College football coaching carousel tracker: USC hires Rob Ryan as assistant HC

The college football teaching carousel is in full swing.

Head coaches and coordinators are on the transfer everywhere in the nation, however the SEC stays the one energy convention with no change at head coach.

This is a take a look at who’s in and who’s out.

Jan. 18

USC hires Rob Ryan as new assistant HC

The Trojans announced that they’ve employed long-time NFL coach Rob Ryan as their new assistant head coach for protection, in addition to their linebackers coach.

“Rob Ryan is likely one of the most achieved defensive coaches in NFL historical past,” USC head coach Lincoln Riley mentioned in a press release. “With over 20 years of NFL expertise, he’ll instantly bolster our employees as we proceed our climb right here at USC. He has coached a number of the NFL’s prime gamers, together with quite a few Corridor of Famers and All-Professional picks. We’re thrilled to welcome Coach Ryan and his household to our program.”

Ryan has a number of stints as an NFL defensive coordinator underneath his belt, together with with the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints. He was most not too long ago a senior defensive assistant for the Las Vegas Raiders. The Trojans are coming off a 7-6 season — their first within the Big Ten — which noticed their protection give up 377.1 whole yards (fifteenth within the Large Ten) and 24.1 factors (twelfth) per sport.

Jan. 15

Clemson hires Penn State‘s Tom Allen as new DC

Penn State misplaced its defensive coordinator following its loss within the Faculty Soccer Playoff semifinal. Defensive coordinator Tom Allen has agreed to a deal to hitch Clemson in the identical position, Clemson announced.

Allen has greater than three a long time of teaching expertise, most not too long ago serving to lead the Nittany Lions to a school-record 13 wins and a Faculty Soccer Playoff semifinal look. Penn State had one of many nation’s most disruptive defenses underneath Allen, rating seventh within the nation in whole protection (294.8 yards allowed per sport) and eighth in scoring protection (16.5 factors per sport). 

Allen replaces Wes Goodwin, who was fired earlier this month after the Tigers struggled towards the run. Clemson ranked ninth within the ACC in whole protection (374.1 yards allowed per sport).

Jan. 3

Washington hires Purdue‘s Ryan Walters as new DC

Walters has joined the Washington soccer teaching employees as defensive coordinator, head coach Jedd Fisch announced. “At the moment, Washington Soccer added an amazing defensive coach and individual to our program,” Fisch mentioned. “Hiring Ryan Walters permits us to proceed to construct on the muse of the 2024 protection whereas persevering with to develop and enhance. His expertise within the Large Ten Convention was important on this rent, together with having deep household ties within the Seattle space. Amber and I are excited to welcome Ryan, Tara and their two boys into our Husky Household.” Previous to taking up at Purdue in 2023, Walters was the defensive coordinator at Illinois for 2 seasons (2021-22).

Alabama fires co-DC Colin Hitschler

Alabama’s co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach has reportedly been knowledgeable he is not going to return to the Crimson Tide subsequent 12 months. Hitschler had a 12 months remaining on his preliminary two-year contract.

Jan. 1

ASU extends contract with HC Kenny Dillingham

Arizona State and Dillingham agreed to a brand new five-year contract, ESPN reported. Whereas the precise worth of the contract wasn’t revealed, Dillingham’s contract will make him one of many highest-paid coaches within the Big 12 and can give him a “pathway” to extending his contract to 10 seasons, ESPN added in its report. Previous to the extension, Dillingham was incomes a $4.05 million base wage, however Arizona State’s shock season has helped him earn over $2.5 million in bonus cash. Dillingham donated $200,000 to members of his assist employees in the course of the common season.

Dec. 31

Miami (Fla.) fires DC Lance Guidry 

Guidry has been relieved of his duties as defensive coordinator, head coach Mario Cristobal announced Tuesday. “I wish to first thank Coach Guidry for his contributions to the College of Miami,” he mentioned. “In a steady effort to at all times enhance all points of our program, I’ve determined to make a change on protection. We are going to transfer ahead and make selections that present our gamers, employees and program one of the best alternative to win and develop on the highest stage.” 

The Hurricanes gave up 42 factors in every of their final two video games of the season. They misplaced 42-38 to Syracuse after leaping out to a 21-0 lead within the regular-season finale. Then they fell 42-41 to Iowa State within the Pop-Tarts Bowl, regardless of main all however the closing minute of the second half.

South Dakota State hires Dan Jackson as new HC

South Dakota State announced that it’s bringing again one among its personal to take over as head coach. Dan Jackson, a former participant and assistant for the Jackrabbits, will exchange Jimmy Rogers, who left for Washington State. Jackson performed for SDSU from 2003-05 and was an assistant from 2012-19. He spent the 2024 season because the defensive coordinator at Idaho underneath Jason Eck and had deliberate on following Eck to New Mexico earlier than the Jackrabbits’ job opened up. This will probably be his first time as a head coach.

Dec. 28

Washington State hires SDSU’s Jimmy Rogers as new HC

Rogers arrives in Pullman after two profitable years as South Dakota State’s head coach. He led the Jackrabbits to the 2023 FCS nationwide championship and to the nationwide semifinals this season, compiling a 27-3 file. Rogers replaces Jake Dickert, who left to turn into Wake Forest’s head coach Dec. 18. Rogers earned the Eddie Robinson Award because the FCS’s prime coach following the 2023 championship run and was the defensive coordinator when the Jackrabbits received the nationwide title the 12 months earlier than. He has spent the previous 12 years at SDSU, beginning as linebackers coach in 2013.

Dec. 27

Delaware State hires Desean Jackson as new HC

The previous NFL huge receiver is taking up the soccer program at Delaware State, the school announced. “DeSean Jackson is an ideal match for our establishment — extremely aggressive, optimistic in regards to the prospects for our collective future, and targeted on the basics of the establishment,” mentioned Tony Tucker, the varsity’s new athletic director.

Jackson retired in 2023 and spent the 2024 season as an assistant coach at a highschool in Lengthy Seashore, California.

Dec. 20

Norfolk State hires former NFL Professional Bowl QB Michael Vick as new HC

The Spartans have employed Vick to turn into its subsequent head soccer coach, the school announced. Whereas Vick has no teaching expertise, the 44-year-old outlined the quarterback place at Virginia Tech and with the Atlanta Falcons, combining a strong throwing arm with deft ft and velocity. Vick spent six of his 13 seasons with the Falcons, the place he reached three Professional Bowls and led the workforce to 2 playoff appearances, together with the NFC Championship in 2004. He additionally performed with the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier than retiring in 2017.

Dec. 18

Wake Forest hires Washington State HC Jake Dickert

Two days after Dave Clawson stepped down as head coach, Wake Forest discovered his successor, per multiple reports. Dickert helped steer Washington State by way of a pair of obstacles over the previous few seasons. He took over as interim coach following Nick Rolovich’s firing in the course of the 2021 season, going 3-3. That obtained him promoted to Washington State’s full-time head coach. Washington State was additionally impacted by the newest spherical of convention enlargement, turning into one among simply two of the remaining groups within the Pac-12 by the beginning of the 2024 season. Dickert led the Cougars to an 8-4 season in 2024, which earned them a visit to the Vacation Bowl. 

Clawson, 57, spent the previous 11 seasons as Wake Forest’s head coach, going 67-69 since he took over in 2014. 

South Carolina hires former Alabama HC Mike Shula as new OC

Shula is South Carolina’s new offensive coordinator, getting a three-year contract value $1.1 million a season. Shula, who joined this system as an offensive analyst in March, will even coach quarterbacks. He replaces Dowell Loggains, the workforce’s offensive coordinator the previous two years, who took over as Appalachian State’s head coach.

Shula, the son of late NFL coach Don Shula, performed QB for Alabama and coached the workforce from 2003-06. His most up-to-date teaching job earlier than becoming a member of South Carolina was as senior offensive assistant for the Buffalo Bills (2022-23).

UCF hires Wisconsin safeties coach/ex-USC DC Alex Grinch as new DC

Scott Frost is beginning to fill out his employees upon his return to UCF, tabbing Grinch because the workforce’s defensive coordinator. Grinch, who was Wisconsin’s safeties coach for the 2024 season, has a number of seasons of expertise as a defensive coordinator. He was beforehand the defensive coordinator at Washington State (2015-17), Ohio State (2018), Oklahoma (2019-21) and USC (2022-23). His work at Washington State helped him earn a semifinalist nod for the Broyles Award (finest assistant coach) in 2017. Nonetheless, Grinch was way more scrutinized in his most up-to-date gig as a defensive coordinator. USC fired him with two video games remaining within the 2023 season en path to ending 121st in FBS scoring.

Dec. 14

New Mexico hires Idaho’s Jason Eck as new HC

The Lobos discovered their alternative for Bronco Mendenhall, hiring Eck sooner or later after his Vandals workforce misplaced within the FCS playoffs. The 47-year-old coached Idaho for 3 seasons, throughout which era he went 26-13 and guided the Vandals to a playoff look annually. Earlier than that, he was an assistant coach for six seasons at South Dakota State.

Dec. 12

North Carolina hires Invoice Belichick as new HC

The Tar Heels introduced Belichick, the previous head coach of the New England Patriots, as their new head coach. New England received six Tremendous Bowls underneath Belichick, with the 2 sides parting methods after the 2023 NFL season. North Carolina is 6-6 this season and introduced that head coach Mack Brown would not return subsequent season.

West Virginia re-hires Wealthy Rodriguez as new HC

West Virginia employed its former head coach for a similar position, the varsity introduced on Dec. 12. “I’m thrilled to have the chance to be the top soccer coach at West Virginia College,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “My household and I are crammed with gratitude to steer the Mountaineer soccer program once more and sit up for working with the various supporters, followers, and buddies to construct one of the best soccer program in America! Take Me Residence!”

Rodriguez was beforehand West Virginia’s head coach from 2001-07, heading top-of-the-line stretches in this system’s historical past. The Mountaineers recorded three 10-plus win seasons and went 60-26 with Rodriguez on the helm. The success Rodriguez had in his first stint at WVU helped him turn into Lloyd Carr’s successor at Michigan in 2008. After a disastrous three-year tenure in Ann Arbor, Rodriguez grew to become Arizona‘s head coach, holding that position for six seasons (2012-17). Rodriguez has been Jacksonville State‘s head coach since 2022, going 27-10 over three seasons.

WVU fired former head coach Neal Brown on Dec. 1 after going 37-35 in six seasons and 6-6 this season. His groups by no means competed for a Big 12 championship or had been ranked within the AP Prime 25 ballot. They misplaced 9 consecutive instances to ranked opponents. Brown is because of obtain a $9.5 million buyout for the final three years of his contract. 

UCLA hires Tino Sunseri as new OC/QBs coach

Sunseri spent one season as Indiana‘s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after following Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison. Cignetti and Sunseri labored collectively for 4 seasons, the primary three with the Dukes, who made essentially the most profitable transition from FCS to FBS in historical past.

Sunseri replaces Eric Bieniemy, who was fired on Dec. 5 after one season as UCLA’s offensive coordinator. Beneath Bieniemy, UCLA’s offense averaged simply 328.8 whole yards (fifteenth within the Big Ten) and 18.4 factors (sixteenth) per sport this season. The Bruins went 5-7 (3-6 in convention play) in what was their first season within the Large Ten and first with DeShaun Foster as head coach. Bieniemy was beforehand the offensive coordinator for the NFL’s Washington Commanders (2023) and Kansas City Chiefs (2018-22).

Dec. 8

Purdue hiring UNLV HC Barry Odom as new HC

Odom, who went 19-8 in two seasons at UNLV and led the Rebels to back-to-back Mountain West championship sport appearances, has agreed to take the head-coaching job at Purdue. Purdue fired first-time head coach Ryan Walters on Dec. 1 after two seasons and following a brutal 1-11 season. The Boilermakers misplaced their closing 11 video games to set the varsity’s single-season file, endured the 2 most lopsided losses in program historical past, went winless in convention play for less than the third time since 1946 and did not beat an FBS opponent for the primary time since 2013.

Marshall hires NC State DC Tony Gibson as new HC

Gibson was named Marshall’s subsequent head coach on Sunday, shortly after former coach Charles Huff’s hiring was introduced at Southern Miss. Gibson, 52, will take his first head-coaching job in faculty and return to his house state, the place he served two stints at West Virginia over the previous 20 years.

Dec. 7

UCF re-hires Scott Frost as new HC

Scott Frost, who led UCF to an ideal 13-0 file in 2017, has returned to the Knights on a five-year contract. The college made the news official on Dec. 7. Frost spent two seasons as the top coach of the Knights after which left for his alma mater, Nebraska, in 2018. Frost struggled with the Cornhuskers, going 16-31 earlier than he was fired three weeks into the 2022 season. This season, Frost has been an analyst for the Los Angeles Rams. 

Charlotte to rent Tim Albin as new HC

Recent off a dominant 38-3 win over Miami (Ohio) within the MAC Championship Sport, Ohio head coach Albin is leaving for a brand new job. Charlotte will rent Albin as Biff Poggi’s alternative, in response to a number of experiences. Albin has a 33-19 file at Ohio, which features a 10-3 file this season and a spot within the Remedy Bowl. Charlotte completed 5-7 and has had just one profitable season, in 2019, since transferring to the FBS in 2015.

Appalachian State hires Dowell Loggains as new HC

Dowell Loggains, a longtime quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, is the brand new head coach for Appalachian State, the program announced on Dec. 7. Loggains spent 16 years teaching within the NFL, most not too long ago in 2020 with the New York Jets. He had been South Carolina’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since 2023. This would be the 44-year-old Loggains’ first head-coaching job. 

FIU hires Willie Simmons as new HC

FlU announced that Simmons, who spent this season because the working backs coach at Duke, could be its subsequent head soccer coach. Simmons went 45-13 as the top coach at Florida A&M (2018-23), main the Rattlers to a pair of HBCU nationwide championships. A former Clemson QB, Simmons is changing Mike MacIntyre, who was fired earlier this month after three seasons, at FIU. The Rattlers have completed with a shedding file in 17 of their 21 soccer seasons. 

Dec. 6

Texas Tech hires Mack Leftwich as new OC

Texas Tech named Leftwich, the previous offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Texas State, as their new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach within the wake of Zach Kittley leaving to turn into FAU‘s new head coach.

Utah State hires Bronco Mendenhall as new HC

Mendenhall has agreed to a six-year deal to turn into Utah State’s subsequent head coach. The 58-year-old spent final season with New Mexico, guiding the Lobos to a 5-7 mark in his first and solely season on the college. New Mexico led the Mountain West in whole offense underneath Mendenhall, producing 484.2 yards per sport.

UMass hires Joe Harasymiak as new HC

The Minutemen introduced Joe Harasymiak as their new head coach on Dec. 6. Harasymiak spent the final three seasons because the defensive coordinator at Rutgers and beforehand was a head coach at Maine, the place he received the 2018 Nationwide FCS Coach of the 12 months. UMass, which has by no means had a profitable file on the FBS stage, will turn into a full member of the Mid-American Convention in July.

Dec. 4

Fresno State hires Matt Entz as new HC

The Bulldogs are hiring USC assistant head coach and linebackers coach Matt Entz as their new head coach, according to FOX Sports activities’ Bruce Feldman. Previous to spending the 2024 season on USC’s employees, Entz was the top coach of North Dakota State from 2019-23, with this system profitable two FCS championships and going a mixed 60-11 underneath him. Fresno State is 6-6 this season underneath Tim Skipper, who served as interim head coach for Jeff Tedford.

Dec. 3

Michigan fires OC Kirk Campbell

Sherrone Moore is shaking up his teaching employees following a bumpy first 12 months, firing his offensive coordinator. Campbell, who was elevated from QB coach to offensive coordinator after Moore’s promotion to go coach, oversaw one of many worst offenses within the Large Ten. Michigan had the second-fewest yards (294.3 per sport) and scored the fifth-fewest factors (22.3) within the convention as its incapability to switch J.J. McCarthy at quarterback plagued the workforce all season lengthy. Even in its win over Ohio State, Michigan’s offense struggled. It solely had 235 yards and scored simply 13 factors, squeaking out an upset with a powerful defensive effort. The win improved Michigan’s file to 7-5.

Whoever Michigan hires as its subsequent offensive coordinator will probably get an improved quarterback room. It not too long ago landed Bryce Underwood, who’s the top-ranked prospect in the Class of 2025.

Dec. 2

Nebraska hires interim OC Dana Holgorsen for the full-time job

In November, Matt Rhule introduced on the previous WVU and Houston coach to assist with Nebraska’s offense. He was shortly elevated to the offensive coordinator position for the remainder of the season. Now, that transfer is everlasting. Holgorsen signed a two-year deal to remain on as Nebraska’s offensive coordinator. In his quick tenure in 2024, the Cornhuskers put up their best offensive efficiency in a 44-25 win over Wisconsin. Extremely touted freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola accomplished 28 of 38 passes for 293 yards and a landing towards the Badgers, and with the victory, Nebraska became bowl eligible for the first time since 2016.

Oklahoma hires Ben Arbuckle as new OC

Arbuckle, who was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the previous two seasons at Washington State, will take the same role with Oklahoma. The 29-year-old replaces Seth Littrell, who was fired in October. The Sooners had a tough time offensively of their first season within the SEC, ending second-to-last within the convention in whole offense (322.5 yards per sport) and scoring (24.3 factors per sport). Washington State’s offense underneath Arbuckle averaged 440.4 yards (twenty second nationally) and 36.8 factors (twelfth nationally) this season. Oklahoma went simply 6-6 in Brent Venables’ third season as head coach, although the workforce did rating a 24-3 upset over Alabama in late November. 

FAU hires Texas Tech OC Zach Kittley as new HC

Simply two weeks after firing Tom Herman, FAU discovered its subsequent head coach. Kittley, 33, has overseen one of many nation’s finest offenses throughout his tenure in Lubbock over the previous three seasons. Texas Tech has averaged 435 yards per sport over the past three seasons after Joey McGuire employed Kittley to hitch his employees from Western Kentucky in 2022. 

This season, the Crimson Raiders (8-4) ranked within the prime 10 in yards (459.8 per sport) and factors (38.6). FAU’s struggles within the post-Lane Kiffin period continued in 2024. It went 3-9, firing Herman with two video games to go in his second season. The Owls have not received greater than 5 video games in a season since Kiffin’s departure following the 2019 season. 

FSU hires Nebraska DC Tony White as new DC

Mike Norvell continued to revamp his employees in a significant approach. Florida State employed Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White for a similar position, in response to a number of experiences. White, a long-tenured defensive assistant within the faculty sport, joined Matt Rhule’s employees forward of the Nebraska head coach’s first 12 months in Lincoln in 2023. Nebraska’s protection has been top-of-the-line within the Large Ten and within the nation with White as defensive coordinator, ending within the prime 20 in yards allowed in each seasons. It ranked nineteenth within the nation in yards allowed (315.4 per sport) and twentieth in factors allowed (19.8 per sport) this season. FSU’s protection, in the meantime, was one of many worst within the ACC amid its disappointing 2-10 season. It gave up the fourth-most yards (385.9 per sport), whereas permitting 28 factors per sport. 

The hiring of White got here simply days after this system poached UCF head coach Gus Malzahn to be its offensive coordinator, taking huge swings after one among Florida State’s worst seasons ever. 

Nov. 30

UCF HC Gus Malzahn resigns to turn into FSU OC

Gus Malzahn resigned as UCF’s head coach to turn into FSU’s offensive coordinator. The Knights made official that Malzahn was leaving in a press release launched a day after UCF (4-8) concluded its season with a loss. Quickly after, Florida State announced the hire. Malzahn completed with a 28-24 mark in 4 years at UCF, the final two ending with shedding data after the varsity joined the Large 12. He coached at Auburn for eight seasons earlier than being let go in 2020. 

Malzahn replaces offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Alex Atkins, who was fired Nov. 10 following a 52-3 loss at Notre Dame. The Seminoles (2-10) dropped considerably since going 13-1 final season and profitable the ACC title.

The Related Press contributed to this report.

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