College football coaches change tracker: FIU hires Willie Simmons as new HC

I college football The coaching carousel has gained momentum as the 2024 season draws to a close for many teams.

The head coaches and producers are the best in the country. Until now, Purdue again West Virginia they are the only Power 4 schools that have fired their head coaches.

There are other head coaching moves that could come up in the future as top level assistants are also being eyed for opportunities.

Here’s who’s in and out.

December 7

FIU hires Willie Simmons as the new HC

FlU announced that Simmons, who spent this season as Duke’s running backs coach, will be their next football coach. Simmons went 45-13 as head coach at Florida A&M (2018-23), leading the Rattlers to an HBCU national championship. A former Clemson QB, Simmons replaces Mike MacIntyre, who was fired earlier this month after three seasons at FIU. The Rattlers have finished with a losing record in 17 of their 21 football seasons.

December 6

Texas Tech hires Mack Leftwich as the new OC

Texas Tech named Leftwich, the former Texas State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, as their new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after Zach Kittley left to become FAU’s new coach.

State of Utah hires Bronco Mendenhall as the new HC

Mendenhall has agreed to a six-year contract to be the next coach of Utah State. The 58-year-old spent last season with New Mexico, guiding the Lobos to a 5-7 record in his first and only season at the school. New Mexico led the Mountain West in total offense under Mendenhall, yielding 484.2 yards per game.

December 5

UCLA fire OC Eric Bieniemy

The Bruins fired Bieniemy after one season as their offensive coordinator, according to Yahoo Sports. Under Bieniemy, UCLA’s offense averaged just 328.8 yards (15th in the Big Ten) and 18.4 points (16th) per game this season. The Bruins went 5-7 (3-6 in conference play) in their first season in the Big Ten and first with DeShaun Foster as head coach. Bieniemy was previously the offensive coordinator for the NFL’s Washington Commanders (2023) and Kansas City Chiefs (2018-22).

December 4

Fresno State hires Matt Entz as the new HC

The Bulldogs hired USC assistant coach and linebackers coach Matt Entz as their new head coach, according to Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports. Before spending the 2024 season on USC’s staff, Entz was North Dakota State’s head coach from 2019-23, with the program winning two FCS championships and going 60-11 under him. Fresno State is 6-6 this season under Tim Skipper, who served as interim coach for Jeff Tedford.

December 3

In Michigan fire OC Kirk Campbell

Sherrone Moore is shaking up her coaching staff following a difficult first year, firing her brutal coordinator. Campbell, who was promoted from QB coach to offensive coordinator after Moore was promoted to head coach, oversees one of the worst offenses in the Big Ten. Michigan had the fewest secondary yards (294.3 per game) and fifth-most points (22.3) in the conference as its inability to replace JJ McCarthy at quarterback plagued the team all season. Even in its win over Ohio State, Michigan’s offense struggled. It had just 235 yards and just 13 scores, pulling off the upset with a stout defensive effort. The win improved Michigan’s record to 7-5.

Whoever Michigan hires as its next offensive coordinator will likely find an improved quarterback room. It just acquired Bryce Underwood, the top prospect in the Class of 2025.

December 2

Nebraska hires interim OC Dana Holgorsen for full-time duties

In November, Matt Rhule brought in the former WVU and Houston coach to help with Nebraska’s offense. He was quickly promoted to offensive coordinator for the rest of the season. Now, that move is permanent. Holgorsen signed a two-year contract to remain as Nebraska’s coordinator. In his short tenure in 2024, the Cornhuskers did their hardest work in a 44-25 win over Wisconsin. Highly regarded freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola completed 28 of 38 passes for 293 yards and a touchdown against the Badgers, and with the win, Nebraska became bowl eligible for the first time since 2016.

In Oklahoma employment Washington StateBen Arbuckle as the new OC

Arbuckle, who was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach the past two seasons at Washington State, will take on the same role with Oklahoma. The 29-year-old replaces Seth Littrell, who was sacked in October. The Sooners had a rough time offensively in their first season in the SEC, finishing second to last in the conference in total offense (322.5 yards per game) and scoring (24.3 points per game). Washington State’s offense under Arbuckle averaged 440.4 yards (22nd nationally) and 36.8 points (12th nationally) this season. Oklahoma went just 6-6 in Brent Venables’ third season as head coach, though the team went 24-3 against Alabama in late November.

FAU employment Texas Tech OC Zach Kittley as new HC

Just two weeks after firing Tom Herman, FAU found its next head coach. Kittley, 33, managed one of the best offenses in the nation during his tenure in Lubbock over the past three seasons. Texas Tech has averaged 435 yards per game over the past three seasons after Joey McGuire hired Kittley to join his Western Kentucky staff in 2022.

This season, the Red Raiders (8-4) rank in the top 10 in yards (459.8 per game) and points (38.6). FAU’s struggles behind Lane Kiffin continued in 2024. It went 3-9, firing Herman with two games left in his second season. The Owls haven’t won more than five games in a season since Kiffin left following the 2019 season.

FSU employment Nebraska DC Tony White as the new DC

Mike Norvell continued to revamp his staff in a big way. Florida State has hired Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White for the same role, according to multiple reports. White, a longtime college defensive assistant, joined Matt Rhule’s staff ahead of the Nebraska coach’s first year in Lincoln in 2023. Nebraska’s defense has been one of the best in the Big Ten and in the country where White has defended. coordinator, finishing in the top 20 in yards allowed in both seasons. Ranked 19th in the nation in yards allowed (315.4 per game) and 20th in points allowed (19.8 per game) this season. FSU’s defense, meanwhile, was one of the worst in the ACC during its disappointing 2-10 season. It gave up the most yards (385.9 per game), while allowing 28 points per game.

White’s hiring came just days after the program poached UCF coach Gus Malzahn to be its offensive coordinator, making major changes after one of Florida State’s worst seasons.

December 1

West Virginia fire HC Neal Brown

WVU fired coach Neal Brown after going 37-35 in six seasons and 6-6 this season. His teams have never made the Big 12 tournament or been ranked in the AP Top 25 poll. They have lost nine straight to ranked opponents. Brown is expected to be bought out for $9.5 million over the final three years of his contract.

Purdue fire HC Ryan Walters

Purdue fired a head coach for the first time in two seasons and following a brutal 1-11 season. The Boilermakers lost their last 11 games to set a school single-season record, endured the second-most losses in program history, went undefeated in a conference game for just the third time since 1946 and failed to beat an FBS opponent for the first time since. 2013 and for the second time in the modern era. Walters finished his tenure at Purdue with a 5-19 record.

November 30

CF HC Gus Malzahn resigned FSU OC

Gus Malzahn resigned as UCF’s head coach to become FSU’s offensive coordinator. The Knights made Malzahn’s departure official in a statement released a day after UCF (4-8) ended its season with a loss. Soon after, Florida State announced the hiring. Malzahn finished with a 28-24 mark in four years at UCF, the last two ending in losing records after the school joined the Big 12. He coached at Auburn for eight seasons before being let go in 2020.

Malzahn replaces offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Alex Atkins, who was fired Nov. 10 following a 52-3 loss at Notre Dame. The Seminoles (2-10) have fallen sharply since going 13-1 last season and winning the ACC title.

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