We’ve yet to hit the fever pitch of the 2023-24 college football coaching carousel and we’ve got some big-time openings teasing an exciting offseason circuit. With a few unexpected moves happening during the season, the 2023-24 coaching carousel has some intriguing openings in Power Five conferences already.
College Football Coaching Carousel
This is an evolving list and will be consistently updated as the coaching carousel heats up. It’s important to note, this list will include rumors as well as official firings, openings, and hirings. All rumors will be noted.
2023-24 Open College Football Jobs
The following are open jobs and looking for long-term replacements.
Michigan State Spartans
Opening: Head Coach
Conference: Big Ten
Former Coach: Mel Tucker
Fired: September 27, 2023
Mel Tucker’s tenure at Michigan State saw peak highs and all-time lows. He was suspended without pay on September 10, informed that the university would fire him on September 18, and ultimately fired with cause on September 27.
This was after Tucker had reached a massive contract with the Spartans, yet the firing with cause terminated such a deal.
Michigan State will be in the market for a head coach this offseason, with Harlon Barnett leading the charge on an interim basis until year’s end.
Northwestern Wildcats
Opening: Head Coach
Conference: Big Ten
Former Coach: Pat Fitzgerald
Fired: July 10, 2023
Pat Fitzgerald was fired prior to the start of the 2023 season amid hazing allegations. While the ongoing lawsuit has marred the search for a new head coach, David Braun has taken control of the program as interim head coach.
A long-term replacement is likely to be made, though Braun has proven effective given all the limitations put in place by the timing of Fitzgerald’s firing.
Arkansas Razorbacks
Opening: Offensive Coordinator
Conference: SEC
Former Coach: Dan Enos
Fired: October 22, 2023
Just 10 months after his hiring, Dan Enos was let go by the Arkansas Razorbacks. It was a steep move as it’s been reported that Enos’ buyout will top $2.8 million. Enos signed a guaranteed three-year deal in January that was set to pay him $1 million a year, but was removed from his position after a sluggish eight-game start.
Indiana Hoosiers
Opening: Offensive Coordinator
Conference: Big Ten
Former Coach: Walt Bell
Fired: October 1, 2023
Formerly the head coach with the UMass Minutemen, Walt Bell took the offensive coordinator role at Indiana following the 2021 season. Just five games into the 2023 season, Bell was fired by head coach Tom Allen.
2023-24 College Football Coaches On the Hot Seat
We’ve seen coaches start the season on the hot seat. We’ve seen coaches continue their seasons on the hot seat. And we’ve seen coaches light their seats on fire in 2023.
With no real information around the term ‘hot seat,’ we take a look at those programs that could be looking for a new coach or two come the end of the year or sooner.
Indiana Hoosiers
Conference: Big Ten
Coach: Tom Allen
Job/Role: Head Coach
See above: Allen firing his offensive coordinator five games into the 2023 season means one thing, and one thing only. Allen knows his days are limited if he continues to struggle to figure this thing out, and taking over the offense was his way of making sure it didn’t take any longer than it has to.
The problem for Allen is this, the Hoosiers are a mess on offense, lackluster on defense, and lack star power in all three phases. It’s amazing how much different this program looked with Kalen DeBoer as their OC.
Iowa State Cyclones
Conference: Big 12
Coach: Matt Campbell
Job/Role: Head Coach
Once the hottest prospect in coaching, Matt Campbell has semi-resurrected his tenure at Iowa State with a two-game win streak and a 4-3 record overall, at the time of publish. However, with some difficult road games and a game against Texas don’t go there way, the Cyclones could be looking in a new direction.
Houston Cougars
Conference: Big 12
Coach: Dana Holgorsen
Job/Role: Head Coach
The Houston Cougars haven’t quite lived up to the billing of Dana Holgorsen, and at times in 2023, he seems to have lost control. They’re a fourth-down call away from at least forcing overtime or some dramatics against Texas but also a Hail Mary away from a 2-5 record.
They’ve scored the third-fewest points in Big 12 play and that won’t cut it for a coach whose calling card is offensive prowess.
Arkansas Razorbacks
Conference: SEC
Coach: Sam Pittman
Job/Role: Head Coach
Sam Pittman himself essentially noted that he’s on the hot seat if things don’t improve at Arkansas. He’s made the move to fire his offensive coordinator (see above), and has a bye week in Week 9 to sort the mess that is their offense.
Like Allen at Indiana, the firing of an offensive coordinator midway through the season is an ominous sign for a head coach who knows they must improve quickly or get the axe themselves.
USC Trojans
Conference: Pac-12
Coach: Alex Grinch
Job/Role: Defensive Coordinator
It should be noted that there are more than a few reasons why the USC Trojans have dropped two games this season. But it need be pointed out that in every game this year, their defensive lapses have been noteworthy.
It’s downright staggering to ask your offense to score at least 35 points a game to win any contests, even if you have Caleb Williams at quarterback. The Trojans defense has given up 34 points in four straight contests in the middle of their schedule and still have yet to play offensive juggernauts Oregon and Washington in Pac-12 play.
Grinch, somehow, has kept his post at this time, but should things not right themselves down the stretch, it would be befuddling to see him retained as DC.
East Carolina Pirates
Conference: American
Coach:
Job/Role: Head Coach
UTEP Miners
Conference: Conference USA
Coach: Dana Dimel
Job/Role: Head Coach
Ball State Cardinals
Conference: MAC
Coach: Mike Neu
Job/Role: Head Coach
Nevada Wolf Pack
Conference: Mountain West
Coach: Ken Wilson
Job/Role: Head Coach
California Golden Bears
Conference: Pac-12
Coach: Justin Wilcox
Job/Role: Head Coach
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Conference: SEC
Coach: Zach Arnett
Job/Role: Head Coach
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Conference: Sun Belt
Coach: Will Hall
Job/Role: Head Coach
