Every year, the so-called “Coaching Carousel” is an exciting event, but it has been a long time since so many high profile schools all have new coaches and directions all in the same season. Here is a look at the Top five coaching changes in the FBS.
5. Auburn
Old: Gene Chizik
New: Gus Malzahn
To think just three short years ago Gene Chizik was the head coach of the BCS national champion is telling how competitive the SEC is. Overall, Chizik was 33-19 at Auburn, but apart from 2010, his record is an even 19-19. Chizik has been criticized for being at the helm during Cam Newton’s rumored illegal benefits situation.
Auburn’s new coach is a familiar face in Gus Malzahn. Malzahn was the offensive coordinator under Chizik and many saw him as the eventual heir to Chizik’s throne. Last season Malzahn was the head coach at Arkansas State University where he led the team to a 9-3 record before ultimately deciding to come back to Auburn. It is widely renowned that while at Arkansas nearly a decade ago, Malzahn was the brain behind the “wildcat” with the Razorbacks with running backs Felix Jones, Peyton Hillis and Darren McFadden.
Look for the Auburn Tigers to attempt a return to SEC prominence behind the offensive minded Malzahn. Auburn will continue to draw good recruits, and they are only one good season away from being a perennial threat in the SEC again.
4. Tennessee
Old: Derek Dooley
New: Butch Jones
Derek Dooley, who is now the Dallas Cowboys wide receivers coach, was brought to Tennessee in hopes of returning the historic program back to relevancy. Unfortunately for the Volunteers and their fans, the program has three straight losing seasons. Last year, Tennessee was poised to make a push with an above average roster, but Dooley was unable to meet the lofty expectations of the SEC.
Butch Jones takes over for Dooley and looks to make a lasting impression on the SEC as the newest up and comer. Jones was previously the head coach at Cincinnati, and before that was at Central Michigan University. Everyone Jones has been, each respective program was better off when he left than when he arrived. Jones’ cumulative record as a head coach is 50-27 and only once in six seasons as a head coach has Jones’ team not been bowl eligible.
Butch Jones looks to restore order in Knoxville and with the support of over 100,000 fans each week, Jones will be challenged with a daunting task in the SEC. Expect Tennessee to be back to “normal” soon as Jones is a proven winner.
3. Boston College
Old: Frank Spaziani
New: Steve Addazio
Frank Spaziani is what one would call a football “lifer”. After playing at Penn State for Joe Paterno in the late 1960’s, Spaziani has coached ever since then. Before arriving at Boston College, Spaziani made stops at Navy, Virginia, and two stops in the Canadian Football League. Prior to becoming the head coach at BC, Spaziani was a running backs coach before becoming the defensive coordinator. He is a rare subject who has coached nearly every position on the football field. Unfortunately the credentials did not translate into great success at BC. Spaziani won only 21 games in four seasons as a head coach.
The new coach is one of the true up and comers in the business, former Temple head coach and Florida Gators offensive coordinator Steve Addazio. In two years at Temple, Addazio brought the Owls into football relevancy with a 13-11 record. The record does not tell the whole story, because if you were familiar with Temple football, 13 wins in two years used to be a pipe dream. Addazio looks to bring Boston College into the national spotlight in his first big time head-coaching job. Addazio is an offensive mastermind who likes to spread the ball around will give Big East defensive coordinators headaches.
Look for the Eagles of Boston College to be a perennial double-digit win team in a few years, as soon as Addazio gets his first few recruiting classes involved. Remember, Addazio has spent a lot of time with one of the best recruiters college football has ever seen in Urban Meyer.
2. Texas Tech
Old: Tommy Tuberville
New: Kliff Kingsbury
Tommy Tuberville was one of the better coaches of the last 20 years, always improving the programs he goes to. With a career record of 130-77 (including a 7-3 record in bowl games) Tuberville has earned the prestige he has received. Tuberville has moved on to the University of Cincinnati after leading the Raiders of Texas Tech to two bowl games in three years.
The Raiders new coach, Kliff Kingsbury will bring pure excitement to Lubbock, TX for the foreseeable future. At only 33 years of age, he is already one of the most advanced offensive minds in the NCAA. Formerly of University of Houston, he mastered the all out air attack under which he learned when he was a quarterback at TTU. Kingsbury then moved on to be the offensive coordinator for Texas A&M last season where he coached Johnny Manziel to a Heisman.
Kingsbury is a pure offensive mastermind, and will bring the “Air Raid” back to Texas Tech, where it was prominent at the turn of the millennium. Expect the young coach to bring in many recruits from all over the south, especially receivers. The Raiders will be a good team for years to come, as Kingsbury will be at the helm for the foreseeable future.
1. Oregon
Old: Chip Kelly
New: Mark Helfrich
In perhaps one of the biggest stories of the offseason, Chip Kelly decided to leave the University of Oregon to head to the NFL. There has been suspicion that Kelly only left because of impending NCAA violations, but the penalties against Oregon were considered a minor slap on the wrist. Kelly was a revolutionary in the college game, bring pure speed and, for lack of better terms, a simplistic chaos of an offense to the Ducks. Under Kelly, Oregon was undoubtedly one of the best offensive teams in the country every year.
New head coach Mark Helfrich was an understudy of Kelly’s, and will likely continue the tradition of a fast-paced rushing attack at Oregon. It has been known that Helfrich (who was Kelly’s offensive coordinator) was going to take the reins from Kelly eventually, but no one knew when Kelly was going to bolt to the NFL. Look for Oregon not to miss a beat with Helfrich, unless of course, Chip Kelly was really the entire mastermind behind that organization.