College Football: 2010 New Coaches Mid-Term Report Cards
In 2010, a whopping 23 of the 120 FBS college football programs welcomed a new head coach on campus.
That’s roughly 19 percent of teams with a new leader at the helm.
Some of these programs were replacing a coach who had retired (i.e. Bobby Bowden), others made a change due to a coach who taking another (perhaps higher profile) position (i.e. Brian Kelly) and then there were the programs that dismissed their leader amid a swirl of controversy (i.e. Mike Mangino and Mike Leach).
However, most of these schools were bringing in a new head coach to attempt to reverse the sinking fortunes of a losing squad.
Case in point, teams bringing in a new leader went a combined 132-144 (47 percent) in 2009; this number includes 12-win teams from Central Michigan and Cincinnati and nine-win teams from East Carolina, Texas Tech, and USC.
Results are mixed but overall the 23 men taking over the helm of college programs have combined for a 47-74 (39 percent) mark through Week 6 of the 2010 season.
The following slideshow provides a brief synopsis of how each new coach has fared thus far and offers a grade based on performance through Week 6.
Rob Ianello, Akron
1 of 23
Record: 0 – 6
Akron’s 2009 Record: 3-9
Until taking over the Zips, Rob Ianello spent most of his 22-year coaching career as a position coach and is widely considered a recruiting guru.
Ianello has yet to be effective at righting the ship in Akron. Though he installed a pro-style offense to replace the spread (that ranked 113th in total offense in 2009) the Zips still rank an ugly 112th in scoring “O.”
Akron’s six losses include an overtime loss to FCS Gardner-Webb in Akron and also defeats by BCS foes Syracuse, Kentucky, and Indiana.
Grade: D
Jeff Quinn, Buffalo
2 of 23
Record: 2-3
Buffalo’s 2009 Record: 5-7
Jeff Quinn replaced Turner Gill, who took the job at Kansas.
Quinn was previously the offensive coordinator at Cincinnati and had spent the past 19 years working under Brian Kelly.
Quinn took over a program that was in relatively good shape. The Bulls' three losses thus far in 2010 have been to Baylor, UCF, and UConn (who combine for a 10-7 mark this season).
Buffalo has the remainder of its MAC schedule to play and certainly has an opportunity to add to its five-win season in 2009.
Grade: C+
Dan Enos, Central Michigan
3 of 23
Record: 2-4
C. Michigan’s 2009 Record: 12-2
Dan Enos replaced Butch Jones, who went to Cincinnati to take over for Brian Kelly.
Enos was previously the running backs coach at Michigan State where he played QB; he has spent eight years as an assistant coach.
Enos has a daunting task in rebuilding a Chippewa offense that lost its most prolific passer in Dan LeFevour.
Central Michigan ranks 18th overall in passing in 2010, 71st in scoring offense and 52nd in scoring defense.
Losses to Virginia Tech and Northwestern are understandable, but defeats at the hands of Temple and Ball State are harder to take.
Grade: D
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Butch Jones, Cincinnati
4 of 23
Record: 2-3
Cincinnati’s 2009 Record: 12-1
Butch Jones was highly successful as the head coach at Central Michigan, where he went 27-13 in three years. Interestingly, only two of these games were played minus QB Dan LeFevour.
The Bearcats not only lost Brian Kelly after 2009 they also lost much of their offensive firepower (Kelly, Pike, and Gilyard) and returned a defense that struggled (especially late) in 2009.
Despite this, Cincinnati is 54th overall in scoring offense and 34th in scoring defense, and two of its three losses are to ranked teams Oklahoma and North Carolina State.
Grade: B-
Ruffin McNeill, East Carolina
5 of 23
Record: 3-2
ECU’s 2009 Record: 9-5
East Carolina alumnus and former defensive coordinator at Texas Tech McNeill was brought into replace Skip Holtz, who went to South Florida.
Ruffin McNeill has never been a head coach at any level.
ECU lost its head coach, 28 seniors, nine starters on defense and its quarterback after the 2009 season.
The Pirates rank 12th in scoring offense (all through the air) and 117th in scoring defense but have managed to win close games vs. Tulsa, Southern Miss, and a blowout against Memphis.
The only losses are against North Carolina and Virginia Tech.
Grade: B+
Jimbo Fisher, Florida State
6 of 23
Record: 5-1
FSU’s 2009 Record: 7-6
Jimbo Fisher served as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and “coach in waiting” for three seasons at Florida State.
Fisher has never been a head coach at any level.
Even though the Seminoles had an ugly loss to Oklahoma in Norman in Week 2, overall FSU has played dominantly including Week 6’s stomping of Miami 45-17 on the road.
FSU ranks 18th in scoring offense and 16th in scoring defense.
Grade: B+
Turner Gill, Kansas
7 of 23
Record: 2-3
Kansas’ 2009 Record: 5-7
In four years, Turner Gill took a Buffalo program that had won five games in the previous four seasons to a 20-30 record and a conference title.
Gill took over a Kansas team that is devoid of much of its offensive firepower and a defense that ranked 76th overall in 2009.
After a loss in its opener to FCS North Dakota State, the Jayhawks shocked No. 15 Georgia Tech. A loss at Southern Miss and a big win over New Mexico State was followed by a stomping at the hands of Baylor.
The Jayhawks have looked promising at times and then have seemed less than adequate at others.
Grade: C
Joker Phillips, Kentucky
8 of 23
Record: 3-3
Kentucky’s 2009 Record: 7-6
Phillips, a Kentucky alumnus, was the offensive coordinator and “coach in waiting” at Kentucky before being promoted to head coach.
Kentucky has been to a bowl game in each of its past four seasons but has struggled in conference games.
After three straight wins the Wildcats have dropped the last three, all to SEC foes (Florida, Ole Miss and Auburn). Two of these losses were to top-10 ranked teams.
Kentucky ranks 21st in points for and 91st in points against; Phillips needs to get the Wildcat defense in order to enable Kentucky to win some conference games.
Grade: B-
Todd Berry, UL Monroe
9 of 23
Record: 2-3
UL Monroe’s 2009 Record: 6-6
Berry most recently served as the offensive coordinator at UNLV and is 29-60 overall as a head coach (5-36 in the FBS at Army).
The Warhawks lost some key personnel after 2009, especially at defense and offensive line.
Two of UL Monroe’s three losses have come to top 15 teams (Arkansas and Auburn).
As expected, the Warhawks have been successful throwing the ball in 2010 but has struggled on the ground and defensively.
Grade: C
Charlie Strong, Louisville
10 of 23
Record: 3-2
Louisville’s 2009 Record: 4-8
Charlie Strong last served as the defensive coordinator at Florida and has never been a head coach on any level.
Strong took over a very young Cardinals team that is anxious to experience success.
Louisville’s offense was ranked 91st overall in 2009 while their defense ranked 65th. Under Strong, the Cardinals have improved to 46th in scoring offense and 32nd in scoring defense thus far in 2010.
The Cardinals two losses have been to a good Kentucky team and the now-ranked Oregon State Beavers.
Louisville has seven conference games ahead of them and should be able to manage enough wins to eclipse last year’s disappointing finish.
Grade: B
Sonny Dykes, Louisiana Tech
11 of 23
Record: 2-4
La Tech’s 2009 Record: 4-8
Sonny Dykes most recently served as the offensive coordinator at Arizona, where he literally reversed the fortunes of the Wildcats offense.
The Bulldogs were only 4-8 in 2009 but showed promise, especially offensively.
Even though Dykes has already scored half the total Bulldog wins in 2009, the team has struggled especially in terms of scoring points, where they rank 99th overall.
After a win in the opener vs. FCS Grambling State, the Bulldogs dropped four straight to Texas A&M, Navy, Southern Miss and Hawaii followed by a Week 6 win vs. Utah State.
Grade: C
Doc Holliday, Marshall
12 of 23
Record: 1-4
Marshall’s 2009 Record: 7-6
Doc Holliday was last the associate head coach at West Virginia and has served at that same capacity (but never as a coordinator) at three other institutions.
Holliday took over a Thundering Herd squad that returned 14 starters from a team that won the 2009 Little Caesar’s Bowl.
Though two of Marshall’s losses came at the hands of No. 1 Ohio State and No. 23 West Virginia, it also was dominated by Bowling Green, and its sole victory was a one-point win over Ohio University.
The Thundering Herd ranks 100th in scoring offense and 108th in scoring defense thus far in 2010.
Grade: D-
Larry Porter, Memphis
13 of 23
Record: 1-5
Memphis’ 2009 Record: 2-10
Larry Porter is a Memphis alumnus who most recently served as the running backs coach at LSU, which is the position he has coached throughout his career.
Porter took over a Tigers team with big questions at quarterback, running back, and defense.
Memphis has struggled thus far in every aspect of the game. They are 116th in scoring offense and 113th in total defense through six games.
The Tigers solitary win came vs. Middle Tennessee in Memphis and the margin of loss in the five defeats is an ugly 164 total points.
Grade: D
Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
14 of 23
Record: 3-3
Notre Dame’s 2009 Record: 6-6
Brian Kelly has seen success at each of his coaching stops, most recently at the University of Cincinnati. Overall, Kelly is 174-59-2 as a head coach.
Kelly took over an Irish team that ranked eighth in total offense and 86th in total defense in 2009.
Notre Dame’s three wins have come against Purdue, Boston College and Pitt, who combine to amass a 7-8 record thus far in 2010.
The three Irish defeats came at the hands Michigan, Michigan State and Stanford, who are all ranked in the top 25.
Grade: C
Mike MacIntyre, San Jose State
15 of 23
Record: 1-5
SJS’s Record in 2009: 2-10
Mike MacIntyre came to San Jose State after serving as the defensive coordinator at Duke, where he was named the 2009 FBS Assistant Coach of the Year. His almost two-decade coaching career includes a five-year stint in the NFL.
MacIntyre inherited a Spartan team that quite literally had huge questions and few answers. The 2009 squad ranked 115th in total offense and 109th in total defense.
Though the Spartans have managed only one win thus far in 2010 (Southern Utah), the losses have come to the likes of Alabama, Wisconsin, Utah, and Nevada, who combine for only two losses this season.
With the next game vs. Boise State in San Jose, it will continue to be difficult to gauge how improved the Spartans are under MacIntyre.
Grade: C
Skip Holtz, South Florida
16 of 23
Record: 3-2
USF’s Record in 2009: 8-5
Skip Holtz comes off a successful 38-27 run as the head coach at East Carolina and inherited a Bulls team that returned only three starters on defense.
It is ironic (especially given the stability at the quarterback position) that the 2010 South Florida squad has been most successful rushing the ball and preventing opponents from scoring.
The Bulls are 43rd overall on the ground and have the 19th-ranked scoring defense nationally.
That said, South Florida’s three wins have been vs. less than impressive foes (Stony Brook, Western Kentucky and Florida Atlantic) while their losses have been against ranked Florida and an improved Syracuse team.
Grade: C+
Derek Dooley, Tennessee
17 of 23
Record: 2-4
Tennessee’s Record in 2009: 7-6
Derek Dooley was most recently the head coach at Louisiana Tech, where he amassed a 17-20 record. Additionally, Dooley spent eight years working as a position coach under Nick Saban.
Dooley takes over a Volunteer team who has suffered off-field player and coach drama. On the field, Tennessee has a new quarterback, offensive line and questions at defense.
The Volunteers two wins thus far have come via a blowout vs. FCS Tennessee Martin and then an overtime victory over UAB.
Losses have been to No. 7 Oregon, No. 10 Florida, No. 12 LSU and a resurgent Georgia team.
Grade: D
Tommy Tuberville, Texas Tech
18 of 23
Record: 3-2
Texas Tech’s 2009 Record: 9-4
Tommy Tuberville was last the head coach at Auburn, where he enjoyed an 85-40 run. He was also the head man at Ole Miss, and his coaching background is defensive.
Tuberville took over a Tech team and fan base reeling from the sudden dismissal of fan favorite and highly successful Mike Leach.
Tech’s offensive line and defense both had question marks going into 2010.
After wins over SMU and New Mexico, the Red Raiders dropped a game to Texas followed by an embarrassing loss to Iowa State.
A win over Baylor in the Cotton Bowl during Week 6 showed promise (especially offensively) for a Tech team yet to play a complete game.
Grade: C
Bobby Hauck, UNLV
19 of 23
Record: 1-5
UNLV’s 2009 Record: 5-7
Bobby Hauck was wildly successful as the head coach of Montana, where he racked up an 80-17 record and led his team to three FCS championship appearances.
UNLV returns 12 starters in 2010 but will face nine opponents who played in the postseason in 2009.
The Rebels brutal schedule is reflected in their win/loss record thus far; five losses to four ranked teams (Wisconsin, Utah and Nevada) and the other to West Virginia.
The sole win was a solid performance vs. Idaho.
Even with TCU and Air Force remaining on the schedule for UNLV, there is an outside chance that they can improve only slightly on their five-win mark in 2009.
Grade: C+
Lane Kiffin, USC
20 of 23
Record: 4-2
USC’s 2009 Record: 9-4
Lane Kiffin came to USC after a one-season stint as the head coach at Tennessee, he was also a single-season head coach at the NFL’s Oakland Raiders and spent six years as an assistant at USC under Pete Carroll.
Kiffin inherited a NCAA-sanctioned squad with a strong quarterback and questions at defense.
The Trojans' offense has been wildly successful both through the air and on the ground; overall they rank 24th in scoring offense. The Trojan “D” has not fared quite as well and ranks 71st in points against.
USC reeled off four straight wins to begin their season against teams that combined are 8-15 thus far this season.
The two losses have come at the hands of Washington and Stanford by a total margin of three points.
Grade: C+
Robbie Caldwell, Vanderbilt
21 of 23
Record: 2-3
Vanderbilt’s 2009 Record: 2-10
Robbie Caldwell took over as the head coach at Vanderbilt after the sudden exit of Commodore coach Bobby Johnson in July 2010. He previously had served as the offensive line coach at Vandy and has worked in this same capacity since his coaching career began in 1978.
Caldwell inherited a Commodore squad who was expected to continue to struggle on offense but be solid on defense.
Vanderbilt has already matched the Commodores' total win mark in 2009 with victories over Ole Miss and Eastern Michigan.
Losses vs. Northwestern, No. 12 LSU, and UConn were disappointing but not unexpected.
The Commodores rank 46th overall in rushing yards and 49th in scoring defense.
Grade: B
Mike London, Virginia
22 of 23
Record: 2-3
Virginia’s 2009 Record: 3-9
Mike London comes to Virginia from FCS’s Richmond, where he led the Spiders to a win in the 2008 FCS Championship. London made two previous stops at Virginia, serving as a defensive line coach both times.
London took over a Cavalier program that was absolutely anemic offensively and capable defensively.
Virginia’s two 2010 wins have come against Richmond and VMI, both FCS teams. The losses have all come against formidable foes (USC, Florida State and Georgia Tech). The total margin of defeat has been 35 points and two of these games were played on the road.
The Cavaliers have ridden to a 26th ranking in passing yards after ranking 105th in 2009.
Grade: C
Willie Taggert, Western Kentucky
23 of 23
Record: 0-5
WKU’s 2009 Record: 0-12
Willie Taggert is a Western Kentucky alumnus (quarterback 1995-98) who was the offensive coordinator for the Hilltoppers when they captured the 2002 Division I-AA Championship. He most recently served as the running backs coach at Stanford.
2010 marks only the second season that Western Kentucky has been member of the FBS ranks.
Four of the Hilltoppers' five losses have come to BCS conference opponents (Nebraska, Kentucky, Indiana and USF) with the fifth loss coming to FIU.
Rushing yards continue to be the only bright spot in Western Kentucky’s offensive attack, while they continue to struggle defensively.
Grade: C
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