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Aranda, Napier, and More: Top 10 Coaches Hot Seat in 2024

Which coaches have their work cut out for them in 2024 if they want to keep their jobs?

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Sep 2
Sep 2

By: Mike Huesmann

The coaches hot seat was an in-season staple so here we are with a very early preseason list. These ten coaches have work to do in order to keep their job.

10. Joe Moorhead, Akron

Record at current school: 4-20

2023 record: 2-10

Entering year with school: 3

Moorhead is an interesting one here. I don’t know if Akron will have to fire him. He might pull a Chip Kelly, Jeff Hafley, Kane Wommack, etc., and bolt for a coordinator job before they have to. He’s still considered a top offensive mind, but the Zips have been lousy in his two years as boss. With the low bar in the MAC, the futility cannot continue.

9. Mike Neu, Ball State

Record at current school: 37-56

2023 record: 4-8

Entering year with school: 9

Hometown boy, alumnus, and long leash. These are all words to describe Mike Neu at Ball State. But if they have a losing record in 2024, that will be four losing seasons in a row. I don’t know if he survives that. He has had one winning season in 8, that was the 2020 COVID season. Even really long leashes get pulled tight at some point.

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8. Mario Cristobal, Miami

Record at current school: 12-13

2023 record: 7-6

Entering year with school: 3

Mario is a good recruiter, has assembled a good staff, and has done well in the transfer portal. The problem is the Canes continue to lose games, and he makes bonehead decisions in-game. Last season’s home game against Georgia Tech may have fast-tracked this situation. I was bullish on his hire; it checked all the boxes, but the Canes haven’t taken that next step forward. If they don’t this year, they might move on. An opening week loss to Billy Napier, who we will see later in this list, moves Mario closer to the exit door.

7. Clark Lea, Vanderbilt

Record at current school: 9-27

2023 record: 2-10

Entering year with school: 4

Vandy knows who they are; expectations are not high, but even the long leash Lea was supposed to have may be nearing the end. In three years, he has won two SEC games, back-to-back weeks in 2021. If another 3 or 4 win season happens, and it probably will, Lea will likely be out. I don’t know if it’s fair to him or not, but that doesn’t matter here. The Commodores continue to be woefully behind the curve in the SEC in football. Lea will also be defensive coordinator in 2024, a sign that he knows things are heating up.

6. Tony Elliott, Virginia

Record at current school: 6-16

2023 record: 3-9

Entering year with school: 3

The Cavs have looked poor under Elliott. There’s no other way to put it. A win last year at ranked North Carolina has been one of the few bright spots. He did an admirable job leading the team and university through an unspeakable tragedy in 2021, but things weren’t going well before that either. The schedule, relative to a down ACC, doesn’t do him any favors this year. A five-game stretch in October and November of Louisville, Clemson, North Carolina, Pitt, and Notre Dame might decide his future.

5. Stan Drayton, Temple

Record at current school: 6-18

2023 record: 3-9

Entering year with school: 3

Drayton has a pair of three-win seasons under his belt at Temple. He has an impressive resume and is an elite RB coach, but that has not translated to improvements for Temple. I don’t think the bar is too high here. If the Owls can get six wins and a bowl game, he’s probably safe, but I don’t know if that will happen.

4. Sam Pittman, Arkansas

Record at current school: 23-25

2023 record: 4-8

Entering year with school: 5

Two or three years ago, the Hogs looked to be surging and primed to take that next step. Things have stalled mightily. Rocket Sanders and K.J. Jefferson, two Pittman stalwarts, have left via the transfer portal, and former Boise QB Taylen Green has arrived. The schedule in the new look SEC will never be easy. Pittman and the Hogs also have an early season road trip against one of the Big 12 favorites, Oklahoma State. I think Pittman coaches all or most of 2024, but seeing 2025 might be a bridge too far.

3. Will Hall, Southern Miss

Record at current school: 13-24

2023 record: 3-9

Entering year with school: 4

The Golden Eagles are in shambles right now. Hall has not been able to find a consistent quarterback during his time in Hattiesburg; hopefully, Florida St. transfer Tate Rodemaker can solve that problem. In two of his three seasons, Hall has won only three games. That isn’t good enough, even in the widening gap between G5 and P4. I thought he would be let go after 2023, but he clearly was not. I don’t know if he will be so lucky this season.

2. Billy Napier, Florida

Record at current school: 11-14

2023 record: 5-7

Entering year with school: 3

The Gators schedule is a gauntlet and everyone, including Napier, knows it. This will give him little excuse. Too much is stacked against him, and he’s not built up enough goodwill to bridge that into year four. It’s “win or else” for him in 2024. Many would argue he should be #1 on this list, and maybe they have a point. I think eight wins and a bowl game is the minimum for him to keep his job.

1. Dave Aranda, Baylor

Record at current school: 23-25

2023 record: 3-9

Entering year with school: 5

Baylor has not performed up to standards in the four seasons under Aranda. His single good season and only winning record in 2021 is all but forgotten. Many, including me, were surprised he kept his job this offseason. One could argue he’s not on the hottest seat, but he’s no lower than two. September games against Utah, Air Force, and Colorado will likely tell us if he has a job come Halloween. 

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