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Sumrall, Candle, and More: Top 10 G5 Head Coach Rankings

Top 10 Group of 5 head coaches ranked after deep dive across all conferences

Avatar photoMike Huesmann
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Nov 16
Nov 16

By Mike Huesmann

This is our final article in a series of six where I go through every Group of 5 conference and rank head coaches, then here for an overall G5 head coach ranking. We started out West with the MWC then moved to the AAC, Sun Belt was third, next was Conference USA and our final conference was the Mid-American.

This list wasn’t as straight forward as just pulling the top guys from each list and ranking each of the ones as the top five, not all coaches and conferences are created evenly. For example, Tim Albin is new to the AAC with Charlotte but he’s not new to the G5 as he was very successful with Ohio. That matters. Other guys, Bronco Mendenhall, Ken Niumatalolo and Charles Huff have won at multiple G5 schools and are solid coaches. This list was incredibly difficult. We have more good coaches at this level than we ever have before. Here are my top 10 G5 head coaches. 

Honorable Mention (alphabetically):

Tim Albin, Charlotte

Record: 33-19, first season

Bob Chesney, James Madison

Record: 53-25 (9-4 at JMU), second season

Chris Creighton, Eastern Michigan

Record: 101-97 (57-75 at EMU), 12th season

Clay Helton, Georgia Southern

Record:66-43 (20-19 at GSU), fourth season

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Tyson Helton, Western Kentucky

Record: 48-32, seventh season

Charles Huff, Southern Miss

Record: 32-20, first season

Dan Mullen, UNLV

Record: 103-61, first season

Ken Niumatololo, San Jose State

Record: 116-89 (7-6 at SJSU), second season

10. Pete Lembo, Buffalo

Record: 121-69 (9-4 at UB), 2nd season

One of the best special teams coaches in the game is also a pretty good head coach and great guy. Lembo had success early in the MAC at Ball State then decided to go back and be an assistant. After stops at Maryland, Memphis, Rice and South Carolina he decided he wanted to be the boss again, and what a decision that was for the Bulls. In his first year they went 9-4 and won the Bahamas Bowl. His massive performance in year one, combined with long term success puts him in the top 10.

9. Chuck Martin, Miami (Ohio)

Record: 65-67, 12th season

This record neglects to mention that Martin was an elite Division II coach at Grand Valley State. In six seasons there he won two national titles, reached the national quarterfinals every year and had a mouth-watering 74-7 record. At Miami he has been very effective as well. He has won two MAC titles, most recently in 2023. He is a guy I have praised for stability and fundamentals a ton. His teams run the ball and are tough on both sides of the line. The situation he took over here was poor and he’s gotten them to consistently be division contenders.

8. Troy Calhoun, Air Force

Record: 135-89, 19th season

One of the longest-tenured coaches in the G5, that doesn’t happen by accident. Last season was a down year at 5-7, and he hasn’t had many here. Since 2007 the Falcons have been competitive, tough and ran the ball well. Much of that credit goes to Calhoun. He adapted to the triple-option service academy ball well coming from the NFL. How he adapts in the new rule, post-chop block era will be critical. This rule basically neutered the triple option. I think a coach as savvy as him will adapt just fine. The service academies are always at many disadvantages compared to other schools, and he’s handled that admirably. There is a reason he was frequently mentioned for other jobs. There aren’t many better.

7. Jeff Monken, Army

Record: 120-73 (82-57 at Army), 12th season

Monken is another guy that many will argue I should have higher on the list, maybe they have a point. Number wise he doesn’t quite match up to those above him, but he’s close. He has done a heck of a job at both schools he’s been boss. Army, like many schools here, is no easy place to win at and he’s done it admirably. How he replaces Bryson Daily will be critical for the Knights in 2025. Winning 12 last year was one of the best coaching jobs in America. Consecutive six-win seasons in 2022 and 2023 didn’t help his place on the list here.

6. Jeff Traylor, UTSA

Record: 46-20, 7th season

Traylor has been consistent and tough in his six years with the Roadrunners. He is only the third head coach in program history, 2011 was their first season playing football, and Frank Wilson before him only had a single winning season and never won more than six. Traylor has done better than that every season in charge. He has taken UTSA from also ran in Conference USA to an AAC staple. His teams are fundamental, run the ball and get after it on defense. He is another guy who has frequently been mentioned for a Power Four job.

5. KC Keeler, Temple

Record: 183- 91, 1st season

Keeler is the all-time winningest FCS coach in history and the only man to win a national title at two different schools at that level. His FBS experience is limited, but impressive. In only year two at the FBS level his team won nine games. Temple was wise to hire a veteran with a track record away from a fellow G5 school. This is a school that has seen success in the last two decades with Al Golden, Geoff Collins, Steve Addazzio and Matt Rhule. I think Keeler continues that trend.

4. Jamey Chadwell, Liberty

Record: 95-41 (21-5 at LU), 3rd season

For all the people who dislike Liberty and Chadwell, you can’t dispute the results. Doing it successfully at multiple schools ensured him a top five spot here. Chadwell made multiple FCS playoffs at Charleston Southern before going to Coastal Carolina, briefly as OC and interim head coach before becoming the full-time boss. He has not looked back. Joe Moglia was 5-7 in his last year and in year two Chadwell won 11 games. He did that two years in a row before going 9-3 in 2022 and leaving for Liberty before the bowl game. At Liberty he went 13-1 in 2023 and 8-4 this past season. It says a lot about him and Liberty that 8-4 was a relatively disappointing season. The Flames will always compete in the conference while Chadwell is the head coach. I am, along with many, surprised he hasn’t gotten a P4 job yet.

3. Bronco Mendenhall, Utah State

Record: 140-88, 1st season

I have always liked Bronco, he’s a solid coach. Some might argue him being too high on this list, but he has all the intangibles too. Mendenhall has a ton of wins, 14 bowl appearances, made a New Year’s Bowl (2019 Orange Bowl), and did it at tough places to win. He was outstanding at BYU. Took over a bad Virginia team and was decent. That program regressed when he left. Then in his sole year at New Mexico, they won five games. A number they hadn’t reached since 2016. He’s a veteran, he’s won everywhere and he’s consistent. There isn’t much else to ask for in a G5 head coach.

2. Jason Candle, Toledo

Record: 73-40, 11th season

You can’t argue him being high on this list. Some may even argue him for the top spot. Few G5 programs and coaches have had the continued success that he has. He took over a solid situation from Matt Campbell and has rarely set a foot wrong. In 10 seasons he does not have a season with a losing record, remarkable at this level, he has made eight bowl games, and won the conference twice. For a few years we thought he could be a P4 candidate, I wonder now if he loves his situation and wants to stay?

1. Jon Sumrall, Tulane

Record: 32-9, 2nd season

In writing these articles I don’t think there’s anyone else I’d choose if I was hiring a head coach today. I have praised Sumrall for many years and expect him to be a P4 head coach soon. His track record at Troy and Tulane is as impressive as they come. He has played for the conference championship in each of his seasons as a head coach, across two conferences. There was no one else here to challenge him and that’s saying something with the solid coaches we have. 

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