College football will take on a new look next season as the coaching landscape undergoes its annual carousel, with programs across the nation searching for their next great leader.
In recent years, several teams have experienced dramatic turnarounds under the guidance of the right coaching staff, underscoring the impact of strong leadership on program success. Here are the latest coaching hires from around the country.
Auburn Hires Alex Golesh
The Tigers are bringing in one of the best offensive minds in college football to become their head coach, as Alex Golesh will leave South Florida after just three seasons to join Auburn. His offense ranked fourth in points-per-game average at 43 this season, marking his third consecutive season in which the Bulls finished among the top 35 FBS schools.
This will be Golesh’s second run in the SEC — and first as a head coach — having served on Tennessee’s staff in 2021-22. He was also a serious candidate for Arkansas before ultimately choosing to coach the Tigers next season.
Arkansas Hires Ryan Silverfield
If you can’t beat ’em, hire ’em, as the Razorbacks will be hiring Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield for next season. The Tigers defeated Arkansas in mid-September, a game before the Razorbacks parted ways with Sam Pittman.
While coaching Memphis, Silverfield compiled an impressive 50-25 record, so it will be fascinating to see what a coach of his caliber will now do with the NIL funding a program like Arkansas can provide.
Colorado State Hires Jim Mora
Firing your coach before you join a new conference is typically not ideal. Yet Colorado State got lucky, as the Rams were able to snag Jim Mora from UConn after he coached the Huskies to back-to-back winning seasons. He marks the fourth head coach CSU has had since 2019.
Mora will skip the Huskies’ bowl game, their athletic director announced on Wednesday, and will now turn his full attention to the Rams and their departure from the Mountain West into the Pac-12.
Florida Hires Jon Sumrall
The Gators are giving themselves a revamped program, not only bringing in former Jacksonville Jaguars GM David Caldwell but also landing one of the most sought-after coaches in this year’s carousel. Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall will join Florida next season as he and the Green Wave prepare for a conference championship and a potential shot at the College Football Playoff.
Already with two Sun Belt championships under his belt at Troy and the possibility of adding an American Athletic Conference title next, Sumrall’s push to the SEC has been like a bullet train. The Gators are hopeful Sumrall can turn their program back into a playoff contender.
LSU Hires Lane Kiffin
Probably the most inevitable move since rumors started swirling, Lane Kiffin will head to the bayou and take over the LSU Tigers after coaching Ole Miss to a College Football Playoff berth and a record-setting 11 wins. Kiffin will not join the Rebels for the playoffs after a controversial exit but will instead focus on his new program.
It’s widely expected that several players and key staff members will follow Kiffin to LSU. With Ole Miss controversially denying Kiffin the opportunity to coach in the playoffs, there will likely be no love lost when the two SEC teams match up in the future.
Michigan State Hires Pat Fitzgerald
The Spartans are bringing in former Big Ten Coach of the Year Pat Fitzgerald, who last coached Northwestern in 2022. At his alma mater, Fitzgerald went 110-101 during his 17-season run as head coach before he was relieved of his duties due to a hazing scandal, which was settled in court this past August.
Aside from the scandal, the hire raised concerns among Spartan fans due to Fitzgerald’s 4-20 record as a head coach in his last two seasons with Northwestern.
Oklahoma State Hires Eric Morris
Depending on who you ask, some would say Eric Morris is having one of the best coaching years among all of college football this season at North Texas. Which is why it’s no surprise to see a program like Oklahoma State bring in Morris in hopes of the same rejuvenation he provided to the Mean Green.
Morris will still coach North Texas through its American Athletic Conference championship game and possibly the playoffs if the team wins its division. Pokes fans are patient but eager to see what fresh coat of paint Morris can provide to a program that has seen brighter days.
Ole Miss Promotes Pete Golding
With Lane Kiffin’s departure, an immediate hole was left not just for the playoffs but also for next season. Rather than go on a search, Ole Miss decided to promote defensive coordinator Pete Golding to permanent head coach.
Golding spent five seasons at Alabama before making his way to Oxford in 2023. He was the defensive coordinator for the 2020 national championship team and will officially branch off the Saban-Kiffin tree with his own program.
Oregon State Hires JaMarcus Shephard
The Oregon State Beavers are bringing on Alabama’s assistant head coach, JaMarcus Shephard, for what has been reported as a five-year deal. A familiar face in the Pac-12, he also spent time with Washington State (2016) and Washington (2022-23).
Shephard has been a key factor in the offensive success that Kalen DeBoer-coached teams have seen at both Washington and Alabama. With the Huskies, he served as assistant head coach, passing coordinator, and wide receivers coach, helping them reach the national championship. He has coached several NFL receivers, including Rondale Moore, Rome Odunze, and Jalen McMillan.
Stanford Hires Tavita Pritchard
Don’t be surprised, but Andrew Luck may actually turn his alma mater around now that another Stanford alum is part of the program again. In Luck’s first signature full-time hire, the former gunslinger has hired Washington Commanders quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard, who is expected to join the team after Week 13 in the NFL.
Pritchard and Luck spent time together in the Stanford quarterback room in the late 2000s, developing a strong rapport. Now, both former Stanford Cardinals will look to put their team atop the ACC with each other’s help once again.
Virginia Tech Hires James Franklin
Hokies fans have been rejoicing since the hire of former Penn State head coach James Franklin. Virginia Tech will be Franklin’s third stop as a head coach in 12 seasons, as the 53-year-old holds a 104-45 overall record.
Franklin was let go from the Nittany Lions partly due to his inability to get past top-10 opponents, but perhaps a clean slate with the Hokies can turn his fortune around. The new VT coach has already begun recruiting and flipping players, including several Penn State commits.