The 2025 college‑football coaching carousel officially began in March when Stanford dismissed Troy Taylor, and it quickly became one of the longest cycles in recent memory. A total of 33 coaching vacancies were filled through retirements, firings or departures to new jobs, reshuffling several blue‑blood programs that remained static in 2024.
Key Moves and Early Grades
Michigan – Kyle Whittingham (from Utah)
Whittingham, long on the retirement radar at Utah, surprised by accepting Michigan’s top job. His defensive pedigree aligns with Jason Beck’s offense built around quarterback Bryce Underwood. Grade: A
Missouri State – Casey Woods (from SMU, OC)
Woods, a first‑time head coach, inherits a program that reached a bowl in its inaugural FBS season. The transition will be demanding. Grade: C
Washington State – Kirby Moore (from Missouri, OC)
Moore steps into a mid‑tier Pac‑12 (now moving toward a Mountain West‑style alignment) as his first head‑coaching assignment. Grade: C
Coastal Carolina – Ryan Beard (from Missouri State)
Beard takes over a program still defining its post‑Chadwell identity, leveraging his “do‑more‑with‑less” experience. Grade: B
Southern Miss – Blake Anderson (from Southern Miss, OC)
Anderson returns to Hattiesburg after a Title IX‑related dismissal from Utah State, raising off‑field concerns. Grade: F
Toledo – Mike Jacobs (from Mercer, FCS)
Jacobs brings a recent streak of conference titles at the FCS level to the MAC, filling in for Jason Candle. Grade: B+
UConn – Jason Candle (from Toledo)
Candle, a perennial candidate for larger roles, arrives after a decade‑plus upswing at UConn, but must rebuild without this year’s offensive stars. Grade: B
Memphis – Charles Huff (from Southern Miss)
Huff, who turned Marshall into a 10‑win team, now heads a resource‑rich American program with Playoff aspirations. Grade: B+
Penn State – Matt Campbell (from Iowa State)
Campbell, after flirtations with the NFL and Florida State, lands at Penn State, where his no‑frills approach will be tested against historical glass‑ceiling limits. Grade: B
Cal – Tosh Lupoi (from Oregon, DC)
Lupoi’s familiarity with Cal and West‑Coast recruiting clout are key assets for a program facing fiscal constraints. Grade: B+
James Madison – Billy Napier (from Florida)
Napier inherits a JMU program that has thrived under two previous head coaches; his ability to share authority with OC Cam Aiken will determine long‑term stability. Grade: B‑
UAB – Alex Mortensen (from UAB, OC)
Promoted from interim, Mortensen’s youth and lack of prior head‑coaching success make this a high‑risk appointment. Grade: D
South Florida – Brian Hartline (from Ohio State, OC)
Hartline, a proven recruiter, now tests his leadership chops away from the Ohio State machine at an upward‑moving USF program. Grade: C
North Texas – Neal Brown (from Texas, assistant to HC)
Brown, after mixed results at Troy and WVU, seeks to replicate his earlier success at UNT, now bolstered by Eric Morris and QB Drew Mestamaker. Grade: C
Kentucky – Will Stein (from Oregon, OC)
Stein brings fresh offensive ideas and local ties to a Wildcats program emerging from Mark Stoops’ long tenure. Grade: B
Michigan State – Pat Fitzgerald (from Northwestern)
Fitzgerald’s Northwestern legacy of over‑achieving with limited talent is now paired with promised increased investment at MSU. Grade: B‑
UCLA – Bob Chesney (from James Madison)
Chesney’s developmental track record earned him a coveted UCLA job despite resource gaps compared with crosstown USC. Grade: A
Ole Miss – Pete Golding (from Ole Miss, DC)
Golding, a natural fit, assumes full control after serving as defensive coordinator. Grade: B
LSU – Lane Kiffin (from Ole Miss)
Kiffin’s high‑profile, transfer‑portal savvy resume meets LSU’s deep resources, though past volatility suggests caution. Grade: B+
Florida – Jon Sumrall (from Tulane)
Sumrall’s SEC experience positions him to challenge Georgia and re‑energize the Gators. Grade: B+
Auburn – Alex Golesh (from South Florida)
Golesh arrives with quarterback Byrum Brown, aiming to translate his offensive ideas to the SEC stage. Grade: B
Arkansas – Ryan Silverfield (from Memphis)
Silverfield inherits a Razorbacks program navigating resource competition from other Arkansas sports. Grade: B
Stanford – Tavita Pritchard (from Washington Commanders, QB coach)
Pritchard’s autonomy may be limited in a program heavily influenced by former NFL star Andrew Luck. Grade: C
Oregon State – JaMarcus Shephard (from Alabama, co‑OC)
Shephard’s regional familiarity and passion are vital as OSU works to improve a struggling special‑teams unit. Grade: B
Colorado State – Jim Mora (from UConn)
Mora seeks to unlock the Rams’ latent potential after a successful stint at UConn. Grade: B
Oklahoma State – Eric Morris (from North Texas)
Morris inherits a roster that was among the weakest in the Power Four, but brings quarterback Drew Mestamaker and promised resources. Grade: A
Virginia Tech – James Franklin (from Penn State)
Franklin’s modernizing vision matches Virginia Tech’s new ACC landscape, backed by defensive coordinator Brent Pry. Grade: A
Kent State – Mark Carney (from Kent State, OC)
Promoted from interim, Carney guides a program that improved to five wins in 2025, exceeding the combined total of the prior two seasons. Grade: B
Frequently Asked Questions
How many coaching changes occurred in the 2025 carousel?
Thirty‑three jobs changed hands via retirement, firing or coaches leaving for other positions.
Which major “blue‑blood” programs saw new head coaches?
Michigan, LSU, Florida, Penn State, UCLA and Stanford are among the traditional powerhouses that hired new head coaches during this cycle.
What criteria were used to assign grades to each hire?
The grades reflect a mix of the coach’s prior experience, the fit with the hiring program’s needs, and the perceived difficulty of the new role, as outlined in the source analysis.
Which of these coaching moves do you think will have the biggest impact on the 2025 college‑football season?
