Assessment of the Latest College Football Head Coaching Hires for 2024.
In the realm of college football, the spotlight is on the 28 new head coaches grappling with the challenges of their positions, with one set to fill the Georgia State opening. The success rate for these hires is projected to be around 25%, translating to approximately seven or eight making a positive impact, while only 10%, or two to four, are expected to excel overall. A mere 34 out of the 134 current head coaches have a tenure of five years or more, with just 14 achieving a win rate of 60% or higher.
Despite the current trend of college football head coaches transitioning to the NFL or other coaching roles, the arrival of new coaches is seen as a source of optimism, promising fresh hope and potential success. Rather than assigning grades to these hires, the focus is on categorizing them into four groups based on a blend of factors such as buzz, experience, and perceived effectiveness.
1. New Head Coaches: These individuals, taking on their first full-time FBS head coaching roles, are given initial leeway. Notable mentions include Bob Chesney of James Madison, Jeff Choate of Nevada, Jay Sawvel of Wyoming, Fran Brown of Syracuse, Jeff Lebby of Mississippi State, Trent Bray of Oregon State, Scotty Walden of UTEP, Gerad Parker of Troy, and DeShaun Foster of UCLA.
2. Recycled Head Coaches: Coaches in this category, available for hire for specific reasons, include Bill O’Brien at Boston College, Bronco Mendenhall at New Mexico, Derek Mason at Middle Tennessee, Ken Niumatalolo at San Jose State, Manny Diaz at Duke, Major Applewhite at South Alabama, Bryant Vincent at ULM, Tony Sanchez at New Mexico State, and Pete Lembo at Buffalo.
3. Step Up Head Coaches: Coaches who have moved up to supposedly better positions include Jon Sumrall at Tulane, Brent Brennan at Arizona, Willie Fritz at Houston, Sean Lewis at San Diego State, and Curt Cignetti at Indiana.
4. Star New College Football Head Coaches: This category consists of coaches facing intense pressure to win immediately and consistently throughout their careers. Notable mentions are Kalen DeBoer at Alabama, Sherrone Moore at Michigan, Mike Elko at Texas A&M, Jedd Fisch at Washington, and Jonathan Smith at Michigan State.
In conclusion, the success of these coaching hires remains uncertain, with each coach falling into one of these categories based on initial impressions and expectations.
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