By: Mike Huesmann
With the dust settled, we think, on head coaching hires I am departing from my typical list of likely candidates and throwing my opinion in the mix. There have been 28 head coaching changes in the FBS this offseason. Here are the five I like the most. I will be following this up with my five least favorite in a short time. To make this a little more fun and thought provoking I am not including Mike Elko and Kalen DeBoer in this article. They certainly would be in my top 5, and there’s little doubt that they are elite. The consensus on both is good, so I didn’t consider them.
Jon Sumrall
Troy —> Tulane
If I had to pick one single favorite, this would be it. Jon Sumrall should be coaching a P5 program by now. It appeared, for all of two days, that he’d be off to Kentucky if Mark Stoops left but that didn’t happen so in the end he left for Tulane. This was a major coup for the Green Wave after losing another top notch coach, and one who just barely missed this list, in Willie Fritz. Sumrall was 23-4 in two years at Troy. He moves to a school with more resources and recruiting talent around it. This looks like a steppingstone for him. Tulane should stay near the top of the AAC with him.
https://twitter.com/kentrahan/status/1752405428955467830
Jonathan Smith
Oregon State —> Michigan State
Michigan State was the job that was open the longest from hire to fire. It is one I wrote about a great deal. In the end they got a coach who has won with fewer resources than his opponents, is good in all areas, and is a builder. This job and State needs that. They are about as low as they can be now after the Mel Tucker fiasco. They’re lucky they made this hire then they did otherwise Washington almost certainly would’ve come calling. Even though Smith was an alumni and longtime fixture at Oregon State, the future conference instability made this one a no-brainer.
https://twitter.com/SpartansRivals/status/1749906717565936117
Jedd Fisch
Arizona —> Washington
Speaking of Washington, they ended up with a heck of a coach themselves. 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 finished 10-3 in 2023. It will be nearly impossible for Washington to replace all the talent they lose but Fisch is another guy who has built teams that look set to sustain success. I think the drop-off in 2024 won’t be as bad for the Huskies and he’ll have them competitive over the long run as they move to the Big 10.
More Sports News
https://twitter.com/rtomashoff34/status/1749810468896829531
Jeff Choate
Texas LB’s/Co-DC —> Nevada
Nevada has only once been able to sustain since legend Chris Ault retired in 2012, that was under Jay Norvell who then left for a conference rival. Someone who can bring stability, see out a plan, and build a competitor here is what the Wolfpack need. Choate is probably the most unknown guy on this list but that doesn’t mean he’s not a top notch coach. He took over FCS Montana State, a former power, at a low point and in his third year got them to the second round of the playoffs, followed by a semifinal trip in 2019. After this he was scooped up by Steve Sarkisian to bring back the Longhorns, and they did that to the tune of a playoff season in 2023. Choate might be the guy to lead Nevada back.
https://twitter.com/NevadaWolfPack/status/1731827232178335958
Fran Brown
Georgia DB’s —> Syracuse
Few teams have been as bad down the stretch as Syracuse in recent years. Dino Babers inability to finish has sucked the wind out of that team and they’ve been uninspiring late in the season. That should change with Brown. Brown has it all and brought Elijah Robinson from Texas A&M to be his DC. Brown is a NJ native who knows the area, played in the NFL, won multiple national titles at Georgia, has experience coaching in the Northeast at Rutgers, has sent multiple players to the NFL, and is a magnetic personality. He should give the Orange the boost they need.
https://twitter.com/CuseSportsTalk_/status/1752106877674995719
