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Jackson ranks the head coaching hires for all power conference schools during the 2024 offseason. Which programs made the best hires ahead of the 2024 college football season?
Coaching changes in college football are always one of the hottest topics in the offseason, and the 2024 hiring and firing cycle is no different. Several universities made changes after a down 2023 season, and others had to replace their coach who left for a "better" job.
Although none of the 12 head coaches listed in this article have coached a single game for their new school, it's time to look at which schools hired who, examine the new coaches' resumes, and give early grades for all the new hires.
At the time of this article, Boston College has not made a hire to replace Jeff Hafley, who left to become the Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator. On another note, Northwestern promoted interim head coach David Braun. We won't cover him here. Without further ado, let's dive in!
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Grading/Ranking Process
These rankings and grades aren't simply "head coach rankings." Instead, we'll evaluate the hires made based on the tier of the programs and the resources each athletic department has. Schools are not on even playing fields and don't have the same ability to attract top candidates, so that is being taken into account.
12. Brent Brennan, Arizona
Previous Role: San Jose State Head Coach
Head Coaching Record: 34-48
Grade: D
San Jose State is far from a juggernaut in college football, but the program did have an 11-2 season in 2012. The Spartans had some down seasons after that, leading to Ron Caragher being replaced by Brennan. In seven seasons with SJSU, Brennan has compiled a 34-48 record. In his last three years as the team's head coach, he went 19-18. Arizona might not be the most exciting spot for potential head-coaching candidates, but it feels like they should've made a better hire following their 10-3 season in 2023.
This is the worst hire of this cycle on paper, and it shouldn't be expected to be a successful one as the Wildcats make the move to the Big 12. Zeroing in on a big-time coordinator from an elite program, or targeting a head coach with a more impressive resume at a smaller school should've been the simple process for the Arizona athletics department.
— Coach Brennan (@CoachBrennan) January 31, 2024
11. Trent Bray, Oregon State
Previous Role: Oregon State Defensive Coordinator
Head Coaching Record: 0-0
Grade: C
Bray is an unknown commodity since he's spent most of his coaching career with the Beavers, but he did have Oregon State's defense playing at a respectable level last season (21.5 points per game allowed). The program likely couldn't make a splash hire given the uncertainty moving forward with the Pac-12 conference, but either way, it's an uninspiring hire for a program that has been on the rise.
Introducing the 32nd head coach in program history, Trent Bray! pic.twitter.com/xDjcXzVgrH
— Oregon State Football (@BeaverFootball) November 29, 2023
Bray's promotion to head coach grades as an average hire, so it gets a "C".
10. Manny Diaz, Duke
Previous Role: Penn State Defensive Coordinator
Head Coaching Record: 21-15
Grade: C+
Diaz is a fine hire for Duke, but his time at Miami was far from impressive, and it takes an exceptional leader to keep the Blue Devils competitive. The 49-year-old has led impressive defenses at Middle Tennessee State, Mississippi State, and Penn State, so the newfound defensive mindset in Durham should stick around.
However, he failed to get the Hurricanes' program off the ground in the ACC with significantly better resources than Duke, so why should things be different this time around? To be fair, the program isn't a top-tier landing spot and options could be limited, but taking a gamble on a first-time coach with upside feels like the better move in their situation.
BREAKING: Duke has hired Penn State DC Manny Diaz as its next head coach, @RossDellenger reports?https://t.co/MvNL31UnGR pic.twitter.com/udsdkxtsvk
— On3 (@On3sports) December 8, 2023
9. Fran Brown, Syracuse
Previous Role: Georgia Defensive Backs Coach
Head Coaching Record: 0-0
Grade: B-
Brown has worked with the Temple, Baylor, Rutgers, and Georgia defenses over the last decade. However, he's never been a coordinator, so it's tough to know how much of an effect he had on those defenses. Syracuse doesn't have the deepest pockets and isn't an overly desirable job, so the program is likely banking on him learning a thing or two from his former bosses Matt Rhule and Kirby Smart.
However, he was rated the top recruiter by 247 Sports for the class of 2024, so that's extremely promising for a program that seemingly hasn't been relevant since Donovan McNabb was their quarterback in the late 90s. This hire has a ton of upside, and Brown is just 40 years old. If he at least keeps the Orange respectable among ACC foes, he'll be able to keep the job as long as he wants to.
?BREAKING: Syracuse is expected to hire Georgia DB coach Fran Brown as its next HC, @mzenitz reports.https://t.co/w0I1o8XLsY pic.twitter.com/xRRVf73Jwo
— On3 (@On3sports) November 28, 2023
8. Mike Elko, Texas A&M
Previous Role: Duke Head Coach
Head Coaching Record: 16-9
Grade: B-
Elko was impressive in his two seasons with the Blue Devils. Duke won a total of 10 games in the three seasons before his arrival, and he immediately posted a 9-4 and an 8-5 campaign. He makes his money on the defensive side of the ball, and while a 16-9 overall record doesn't sound all that impressive, it's massive at a place like Duke given the talent gap compared to its ACC foes.
Third and one is a toughness down for Texas A&M's Mike Elko. https://t.co/GtvtTNIbSo pic.twitter.com/4lJ874NCoP
— GigEm247 (@GigEm247) February 4, 2024
Before his first head-coaching gig in Durham, Elko was Jimbo Fisher's defensive coordinator at A&M from 2018 to 2021. The 2021 squad ranked 14th nationally in total yards per game allowed (328.6) and third nationally in points per game allowed (15.9). While his stint with Duke should give A&M fans optimism for the future, it was odd to see the program target someone from Fisher's old staff. Fisher mightily underperformed in College Station, so a hard reset with fresh ideas and faces would've made more sense.
Time will tell whether Elko can produce better results than his former boss, but for now, it should be viewed as a solid -- but not great hire. The Aggies targeted Kentucky's Mark Stoops before hiring Elko, so how far down was he on the totem pole?
7. Sherrone Moore, Michigan
Previous Role: Michigan Offensive Coordinator
Head Coaching Record: 1-0
Grade: B
The Michigan football team rallied around Moore when Jim Harbaugh was suspended for the last three regular season games, including the showdown against Ohio State. The players like him and he will keep the culture in Ann Arbor intact, so it's difficult to criticize the hire completely. That said, coming off of a 12th national title, the Wolverines are once again one of college football's premier programs. Michigan could have attracted an elite candidate with proven head-coaching experience, but it opted to do the "easy thing."
"The collective and collaborative work done by our strength staff, nutrition staff and athletic training staff has been critical to the championship culture that exists in Schembechler Hall."
?️ » https://t.co/SmRdswJNr4#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/tDtKD1rQpk
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 29, 2024
Harbaugh brought Moore to the Michigan staff in 2018, but before that, he spent time with mediocre Louisville and Central Michigan programs. He spent just one season as the sole offensive coordinator in 2023. Again, this hire might age well and become an A+, but it was odd to see Michigan essentially promote him immediately rather than make calls to some of the rising or established candidates in the college football world.
Moore will have a ton of challenges ahead, including making up for the loss of quarterback J.J. McCarthy, competing with Big Ten newcomers, and dealing with potential punishment from the NCAA following the university's sign-stealing allegations.
6. Jeff Lebby, Mississippi State
Previous Role: Oklahoma Offensive Coordinator
Head Coaching Record: 0-0
Grade: B
It's nearly impossible to win big at Mississippi State. Among the 16 SEC football schools, the Bulldogs have the second-lowest win percentage in program history (.491), leading only Vanderbilt. Their most successful coaches in recent history (Mike Leach and Dan Mullen) have been offensive innovators. Given the recruiting and talent gap MSU faces, creative schemes and high-powered offenses are seemingly the only paths to true contention in the conference. Lebby fits that mold.
Lebby learned under Art Briles at Baylor, Josh Heupel at UCF, and Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss. Those three are regarded as some of the brightest offensive minds college football has seen, and Lebby's first opportunity to lead his own offense was successful. With Lebby running Oklahoma's offense in 2023, the Sooners ranked third nationally in total yards per game (507.0), sixth in passing yards per game (324.8), and fourth in points per game (41.7).
Just the beginning for Coach ?#HailState? pic.twitter.com/Cz4NzMjRhz
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) November 28, 2023
The Bulldogs' athletic department will have to be patient and let Lebby establish his system, but there's a lot of upside with this hire.
5. Jedd Fisch, Washington
Previous Role: Arizona Head Coach
Head Coaching Record: 17-22
Grade: B+
Fisch doesn't have a long resume of head-coaching success, but his quick turnaround of the struggling Arizona program earned him a pay raise and a step up in the coaching ranks. Kevin Sumlin went 9-20 as the Wildcats' shot-caller, and although Fisch went just 6-18 during his first two seasons in Tucson, his 2023 campaign loomed large. Arizona was picked to finish eighth in the conference, but ultimately finished only behind Washington and Oregon.
Husky Nation … Please Welcome Head Coach, Jedd Fisch ??#PurpleReign pic.twitter.com/PahFL5hUN5
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) February 4, 2024
Fisch's squad won its final seven games, and five of the victories came against ranked foes. Overall, Arizona went 10-3 with its three losses coming by a combined 16 points. Washington is taking a gamble on him, but he's been groomed by some of the best in the business. The 47-year-old has worked under Steve Spurrier (Florida), Mike Shanahan (Broncos), Pete Carroll (Seahawks), Jim Harbaugh (Michigan), Sean McVay (Rams), and Bill Belichick (Patriots).
While Washington's roster has been depleted by the portal and the NFL draft, the program is now respected by all following its second College Football Playoff appearance, and the move to the Big Ten will open more recruiting opportunities.
4. Jonathan Smith, Michigan State
Previous Role: Oregon State Head Coach
Head Coaching Record: 34-35
Grade: B+
The Michigan State program saw rare stability under Mark Dantonio for 13 seasons (2007-19), but it was a rough four seasons under Mel Tucker. Tucker went 20-14 with the Spartans and left under less-than-ideal circumstances. Now, Sparty faithful is hoping Smith can get them back on track.
While Smith's 34-35 at Oregon State record is easy to scoff at, he took over for a coach (Gary Anderson) who went 7-23. The program was in rough shape when he took it over, and Smith went 18-7 in his final two seasons with the Beavers. It was surprising to see MSU poach Smith away from his alma mater, but since the future of OSU's program following the collapse of the Pac-12 is uncertain, it was an attractive position for the 45-year-old.
A new era of Spartan Football is here!
Please welcome Jonathan Smith as the 26th Head Coach in program history.
? | https://t.co/cianmGIS3E#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/3lGTurivLF
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) November 25, 2023
The Big Ten added Oregon, Washington, USC, and UCLA this offseason, so turning around the team will be no easy feat. Smith has proven he has what it takes, though.
3. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
Previous Role: Washington Head Coach
Head Coaching Record: 104-12
Grade: A
DeBoer's win-loss record speaks for itself, and his quick rise to claiming the most coveted job in college football is impressive. The 49-year-old posted an unbelievable 67-3 record to begin his coaching career at Sioux Falls. In just five seasons, he led the Cougars to four NAIA Championship games, winning three of them. He then spent 10 seasons (2010-19) as the offensive coordinator at four different schools before landing the Fresno State job in 2020.
Fresno State went 3-3 during the COVID-shortened season and 9-3 in 2021, earning him the Washington job. He went 25-3 with the Huskies and led the program to its first National Championship appearance since the 21st century. Two seasons later, he's replacing Nick Saban.
There's no perfect replacement for the greatest coach of all time, but DeBoer has the right mix of experience, winning, and youth. Crimson Tide fans will demand excellence immediately, so he has his work cut out for him.
Your 28th Alabama Head Coach! #RollTide pic.twitter.com/PTeHCQ7XE6
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) January 13, 2024
2. Willie Fritz, Houston
Previous Role: Tulane Head Coach
Head Coaching Record: 208-116
Grade: A
Fritz has been a head coach at five different spots since 1993. With Houston aiming to be competitive in the Big 12, he's a fantastic choice to lead the Cougars program. He was dominant at the junior college, FCS, and Sun Belt levels before taking over Tulane's program in 2016. Before Fritz arrived in New Orleans, Tulane had been to just one bowl game since 2003.
It took some time, but he would lead the program to five bowl game appearances in eight years, and his last two seasons at the helm cemented his resume. Over the last two seasons, the Green Wave went 23-4 under his direction, including an AAC Championship and a win over Caleb Williams' USC squad in the 2023 Cotton Bowl.
??????? ???????@CoachWEFritz #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/KX5Sf5kmmE
— Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) January 25, 2024
With Texas and Oklahoma heading to the SEC, the Big 12 is wide open, and although Fritz is on the older side of coaching (63), he has the skills to lead the Cougars toward quick contention. Houston's program has no shortage of upside as a power conference school, so the hire was a home run.
1. Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Previous Role: James Madison Head Coach
Head Coaching Record: 119-35
Grade: A+
Indiana has only won more than seven games in a season once since 1988 (2019), so landing a program-builder with a winning percentage north of 77% is a massive win for the Hoosier program. Cignetti's James Madison squads in 2019, 2020, and 2021 were prime FCS National Championship contenders, and the Dukes were immediately competitive in the move to the Sun Belt Conference ahead of the 2022 campaign.
If the Dukes were not deemed ineligible for postseason play in their first two seasons at the FBS level, they would have represented the East division in the Sun Belt title game in both years. It's a difficult challenge for IU to compete in the Big Ten with Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Oregon, and USC, but this is the best candidate imaginable for a long-struggling program.
NEWS: Curt Cignetti continues to assemble quite the impressive off-field staff at Indiana, where he's hiring an SEC veteran to run the Hoosiers personnel department, sources tell @footballscoop: https://t.co/0aPVEbq2Fz
— John Brice (@JohnDBrice1) January 23, 2024
