By Ty Scheiner
As we continue to evaluate college football programs based on their performance in the Transfer Portal, it’s crucial to consider more than just on-field talent. What about the upgrades to coaching staff and personnel departments? Beyond initial hires, which programs are positioning themselves for sustained success and long-term growth? Below, I’ve highlighted some of the programs I believe have made significant strides heading into the 2024 college football season.
Boston College Eagles
It’s hard to overlook Bill O’Brien‘s brief tenure as offensive coordinator at Ohio State, lasting just 22 days before he snagged the head coaching job at Boston College. With deep roots in New England, where he grew up, played college ball at Brown, and worked on Bill Belichick’s staff for the Patriots, O’Brien steps in to replace Jeff Hafley, who had a less-than-stellar four years at Chestnut Hill with a .456 winning percentage and only one bowl victory.
Known for his offensive acumen, O’Brien looks to revitalize an offense that, under Hafley, was middling at best, scoring 24.8 points per game last year, ranking 82nd out of 133 teams. O’Brien boasts a track record of success in both college and professional ranks, earning accolades such as the Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year and the George Munger Award for Coach of the Year by the Maxwell Football Club during his tenure as head coach at Penn State.
Similarly, the defense has surrendered at least 28 points per game over the last two years. Tim Lewis brings successful experience as a DC in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants, and most recently served as co-DC for the UFL champion Arlington Renegades. Other notable additions to the staff include Offensive Coordinator Will Lawing, Defensive Line Coach Jeff Comissiong, Linebackers Coach Dan O’Brien, and Secondary Coach Ray Brown. Additionally, Doug Marrone joins the staff as a Senior Analyst, bringing a wealth of NFL and college coaching experience. Finally, O’Brien appointed Craig Fitzgerald as the new Director of Football Performance, boasting over 25 years of experience in both college and NFL ranks.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
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The Zach Arnett era in Starkville lasted little more than one season, and whether they pulled the plug too early or not, the Bulldogs now turn to new Head Coach Jeff Lebby, most recently the former offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, with stints at Ole Miss, UCF, and Baylor. His offenses have finished in the top six nationally in total offense three times over the last five seasons. His offensive mind will be looking to turn around a unit that finished 101st in total offense in 2023.
On the other side of the ball, MSU gave up 350 yards per game last year and will need to improve upon this if they are going to stay competitive. Lebby brings in two new defensive minds: former Broyles Award nominee Coleman Hutzler as Defensive Coordinator and Co-Defensive Coordinator Matt Barnes. Hutzler brings a ton of experience not only in coaching but also as a great recruiter and developer of talent, having seen 14 of his players go to the NFL. To complement Hutzler, Barnes’ Memphis team forced 20 turnovers last year, and this knack for forcing turnovers will be key for MSU as they only forced 12 last season.
Mississippi State also brought in Cody Kennedy as an offensive line coach, which should be an improvement considering they gave up 26 sacks last year and ranked 79th in rushing yards with 146.8 ypg. In 2021, Kennedy was a finalist for the Broyles Award during his tenure at Arkansas. Additionally, in 2022, the Razorbacks’ offense achieved remarkable success, paving the way for Arkansas to average 236.7 yards per game rushing, marking just the 10th time in program history that they surpassed the 3,000-yard mark.
Other staff additions in Starkville include Jon Cooper as tight ends coach, Anthony Tucker as running backs coach, Matt Holecek as quarterbacks coach, Corey Bell as secondary coach, Cliff Odom as special teams coordinator, and Shaud Williams as Head of Strength and Conditioning.
New Mexico Lobos
New Mexico fired Danny Gonzalez after four seasons with a record of 11-32, never coming close to reaching a bowl game. With the hire of Bronco Mendenhall, who has a proven track record of turning around programs at BYU and Virginia, the Lobos are hoping to change their fortunes. Mendenhall overhauled the staff, bringing in 11 full-time coaches and three key support staff roles.
The Lobos ranked 99th in total defense last year, so with additions like Nick Howell as Defensive Coordinator, Jan Jorgensen for the Edge position, Charles Mack for Defensive Backs, and Donte Wilkins for Defensive Line, they aim to improve their defense in Albuquerque. Howell, for instance, achieved notable success in the SEC with interceptions while at Vanderbilt and established a Virginia school record 46 sacks on their way to the ACC Championship Game and a spot in the Capital One Orange Bowl.
Jason Beck steps into the Offensive Coordinator role, with additional offensive staff including Famika Anae for Offensive Line, Kirk Garner for Running Backs, Matt Johns for Tight Ends, and Micah Simon for Receivers. While this staff is relatively young and lacks experience in Power conferences, my confidence lies in Mendenhall’s ability to assemble the team he desires at New Mexico.
Pat Hickman, who has worked with Mendenhall in various roles at BYU and Virginia, joins the staff in New Mexico as Chief of Staff and Director of Player Personnel. This continuity, along with the addition of promising coaches, suggests that New Mexico has significantly improved their staff heading into 2024.
Houston Cougars
The Cougars parted ways with Dana Holgorson after a five-year tenure that resulted in a 31-28 record. I believe that bringing in Willie Fritz, along with several former Green Wave staff and personnel, represents a significant upgrade for Houston. Fritz, a back-to-back AAC Coach of the Year recipient, ranks fifth nationally among active FBS head coaches with 208 victories. He has appointed Kevin Barbay to lead the offense and Shiel Wood to lead the defense.
Barbay, as Offensive Coordinator, has overseen offenses that have scored 30+ points in 31 games and amassed 500+ yards in 19 games over the past five seasons. Wood, with his successful track record as a defensive coordinator, has consistently led units that ranked inside the Top 25 nationally in rushing yards allowed. Notably, his defenses topped The American in 2023 and the Southern Conference in 2017. Additionally, they have maintained a Top 35 ranking for total defense, finishing second in The American in 2022 and 2023, and second in the Southern Conference in 2017.
Houston has also added Shawn Bell, honored in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 40 Under 40 in 2021, who played a role in developing Blake Shapen, one of Baylor’s top quarterbacks in their history. Donn Landholm, a coaching veteran with over 40 years of experience, follows Fritz to Houston, bringing expertise in coaching and player development as the Special Assistant to the Head Coach. Other staff additions include Derrick Sherman for Wide Receivers, James Ross III for inside linebackers, Josh Christian-Young for defensive backs, Jordy Joseph for running backs, Zac Etheridge for the Edge position, and Oscar Giles for the defensive line.
Texas A&M Aggies
Now, it may not seem like it, given the perennially high expectations in College Station, but Jimbo Fisher departs Texas A&M with a career winning percentage of .643. However, the last couple of years have been subpar. Enter Mike Elko, who achieved a .640 winning percentage in his two seasons at Duke, clearly demonstrating his ability to build a program. Aggie fans are hoping he can replicate this success quickly in College Station.
Maintaining continuity among his staff was crucial for Elko, who brought in several coaches from Durham to join him. These individuals are considered elite coaches, with strong relationships and recruiting skills. Among those following Elko from Durham are offensive line coach Adam Cushing, running backs coach Trooper Taylor, and tight end and special teams coordinator Patrick Dougherty. Notably, Dougherty will be the Aggies’ first on-field special teams coach since 2017, indicating a renewed focus on special teams improvement after five Aggie kicks were blocked last year.
The addition of Collin Klein as offensive coordinator is expected to greatly benefit Elko and the Aggies’ offense, establishing consistency in offensive production. In his two seasons at Kansas State, Klein led their offense from ranking outside the top 75 nationally in 2021 to top 25 rankings in numerous categories in 2023. Holmon Wiggins, coming from Alabama to coach wide receivers, brings strong recruiting skills and will contribute to the development of that position.
Elko is also bringing in Tommy Moffitt, a highly respected and decorated Strength and Conditioning coach, to serve as Director of Football Strength & Conditioning. Moffitt boasts a rich history, having been part of three National Championship teams at LSU (2003, 2007 & 2019), as well as an SEC Championship at Tennessee in 1998.
