College football coaching carousel: Which CFP coaches are on the move?
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
The coaching carousel within college football is nearly all wrapped up, aside from Michigan now having to find a replacement for Sherrone Moore after the Wolverines fired Moore with cause just over a week ago.
The carousel was perhaps at an all-time high this season, as several high-profile head coaches were fired mid-season amid their program’s struggles and given hefty initial buyouts — looking at you, LSU with Brian Kelly and you too Penn State with James Franklin — while several Group of Five coaches were poached by Power Four programs.
Two of those Group of Five coaches — Tulane’s Jon Sumrall and James Madison’s Bob Chesney — remain with their current teams and will lead them into their first-ever College Football Playoff appearances on Saturday, Dec. 20, before embarking on their new programs at Florida and UCLA, respectively.
That doesn’t include the near-month-long saga that played out in Oxford, Mississippi, with Lane Kiffin once the Florida and LSU jobs opened up. Kiffin, of course, ultimately decided to leave the Rebels, who are hosting Tulane in the CFP first round on Saturday, for a new challenge with the Tigers in Baton Rouge.
Here’s a look at which coaches in the College Football Playoff are on the move, and which teams have promoted from within to fill their vacancy:
College Football Playoff Coaching Carousel Tracker
Tulane
- IN: Will Hall (promoted)
- OUT: Jon Sumrall (took Florida job)
Among the CFP coaches who are on the move, Sumrall was the first to make a career change. The Tulane head coach announced on Sunday, Nov. 30 that he had agreed to terms with Florida to be the successor to the fired Billy Napier, a move that brings Sumrall back to the conference he played college football at Kentucky.
“The University of Florida is one of the premier programs in college football, and it’s an incredible honor to serve as the head football coach,” Sumrall said in a statement when he was hired. “I believe in building a team rooted in toughness, accountability and a relentless competitive spirit. Florida has everything necessary to compete at the highest level — the resources, the support, the tradition and the passion of Gator Nation.”
In two seasons under Sumrall, the Green Wave have been one of the better Group of Five conference programs with a 20-7 overall record and now an American Conference championship title. At 11-2 on the season, Tulane has reached the 11-win mark for the fifth time in program history and is appearing in its first College Football Playoff.
The Green Wave promoted from within to fill Sumrall’s position, as offensive coordinator Will Hall was named Tulane’s permanent head coach. Hall holds some head coach experience, as he led Division II West Alabama and then-Division II West Georgia from 2011-2016.
Ole Miss
- IN: Pete Golding (promoted)
- OUT: Lane Kiffin (took LSU job)
Ole Miss promoted defensive coordinator Pete Golding to permanent head coach after Lane Kiffin decided to take the opening at LSU, a decision by Kiffin that put one of the most-watched and covered coaching carousel decisions to rest.
The Rebels have had one of the top defenses in the country each year since Golding came over from Alabama following the 2023 season. This season, the Rebels defense ranks third in the SEC in passing defense at 182.6 yards per game.
“Pete’s leadership, relentless energy and proven track record of building top defenses have made a tremendous impact on our program,” Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter said on Golding. “… He brings a vision rooted in toughness, innovation and accountability, and he is fully prepared to guide this program into its next era of success.”
Kiffin mentioned in his LSU introductory news conference that he requested the Ole Miss administration to still let him coach the Rebels in the CFP, but, of course, was declined that wish.
“We tried every single thing possible to continue to coach the team through the playoffs,” Kiffin said during his LSU introductory news conference on Monday, Dec. 1. “In the end, that was their decision, and we totally respect that.”
James Madison
- IN: Billy Napier
- OUT: Bob Chesney (took UCLA job)
Since taking over the James Madison program after Curt Cignetti left for Indiana, Chesney has led the Dukes to a 21-5 record in his two seasons, including a 12-1 record this season that helped James Madison win the Sun Belt championship game which — along with Duke’s win in the ACC championship game vs. Virginia — helped them to make their first College Football Playoff appearance.
The Dukes are No. 19 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll and were ranked No. 24 in the final CFP top 25 rankings reveal.
For Chesney’s success at James Madison, along with his overall career track record, UCLA hired the 48-year-old coach to rebuild its football program, which has only had three winning seasons since 2018, and hasn’t won 10 games since 2014.
Unlike Tulane and Ole Miss, James Madison went outside the program to find Chesney’s replacement. The Dukes decided on Napier, who was fired by Florida in October after an underwhelming — and underachieving four seasons in Gainesville and the SEC with the Gators.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CFP coaching carousel, Jon Sumrall, Bob Chesney to coach before exits
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos