Bill Belichick’s intriguing news (or perhaps merely a show of interest) notwithstanding, the coaching carousel in power conferences is about to intensify. Positions at the top tier of college football have recently begun to open up, but none have yet been filled. Why has this week been so sparse? Most institutions looking to hire are […]
Bill Belichick’s intriguing news (or perhaps merely a show of interest) notwithstanding, the coaching carousel in power conferences is about to intensify. Positions at the top tier of college football have recently begun to open up, but none have yet been filled.
Why has this week been so sparse? Most institutions looking to hire are postponing their searches until after the conclusion of conference championship matches.
This week, the North Carolina Tar Heels created quite a stir in the sport by engaging in talks with Belichick, the six-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots. According to sources for Sports Illustrated, Belichick finds the evolving rules and dynamics of college football appealing, which are becoming more professionalized; nonetheless, he still maintains an interest in the NFL, where he is just 17 wins shy of becoming the all-time winningest coach. The Tar Heels are set to commence interviewing college head coaches in the days ahead—along with the West Virginia Mountaineers, Purdue Boilermakers, and Central Florida Knights.
These programs are revving up on the hiring runway, poised to take flight right after the conclusion of the games scheduled for Friday night and Saturday. Quick developments are anticipated thereafter, according to industry insiders informing SI. The fallout from the three championship clashes on Friday night is expected to catalyze activity.
The American Athletic Conference matchup featuring the Army Black Knights versus the Tulane Green Wave is expected to particularly catch North Carolina’s eye, sources reveal. Green Wave head coach Jon Sumrall boasts a commendable 32–7 record over three seasons with the Troy Trojans and Tulane, placing him on the radar of UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham.
Other institutions are thought to be interested in Sumrall, who has only been with Tulane for a single season. Tulane is rumored to be taking measures to retain their coach, as reported by NOLA.com. The university may need to bolster its financial support to match the forthcoming revenue-sharing shift in college football set for 2025. One consideration for Sumrall will be the potential opportunity to lead one of the presumed Group of 5 favorites next season and possibly choose from SEC vacancies in the upcoming cycle, especially if the Kentucky Wildcats or Florida Gators elect to make a change.
During the Mountain West Conference clash between the UNLV Rebels and Boise State Broncos, UNLV’s coach Barry Odom is attracting interest from several schools. The 48-year-old Odom has posted a record of 19–7 in two seasons at UNLV and was previously the head coach of the Missouri Tigers from 2015 to 2019. Odom’s tenure at Missouri coincided with current West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker’s time there.
However, Baker may also be monitoring the Conference USA championship game on Friday night, which features the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. A name of interest for West Virginia is its former coach from 2001–2007, Rich Rodriguez, who is currently in his third season at Jacksonville State.
Rodriguez guided the Mountaineers to impressive heights, including three consecutive AP top-10 finishes from 2005–2007, before his ill-fated transition to the Michigan Wolverines. His tenure at Michigan lasted three seasons, after which he spent six years with the Arizona Wildcats and worked as an assistant before landing a rebound position at Jacksonville State. The 61-year-old West Virginia native has achieved success everywhere except Michigan, and a return to his home state could aid Baker in regaining favor with some longtime WVU supporters displeased by the firing of men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins in ’23.
Rodriguez’s coaching adversary on Friday, Tyson Helton of Western Kentucky, is also garnering attention. Purdue appears to hold the strongest interest and the best chance of acquiring Helton, who has a 48–30 record over six seasons and was a finalist the last time the position was open. As the younger brother of former USC coach Clay Helton, he has consistently developed prolific passing offenses, aligning well with Purdue’s traditional philosophy. Hiring Helton would also mirror the successful 2017 acquisition of Jeff Brohm from Western Kentucky.
UCF is also seen as a contender in the search for an offense-focused coach and may show interest in Helton, who has effectively recruited players in Florida and across the South. Several highly regarded coordinators are also active this weekend, which could attract UCF’s attention, such as Will Stein of the Oregon Ducks and Andy Kotelnicki of the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Connecticut Huskies coach Jim Mora, who has led the program to its first winning season since 2010, is rumored to be poised for a move and is a name to keep on the radar at UCF should its search extend beyond coaches whose teams are in action this weekend.
Beyond the Power 4 sphere, a coach who has his team competing in a conference title match could nonetheless find himself without a job this weekend. Marshall Thundering Herd officials and Charles Huff held a meeting on Thursday to discuss Huff’s future, and the conclusion of the Herd’s Sun Belt Conference championship against the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns on Saturday might signify the end of his tenure. Huff’s record stands at 9–3 this season and 31–20 over four seasons at Marshall, but with his contract expiring, it remains uncertain if a renewal is forthcoming. A fellow Sun Belt team, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, may present a potential destination for Huff if he chooses not to pursue a lucrative assistant role within a Power 4 program.
Should Marshall part ways with Huff, North Carolina State’s defensive coordinator Tony Gibson would likely be a prime candidate for the position. The 52-year-old Gibson has deep ties to West Virginia, being a native and having served as an assistant on various staffs at WVU. Gibson’s name has surfaced in discussions at Charlotte as well, but several others are believed to be contenders there as well.
Another coach with connections to West Virginia may also be in line for a new opportunity. Neal Brown, the recently dismissed Mountaineers coach, has engaged in discussions with Appalachian State regarding its vacant position. Brown could also be under consideration elsewhere at the Group of 5 conference level.
