Every season, a bunch of coaches change jobs, whether by choice or not. Each situation they find themselves in now is unique. Here are the new college football coaches in new places for 2023.
Related: College Football Coaching Changes
ACC
Boston College Eagles: Bill O’Brien
O’Brien had a good run as the head coach of the Houston Texans after his stint at Penn State. He was 15-9 at Penn State, which was an incredible feat given the fallout from the end of Joe Paterno’s tenure. He takes over the Boston College program that brings back 13 starters. The Eagles made a bowl game last season and they could build on that if O’Brien can work with returning starting quarterback Thomas Castellanos.
Duke Blue Devils: Manny Diaz
Diaz formerly was the head coach at Miami, where he posted a 21-15 record over three seasons. He has been a noted defensive mind before and after his time in Miami. At Duke, he has just eight total starters returning. Texas transfer Maalik Murphy is coming in to play quarterback, which can help over the next few seasons. Duke is a tough job and Diaz will have his work cut out for him.
Syracuse Orange: Fran Brown
Brown has been a defensive backs coach who has quickly risen through the coaching ranks. He most notable coached at Georgia, where he was at right before his hiring at Syracuse. While only 10 starters return, Syracuse has plenty of notable players on the team. Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord is at quarterback, while Fadil Diggs comes in from Texas A&M to play on the edge. Tight End Oronde Gadsen II can provide a unique target for the offense to utilize. An easier early-season schedule could set up Brown for success early.
Big Ten
Indiana Hoosiers: Curt Cignetti
James Madison transitioned to the FBS with the help of Cignetti, who posted a 19-4 record once the Dukes moved up to the premier level of college football. He brought a lot of his James Madison team with him to Indiana, including wide receiver Elijah Sarratt. There was a lot of roster turnover as he returns just four starters, but they brought a lot of players in to aid them. It won’t be an easy turnaround, as the Hoosiers last went to a bowl game in 2020.
Michigan Wolverines: Sherrone Moore
Moore earned some experience last year when Jim Harbaugh was suspended and now takes over the full-time role. A former offensive line coach, Moore likely won’t change Michigan’s identity moving forward. Figuring out the quarterback situation will be his first big question to answer, but Moore does have plenty of talent on the roster, which has them projected to be near the top of the Big Ten. The fallout from the sign-stealing investigation could put more limitations on Moore, but the short-term future looks like it can be solid.
Michigan State Spartans: Jonathan Smith
Smith did well in a tough situation at Oregon State, going 34-35. He had three straight winning seasons to end his time with the Beavers, which includes a 10-win season in 2022. Michigan State moved on from Mel Tucker to bring Smith in. With Smith comes quarterback Aidan Chiles and tight end Jack Velling who can both be starts. Only 10 starters return for the Spartans next season. An immediate bowl appearance might be just out of reach, but Smith can get the program on track for the future.
Northwestern Wildcats: David Braun
Braun was the interim coach to start last season after Pat Fitzgerald was fired. He blew expectations out of the water by winning eight games, when they were projected to do much worse. There are 11 starters returning, so if Braun can work his magic again, Northwestern could do better than their projected 5.5 wins.
UCLA Bruins: DeShaun Foster
Chip Kelly left the head coaching job at UCLA to be the offensive coordinator at Ohio State. DeShaun Foster, a former running back for the Bruins and in the NFL, takes over. He has only been a position coach before being appointed head coach, but he has a passion for his university. UCLA surrounded him with some help as Eric Bieniemy comes from the NFL to run the offense. They only have 10 returning starters, so going bowling might take a year or two.
Washington Huskies: Jedd Fisch
Fisch did a great job turning around Arizona, as he had one win in his first year and then 10 in his third season with the Wildcats. The roster will look a lot different than the one that made the CFP last season. Only one starter returns, but a lot of players followed Fisch from Arizona to Washington. Will Rogers comes in to play quarterback after becoming the SEC’s all-time leading passer in the SEC. It will be hard to replicate what they did last season, but with time Fisch can have success in Seattle.
Big 12
Arizona Wildcats: Brent Brennan
After Fisch left for Washington, Arizona hired a candidate who had been considered before for their job. Brent Brennan did a great job at San Jose State, posting a 34-48 record overall. Three out of his last four years were winning seasons, which is impressive given the resources he was given. While a lot of players left the program, they have 11 returning starters, including a few stars. With quarterback Noah Fifita, Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. offensive tackle Jonah Savaiinaea and cornerback Tacario Davis, they have the star power to have a good season, but the depth will be tested.
Houston Cougars: Willie Fritz
Fritz coached at Georgia Southern and Tulane, posting a 72-54 record at the schools. His crowning achievement has been the last two seasons at Tulane, when he led the team to a 23-4 record, including a Cotton Bowl win over USC following the 2022 season. He has a tough job at Houston, as they won just four total games in their first year in the Big 12. Only six players return, but getting starting quarterback Donovan Smith to return does give them some help. It may take time, but Fritz can get things right.
SEC
Alabama Crimson Tide: Kalen DeBoer
DeBoer was the biggest name moving in this cycle after he left Washington to take over following Nick Saban’s retirement. In four seasons as a head coach (two at Fresno State, two at Washington), he has posted a 37-9 record. The Huskies made the CFP last season, which will now be a yearly expectation at Alabama given the expanded playoff field. Eight starters are back, but more talent than that is all over the roster. If DeBoer can help quarterback Jalen Milroe progress, much like he did with Michael Penix at Washington, Alabama could find success very early in his tenure.
Mississippi State Bulldogs: Jeff Lebby
After giving Zach Arnett the job last year, Mississippi State hired Jeff Lebby, who had been working as the Oklahoma offensive coordinator. The offense changed last season, but Lebby will change things back to more of how things used to be under Mike Leach with a dynamic offense. The path to early success won’t be easy, as they return just two starters, but with time Lebby’s offense could cause SEC defensive coordinators to have headaches.
Texas A&M Aggies: Mike Elko
Elko was the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M before he was the head coach at Duke. In a tough job, Elko saw immediate results, as he posted a 16-9 record during his two seasons with the Blue Devils. He’ll have all the resources he needs at Texas A&M. There is still a lot of talent around from the last regime and they have key defensive transfers to help out as well. A CFP appearance may be too rich for this season, but it could be in the future for Elko and the Aggies.
Group of Five
Boise State Broncos: Spencer Danielson
Danielson took over at the end of last season. He went 3-1, winning the Mountain West in the process. He has been with the program since 2017 and has some great players to work with including running back Ashton Jeanty. They could push for a spot in the CFP as the group of five representatives.
Buffalo Bulls: Pete Lembo
Lembo has head coaching experience in the FBS, leading Ball State to a 33-29 record over five seasons. He also has been a long-time assistant, most recently working for South Carolina. Buffalo will be a tough team to turn around and Lembo will need time to get his guys in the door.
Fresno State Bulldogs: Tim Skipper
Skipper takes over for Jeff Tedford, who stepped down for the second time as Fresno State’s head coach. He has been an assistant all over the country, but has been with the Bulldogs since 2022. With an offense that features quarterback Mickey Keene and running back Malik Sherrod, the Bulldogs could compete for the Mountain West if Skipper does well.
Georgia State Panthers: Dell McGee
McGee has worked for a lot of schools in Georgia, showing good knowledge of the landscape. He most recently was an assistant for Georgia, where he has been since 2016. There are 10 starters returning to the program, but competing in the Sun Belt early in McGee’s tenure will be tough.
James Madison Dukes: Bob Chesney
Chesney was the head coach at Holy Cross before earning the job at James Madison. While Cignetti took a lot of players to Indiana, Chesney does return a few key players, including some offensive linemen. It would be hard to follow Cignetti’s success, but Chesney has a decent roster and could make a bowl game in year one.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders: Derek Mason
After putting up a 27-55 record at Vanderbilt, Mason has been a defensive coordinator at Auburn and Oklahoma State. There wasn’t much talent left on the roster, so Mason will need time to build the program up.
Nevada Wolf Pack: Jeff Choate
Choate has head coaching experience at Montana State, but most recently was the co-defensive coordinator at Texas. Only egiht starters return, but that incudes quarterback Brendon Lewis and running back Sean Dollars. A tough schedule likely prevents Choate from reaching a ball in year one, but they could get there soon after.
New Mexico Lobos: Bronco Mendenhall
Mendenhall is back out west were he had success as BYU’s head coach. He also spent time with Virginia. Mendenahall was a huge get for New Mexico, who will take some time, but should be able to steady the program.
New Mexico State Aggies: Tony Sanchez
Sanchez went 20-40 while being the head coach at UNLV. He has a bigger rebuild job than most at New Mexico State. Former Iowa walk-on Deuce Hogan is projected to be the starting quarterback, so immediate success likely isn’t in the cards.
Oregon State Beavers: Trent Bray
After Smith left for the Michigan State job, defensive coordinator Trent Bray was promoted to head coach. While there is still talent on the roster, Bray has just five returning starters. With no big conference and some future uncertainty with the program, it will be hard for him to build the program.
San Diego State Aztecs: Sean Lewis
Last season Lewis was the offensive coordinator for Colorado, but before that he was the head coach at Kent State. Not a lot of talent returns to the Aztecs, but Lewis has a good offensive mind. If he can recruit well, he can find success.
San Jose State Spartans: Ken Niumatalolo
Niumatalolo went 109-83 during his time at Navy. With the Naval Academy, he ran the triple option, but now he is running an offense that will feature much more passing. Only five returning starters come back for the Spartans, so he’ll need time to get things right.
South Alabama Jaguars: Major Applewhite
Applewhite posted a 15-11 record at Houston in his only experience as an FBS head coach. He was an offensive analyst at Alabama before going to South Alabama. After being the offensive coordinator, he is now the head coach and will be lookin to make USA’s first bowl since 2021. Eight starters return to aid him.
Troy Trojans: Gerad Parker
Parker goes from being the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame to being the head coach of Troy. Troy has a good history of producing good seasons, but just six starters are back. Repeating as Sun Belt champs likely won’t happen, but Parker should be able to build things after a few years.
Tulane Green Wave: Jon Sumrall
Sumrall was 23-4 in two seasons at Troy. He has shown that he can take a solid program and improve things, which is a lot like the task he’ll have at Tulane, after they have had good seasons as of late. A bowl game is in the cards and they could possibly compete in the AAC with 11 starters returning.
UL Monroe Warhawks: Bryant Vincent
Vincent is an offensive-minded coach that has been around the country as a high school coach and college assistant. UL Monroe doesn’t have the best resources, but they do return six starters on defense.
UTEP Miners: Scotty Walden
UTEP last made a bowl game in 2021, so Walden will have his work cut out for him. They have just four starters back. Before getting the job at UTEP, Walden had success at Austin Peay.
Wyoming Cowboys: Jay Sawvel
Wyoming coach Craig Bohl retired after the season and Sawvel will step into the role. Having someone familiar with the program take over (Sawvel is the former defensive coordinator) paid dividends, as the Cowboys have 14 returning starters. A bowl game and possibly competing for the MWC is on the table this season for Sawvel in his first season.
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