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College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

Rogers, Eck, and the Best of the Rest: Five FCS Coaches to Watch For

Which FCS coaches should we get to know now before they are in college football’s highest level?

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By: Mike Huesmann

We have seen more G5 coaches make the move to the P4 this offseason than usual but today we look at a group of coaches who get even less publicity. The FCS heavyweights are rapidly catching some of the G5 teams, especially the powers of the Missouri Valley and Big Sky. Here are five coaches at the FCS level who could soon be hired by FBS schools, whether it be as a head coach or assistant.

Jimmy Rogers

Head Coach, South Dakota State

This list has to start here, Rogers has only been head coach for a single season, but the Jackrabbits went 15-0 and won a national title in dominating fashion. In 2022 he was defensive coordinator here and won another national title.

He might like his job and situation too much to leave, and his SDSU squads look to remain dominant, but at his age of 35, an eventual move to the FBS seems inevitable. A former assistant at FAU, he is probably the brightest young star in the FCS.

Jason Eck

Head Coach, Idaho

A second former SDSU assistant on the list, Eck has been the Vandals’ boss since 2022. He took over a program that hadn’t had a winning season since 2016 and has taken them to back-to-back playoff appearances, including a quarterfinal trip this past Fall.

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Eck has FBS experience at Wisconsin, Colorado, Ball State, and Idaho when they were still a member. He could be a strong candidate if a MWC job opens up.

Tre Lamb

Head Coach, East Tennessee State

Lamb only took the ETSU job this offseason, coming from Gardner-Webb where he had four successful seasons and went to the playoffs the last two years. Still only 34, he is one of the hot young names in the game.

He is offensive-minded and transformed Gardner-Webb in his time there. I expect him to have success at ETSU and be mentioned for FBS jobs before too long.

Trei Oliver

Head Coach, North Carolina Central

Oliver took over at NC Central after Jerry Mack left for an FBS position. Mack is now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Oliver could have this trajectory as well. He has won 9 and 10 games in the last two years, including a playoff berth in 2023

 Prior to this, Oliver was the defensive coordinator at Southern. He is coaching at his alma mater, which could be an inhibitor in leaving but if they keep winning games he could get mentioned for FBS jobs.

Clint Killough

Head Coach, Incarnate Word

Killough is the spring chicken of this last, still only 30, he left Incarnate Word to an 8-2 record last year. He took over here after GJ Kinne left for Texas State. He had been an assistant here under multiple head coaches before that and at Bowling Green. Combining his success offensively wins as head coach and coaching tree, I don’t expect him to be at the FCS level too much longer. His ability to use the portal and build a roster has been elite. 

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