College Football Coach Hire Rankings 2026: Grading All 30 New Head Coaches
· Yahoo Sports
How good are all of the new head coaching hires?
Sometimes, the absolutely perfect-looking hires (like Scott Frost to Nebraska and Billy Napier to Florida) flame out in spectacular fashion, and others that don't seem like a big deal (Kenny Dillingham at Arizona State and Manny Diaz at Duke) become outstanding.
We grade all of the new hires based on 1) a curve - bigger programs are judged with way more scrutiny than the smaller ones trying to find the right fit, and 2) whether or not it seems like the hire makes sense.
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26 for 2026, No. 19: Grading Every FBS College Football Coaching Hire
Jul 23, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin speaks to the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day at the Tampa Marriott.Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
26 Key Questions for the 2026 Season
26: Winningest Programs Yet To Make the CFP
25: ACC Key Questions
24: Big 12 Key Questions
23: Big Ten Key Questions
22: Top 2027 NFL Draft Prospects
21: SEC Key Questions
20: What's Next in Realignment?
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Note: Every coach record is for FBS college seasons only
30. Ryan Silverfield, Arkansas
Here's the problem - he didn't really win anything at Memphis. There were a few good years, but no American Conference championships - his Tigers never finished higher than third. Give him credit for taking his shot - the Arkansas gig isn't an easy one in the improved SEC.
Career College Record: 50-25 (67%)
Previous Stop: Memphis head coach
Expectation: Turn Arkansas into a regular bowl team
CFN Grade: C-
He might be the next superstar head coach, but the high-end results aren't there.
Arkansas 2026 Team Preview
29. Rob Harley, Northern Illinois
Yeah, no pressure, just try to totally rebuild the Huskies as they make a move into the Mountain West. He's technically an interim head coach, and he's being thrown into a tough situation.
Career College Record: 0-0
Previous Stop: Northern Illinois defensive coordinator
Expectation: Try to make Northern Illinois competitive enough to give him a shot at the full-time job.
CFN Grade: C
This isn't exactly fair since NIU hasn't fully committed to him, but he'll get his shot.
Northern Illinois 2026 Team Preview
28. Will Hall, Tulane
The last two seasons as the Southern Miss head coach went south, but he was a fantastic FCS head coaching star in the 2010s. The pressure is on for a program that's used to being dominant.
Career College Record: 14-30 (32%)
Previous Stop: Tulane passing game coordinator
Expectation: Keep the program at a College Football Playoff level.
CFN Grade: C
He hasn't had a massive season as a head coach since 2015 at West Georgia.
Tulane 2026 Team Preview
27. Kirby Moore, Washington State
A great offensive coordinator on a fast rise, he knows how to work a passing game, Washington State wants a young coach who can crank up the offense, and with a little time, this is a shot at the stars. He'll get every shot to make the program his.
Career College Record: 0-0
Previous Stop: Missouri offensive coordinator
Expectation: Make the Wazzu offense crank in the new Pac-12.
CFN Grade: C+
He'll be 36 this season and doesn't have any head coaching experience.
Washington State 2026 Team Preview
26. Kyle Whittingham, Michigan
The guy's a made man, sure-thing Hall of Fame coach, but as good as Whittingham was and is, he hasn't won a bowl game since 2017, and hasn't won a College Football Playoff-level bowl since 2008. However, he might be just the coach to tweak an already strong team.
Career College Record: 177-88 (69%)
Previous Stop: Utah head coach
Expectation: Be in the national title hunt, win the Big Ten, beat Ohio State (not necessarily in that order)
CFN Grade: B-
Great hire for respectability and to settle things down, but this has to work right away.
Michigan 2026 Team Preview
25. Alonzo Carter, Sacramento State
A great high school and JUCO coach over ten years ago - and a former dancer for Hammer - he brings a ton of energy to one of the most interesting open gigs. It's his job to help the program grow as it makes the big move up in weight class.
Career College Record: 0-0
Previous Stop: Arizona running backs coach
Expectation: Make the Hornets competitive in the MAC
CFN Grade: B
A long-time assistant with Brent Brennan at San Jose State, he'll get to make the program his.
Sacramento State 2026 Team Preview
24. JaMarcus Shephard, Oregon State
An interesting coach, he sort of backed into the business after working his way up over the last 15 years. He went from a part-time coach to a key assistant at Alabama, and now he's getting his own head coaching gig.
Career College Record: 0-0
Previous Stop: Alabama assistant head coach
Expectation: Rebuild Oregon State back up in the new Pac-12
CFN Grade: B
He's a bit of an unknown, having never served as a head coach, but he's one of those guys you want to be the representative of your program.
Oregon State 2026 Team Preview
23. Casey Woods, Missouri State
If you noticed, the SMU offense got rocking and rolling fast after joining the ACC. Woods helped get it there after four seasons working the Mustang attack. The Bears will have a fun attack right away.
Career College Record: 0-0
Previous Stop: SMU offensive coordinator
Expectation: Make the Bears a fun team that goes to bowls
CFN Grade: B
There's no previous head coaching experience, but he's a good prospect.
Missouri State 2026 Team Preview
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22. Will Stein, Kentucky
The guy doesn't lack for self-confidence. After his introduction to the world at SEC media days, the spotlight is on - now he has to deliver. Great at Oregon over the last three seasons, he needs to build up the Wildcat offense to make it a problem for the SEC.
Career College Record: 0-0
Previous Stop: Oregon offensive coordinator
Expectation: Turn Kentucky into a dangerous SEC threat.
CFN Grade: B
Only 36, he'll have time to grow into the job, but there are more expectations than it might seem.
Kentucky 2026 Team Preview
21. Jimmy Rogers, Iowa State
A quick-rising coach who won't deal with any excuses, he's only 39, he's on the rise, and he should be right-idea-at-the-right-time hire. He only has one year of head coaching experience, so give him a little time for the payoff.
Career College Record: 6-6 (50%)
Previous Stop: Washington State head coach
Expectation: Finally get Iowa State that outright Big conference championship within a few years.
CFN Grade: B
This isn't a layup, turn-key job - this is a total rebuild, but he's a solid idea of a hire.
Iowa State 2026 Team Preview
20. Neal Brown, North Texas
Red hot after three massive years as the Troy head coach, he wasn't bad in six years at West Virginia, but he could never turn the corner. At 46, this is the job that gets him back to a Power Four gig if he can succeed.
Career College Record: 72-51 (59%)
Previous Stop: Texas assistant coach
Expectation: Keep North Texas relevant.
CFN Grade: B
He had a winning record at West Virginia, and he should be solid right away with the Mean Green.
North Texas 2026 Team Preview
19. Brian Hartline, USF
After years of being a top offensive coordinator and phenomenal recruiting at Ohio State, this is a nice first head coaching gig. There will be a learning curve, but his offenses will move.
Career College Record: 0-0
Previous Stop: Ohio State offensive coordinator
Expectation: Be in the American title mix every season.
CFN Grade: B
The only thing missing is the head coaching experience.
USF 2026 Team Preview
18. Morgan Scalley, Utah
It's the in-house hire Utah had to make. Scalley played at Utah, starred at Utah, started out as a grad assistant at Utah, and after 25 years with the school, it's his time to show he can take the program and make it his own.
Career College Record: 1-0 (100%)
Previous Stop: Utah defensive coordinator
Expectation: Win Big 12 titles and finally get the Utes to the College Football Playoff.
CFN Grade: B
The only knock is that this hire has been baked in for a few years - it'll be great if he's the next Kyle Whittingham, but it would be better to get the next Urban Meyer.
Utah 2026 Team Preview
17. Alex Golesh, Auburn
It's going to be fun. His USF team was fun last year, and it pulled off a win over Florida, but in three years his Bulls never finished higher in the American Conference than fourth. However, he did turn the program around.
Career College Record: 23-15 (61%)
Previous Stop: USF head coach
Expectation: Beat Bama, make Auburn a College Football Playoff program.
CFN Grade: B
It makes sense - Auburn has a lot of nice parts in place now - but he has to prove he can win big.
Auburn 2026 Team Preview
16. Matt Campbell, Penn State
There's as much pressure on him as any new coaching hire. James Franklin was canned partly because he struggled to win the really big games. Campbell didn't exactly do that at Iowa State.
Career College Record: 107-70 (61%)
Previous Stop: Iowa State head coach
Expectation: Win a national title
CFN Grade: B
This should work out great right away, and then let's see what he can do over the long haul.
Penn State 2026 Team Preview
15. Tavita Pritchard, Stanford
In charge of a total program reset, Stanford is trying to find the formula that made it so good under David Shaw, and when Football General Manager Andrew Luck had his chance, he took the guy who backed him up with the Cardinal.
Career College Record: 0-0
Previous Stop: Washington Commanders quarterback coach
Expectation: Build Stanford back up, and make noise in the ACC.
CFN Grade: B+
He'll get plenty of time to grow into the job - this won't be a quick fix.
Stanford 2026 Team Preview
14. Tosh Lupoi, Cal
The former Cal defensive tackle turned into a whale of a defensive coordinator. Now he takes over at his alma mater and should bring the energy, attitude, and talent - he's a monster recruiter.
Career College Record: 0-0
Previous Stop: Oregon defensive coordinator
Expectation: Make Cal into an annual factor in the ACC title chase.
CFN Grade: B+
The only knock is his lack of head coaching experience.
Cal 2026 Team Preview
13. Pat Fitzgerald, Michigan State
A fantastic idea of a hire, Fitzgerald is back and with a chip on his shoulder. It's going to take an overhaul and a rebuild, and it might take a bit.
Career College Record: 110-101 (52%)
Previous Stop: Northwestern head coach
Expectation: Get Michigan State back up to speed with a toughness and fight like the Mark Dantonio era.
CFN Grade: B+
After going 4-20 in his last two years at Northwestern, he has to prove he can recapture the magic.
Michigan State 2026 Team Preview
12. Eric Morris, Oklahoma State
It makes way too much sense. Oklahoma State is a program built around high-powered offenses, so why not give a shot to the guy who ran the best attack in America, and have him bring over all the top players.
Career College Record: 22-16 (58%)
Previous Stop: North Texas head coach
Expectation: Shake up the Big 12 and be in the conference title chase every year.
CFN Grade: A-
With this offense, the Cowboys will be a whole lot of fun no matter how it turns out.
Oklahoma State 2026 Team Preview
11. Jason Candle, UConn
It's an interesting choice after succeeding for so long at Toledo - it always seemed like he was destined to take a mid-level Power Four job. Jim Mora turned this into a good gig, but not there's pressure to win.
Career College Record: 81-44 (65%)
Previous Stop: Toledo head coach
Expectation: Keep being a bother in everyone's schedule - a bowl game every year.
CFN Grade: A-
This feels more like a change of scenery move than a big step up for Candle considering Mora left for Colorado State.
UConn 2026 Team Preview
10. Charles Huff, Memphis
A high-riser, he went from turning around Marshall and winning a Sun Belt title, to making Southern Miss better in one season, to upgrading to the Memphis gig. At just 43, this is a stepping-stone job if he rocks.
Career College Record: 39-25 (61%)
Previous Stop: Southern Miss head coach
Expectation: Win American Conference titles, plural.
CFN Grade: A-
It was a right idea at the right spot at the right time hire.
Memphis 2026 Team Preview
9. Ryan Beard, Coastal Carolina
Coastal Carolina wants to be a fun program for a fun school, so it made a fun hire that flew under the radar. Beard's a 37-year-old head coach who put together a great offense at Missouri State, and he's about to do the same in Conway.
Career College Record: 7-5 (58%)
Previous Stop: Missouri State head coach
Expectation: Get the Chanticleers back in the Sun Belt title chase.
CFN Grade: A
Give him a few years, and then watch him make Coastal Carolina take off.
Coastal Carolina Team Preview
8. Billy Napier, James Madison
After a rough run at Florida, Napier takes on a low-key pressure-packed gig. All he has to do is follow Curt Cignetti and Bob Chesney to keep the Group of Six powerhouse going. This is risky for Napier, but watch him thrive.
Career College Record: 62-35 (64%)
Previous Stop: Florida head coach
Expectation: Win the Sun Belt title right now.
CFN Grade: A
This is the perfect reset for a coach about to show he's much better than things went in Gainesville.
James Madison 2025 Team Preview
7. Mike Jacobs, Toledo
A wonderful hire, he went 94-23 as a star at the Division II level before doing big things at Mercer over the last two years. The guy's been a conference title-level winner on a regular basis everywhere he's been.
Career College Record: 0-0
Previous Stop: Mercer head coach
Expectation: Be in the MAC title chase every season.
CFN Grade: A
The program knows how to hire head coaches - Toledo did its homework.
Toledo 2026 Team Preview
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6. Collin Klein, Kansas State
This is getting in early on the stock. He probably could've used one stepping-stone job to get the mistakes out of the way, and it's never as good a thing as everyone thinks when a school hires a favorite son, but he'll grow into the gig and make it his.
Career College Record: 0-0
Previous Stop: Texas A&M offensive coordinator
Expectation: Big 12 championship runs and College Football Playoff appearances.
CFN Grade: A
It's a home run shot Kansas State had to take, with a giant payoff possible within three years.
Kansas State 2026 Team Preview
5. Jim Mora, Colorado State
It's a wonderful hire for Colorado State, and an interesting one for Mora. He likes the mountains and all that Colorado brings, but after a huge year at UConn, it's a bit stunning he didn't get a Power Four look.
Career College Record: 73-53 (58%)
Previous Stop: UConn head coach
Expectation: Make Colorado State an instant Pac-12 player.
CFN Grade: A
A great get for the Rams, Mora should instantly turn this around.
Colorado State Team Preview
4. Jon Sumrall, Florida
A wonderful hire for the Gators, he's a rising superstar with three conference championships, another trip to a conference title game, and a College Football Playoff appearance in four years. He's got the he-proved-it seasons many other new SEC hires don't.
Career College Record: 43-12 (78%)
Previous Stop: Tulane head coach
Expectation: Win the national championship after a year or so of rebuilding
CFN Grade: A
Boom - Florida didn't get Lane Kiffin, but it'll love Sumrall in a hurry.
Florida 2026 Team Preview
3. Bob Chesney, UCLA
Here's an idea - why not take the guy who followed Curt Cignetti at James Madison, and got the program to the College Football Playoff. And, like Cignetti did at Indiana, will bring over a slew of the great JMU players.
Career College Record: 21-6 (78%)
Previous Stop: James Madison head coach
Expectation: Turn UCLA into a regular bowl team fast, and then make some Big Ten noise in a few years.
CFN Grade: A
The failure of imagination by so many teams to not hire this guy is stunning.
UCLA 2026 Team Preview
2. James Franklin, Virginia Tech
A whale of a hire for Virginia Tech, Franklin never received the credit he deserved for doing a strong job with Penn State. It was quickly forgotten that he got the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff semifinals two years ago.
Career College Record: 128-60 (68%)
Previous Stop: Penn State head coach
Expectation: ACC championship and College Football Playoff appearances.
CFN Grade: A+
The guy should still be the Penn State head football coach.
Virginia Tech 2026 Team Preview
1. Lane Kiffin, LSU
There's a reason there's so much hype. He's the superstar coaching hire of the offseason with everything at his disposal to put LSU on the short list to win the national championship right now, and for every season for a long, long time.
Career College Record: 116-52 (69%)
Previous Stop: Ole Miss head coach
Expectation: Win national championships - plural.
CFN Grade: A+
Demand nothing less than Kiffin turning LSU back into a national title superpower.
LSU 2026 Team Preview
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