiting coordinator. Although he has coached in the state of Louisiana since 2013, he has some ties to the Southeast as a former East Carolina quarterback who started his career at South Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles: There’s great respect for Knowles as an elite defensive tactician and playcaller. The question is whether he gets another head-coaching opportunity at 59, after going 26-34 at Cornell from 2004 to 2009. Knowles interviewed for the recent vacancy at Duke, where he served as defensive coordinator from 2010 to 2017. Would he sacrifice salary to take a Group of 5 job? Knowles is a Philadelphia native who has mostly coached in the Midwest or on the East Coast, although he spent a season at Ole Miss and four at Oklahoma State.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner: A distinct run-based offense and strong Southeast ties make Faulkner an intriguing candidate, especially if Georgia Tech can build on its success from 2023. Faulkner, 43, became an offensive coordinator in his late 20s and held several FBS coordinator roles before spending 2020 to 2022 at Georgia working with quarterbacks under offensive coordinator Todd Monken. He then came to Georgia Tech, which led the ACC in rushing last fall. “That guy’s offense is unique,” an industry source said.

Non-primary playcallers to watch

The Power 4 head-coaching candidate pool isn’t limited to Group of 5 head coaches and Power 4 coordinators. South Carolina’s Shane Beamer, Arkansas’ Sam Pittman, Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire and, most recently, Syracuse’s Fran Brown all vaulted to their current positions from position coach roles. Here are a few assistants who aren’t primary coordinators who soon could make similar jumps.

Alabama co-offensive coordinator JaMarcus Shephard: Charisma matters in coaching searches and Shephard brings plenty, along with a track record that included the nation’s top wide receiver room with Washington in 2023. The 41-year-old also has an interesting background, working in the NCAA’s education services division and with the National Center for Drug Free Sport before beginning his college coaching career under Jeff Brohm at Western Kentucky in 2011. He has since risen quickly; he was a key member of Kalen DeBoer’s Washington staff and someone DeBoer had to bring to Tuscaloosa.

Iowa Hawkeyes co-defensive coordinator Seth Wallace: He was the choice to fill in for Kirk Ferentz as the nation’s longest-tenured coach missed Iowa’s season opener due to a suspension. Wallace, 45, works closely with primary defensive coordinator Phil Parker and has helped Iowa’s defense become a perennially elite unit. He has had opportunities to leave Iowa but has remained at the flagship school of the state where he has spent most of this life. Wallace would be a top internal candidate to replace Ferentz, but could generate some attention outside Iowa.

Ohio State co-offensive coordinator Brian Hartline: No stranger to these lists, Hartline continues to crank out elite receivers in Columbus, as true freshman Jeremiah Smith is the latest star. Hartline, 37, is coaching at his alma mater and in his home state, and would only leave for a very desirable opportunity. He’s an excellent recruiter and has worked under Urban Meyer and Ryan Day. The NFL might be a natural next stop, but perhaps Hartline could be steered to the right Power 4 opportunity.

Georgia cornerbacks coach Donte Williams: The man who replaced Brown at Georgia is worth watching, especially since he has interim head coach experience at USC and has interviewed for some Group of 5 jobs. Williams, 42, is a Los Angeles native most closely connected to the West Coast from his time at USC and Oregon. But he also spent a season at Nebraska and will benefit from working alongside Smart, Schumann and Will Muschamp at Georgia. If a job such as UNLV opens, Williams could get consideration.

Kansas State Wildcats associate head coach Van Malone: The former NFL defensive back also coaches cornerbacks for the Wildcats and has helped coach Chris Klieman to a strong run that includes the Big 12 title in 2022. Malone, 54, is connected throughout the college athletics world because of the leadership podcast he runs, and he made stops at Oklahoma State, SMU and Mississippi State. He has received some attention for recent FBS openings and should continue to be considered if Kansas State maintains its success.