Hey All,
It's that time of year again. Summer is in full swing. The CFL regular season has started, NFL training camps will open soon and it's time to take another ride on the old Coaching Carousel. This year's trip won't be presented in its' usual alphabetical order, but rather in a way that focuses first on the dominoes that fell with the retirement of Saint Nicholas of Tuscaloosa and the demise of the Conference of Champions. Then everything after that will follow. So, pick out your horse, buckle up and get ready for another ride on the Coaching Carousel.
The Saban Effect/Pac 12 Demise
When leaving this past Rose Bowl after Michigan defeated Alabama in the CFP Semi-final game, 27-20, I and others in my net puller group, found ourselves walking past Alabama HC Nick Saban who was waiting in a golf cart to return to the locker room after the postgame press conference. We all noticed a rather odd look on Saban's face than didn't reflect the disappointment of defeat or the anger of opportunity lost. Rather it was the wistful look of a man who had paced the Crimson Tide sideline for the last time. Eleven days after the loss, Saban announced his retirement from coaching. Within 48 hours, Bama AD Greg Byrne had his new coach. This move along with the demise of the Pac 12 set off a chain reaction of coaching changes like we haven't seen in quite awhile.
Alabama
OUT: Nick Saban
IN: Kalen DeBoer
With Nick Saban off to a retirement of golf, Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies and being hailed as the greatest coach in college football history, it would take a one heck of a confident guy to step into the breach as the next man up in Tuscaloosa. It would also take a friendly agent as well. Jimmy Sexton, the agent for both Nick Saban and Kalen DeBoer facilitated the quick signing with AD Greg Byrne. Now, all the unreasonable expectations of Alabama fans rest on Kalen DeBoer's shoulders. DeBoer has done nothing but win wherever he has been. In his first HC gig, DeBoer guided the Sioux Falls Cougars to a 67-3 record in five seasons with three NAIA nationals titles in 2006, 2007 and 2009. After that he went to Fresno State where in two seasons he took the Bulldogs from oblivion to a 9-3 record in 2021 and a win over UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl. He then succeeded Jimmy Lake at Washington. In 2021 Lake's Dogs went a dismal 4-8 with an embarrassing home loss to FCS power Montana. All DeBoer did in his first year on Montlake was go 11-2 with an Alamo Bowl win over Texas. In 2023 his Huskies went 12-0 in the regualr season, beat Oregon a second time to claim the last Pac 12 title then go on to beat Texas, 37-31 in the CFP Semifinal in the Sugar Bowl before falling to Michigan in the title tilt. If this hire does not workout for Alabama, you really can't blame Byrne or the rest of the admin. DeBoer stacks up as a great hire here in July of 2024.
Washington:
OUT: Kalen DeBoer
IN: Jedd Fisch
Just days after the Huskies were crushed in the title game by Michigan, the team and their fans were dealt another crushing blow when HC Kalen DeBoer bolted for the Crimson Tide. However, in the rubble of the destruction of the PAC 12 the Huskies sniffed out a gem in Jedd Fisch. Fisch comes from Arizona where after having almost no head coaching experience at all, he took the Wildcats from 1-11 in 2021 to 10-3 in 2023 and an Alamo Bowl win over Oklahoma. The 2023 Wildcats three losses in were all on the road and by a total of 16 points which included a 43-41 triple OT loss at USC. Fisch already has gained positive traction in Seattle by holding together a good recruiting class and stemming the tide of departures from the program after DeBoer left. Fisch can win at UW, but will the Husky faithful give him the time to build his team while pining away for what could have been with DeBoer?
Arizona
OUT: Jedd Fisch
IN: Brent Brennan
It seems that almost everyone of note in the admin and athletic department has left Arizona. That unsteadiness and a huge athletic budget shortfall where the actual dollar amount seems to change hourly have created a sense of general unease on the Tucson campus. Into that void steps Brent Brennan. Brennan may be the perfect guy for the job. Brennan a former WR in his playing days for UCLA has spent most of his coaching career at San Jose State, a program that has found recent stability but has been on the chopping block several times and always seems to be in flux financially. Yes, Brennan 's 34-48 overall record as a HC isn't inspiring, but he does get his teams to follow his program and the stability he provides could ease the Wildcats transition to the Big XII. Oh, and having QB Noah Fifita and WR Tetairoa McMillan coming back this year is a very good thing for Brennan to have in his first year at the helm.
San Jose State
OUT: Brent Brennan
IN: Ken Niumatalolo
With Brennan forging a trail to Tuscon a very interesting replacement for him has been hired. Ken Niumatalolo, a fixture as the headman at Navy from 2007-2022, has found his way to San Jose and will bring his brand of option football to the west coast. This scribe wonders how he will handle running a normal football program and not an academy team where discipine is baked into the players, off field incidents rarely ever occur and recruiting doesn't come down to who gets a congressional appointment to attend school. I wonder how he will handle NIL as well. This will be a very interesting season in San Jose. I also wonder if Niumatalolo will actually open up his offense as he has promised. However, open for him would be calling 10 passes a game.
Michigan State
OUT: Mel Tucker
IN: Jonathan Smith
Hey, we all remember Mel Tucker, right? He was the HC at Colorado who told a room full of deep-pocketed Buffalo boosters that he was fully committed to reviving the moribund Colorado program. About an hour after that meeting, Tucker's agent had struck a deal for Tucker to leave the Flatiron Mountains for the Banks of the Red Cedar in East Lansing. That was 2020. Fast forward now to 2021 where Tucker led Michigan State to an 11-2 record and a Peach Bowl win over Pitt. Tucker was given a 95 million dollar contract extension. The 2022 Spartans went 5-7 and Tucker was on the hot seat. That brings us to last year when USA Today ran a story on Tucker on 9/10 detailing sexual harassment claims. Tucker was first suspended on 9/18 then fired with cause on 9/27. That firing with cause voided Tucker's buyout and freed up a lot of money for a new HC. That's where Jonathan Smith comes in. Smith never wanted to leave Oregon State. The former Fiesta Bowl winning QB had comeback to lead his alma mater to greatness. Smith had built a developmental program based on physical defense, a strong running game and just enough passing to win games. However, Smith saw the writing on the wall and left Oregon State after it was clear they would be an orphaned school after the collapse of the Pac 12. Smith should be a great fit in East Lansing. His style of play is classic Big Ten football. He could have a long career on the Spartan sidelines.
Oregon State
OUT: Jonathan Smith
IN: Trent Bray
As one valued Beaver alum leaves OSU, another stays to help rebuild from the wreckage in Corvallis. Trent Bray did not follow Jonathan Smith to MSU and was promoted from DC/LB Coach to the HC position to provide some stability for the program. Bray played LB for the Beavers from 2002-05 and started his coaching career as a GA at Arizona State in 2008. He's been on the defensive side of the ball his whole carreer that spans stints at ASU, Nebraska and OSU. This is his first time as an HC. After all that has transpired in the last year, the Beaver fans should warm up to this coach and this squad who did not abandon them when everyone else has.
UCLA
OUT: Chip Kelly
IN: DeShaun Foster
Chipper's many shortcomings became glaring points of contention for UCLA fans over the years. One; ol' Chip hates recruiting. Two; he's been accused of playing favorites with his players too. His contract also had a few years to run and what's left of the bRuin faithful were resigned to waiting out the end of his contract. Then out of the blue, or should we say scarlet and gray, Theee OSU HC Ryan Day made Chip an offer he couldn't refuse to be the OC for the Buckeyes. Despite all his shortcomings, Kelly can still coordinate an explosive offense. In quiet, dark corners of the Big Ten, many a fan is fearing what he will do with Theee OSU's talent. In Chip's Stead comes DeShaun Foster who is a link to when UCLA was very good under ol' Buffet Bob Toledo. Foster has spent all but one year of his coaching career in Westwood. However, he has made the folks happy already in bRuinland by just hitting the recruiting trail and reestablishing contact with the local high schools. UCLA does have a decent team returning. Add in some recruiting wins over the next few years and the bRuins could make some waves in the Big Ten.
Michigan
OUT: Jim Harbaugh
IN: Sherrone Moore
Jim Harbaugh led the Wolverines for nine seasons. The favorite son of Ann Arbor led the Maize & Blue back to the promised land last year. His charges beat Washington in the CFP title game, 34-13 to secure Michigan's first undisputed national title since 1948. With the NCAA hot on his heels and a ton of seniors leaving for the Sunday league, Harbaugh left too. He is now back in the NFL as the HC of the Los Angeles Chargers. Can Harbaugh pull off the coveted coaching double of winning both a national title and a Super Bowl? Ask Pete Carroll. He knows how hard that is. Into the large footsteps left behind by Harbugh comes Sherrone Moore. The 38-year old Moore is a favorite of both players and fans alike in Ann Arbor. He started as the TE coach then worked his way up to OL/OC/Acting HC. Most folks remember him from last year when he led the Wolverines when Harbuagh was suspended five games in Michigan's sign stealing scandal. Moore was everyone's pick to lead Michigan after Harbaugh's exit. Despite the senior exodus there is still a deep and talented roster at his comnand. How long will the honeymoon for Moore last? Time will tell.
Texas, The Big Easy And The (Other) Land Of Troy
Houston
OUT: Dana Holgorsen
IN: Willie Fritz
Dana Holgorsen's second time with Cougars was not nearly as fun as his first. Holgorsen was the HC at West Virginia from 2012-2018. When the HC Job at Houston became available in 2019. . Holgorsen jumped at the chance to be there and left Morgantown in his rear view mirror. However in five years on the sidelines, his UH teams compiled a meager 28-31 record including a 4-8 mark in 2023. 2023 was the Cougars first year in the Big XII. Disgruntled/embarassed alums and admin bought out Holgorsen for nearly 15 million dollars and plucked Willie Fritz from Tulane. Fritz, as many of us recall led Tulane to a win over USC in the 2023 Cotton Bowl. Fritz is a true coaching lifer. He started out as a GA at his Alma Mater Pittsburg State and went on to be a HC at the Juco, D-II, FCS and FBS level. He's been everywhere from Blinn JC in Texas to Central Missouri to Tulane. If anyone is ready for his shot in a power conference it is the 64-year old Fritz.
Fun Fact: In 1995 and '96, Willie Fritz led Blinn College to back to back 12-0 seasons, a pair of Texas Juco titles and also a pair of wins in the Mineral Water Bowl.
Tulane
OUT: Willie Fritz
IN: Jon Sumrall
Willie Fritz''s leaving for Houston could have buried Tulane just faster than he took to resurrect the program. However, the reports of the program's doom may be premature with the hiring of Sumrall. Sumrall comes from Troy where he took the Trojans to 23-4 mark over his two seasons and a win in the Cure bowl over UTSA in 2022. Sumrall played his college ball at Kentucky from 2002-2004 as LB for HC Guy Morris. An in jury derailed his playing career and set him on the coaching path. His experience is all on the defensive side of the ball as he has been a DC, LB coach or both for University of San Diego, Tulane, Ole Miss, and Kentucky. Fritz did not leave the cupboard bare when he left and Summrall has the opportunity to keep the winning going in The Big Easy. We will find out just where the program is in its' early stages under Summrall as the Green Wave hosts Kansas State in week two then travels to Oklahoma in week three.
Troy
OUT: Jon Summrall
IN: Gerard Parker
Losing promising HCs is commonplace at Troy, however the replacement they found for Jon Summrall after his departure for Tulane has a lot of folks scratching their heads at Troy. Parker has very little HC experience. He was the interim HC at Purdue after Darrell Hazel was fired midway through the 2016 season. The team went 0-6 with him at the helm. He has spent almost his entire career coaching TEs and WRs. He has just one year of even being a coordinator. Last year he was the OC at Notre Dame after Tommy Rees left the Golden Dome behind for the same position at Alabama. This is one of the most underwhelming hires of the offseason.
Aggieland And Tobacco Road
Texas A&M
OUT: Jimbo Fisher
IN: Mike Elko
Well, just what do we say about the Jimbo Fisher era in College Station? It seems like one crazy story, scandal and one coaching meltdown after another during Jimbo's time. It made George Steinbrennner's stewardship of the Yankees look tranquil. However, a 75-million dollar buyout has made a clean slate of things for the Maroon and White. The powers that be in Aggielnad have now brought in a Yankee they are familiar with to run the show. Mike Elko comes from Duke where helped the Blue Devils to a 16-9 record over the last two seasons. Prior to that he was the DC/S coach for TAMU from 2018-2021. I say Elko is a Yankee in the fact that he played his college ball at Penn, then coached at Stony Brook, Penn, Merchant Marine, Fordham, and Hofstra. He then took his trade a bit further south with stints at Bowling Green, Wake forest and Notre Dame as their DC. Elko isn't a bluster guy. He's a defense first guy who gets just enough offense to win games. That might be what Texas A&M needs right now.
Duke
OUT: Mike Elko
IN: Manny Diaz
Manny Diaz has had an interesting career as a coach. He grew up in Miami as the son of the mayor of Miami. The he went to Florida State and began his coaching career there. He has always coached defense. He worked his way back home, becoming the DC of The U from 2016-2018. He then accepted the job at Temple as their HC on 12/13/2018. 17 days later he went back on his commitment to Temple and was now the new HC of Miami after Mark Richt stepped down unexpectedly from the job. Diaz then had three pedestrian seasons and was escorted out of Coral Gables at the end of the 2021 season. He has spent the last two seasons as James Frankin's HC at Penn State. Can Diaz win enough to build his program at a school. where football is an adjunct to the basketball program? Hmmmmmm
They Were Known As Eastern Independents Once Upon A Time
Boston College
OUT: Jeff Hafley
IN: Bill O'Brien
The best thing about Jeff Hafley's tenure as HC of the Eagles was that he wasn't Steve Addazio. Addazio, Hafley's predecessor, went 44-44 at Chestnut Hill and managed to offend almost everyone with a personality euphemistically described as "abrasive." Folks in Beantown were happy with Hafley even though his squads went just 22-26 over four years. So it came as quite a shock when he abruptly left to be the DC of the Green Bay Packers. However, BC looks to have rebounded nicely worth the hiring of Bill O'Brien. He comes to the job with a resume that could warm the coldest of New England hearts. He's got a few Super Bowl rings from his time as an assistant with The New England Patriots. He's also been the HC at Penn State, and for the Houston Texans. He brings an absolute world of experience to the job. He's a helluva hire by BC when they were left flat footed after Hafley's departure.
Syracuse
OUT: Dino Babers
IN: Fran Brown
Dino Babers looked like he had turned the Orange program around. After a pair of 4-8 seasons, his 2018 team went 10-3 with a win over West Virginia in the Camping World Bowl. Then mediocrity set in. His teams went 24-36 over the last five seasons. Babers teams would get off to hot starts then just fade into obscurity once they hit the teeth of their schedule. In Babers' place comes Fran Brown. Brown comes to upstate New York from Georgia where was their DB coach the last two seasons. He has no HC experience, but he is familiar with football in the east. He spent six seasons at Temple where went from the GA ranks to AHC/DB coach in 2018. He was also the DB coach at Rutgers for two seasons from 2020-2021. Brown was hired more for his recruiting prowess than his on field abilities. He knows the Northeast well and has deep recruiting ties to the top prep schools. A strong staff around him will be a must if he is to succeed. Most of the staff is young but they are talented. CO-DC Robert Wright was named an AFCA 35-under 35 winner for 2024.
Rounding Out The Big Ten With Some Dukes On The Side
Indiana
OUT: Tom Allen
IN: Curt Cignetti
Nobody could say that Tom Allen did not give it his all as the HC at Indiana. He was elevated from the DC role to lead the program when then HC Kevin Wilson resigned amidst an investigation into mistreatment and abuse of players. Allen's 2020 team went 6-2 in the COVID year with a 38-21 thumping of Michigan in Bloomington. The losses piled up from there with the Hoosiers going 9-27 over the last three years. Despite Allen's heart-on-his-sleeve love of Indiana and his players, he was let go at the end of the 2023 campaign. Allen's replacement, Curt Cignetti comes from James Madison. Cignetti oversaw one of the smoothest transitions from the FCS to the FBS that anyone has ever seen. The Dukes went from the FCS directly the Sun Belt Conference and all they did under his tenure was 8-3 in 2022 and then 11-1 with a berth in the Armed Forces Bowl. Cignetti has been in coaching for 40 years and now he has the opportunity to build up a power four program in the Hoosiers. Nobody doubts that he has the experience and talent to make Indiana a winner, but can he do it at a basketball school that has only notched two nine-win seasons in the history of the program?
Fun Fact: When Indiana beat Michigan, 38-21 back in 2020 their QB was Michael Penix, Jr.
Northwestern
OUT: Pat Fitzgerald
IN: David Braun
One of the shocking stories of the 2023 season was the hazing scandal that led to the firing of Pat Fitzgerald. Then one of the feel good stories of the 2023 unfolded when David Braun, who had spent less time at NU that almost any member of his players, was named the Interim HC. All he did was guide the Wildcats to a 8-5 record and a win over Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl. In the middle of the season, the interim tag was removed and he was named the full-time HC. Braun now faces higher expectations in Evanston going into season two. Braun main challenge this year is that he has only two returning starters in his LB corps and secondary. If the new starters find their feet early, the Cats will go bowling.
James Madison
OUT: Curt Cignetti
IN: Bob Chesney
With Curt Cignetti headed to lead the 18th ranked team in the Big Ten, the Dukes admin went with what they know and drew from the FCS ranks to take his place. The 46-year old Chesney comes to James Madison from Holy Cross. Chesney's Crusaders won five straight Patriot League titles from 2019-2023. His 111-46 record as an HC has a decidedly northeastern flavor as he's also been the HC at Salve Regina and Assumption. Despite his FCS excellence and loaded roster left to him at JMU, Chesney will have an uphill climb adjusting to the Sun Belt Conference.
Time Out For Trivia
ESPN College Gameday legend and former FBS HC Lee Corso only won one bowl game in his coaching career. What game was it?
An SEC Leftover And Other Southern Locales
Mississippi State
OUT: Zach Arnott
IN; Jeff Lebby
After the sudden death of Mike Leach back on December 12, 2022. The MSU admin promoted Arnett from the DC position and backed him for a new defensive minded Bulldog program. The backing of Arnett lasted one season. Arnett's Bulldogs were 4-6 and had lost six of their last eight games when Arnett was shown the door. The AD that hired Arnett, John Cohen had left for the Auburn AD job a month earlier. The new AD, Zac Selmon, didn't waste any time to put his mark on the program and move to put his man at the helm in Starkville. That choice is Jeff Lebby. Lebby brings an offensive minded attitude back to MSU from Oklahoma where he was the OC. Lebby was also the OC at Ole Miss and UCF over the last five years. Lebby will be asked to bring the Leach level of offense back to MSU. He may at times ask his father-in-law for advice. That guys is former Baylor HC Art Briles.
Louisiana-Monroe
OUT: Terry Bowden
IN: Ryan Vincent
There are graveyards of college football that have been known to end the career of many a coach and then there is ULM. Since jumping from the the Juco ranks to being a full four year college in 1951, the Warhawks have had never had much success. They can lay claim to just four conference titles and one Division I-AA title since then. In fact, ULM has posted just one winning season since joining D-I, (now the FBS), back in 1994. So it is no surprise that Terry Bowden failed in creating a winning team over the last three seasons, compiling a 10-26 mark. Bowden was let go and the next victim up is Bryant Vincent. The 48-year old Vincent is an Alabama kid. Almost his entire coaching career has been spent in the 22nd state. He's been a HC on the high school level and spent a few years at UAB where he filled in as the interim HC at UAB where he led the Blazers to a 7-6 record only to watch Trent Dilfer be handed the full time HC job at season's end. Vincent really loves coaching or there's no way he'd take this job. A winning season for the Warhawks would be a miracle. Good luck, Mr Vincent.
Lone Raiders And A Sun Belt Duo
Middle Tennessee State
OUT: Rick Stockstill
IN: Derek Mason
Rick Stockstill compiled a 113-111 record in 18 years on the MTSU sidelines. He would not see a 19th year as he was fired shortly after the Blue Raiders finished their third losing season in the last five years. In comes Derek Mason. Yes, Derek Mason. You know, the guy with a 27-55 record in seven seasons at Vanderbilt from 2014-2020. Mason has coached everywhere form Bucknell to Oklahoma State to Stanford and he will need all that experience to raise the Blue Raiders out of their near 20-year cycle of .500 football.
South Alabama
OUT: Kane Womack
IN: Major Applewhite
After three years on the sidelines in Mobile, Kane Womack moved up to Tuscaloosa to be the DC/ILB Coach for the Crimson Tide. In his stead comes one of the assistants to have his career resurrected by Saint Nicholas of Tuscaloosa. That assistant is Major Applewhite. Applewhite was the big up and coming name in the coaching ranks from 2008-15 where he was the OC/QB Coach for both Texas and Houston. He was then handed the reigns of the Cougar program back in 2016. Houston went a mediocre 15-11 in a little over two seasons and he was let go. Applewhite then was yet another rehab project for Nick Saban as an analyst at Bama for 2019 and 2020 season. The last three years have fond him as the OC/QB Coach at South Alabama. He was a pretty safe choice for the admin, but can Applewhite make the most of his second chance?
Georgia State
OUT: Shawn Elliott
IN: Dell McGee
Shawn Elliott came to Georgia State from South Carolina where he spent seven seasons as primality the OL coach for the Gamecocks. Elliott leapt at the chance to head up the GSU program, but left his family behind in Columbia, SC. After seven seasons and four bowl wins, Elliott decided he needed to be with his family more and left GSU for a second stint with the Gamecocks as the TE/RGC. McGee comes to GSU from nearby Georgia where he was the RB/RGC coordinator for Kirby Smart. McGee has been lauded as an ace recruiter who knows the region well. He was a successful HS HC compiling a 85-21 record at George Washington Carver High in Columbus, GA. The one knock on McGee is that he's never been a coordinator or HC on the college level. One lingering question about McGee is whether he will be able to recruit at a high level without the Georgia Bulldog recruiting war chest at his disposal. Only time will tell.
Marty Robbins, The Land Of Enchantment And Mountain Westward
UTEP
OUT: Dana Dimel
IN: Scotty Walden
So, you want to be a HC at the FBS level? Well, that's about all that UTEP had to offer Scotty Walden and he jumped at the chance after turning Austin Peay from a doormat into a FCS playoff team over the last four seasons. The 34-year old Wallden is young for the job, but he was first a HC at 26 years old when he was named the headman at D-III East Texas Baptist back in January of 2016. The expectations are low at UTEP and with some patience and luck Walden could bring some winning seasons to Minerland. He couldn't do much worse as the residents of the Sun Bowl haven't won 10 games in a season since 1988 when Bob Stull guided the team to a 10-3 record and a berth in the Independence Bowl. In fact, the Miners have had only seven winning seasons in the last 60 years.
New Mexico
OUT: Danny Gonzales
IN: Bronco Mendenhall
Back in 2020 Gonzales, the former Lobo who comes from the Rocky Long coaching tree was looked upon as a man who could make New Mexico football a force in the Mountain West Conference. That didn't come close to happening. Gonzales was fired after posting an 11-32 record over four seasons. New Mexico then got lucky when Bronco Mendenhall decide to come out of retirement. Mendenhall, who left Virginia HC gig after the 2021 season to "spend more time with his family" must have really been really wanting to be a HC again to take this job. UNM has been a graveyard for coaches for a long long time.
New Mexico State
OUT: Jerry Kill
IN: Tony Sanchez
You have to wonder how great a career Jerry Kill could have had without his litany of medical problems. Health concerns stemming from Epilepsy has forced Kill to leave Las Cruces after leading the Aggies to the first 10-win season in their 140 year history. The Aggie admin has turned to Tony Sanchez to keep the program on an upward trajectory. You might remember Sanchez was the HC at Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman High and was hand-picked to be UNLV's HC back in 2015. Sanchez had no college coaching experience at all and it showed with his 20-40 record over five years. So this job becomes a second chance for Sanchez to prove he can win on the FBS level. Good luck, man. Only a very few have won at NMSU.
Boise State
OUT: Andy Avalos
IN: Spencer Danielson
Andy Avalos played linebacker at BSU and then became a trusted assistant at his alma mater. He rose up from being the DL coach in 2012 to the DC/LB job in 2016. After two seasons in that post he left for the same job at Oregon. After two seasons with the Quacks, he returned home to the Blue Turf as the HC when Brian Harsin took the Auburn HC job. Avalos posted a 22-14 overall record, but after the Broncos started off the 2023 season at 5-5, the admin decided he needed to go. DC Spencer Danielson was tagged as the interim HC and all he did was guide the team to three straight wins and the Mountain West Conference crown. That was enough for AD Jeremiah Dickey to remove Danielson's interim tag on 12/3 of last year. BSU then went out and lost to UCLA in the LA Bowl. Danielson is a Southern California native having grown up in Solano Beach and playing his college ball at Azusa Pacific. However his coaching resume screams BSU lifer. All but one year of the 35-year old's coaching life has been spent in Boise. Hopes are high that the energetic Daielson can keep the Broncos at the top of the MWC for years to come.
Nevada
OUT: Ken Wilson
IN: Jeff Choate
Ken Wilson's time at Nevada was painful to say the least. The Wolfpack went just 4-20 over his two years in Reno. Half of Wilson's four wins came against fellow bottom feeders New Mexico and New Mexico State. He was fired shortly after Nevada was pasted 42-6 by Wyoming to finish off the 2023 campaign. The admin at Nevada have turned to Jeff Choate to run the team. Choate comes to the Wolfpack from Texas where he has been the CO-DC/ILB coach the last three seasons. However, Choate has plenty of experience in the land of the Big Sky. He was the HC of Montana State from 2016-2019 and served as an assistant at Boise State, Utah State and Washington. Choate is a tough-minded defense first HC. He may just be what Nevada needs to be competitive in the Mountain West.
San Diego State
OUT: Brady Hoke
IN: Sean Lewis
Brady hoke's first stint at SDSU ended when he was tabbed for the Michigan HC gig back in 2011. However, the folks in Ann Arbor did not like his 31-20 record that featured a declining win total in each one of his four years on the job. Hoke bounced around a few programs before returning as the HC for the Aztecs. The descendants of Motezuma produced a mundane 40-32 record under Hoke from 2020-23. Hoke retired at the end of last season where the Aztecs went a pedestrian 4-8. Sean Lewis was tabbed to replace Hoke after a tumultuous year on Deion Sanders' staff at Colorado. Lewis left Kent State where he was the HC to be the OC for Sanders. That lasted eight games. After eight games Sander demoted Lewis from the OC position even though the Buffs were averaging 32.1 points per game. Lewis immediately drew interest from a lot of programs. Lewis landed in at SDSU shortly after Colorado's season ended and now he has the task of getting the Aztecs to win. SDSU has a new stadium and are hoping Lewis can get the offense clicking well enough to challenge for the Mountain West title. The problem is that despite the belief that Lewis can ramp up the SDSU offense, the Aztecs have only one returning starter on defense. Ask USC fans about how well a potent offense and a poor defense go together. Hmmmm
Wyoming
OUT: Craig Bohl
IN: Jay Sawvel
Craig Bohl came to Wyoming back in 2014 from North Dakota State. Yes, that North Dakota State. Bohl led the transition of the Bison from D-II to the FCS and and went 104-32 in eleven years at the helm. His teams won three straight FCS National Titles from 2011-13. He then left a loaded program behind to revive the decidedly down Wyoming program. In 10 years with the Cowboys he did lead the program back to respectability with four bowl wins including a 16-15 win over Toledo in last year's Arizona Bowl. The 65-year old Bohl then rode off into the sunset and turned the reigns over to his DC Jay Sawvel. After serving as defensive assistant in a 30-year career, he gets his chance to run his own program. Sawvel has the ability and the talent to make Wyoming an upper tier team in the Mountain West.
Trivia Answer
Lee Corso's Indiana Hoosiers stunned undefeated BYU, 38-37 in the 1979 Holiday Bowl. A 62-yard punt return for a TD by CB Tim Wilbur in the final period provided the margin of victory.
Until next time folks remember, all coaches know their X's and O's, but you win the game with the Johnnys and the Joes.
-The Commissioner
