REPORTS: Alabama and Group of Five also saw significant shakeups and accounted for some of the most intriguing hires
The next wave of coaching stars takes center stage this season
The 2023-24 college football coaching carousel was monumental. Two national championship-winning coaches left the sport, with Nick Saban retiring and Jim Harbaugh heading to the NFL. Consequently, Alabama and Michigan embarked on high-profile searches and selected promising replacements for these iconic leaders.
Kalen DeBoer and Sherrone Moore will be closely watched all season as they aim to maintain the success of the Crimson Tide and Wolverines. However, they are not the only first-year coaches facing high expectations. Texas A&M, Arizona, and other programs are also aiming for conference titles and College Football Playoff contention under new leadership.
The Group of Five experienced notable changes, with some of the most intriguing hires on the carousel. However, as the sport increasingly focuses on major brands and power conferences, more attention will be on DeBoer and Moore than on Sean Lewis at San Diego State or Bob Chesney at James Madison.
Stay updated with the latest football and recruiting news about your favorite college team today.
Here are the ten most anticipated head coaching debuts in the Power Four conferences for the 2024 season:
10. MANNY DIAZ, DUKE
Manny Diaz might replicate Mike Elko’s successful approach in transforming Duke into a rapidly rising force in the ACC. By leveraging his defensive expertise and strong recruiting skills, he could build a formidable, physical team that intimidates every opponent. During his time as a coordinator at Penn State, Diaz led some of the best defenses in college football and has consistently been a strong recruiter. With a winning record from his previous head coaching role, Diaz’s second stint leading an ACC program could quietly yield significant benefits for the Blue Devils early on.
9. FRAN BROWN, SYRACUSE
Syracuse has not traditionally been a major destination for top talent. However, Fran Brown, the top recruiter for the 2024 cycle, has done some of the most impressive recruiting work among first-year coaches. The former Georgia defensive backs coach has carried that momentum into his first offseason as head coach, poised to assemble the best high school class in program history. Additionally, the transfer additions of quarterback Kyle McCord and edge rusher Fadil Diggs bring impactful talent that could help Brown’s debut team make a significant impact in the ACC.
8. CURT CIGNETTI, INDIANA
Curt Cignetti faces a tough challenge winning at Indiana as the Big Ten becomes increasingly competitive in his debut season. However, his arrival has revitalized a program that saw its potential just four years ago when everything was working perfectly. Cignetti successfully led James Madison’s transition to the FBS level and has brought several key players from the Dukes to Bloomington. Known for building strong programs, Cignetti offers an intriguing long-term outlook for the Hoosiers. Incoming transfers like Ohio quarterback Kurtis Rourke and JMU receiver Elijah Sarratt are among the many players who could make a significant impact in the first year.
7. WILLIE FRITZ, HOUSTON
Houston faced some challenges in its first year as a power conference member, but with a coaching change, the team is now set to tap into its significant potential in the Big 12. Transforming the Cougars into a perennial conference championship contender will take time, but Willie Fritz is the kind of coach capable of achieving this. Having already led Tulane to the top of the Group of Five ranks, Fritz now has access to more resources, a larger stage, and fertile recruiting grounds with the Houston job, giving him everything he needs to drive the Cougars’ breakout.
6. JEDD FISCH, WASHINGTON
Due to the timing of Washington’s coaching change, the Huskies faced a tough challenge in finding a top-tier replacement for Kalen DeBoer. However, they landed a potential star in Jedd Fisch, who transformed Arizona from a Pac-12 bottom-dweller into a dark-horse conference title contender in just three years. Fisch brings the experience, connections, and recruiting skills needed to succeed at Montlake, but his first year will be challenging. He inherits almost no returning players from the 2023 two-deep and must quickly adapt to the Big Ten.
5. BRENT BRENNAN, ARIZONA
While there may be more flashy hires in college football, Brent Brennan finds himself in a unique position at Arizona, where the expectation is to compete for the Big 12 title in his first year. The program weathered the late departure of Jedd Fisch well, retaining many top players, including quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Combining an already strong roster with a coach who transformed San José State into a consistent Mountain West contender creates a promising formula for immediate success.
4. JONATHAN SMITH, MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State quickly made a significant move in the coaching carousel by appointing Jonathan Smith, bringing stability to a program that operated with an interim staff for much of the 2023 season. Smith, renowned for transforming his alma mater Oregon State into a rising force in the Pac-12, was one of the most sought-after names in the coaching market. His track record of building programs instills confidence that he can lead the Spartans back to prominence in the Big Ten. The inaugural season under Smith promises excitement, especially with quarterback Aidan Chiles, one of the nation’s most promising young talents, joining him in East Lansing.
3. MIKE ELKO, TEXAS A&M
Texas A&M made a major coaching change during the offseason by parting ways with Jimbo Fisher and appointing Mike Elko as his successor. Despite several former five-star recruits transferring out, the Aggies are poised to make significant strides towards the top of the SEC under Elko’s leadership. Quarterback Conner Weigman, a former five-star recruit who is now healthy, raises the offense’s potential, while the defense is expected to excel under Elko’s guidance.
2. SHERRONE MOORE, MICHIGAN
Michigan faced significant roster changes following its national championship, suggesting the possibility of a decline. However, with several key players returning, especially on defense, Sherrone Moore has the opportunity to continue Jim Harbaugh’s legacy and keep the Wolverines competitive in the playoff hunt. Moore’s program will maintain its physicality at the line of scrimmage, continuing the tradition established by the previous regime. Promoting from within has provided continuity, allowing Michigan to start the offseason with momentum. Despite the coaching change, this team still has the potential to achieve ten wins in the upcoming season.
1. KALEN DEBOER, ALABAMA
When Kalen DeBoer took on the Alabama job, he entered a high-pressure environment with all eyes on his ability to succeed Nick Saban. However, if there’s a coach perfectly suited to lead a prestigious program this season, it’s DeBoer, known for his consistent success throughout his impressive career. Expectations for DeBoer’s debut season include contending for a College Football Playoff spot and competing for the SEC title. Moreover, he swiftly demonstrated his recruiting capabilities, indicating a promising future for the program under his leadership.