Getting to know the Big Ten’s new head football coaches in 2026
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One of the biggest storylines during this college football offseason was the abnormally busy coaching carousel. The Big Ten was not excluded in that, as a handful of programs will be under new management in 2026.
UCLA and Penn State both got their searches started midseason, moving on from DeShaun Foster and James Franklin, respectively. Meanwhile, Michigan State fired Jonathan Smith shortly after the season, while Michigan was a late entrant to the coaching carousel when it fired Sherrone Moore in mid-December.
So it’s been out with the old and in with the new for some of the conference’s biggest programs. Maybe not the brand new though for some of these programs’ new hires, as Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State all hired coaches that have long track records of success. UCLA, meanwhile, opted to fill its vacancy with an up and coming coach that offers promise for the future.
Interestingly enough, Michigan and new head coach Kyle Whittingham will face off against the other three new head coaches in the conference in 2026, so allow us to introduce you (or re-introduce you) to the new coaches in the Big Ten.
Bob Chesney – UCLA
UCLA went with the upside play in its coaching search, going with Bob Chesney to try and lead the Bruins back to prominence. Chesney took over for Curt Cignetti at James Madison in 2024 and kept the program humming, even leading the Dukes to the College Football Playoff in 2025. Prior to being hired by James Madison, Chesney was the head coach at Holy Cross, logging a 44-21 record from 2018-23.
Chesney brings both offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy and defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler with him from James Madison. The Dukes boasted one of the most productive offenses in the nation last season, averaging 37.1 points per game and 452.6 total yards per game.
Chesney’s background is on the defensive side of the ball, as he played defensive back in college and started his coaching career as a defensive backs coach at multiple stops. It’s no surprise the Dukes were sound defensively last season, allowing just 18.4 points per game (No. 13 in FBS).
With games against Oregon, Michigan and USC this season, Chesney and his staff won’t get the warmest of welcomes (especially not in Ann Arbor in November), but his ability to sustain James Madison’s success despite Cignetti taking plenty of contributors with him suggests Chesney could turn things around pretty quick.
Pat Fitzgerald – Michigan State
From a relative unknown in Big Ten circles to someone all too familiar, Michigan State made an underrated hire this offseason in former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald.
He was fired by Northwestern just before the 2023 season due to his knowledge of hazing incidents within the program that took place. While the circumstances of his exit from Northwestern are a black mark on his resume, Fitzgerald had previously developed a reputation as one of the better coaches in the conference, making Northwestern a perennial thorn in the side of the Big Ten’s biggest programs from 2006-22. He boasted a 110-101 record during his time in Evanston.
Like Chesney, Fitzgerald’s background is on the defensive side. He played linebacker in college and served as a linebackers coach prior to getting the Northwestern job in 2006. His teams were fundamentally sound and tough defensively, something that’s always been a trademark in the Big Ten.
His presence might just be what Michigan State needs right now after Mel Tucker and Jonathan Smith’s tenures both flamed out. Despite being out of the game the last three seasons, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Fitzgerald get the Spartans back on track, especially since he’ll have more financial support. Fitzgerald and Whittingham should have some great battles in the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry over the next few years.
Matt Campbell – Penn State
During the course of its head coaching search, it seemed like Penn State was turned down by nearly every candidate on the market. But Matt Campbell was easily the highest upside option, and he boasts an impressive track record to boot.
Campbell has become one of the more well-respected head coaches in all of college football over the last decade, turning Iowa State into a big player in the Big 12 over the last few years. After taking over in 2016, he led them to a 107-70 record and won the Big 12’s Coach of the Year three times, most recently in 2020. Prior to Iowa State, Campbell led Toledo to a 35-15 record from 2012-15.
James Franklin developed a reputation of never being able to get Penn State “over the hump” during his 12 seasons there, and the belief is Campbell can take the Nittany Lions one step further given he has a history of success with limited resources and should have much more help financially.
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