Jon Sumrall, 42, is in his third year as a collegiate head coach and has made a significant impact in the sport. He has led the Tulane Green Wave to a remarkable 9-2 record this season, remaining undefeated and tied for first place in the American Athletic Conference. While it would require some unexpected outcomes, Tulane could potentially finish the season strong, clinch a major victory over Army in the AAC championship game, and secure a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Prior to this, Sumrall spent two successful seasons at Troy, where he achieved a record of 23-4 and guided the Trojans to their first-ever postseason ranking in the AP poll at No. 19 in 2022. Known for his youthful energy and ability to enhance team performance, Sumrall, despite his short tenure in New Orleans, is already being considered for higher-profile positions, perhaps following in the footsteps of last year’s Tulane head coach, Willie Fritz, who moved to Houston.
Sumrall’s name has been connected to SEC coaching opportunities, as noted by SEC expert Paul Finebaum, who mentioned that he has heard Sumrall’s name floated for two different SEC positions that aren’t currently open. One likely contender for an SEC job could be Kentucky, where Mark Stoops has served as head coach for 12 seasons. Stoops, with a record of 77-71, is the winningest coach in Kentucky’s history, surpassing Bear Bryant. He has a lucrative contract exceeding 9millionannually,rankingninthinthenation,aftersigninganine−yearextensionin2022thatcouldtotalover 81 million.
Although Mark Stoops has established himself as Kentucky’s top coach, he has expressed interest in other opportunities, and with a record of 18-18 over the past three years, the university might be considering a change as well. Jon Sumrall, who played for Kentucky and served as a defensive assistant under Stoops from 2019 to 2021, has emerged as a candidate to potentially replace him.
The Oklahoman highlighted the possibility of Sumrall taking over, with journalist Joe Mussatto noting that the demands of the Kentucky position seem to be weighing on Stoops. While Stoops has refuted retirement rumors, it wouldn’t be surprising if he seeks a new environment. “As unlikely as it seems, Kentucky fans are ready for Stoops to step aside. Big Blue Nation wants Tulane coach Jon Sumrall back in the Bluegrass, this time as head coach,” Mussatto wrote, pointing out Sumrall’s connection to the program as both a former player and coach. Sumrall and his Tulane team will conclude their regular season on Saturday against Memphis.
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