When Curt Cignetti took over Indiana, expectations were low. Yet in two years, he’s turned a program without a double-digit-win season into a national champion. At Bloomington, Cignetti has won 88.5% of his games, making two College Football Playoff appearances and securing a national title.
What College Football Coach Could Be the Next Curt Cignetti?
Using the transfer portal and NIL rules, Indiana went from laughingstock to contender. This achievement seems generational, so repeating it may not be feasible. However, what teams could also turn their fortunes around?
James Franklin, Virginia Tech
Once upon a time, the Hokies stood as an example of excellence in football. Frank Beamer brought winning to Blacksburg. However, the last five years of his career were filled with rampant mediocrity and lackluster teams. From there, the program endured coaches and recruits who failed to meet traditional standards.
With cash infusions from the university and the hiring of Franklin, Tech appears to be laying the groundwork for a return. Under Franklin’s leadership, the Hokies brought in over three dozen transfers and recruits. Plus, the ACC stopped being a Clemson-dominant league last season, so the road back for a Virginia Tech football renaissance isn’t as difficult as you’d imagine.
Eric Morris, Oklahoma State
Now, how can a team that won 65.4% of Mike Gundy’s games reside on this list? First, start with a 4-20 record in their last two seasons. Next, add in the fact that Gundy was 4-11 in that span. New coach Morris has one of the most challenging tasks in college football this season. Not only must he win games, but he must also chip away at the narrative. The Sooners run the state of Oklahoma, and the Cowboys play the perennial role of little brother.
Meaning, the attention stays away from Stillwater. Morris hit the ground running with 54 transfers who are already enrolled and looks forward to the spring. Despite Texas Tech’s financial dominance, the Big 12 is still a winnable conference. Morris seeks to clean up an offense that ranked No. 112 in PFSN’s CFB Offense Impact Rankings.
Bob Chesney, UCLA
No other coach can come closer to copying Cignetti as the man who replaced him at James Madison. Chesney won the Sun Belt and took the Duke to the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history. A couple of weeks before that, he accepted the task of rebuilding the once-mighty Bruins.
On his way out of Harrisonburg, he picked up 10 players and took them to Westwood. Life in the Big Ten will not be easy for Chesney, but he does have the advantage of location, a fertile recruiting ground, and decent funding to help facilitate the rebirth. UCLA hasn’t won ten games since the 2014 season.
Alex Golesh, Auburn
Racked by atrocious coaching hires and recruiting, the Tigers fired Hugh Freeze and rolled the dice with Golesh, the former South Florida head coach. Auburn saw a mass exodus of premium talent. However, Golesh continues to build the team his way, setting pieces in motion that fit what he wants to do.
As a result, no one focuses on The Plains from a football perspective. To smooth the transition, he brought his former USF quarterback, Byrum Brown, to the team. Brown knows the system and brings an experienced dual threat to the team.
Brian Hartline, South Florida
Speaking of the Bulls, Golesh’s old team takes the field with a new coach and new mindset. Hartline comes to Tampa with a coaching and recruiting pedigree that surpasses anyone on the list. At Ohio State, he was instrumental in bringing Marvin Harrison, Emeka Egbuka, Jameson Williams, Chris Olave, Jeremiah Smith, Garrett Wilson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba to Columbus.
Moreover, his ascension to offensive coordinator allowed him to control the game from multiple directions. The eye for talent and talent to sign them will play well in the American Conference without a runaway winner.
