First-year head coaches facing big challenges

Being a first-year coach is never easy, but these four may have it harder than any other coaches starting next season.

It’s never easy on first-year coaches. Some impatient fan bases have outsized expectations of what the team should achieve in its first year. Others have become so accustomed to losing that they don’t show up at home games. It’s a challenge to get players recruited by your predecessor motivated to play hard for you.

It’s not easy, and these few first-year coaches may have to endure some growing pains before finding sustained success (if they ever do).