SEC's wild coaching carousel: Grading every new hire

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In one of the most controversial and intriguing coaching carousels to ever take place in the Southeastern Conference, the league welcomed five new head coaches eager to change the trajectory of their respective programs next season.

The drama, excitement, mystery, sights and scenes from across the league encompassed the coaching search for Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, LSU and Ole Miss. While the last 48 hours or so have been a complete blur for most of these accomplished coaches who joined the SEC, the work has already begun. Early national signing day will commence this week and the two-week transfer portal will open on Jan. 2. Their success in bringing the best players in the country to play for these schools will display how impactful each coach is to their new teams.

From Lane Kiffin getting run off the road and having derogatory gestures thrown his way at the tarmac in Oxford, Mississippi, to Arkansas fans protesting the hire of Ryan Silverfield from Memphis, the chaos that has ensued can only occur in a league that just means more.

As these head coaches begin their respective ventures, preparing for national signing day and building their coaching staff for next year, let’s grade each program’s hire and what they bring to the table in the new year:

Ryan Silverfield (Arkansas) – Grade: B-

Former school: Memphis Tigers

The 35th head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks has been one of the most renowned coaches in college football for his success in leading the Memphis Tigers. Since being hired at Memphis, Silverfield secured a 50-25 record, including two seasons of at least 10 wins in 2023 and 2024, while earning bowl eligibility in all six years he was the head coach of the Tigers. While rumors and speculation had Auburn’s new head coach, Alex Golesh, as the front-runner for the Arkansas job, Silverfield is still an impressive hire for the Razorbacks.

His continued success in the American Athletic Conference put Memphis on the map as a massive destination for recruits from all over the country. He brings a hard-nosed brand of football, which includes a run-heavy offense and dominant play in the trenches. It may not have been exactly what Arkansas fans were hoping for, but it is an excellent hire that will help the Hogs get back on track.

Alex Golesh (Auburn) – Grade: A

Former school: USF Bulls

Golesh was welcomed with open arms in Auburn, Alabama, on Monday. The former USF head coach is bringing his explosive offense to Saturdays in the SEC, which means nothing but good things down on The Plains. He is widely considered one of the smartest offensive minds in football, as he produced one of the top units each year, competing against American Athletic Conference foes. Before Golesh arrived in Tampa, the Bulls had won just four games over the prior three seasons, while he secured a 9-3 record with a win over Florida in 2025.

Auburn’s football team is one itching to regain its momentum and regain its former glory in the league. Golesh is the type of hire that can change a program’s trajectory in a hurry, which makes this one of the best moves in recent memory for Auburn. His unit at USF averaged 43.0 points per game this season, which ranks fourth among all active FBS coaches.

Jon Sumrall (Florida) – Grade: A-

Former school: Tulane Green Wave

While Florida was one of reportedly four teams in college football that were in the Kiffin sweepstakes, the Gators have found an elite coach who could bring the school back to its former identity. The former Troy and Tulane head coach has been successful everywhere he has been. The 31st head coach in program history will continue coaching the Green Wave in the AAC Championship, with an opportunity to earn a CFP bid, before the work at Florida truly begins.

Dependent upon who transfers or stays, Sumrall is inheriting quarterback DJ Lagway, who has flashed at times throughout the last two seasons under former head coach Billy Napier. He is a strong recruiter and knows what it takes to rebuild teams into successful, physical and explosive units.

Will Stein (Kentucky) – Grade: B-

Former school: Oregon Ducks

The Ducks’ current offensive coordinator was announced as the new head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats late Monday, in light of Mark Stoops being fired for what was another lackluster campaign in Lexington this year. For Stein, his roots run Big Blue. During his time at Oregon, he has coached two Heisman finalists in the last three years. He brings an electric offensive system focused on developing players into the top athletes in the country.

He’s been a massive contributing factor in the Ducks being one of the premier destinations in football under head coach Dan Lanning. Kentucky’s hire came at a perfect time and could be one of the most underrated hires on this list.

Lane Kiffin (LSU) – Grade: A+

Former school: Ole Miss Rebels

He burned every bridge on his way out of Oxford, but Kiffin remains the best hire in the conference. The LSU Tigers did their due diligence to get him to the podium and announce him as the new head coach of the program on Monday, which marked one of the most massive, yet controversial, hires in recent memory. Kiffin’s saga during the closing moments as the Ole Miss head coach was anything but pretty, as athletic director Keith Carter put his foot down and denied Kiffin the opportunity of leading the Rebels in the CFP, rightfully so.

This provided college football with one of the most thrilling and mysterious chapters of the 2025 campaign, however. When the ink finally hit the paper, it marked the beginning of a new exhilarating era for the Tigers. Kiffin’s accomplishments are well-known, along with his outlandish personality and explosive offensive system. Like him or hate him, Kiffin remains one of the most impactful head coaches in college football.

Pete Golding (Ole Miss) – Grade: B+

Former school: Ole Miss

The Rebels were placed in one of the most impossible positions that you could ever draw up, but came out on the other side as straight winners. Golding’s track record as the defensive coordinator at Ole Miss is well-known. The players, fans and staff love the intensity that Golding brings to the table, along with his innate ability to reel in some of the top recruits in America.

As Ole Miss continues its historic 11-1 season with a trip to the CFP on deck, quarterback Austin Simmons and star running back Kewan Lacy lead this squad into a new era offensively under Golding, who was named the permanent head coach after Kiffin departed.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: SEC coaching hires: Winners, losers, stunning hires

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