Group of Five Hotseats: Potential Job Openings As Regular Season Comes To An End
By Simon Carroll
For fans, Week 14 in College Football is nothing short of electric. Rivalry weekends for some, senior day for many, spots in conference championship games up for grabs for a select few, and even bowl season to try and gatecrash for others. Wherever you look, something is on the line.
For coaches, it can be a whole different story – with the stakes even higher. What’s on the line for some of them is their employment status, as the end of the regular season represents an opportunity for an administration to clean house and take their football program in a fresh new direction. Beginning with the Group of Five conferences, we look at some job openings, and a few others potential vacancies once the clocks hit zero on Saturday:
American:
East Carolina (vacant)
The ECU head coaching job has been open since Mike Houston was fired back on October 20th following a 3-4 start to the campaign. An overall record of 27-38 wasn’t good enough for the ambitious Pirates, who have the infrastructure and finances to challenge in this conference. Interim head coach Blake Harrell has the inside track at the role following a 4-0 record since he stepped into the breach – a win against Navy on Sunday likely sees him made permanent.
Charlotte (vacant)
The larger than life Biff Poggi was relieved of his duties as 49ers head coach just over a week ago – and in classic Poggi fashion showed up to training two days later. Whilst he’s achieved cult status in Charlotte for his boisterous manner and sleeveless t-shirts, 6 wins in two years was never going to cut it for a program trying to establish itself at the FBS level. Former UAB head coach Bill Clark, who retired from the Blazers due to ill health, is a dark horse for a return to the sidelines.
Florida Atlantic (vacant)
Former Texas HC Tom Herman never quite got to grips with the job in Boca Raton, and bowed out last week after less than two seasons in charge. But this will be an attractive job opening considering the school’s commitment to football – rumors of Ray Lewis prowling the Owls’ sideline have been shot down, but no doubt there will be plenty of applicants.
Temple (vacant)
It took Stan Drayton thirty years to get his first head coaching gig. And it lasted less than three seasons in Philadelphia, with Temple going 9-25 during his tenure. Temple throws money at football, so they could be in play for one of the up and coming offensive coordinators out there such as Brennan Marion (UNLV).
Tulsa (vacant)
When I started writing this article, Tulsa had a head coach and Rice didn’t. Since then, Scott Abell was announced as the new Owls HC, and Kevin Wilson was let go by the Golden Hurricanes. Wilson was never really able to fill the big shoes left by Phil Montgomery, and 7 wins in two years was definitely a disappointment. Tulsa have had success with a high powered spread offense, so expect them to be in the market for an exciting offensive play caller.
UAB?
Has Trent Dilfer earned himself 12 more months with a late season surge? I’m not so sure. The Blazers have been AWFUL in 2024, with just a win over Alcorn State before November. Two big wins against Tulsa and Rice has brought some relief, but outside of those tilts, UAB has averaged just 15 points a game in conference play. A big win against Charlotte this weekend is needed.
Conference-USA:
Kennesaw State (vacant)
Brian Bohannon, the only coach in Kennesaw’s history, was inexplicably fired in the Owls’ first season in the FBS. The smallest school at this level, it will be difficult for this program to replicate the instant success seen at other schools who made the jump such as JMU. This is a job for an under-the-radar, young coordinator who can recruit the heck out of the local Georgia high school market.
Louisiana Tech?
Sonny Cumbie has managed just ten wins in his three years in Ruston. LA Tech is a school that likes to give it’s head coach time, but Skip Holtz did a lot more with a lot less during his time with the Bulldogs. Defeat to lowly Kennesaw State this weekend could see Cumbie’s first full-time head coaching gig come to an end.
Florida International?
Things look like they’re going sideways for Mike MacIntyre at FIU. The Panthers – at best – can get four wins, matching their totals from the previous two seasons under their beleaguered head coach. Rumours that Coach Mac has lost the dressing room following some public comments from players has not helped. And to think things started so well with Pitbull joining forces with the program in preseason. Mr. Worldwide won’t put up with mediocrity.
Independents:
UMass (vacant)
Don Brown, a Minuteman through and through, was relieved of his duties in Massachusetts last week, his second stint in charge at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium. UMass is one of the hardest jobs in the country, traditionally independent and unappealing nationally. However – the move to the MAC in 2025 is a shrewd one – this program will have the finances to compete in that conference.
MAC:
Central Michigan (will be vacant)
Jim McElwain steps into retirement after the Chips’ trip to Northern Illinois this weekend. The former Florida head coach was in charge for five years, and will have a big say in the next man in the hotseat as he moves into the assistant AD role at Mount Pleasant. McElwain will probably stay in his modernised 6,000 square foot barn he was bequeathed when he signed on at CMU, but it does show the lengths this administration is willing to go to attract the best candidate to the job.
Ball State (vacant)
Longtime head coach Mike Neu departed two weeks ago, a move that was more sad than surprising. Neu was highly thought of in Muncie, but results had been on the decline, with no winning season since 2019. Ball State has shown it can compete – even battle for the MAC – with the right person in charge. But it’s not an easy job, and usually only appeals to coaches with previous ties to the program.
Kent State?
With the Golden Flashes a modest program in the grand scheme of FBS things, I would usually expect Kenni Burns to get a third season. But one win in two years after succeeding the incredibly successful Sean Lewis is a tough sell. Throw in a bizarre scenario where Kent State’s HC owes $24k to a local bank for credit card fraud, and perhaps it’s best for everyone to part ways. God knows who wants this role though – NorthEast Ohio is not an easy place to win football games.
Mountain West:
Fresno State (vacant)
Make no mistake about it – Fresno is a football town, even by California standards. And both Kalen DeBoer and Jeff Tedford have shown this program can compete with Power-4 teams, which bodes well in the expanded playoff era. The Bulldogs are one of the few G5 schools who will believe that, with the right hire, a national championship run is improbable but not impossible. Interim HC Tim Skipper is likely not the long term solution, but this position will have plenty of interest.
Utah State (vacant)
This might be my favourite vacancy out there so far. Utah State has good facilities in one of the most beautiful locations in all of college football. And you can win there too, which Blake Anderson proved before being fired for indulging in a spot of ignorance when it came to sexual misconduct around the program. Add to that the impending move to the PAC-8(?) and there’s reasons to be optimistic in Logan. This feels like a spot for a P4 coordinator ready to make the jump, perhaps one from within the state.
Sun Belt:
Southern Miss (vacant)
Under Will Hall, Southern Miss struggled. Just one winning season in four attempts tells the tale of recent times in Hattiesburg, with the Golden Eagles shipping more than 45 points per loss the last two years. Hall was fired more than a month ago, and nothing has got better at M.M. Roberts Stadium – but that’s not to say this can’t be a good opportunity for a young ambitious coach to begin their head coaching career. This program has shown before it can live off the recruiting crumbs from Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Buster Faulkner, who spent a year here as OC back in 2019, could possibly think it’s time to leave Georgia Tech…
Coastal Carolina?
Following in the footsteps of Jamey Chadwell on the teal turf was always going to be a tough task for Tim Beck. Eight wins last year was fine, but they face a losing record this season if they don’t overcome Georgia State on Saturday. Whilst 13 wins over two campaigns isn’t awful, it’s definitely a regression from what the Chants were used to under Beck’s predecessor. It’s not certain to be open, but if it comes up, expect some serious interest – you can win in Myrtle Beach.
