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$7.5 million college football emerges as favorite to replace Jon Sumrall at Tulane

Rowan Fisher Shotton|
Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Tulane Green Wave head coach Jon Sumrall looks on during the second quarter against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Tulane Green Wave head coach Jon Sumrall looks on during the second quarter against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

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With Jon Sumrall accepting Florida’s head coaching job, Tulane now turns its attention to searching for a successor as it heads into the American Athletic Conference title game.

Sumrall, who replaced Willie Fritz and led Tulane to consecutive championship-game appearances, will remain with the Green Wave through the postseason while the school prepares a national search. 

However, in a twist that caught some by surprise, Tulane alumnus Blake Baker has risen to the top of the betting market, with oddsmakers placing the LSU defensive coordinator at around +200.

Behind Baker sits former Florida coach Billy Napier at +300 and Southern Mississippi’s Charles Huff at +400.

The Green Wave finished the regular season 10-2 (7-1 AAC), earned home hosting rights for the conference title game, and carried a Top-25/CFP-adjacent resume into the postseason. 

It’s that steady performance, along with Tulane’s proven ability to thrive under mid-major coaches, that has turned the vacancy into a magnet for both Power-5 hopefuls and regional options.

The Tulane Green Wave logo.
The Tulane Green Wave is painted on the field of the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma | CHRIS LANDSBERGER/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Baker played linebacker at Tulane from 2000 to 2004 and has experience leading high-level defenses with stops at Louisiana Tech, Miami, Missouri, and now LSU.

He also previously served as LSU's linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator in 2021, coaching the nation's leading tackler and Butkus Award Finalist Damone Clark.

Baker took over as LSU’s defensive coordinator in January 2024, agreeing to a three-year deal worth $2.5 million annually that made him the highest-paid assistant in college football.

Napier and Huff present clear fallback choices.

Napier, recently dismissed from Florida, remains linked to several Group of 5 openings and offers Power-Five head-coaching experience.

Huff, who rebuilt Marshall and moved to Southern Miss, carries a strong Sun Belt track record and recruiting resume. 

All three names are recurring on market lists as Tulane evaluates whether to pursue a high-profile external hire or promote someone with local and conference familiarity.

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Rowan Fisher
ROWAN FISHER SHOTTON

Rowan Fisher-Shotton is a versatile journalist known for sharp analysis, player-driven storytelling, and quick-turn coverage across CFB, CBB, the NBA, WNBA, and NFL. A Wilfrid Laurier alum and lifelong athlete, he’s written for FanSided, Pro Football Network, Athlon Sports, and Newsweek, tackling every beat with both a reporter’s edge and a player’s eye.

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