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College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

Five Coaches Exceeding Expectations in 2023

Five Coach of the Year Candidates

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James Madison Dukes head coach Curt Cignetti watches the fourth quarter action against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
James Madison Dukes head coach Curt Cignetti watches the fourth quarter action against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

By: Mike Huesmann

This season we have a long list of coaches who are underperforming, overperforming, and everything in between. Our coach of the year candidate list is starting to take shape. Here are five men who’ve started this season tremendously and will have a chance at that honor.

Curt Cignetti

James Madison

It is a real shame that an antiquated and outmoded rule will keep JMU from the bowl game they deserve this year. At 8-0, the Dukes have started as well as can be and they will likely be favored to win their remaining 4 games. Sadly, they cannot even play in the Sun Belt title game due to the FCS to FBS transition rule.

Cignetti is in season 5 at JMU, year 2 in FBS. They were a respectable 8-3 last season but no one expected them to have the season like they are. Much of this comes down to the former Nick Saban assistant in charge.

Brent Venables, Oklahoma

Venables was one of the more disappointing coaches in his debut season for the Sooners last year in 2022. That’s what makes the job he’s doing this season all the more impressive. The team sits at 7-1 this season after the stunning upset at Kansas this weekend.

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The Sooners will still have a good shot at the college football playoff if they can run the table. Dillon Gabriel and the offense are efficient, and the defense has not made many mistakes. Double-digit wins look in order. Few teams have improved as much since last season.

Eli Drinkwitz

Missouri

Not many coaches are using NIL as well as Drinkwitz and it’s showing. In his first three seasons in Columbia, he’s never had more than 6 wins, until now. The 7-1 Tigers travel to Georgia in their next game, a team they nearly knocked off last year.

Brady Cook is playing well and few receivers, if any, have been as dominant as Luther Burden. The next three weeks are a gauntlet but if Mizzou finishes the season with 10 wins, Drink would get my vote for coach of the year.

Jeff Brohm

Louisville

People were excited about the Brohm homecoming but no one expected it to get off to a start like this. Brohm won the Big Ten West with Purdue last year then decided to come back to his alma mater. The Cardinals were a respectable 8-5 under Scott Satterfield in 2022 but few expected a 7-1 start and top-15 ranking in 2023.

A huge win against Notre Dame was followed up by a loss to a disappointing Pitt but the Brohm project is ahead of schedule. Jamari Thrash has been a top-notch portal addition at WR, he’s paired well with Jack Plummer who’s reunited with Brohm after spending last year at Cal.

Jedd Fisch

Arizona

In 2021 Fisch took over an abysmal Arizona team, went 1-11 in year 1 but has barely set a foot wrong since then. A much improved 5-7 last year has been followed by a team that is 5-3 so far this year and looks certain to make a bowl game. Fisch appears to have found his QB in Noah Fifita, has multiple RBs contributing, and top-notch WRs in McMillan and Cowing. That being said, the trenches are where Fisch has built from. Both OL and DL’s are much improved and setting the tone for the squad.

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