Every 2023 FBS Head Coaching Change So Far
College football is a fluid sport. Through the transfer portal and conference realignment, the FBS coaching carousel is alive and well, with 19 teams changing leadership at the top. One job remains open at time of writing – Troy. The other 18 have been filled.
Who decided to bring in a new head coach? What names are headed where?
FBS Coaching Changes For 2023-24
Texas A&M: Mike Elko
Oct 14, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko before the first half of the game against North Carolina State Wolfpack at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports
This cycle's biggest job was quite the rollercoaster. After firing Jimbo Fisher, a report released that Texas A&M was hiring Kentucky's Mark Stoops. Backlash from donors and fans forced A&M to consider elsewhere. Ultimately, they brought back a familiar face – Elko, who was the defensive coordinator prior to his stint as Duke head coach.
Michigan State: Jonathan Smith
Michigan State's new football coach Jonathan Smith waves to the crowd during a timeout in the basketball game against Georgia Southern on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
Michigan State dismissed Mel Tucker early in the year after a tumultuous and financially unfortunate run for the school. Rather than try their hand at a flashy name, they brought in Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith. Smith built a stable and successful program at a place difficult to win. The hire was widely praised – much unlike their prior hire – in college football circles.
Mississippi State: Jeff Lebby
Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby in the first half during a Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023
Lebby went from offensive coordinator of Ole Miss to head coach of Mississippi State with a quick layover at Oklahoma. In Norman, Lebby helped lead Dillon Gabriel to the fifth-most passing yards in the country and the Sooners to the second-most points per game in 2023. However, his hire didn't go without a playful jab from former boss Lane Kiffin, who still heads the Rebels.
Tulane: Jon Sumrall
Sep 17, 2022; Boone, North Carolina, USA; Troy Trojans head coach Jon Sumrall on the sidelines against the Appalachian State Mountaineers during the second half at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Tulane made one of the most widely-praised hires this cycle. In just two seasons at Troy, Sumrall compiled a 23-4 record, two Sun Belt championships, and a Cure Bowl victory. Before his stint, the Trojans went 15-21 in three seasons. Tulane may have just lost head coach Willie Fritz to Houston, but they teed off on this terrific hire.
Oregon State: Trent Bray
Nov 13, 2021; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Oregon State interim defensive coordinator Trent Bray looks on during the first half against the Stanford Cardinal at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Oregon State decided to stay in-house with Jonathan Smith's replacement, promoting defensive coordinator Trent Bray. Bray immediately set out on the recruiting trail, opting not to coach the team during their Sun Bowl prep. The stability built in the Oregon State program is seen as a major success in college football, but their stability in the college football world after the Pac-12 dissolves is not.
Houston: Willie Fritz
Dec 6, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars football head coach Willie Fritz is interviewed during the game against the Rice Owls at Fertitta Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Fritz has been a name rumored to be leaving Tulane multiple times. Eventually, Houston pulled him away after a 23-4 run in the last two seasons. Fritz took over a Tulane program that finished just 2-10 in 2021, leading them to an AAC championship and Cotton Bowl victory over USC. Houston fired Dana Holgorsen after a 4-8 Big 12 debut.
Duke: Manny Diaz
Manny Diaz, center, was introduced as Duke's football coach on Dec. 9, 2023 on campus inside the Pascal Field House.
Duke looked to a veteran after Elko left for Texas A&M. Diaz heads to the Research Triangle after a couple-year stint as Penn State's defensive coordinator. This season, the Nittany Lions allowed the fewest yards per game in the country. He formerly coached Miami from 2019-2021.
Indiana: Curt Cignetti
Indiana's newly announced head coach of football Curt Cignetti speaks to the media on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.
Cignetti made a splash leading James Madison to the FBS. The Dukes went 19-4 since joining the FBS ranks, including 11-1 this past season. Immediately upon landing in Bloomington, Cignetti publicly promised a Big Ten Championship appearance next year and decried rival Purdue, but also threw Ohio State and Michigan into his passionate rally. Indiana finishes their 2024 schedule with all three teams consecutively.
Syracuse: Fran Brown
Dec 4, 2023; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Fran Brown reacts during a press conference at the John A. Lally Athletics Complex. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Syracuse pulled a man familiar with the northeast to lead their program after dismissing Tom Allen after the season. Brown served as a defensive assistant at Georgia the last two years, following a time with Rutgers. He grew up in New Jersey and spent six years coaching with Temple before a layover at Baylor. Brown was named associate head coach at both Temple and Baylor.
James Madison: Bob Chesney
Holy Cross coach Bob Chesney blows his whistle to end warmups before Saturday's game at Fitton Field.
Chesney was one of the most highly-regarded names in this year's coaching carousel. He was tied to Syracuse – given the geographic ties – but was ultimately hired by JMU. Chesney has proven success leading programs of this level, most recently finishing 44-21 with Holy Cross. The Crusaders also won five consecutive Patriot League titles under him from 2019-23.
San Diego State: Sean Lewis
Dec 9, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego State Aztecs football coach Sean Lewis applauds during the first half of the game between the Aztecs and the UC Irvine Anteaters at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Lewis left his post as Kent State head coach to lead Colorado's offense under Deion Sanders. In a questionable move (and one that ultimately failed), Prime stripped Lewis of his play calling duties. He left Colorado to take over San Diego State, bringing his notable "Flash Fast" offensive system with him. The Aztecs have struggled offensively for years, running one of the slowest paces in the nation. Lewis provides a real pivot, following Brady Hoke, who retired.
Wyoming: Jay Sawvel
Longtime coach Craig Bohl announced his retirement to follow the Arizona Bowl. The head coaching search never really happened, as Wyoming already had defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel lined up as Bohl's successor. Keeping the hire internal makes sense for the Pokes, who have succeeded under their system, which defies some of the modern changes to college football.
Boise State: Spencer Danielson
Dec 2, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Boise State Broncos head coach Spencer Danielson holds the Craig Thompson tropny after 44-20 victory over the UNLV Rebels in the Mountain West Championship at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Boise State dismissed Andy Avalos midseason and named defensive coordinator Danielson the interim. The Broncos went on the win the Mountain West championship despite the coaching change and Danielson was named the permanent head coach. He announced most of the staff would stay the same heading into 2024 – after all, don't fix what ain't broke, right?
Middle Tennessee: Derek Mason
Derek Mason, the former Vanderbilt head football coach speaks during a public press conference announcing him as the new MTSU head football replacing former MTSU head football coach Rick Stockstill, on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, during a press conference in the Student Union Building on campus.
MTSU went with name familiar with coaching FBS football in Tennessee. Mason spent seven seasons as the head coach of Vanderbilt just 30 minutes up the road. He most recently led Auburn and Oklahoma State's defenses before taking 2023 off. Mason succeeds Rick Stockstill, who was let go after heading MTSU for 18 seasons.
Nevada: Jeff Choate
New Nevada head football coach Jeff Choate helps fire up the crowd while taking on UC Davis at Lawlor Events Center in Reno on Dec. 6, 2023.
Nevada's brief time under Ken Wilson ended in a paltry 4-20 record. Instead, Nevada hired Choate – a very successful head coach of Montana State that included two postseason trips and a semifinal appearance. He also brought on a few familiar faces from Bozeman. Choate most recently spent three years as a defensive assistant at Texas from 2021-23.
New Mexico: Bronco Mendenhall
Nov 20, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Bronco Mendenhall looks on from the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Mendenhall is a familiar name to college football enthusiasts. The former BYU and Virginia head coach stepped away after the 2021 season for personal matters. He resurfaces with New Mexico, who fired Danny Gonzales this year. Mendenhall boasts a .625 career win rate with two conference titles and a Mountain West Coach of the Year award.
Louisiana-Monroe: Bryant Vincent
Vincent was unceremoniously dumped from UAB, where he served as the interim coach when UAB legend Bob Clark stepped down. Despite the wishes of the players – who went as far as to pen a letter to keep Vincent – UAB went with Trent Dilfer. Vincent spent 2023 as the offensive coordinator at New Mexico before stepping into the FBS' toughest job. ULM dismissed Terry Bowden after a 10-26 three-year run.
UTEP: Scotty Walden
Scotty Walden was introduced as the new UTEP head football coach on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at a press conference at the Larry K. Durham Sports Center on campus.
UTEP let Dana Dimel go after just one bowl appearance in six seasons. The Miners looked to the FCS ranks (a proven successful strategy) and brought up Austin Peay's Scotty Walden. Walden pulled a move similar to GJ Kinne at Texas State, bringing with him most of his staff. Like San Diego State, UTEP will transition from a methodical smashmouth football team to a spread team with blistering pace.
Walden told fans to stock up on concessions pregame because he anticipates running a new offensive play every 12 seconds.
Troy: TBD
Coach Jon Sumrall left for Tulane and Troy has yet to finalize his replacement. Expect an announcement soon.
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