Regrading college football’s first-year head coaches
The first-year coaches around college football in 2024 included an interesting mix of characters.
There were notable moves between Power 4 conference programs, including Kalen DeBoer leaving national runner-up Washington to replace Nick Saban at Alabama, and Jedd Fisch exiting a 10-win Arizona program to replace DeBoer in Seattle. Bill O’Brien, who has bounced between college and the NFL for more than a decade, landed the Boston College job in his hometown. Mike Elko and Jonathan Smith, two coaches who had done more with less at Duke and Oregon State, respectively, moved to higher-resourced programs at Texas A&M and Michigan State.
The coaching cycle also featured promotions, from national champion Michigan (Sherrone Moore) to Big Ten newcomer UCLA (DeShaun Foster). Indiana hired coaching veteran Curt Cignetti, who spent much of his career in college football’s lower divisions. Syracuse went outside the box with elite recruiter Fran Brown, who had never been a head coach and had only one year of shared coordinator experience.
Who performed the best? Who fell short in Year 1? It’s time to regrade the first-year coaches in the major conferences, while also looking back at how they were evaluated coming in the door.
Jump to a hire:
UCLA | Boston College | Michigan
Alabama | Arizona | Washington | Texas A&M
Duke | Houston | Indiana | Mississippi State
Michigan State | Northwestern | Oregon State | Syracuse
DeShaun Foster, UCLA Bruins
Hiring grade: B
What was written then: Like the program itself, Foster likely will go through some bumps as he grows into the role, especially as UCLA acclimates to a new league. But he brings an energy and enthusiasm the Bruins sorely need after [Chip] Kelly, and the team’s personnel outlook also should improve under his watch.
Year 1 record: 5-7
Year 1 grade: B
Evaluation: Foster was a late-cycle promotion at his alma mater, but he took over the role amid some skepticism about his readiness. He drew a better mark from me than other hiring evaluators, but the concern increased after his Big Ten media day freeze-up, and after the team started 1-5 while playing a very tough schedule. But Foster never lost the locker room and the Bruins put together a nice midseason win streak against Rutgers, Nebraska and Iowa, claiming the first two on the road. Other than the Big Ten opener against Indiana, UCLA competed, even in its losses, and saw linebacker Carson Schwesinger emerge into a national star. Foster’s offseason staff overhaul suggests he will have more of an imprint on the program this coming season. He also should have a greater comfort level overall.
Bill O’Brien, Boston College Eagles
Hiring grade: A-
What was written then: O’Brien brings tremendous name recognition, especially in New England after two stints with the Patriots — most recently as their offensive coordinator — and likely can access a higher-level recruit/transfer than BC has in recent years. He also should understand the job better as a Boston area native who spent much of his early coaching career in the ACC.
Year 1 record: 7-6
Year 1 grade: B+
Evaluation: O’Brien understands how to run a team, which came across in his first season at Boston College, despite some expected inconsistency in performance. He guided the Eagles to a 4-1 start that included wins against Florida State and Michigan State, with the lone blemish being a six-point loss at Missouri.
Boston College then endured a three-game losing streak that culminated with a quarterback change from Thomas Castellanos to Grayson James. O’Brien made a tough call there but seemingly the right one, as James helped BC to wins over Syracuse, North Carolina and Pitt. Despite a very late coaching change, the Eagles made their second straight bowl appearance in O’Brien’s first season.
Sherrone Moore, Michigan Wolverines
Hiring grade: B+
What was written then: Context really matters around Moore’s hire. Michigan could have gone with a more established head coach, but the timing of [Jim] Harbaugh’s departure, the roster situation and the mood around the program all worked very much in Moore’s favor. The key is how much patience Michigan has with him as he settles into a great but challenging job.
Year 1 record: 8-5
Year 1 grade: B-
Evaluation: You know the student who is on the brink of flunking a course, and then dominates the final exam while getting some extra credit to boost his grade? That was Moore in 2024. Michigan wasn’t truly built to return to the College Football Playoff after winning the national title in 2023, especially without adding a transfer quarterback to replace J.J. McCarthy. But the team’s offensive regression — Michigan slipped to 130th nationally in passing, ahead of only the three service academies — and some of Moore’s in-game decisions stirred doubt about the first-year coach.
Michigan split its first 10 games and went 0-3 on the road. Moore delivered down the stretch, though, as Michigan clobbered Northwestern and then stunned Ohio State in Columbus as a three-touchdown underdog. The Wolverines beat the Buckeyes for the fourth straight year and second under Moore, who served as acting head coach for the 2023 victory. Moore then guided a vastly undermanned Wolverines team over Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl, regaining the momentum lost during the first two-plus months of the season.
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Crimson Tide
Hiring grade: A-
What was written then: He has never coached south of Carbondale, Illinois, and will need to adjust to life in the SEC, especially the cutthroat recruiting landscape. DeBoer’s down-to-earth personality will help him along the way, but he hasn’t faced the scrutiny and criticism that likely is coming at some point. His ability to navigate those waters, make smart adjustments and stick with what got him here will shape his tenure with the Tide.
Year 1 record: 9-4
Year 1 grade: C-
Paul Finebaum details the pressure Kalen DeBoer is facing after a disappointing first season at Alabama.
Evaluation: I liked that Alabama went away from the Nick Saban tree to replace him and then brought in a coach who knew how to win championships and win big games. But DeBoer’s adjustment to the environment, roster and expectations became a real challenge. Alabama was wildly unpredictable from game to game and even series to series. The Tide delivered a dramatic win over Georgia, only to fall at Vanderbilt for the first time in four decades. They outlasted South Carolina at home, only to lose at Tennessee and later at Oklahoma, failing to score a touchdown in Norman.
Alabama finished 115th nationally in penalties. Any post-Saban season that doesn’t end with a CFP appearance will be deemed a big disappointment, and Alabama’s bowl loss to Michigan — despite having almost all of its key players participating — was inexcusable. DeBoer will be under an even bigger microscope in Year 2.
Brent Brennan, Arizona Wildcats
Hiring grade: B
What was written then: Brennan must make smart choices with his staff, and ideally retain or add coaches who have relationships with the current roster. Any conference move will bring obstacles, but Arizona is at an important moment given the recent momentum. Brennan must prevent a big drop-off.
Year 1 record: 4-8
Year 1 grade: D-
Evaluation: Brennan was a feel-good hire after Jedd Fisch’s departure to Washington, as he had connections to former Arizona coach Dick Tomey and the school. He saw the job as a destination, especially with the program ascending and returning a strong core from a 10-win team, including quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
Joining the Big 12, Brennan needed to win in Year 1 especially because of the roster he inherited. Instead, the Wildcats went 2-7 in Big 12 play, finishing tied for 14th, while their rival Arizona State won the league and made the CFP. Brennan’s staff also didn’t pan out as he had to replace or reassign all three of his primary coordinators. There were few highlights outside of a road win against an equally disappointing Utah team. Brennan will enter Year 2 under significant pressure.
Jedd Fisch, Washington Huskies
Hiring grade: B+
What was written then: Fisch is an ascending coach with a virtually unmatched wealth of experience at both the college and NFL levels. He took on a much tougher task at Arizona and succeeded, and he has the personality and knowledge to reduce the upheaval of Washington’s transition. The only concern here is how long he will stay.
Year 1 record: 6-7
Year 1 grade: C+
Evaluation: The fall from national runner-up to a losing record is steep, but the context really matters when evaluating Fisch’s first season. He had essentially a new team at Washington, which lost almost all of its starters from 2023 to the NFL draft or the transfer portal. Washington hired Fisch in mid-January and entered the Big Ten in the fall. The Huskies went winless away from Husky Stadium, including at nearby Lumen Field, where they lost the Apple Cup to Washington State. Washington beat Michigan in a title game rematch in the regular season and also handled former Pac-12 brethren USC and UCLA.
Washington’s offense moved the ball but couldn’t consistently generate points. Fisch wisely started the clock on 2025 by starting freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr. late in the season. Williams flashed potential against Oregon and in the Sun Bowl against Louisville.
Mike Elko, Texas A&M Aggies
Hiring grade: B+
What was written then: Elko must take his previous experience as D-coordinator in College Station and apply it for the future, both in what to do and what not to do. Elko is smart and savvy, and he should use the resources around A&M to rally support and figure out why a program with so many inherent advantages has had such a hard time winning consistently on the national level.
Year 1 record: 8-5
Year 1 grade: B-
Evaluation: Unlike Sherrone Moore, who closed the season with his best work, Elko aced the midterm but fell apart late, as Texas A&M lost its final four games against Power 4 opponents to finish with the all-too-familiar record of 8-5. Elko brought a different approach than predecessor Jimbo Fisher and recorded dominant home wins against ranked Missouri and LSU teams. Texas A&M went through a quarterback change but didn’t get enough from an offense under coordinator Collin Klein, especially against top defenses such as Notre Dame and Texas.
Elko is different from most Texas A&M coaches, but he will need to deliver different results in the biggest games, especially during a 2025 schedule that includes trips to Notre Dame, LSU, Texas, Missouri and Arkansas.
Manny Diaz, Duke Blue Devils
Hiring grade: A-
What was written then: Sources familiar with Duke’s search said the school focused on candidates with defensive backgrounds, aiming to continue the progress under Mike Elko. Duke also wanted a coach who understood the NIL world and had been at major programs. Diaz, who has also worked at Texas, brings a nice range of experience to Durham at an important time for the program.
Year 1 record: 9-4
Year 1 grade: A
Evaluation: Duke is the type of program where the trajectory can change quickly. Diaz inherited a team that had gone 15-9 under Elko but also would be losing quarterback Riley Leonard and other talented players. Duke had recorded three straight winning seasons just once since 1957 and that occurred under the same coach, David Cutcliffe, who ultimately couldn’t sustain his success in Durham.
Diaz not only kept the wins coming but elevated the team’s performance. Duke swept its games against ACC teams from the state — North Carolina, NC State and Wake Forest — for the first time since 2013. The team went 6-1 in games decided by a single score and should have handed SMU its first regular-season loss. Diaz also energized the support around Duke football, as evidenced by the aggressive approach to land quarterback transfer Darian Mensah from Tulane.
Willie Fritz, Houston Cougars
Hiring grade: A
What was written then: He can’t skip steps at UH, which has underachieved since Tom Herman left town, eclipsing eight wins only once. Fritz also must find a strong foothold in the competitive recruiting scene in and around the city of Houston, where programs both within the Big 12 and beyond devote manpower and resources. His “Plan To Win” has worked in so many different settings, but never in a power conference.
Year 1 record: 4-8
Year 1 grade: D+
Evaluation: Fritz also went 4-8 in his first year at Tulane before leading the program to 23 wins in his final two seasons, so there’s a bit of precedent, especially with a proven, veteran coach. He inherited a Houston team very much in transition, and his initial roster was built on a large number of portal players. The Cougars played well enough on defense to at least reach a bowl game, as they finished 25th nationally in yards allowed and held six Power 4 opponents to 20 points or fewer. But the offense was woeful, finishing next to last nationally in scoring at 14 points per game.
After a 1-4 start, Houston showed some promise by winning three of its next four, including a road triumph against TCU and a home upset of then-No. 17 Kansas State. But the team scored only 31 total points in its final three games, all losses. Fritz had to replace both of his coordinators last month, and must show greater balance and consistency to move up in the Big 12 pecking order in 2025.
Curt Cignetti, Indiana Hoosiers
Hiring grade: A-
What was written then: Indiana hired a respected, veteran coach who won’t flinch at some of the baked-in challenges the program faces, not having captured a conference title since 1967. Cignetti hasn’t been at a Power 5 school since 2010, so there could be a bit of an adjustment period, but his knack for evaluating talent and establishing a strong identity is clear. If given enough resources, Cignetti will be able to upgrade the team’s talent level and performance.
Year 1 record: 11-2
Year 1 grade: A
Evaluation: Much like Fritz, Cignetti was a widely respected coach in his early 60s who had won everywhere but needed a Power 4 school to say yes. Indiana stepped up and will be forever grateful, as Cignetti guided the Hoosiers to their first-ever 10-win season, an 11-1 regular season and the school’s first CFP appearance. Cignetti brought impact transfers with him from James Madison and oversaw a team that outscored its opponents 537-203, which ranked third nationally behind the two teams it lost to, national championship game participants Ohio State and Notre Dame.
Cignetti won AP Coach of the Year and agreed to a new contract at Indiana that could keep him there for the rest of his career. This was an absolute grand slam hire by athletic director Scott Dolson and IU.
Jeff Lebby, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Hiring grade: B
What was written then: Lebby is a first-time head coach entering a challenging job in a cutthroat league. After contributing to Ole Miss’ rise, he now needs to catch the Rebels and keep pace in the SEC. Lebby’s offense should be a plus, both for recruits/transfers and the Mississippi State fans. But he will need a more comprehensive vision and plan to succeed in Starkville.
Year 1 record: 2-10
Year 1 grade: D-
Evaluation: Mississippi State was picked to finish 15th out of 16 teams in the SEC preseason poll, so the team’s 2-10 result doesn’t come as a major surprise. Lebby had a transfer-heavy offense and a taxing schedule that included trips to Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and Ole Miss, as well as a nonleague game at Arizona State, which would go on to win the Big 12. The Bulldogs faced five teams ranked in the top 15 at the time of their matchups. But there’s no sugarcoating a record with only one win against an FBS opponent and none against Power 4 foes.
Mississippi State went winless in SEC play for the first time since 2002 and was outscored 311-169 in league games. Lebby lost starting quarterback Blake Shapen to a season-ending shoulder injury after the fourth game, and his team competed in midseason losses to Georgia and Texas A&M. But the result was rough for a program that has missed the postseason in consecutive years after making 13 straight bowl games.
Jonathan Smith, Michigan State Spartans
Hiring grade: A
What was written then: Although Smith, 44, hasn’t coached outside the Northwest, he gives Michigan State one of the more respected young coaches on the market, at a critical time for the program. Given the unrest around MSU, athletic director Alan Haller did an excellent job in targeting and ultimately landing a coach of Smith’s caliber.
Year 1 record: 5-7
Year 1 grade: C-
Evaluation: I still like the hire for Michigan State, although I wonder what would have happened if Smith had waited until the end of the previous coaching cycle, when jobs like Washington and UCLA became available. His first season in East Lansing didn’t inspire a ton of confidence, especially the way it ended, with three blowout losses in the final four games and a scoreless second half in a seven-point home win against Purdue. Michigan State had a nice home win against Iowa and kept things close the following week against Michigan in Ann Arbor, but there were too many noncompetitive performances.
The Spartans offense finished 123rd nationally in scoring, and quarterback Aidan Chiles had a bumpy season, throwing 11 interceptions and completing less than 60% of his passes. Smith didn’t inherit the strongest roster and should be able to provide the stability that Michigan State needs, but a bowl appearance will be the minimum expectation in 2025.
David Braun, Northwestern Wildcats
Hiring grade: B+
What was written then: Braun will have some growing pains; he had never worked at a Power 5 program before joining Northwestern’s staff as defensive coordinator in January. But his authenticity, relationship building and willingness to learn should serve him well, especially over the next two campaigns.
Year 1 record: 4-8
Year 1 grade: D+
Evaluation: Braun is in his own category, as he took over as interim coach before the 2023 season, led the team to an impressive 8-5 record and won Big Ten Coach of the Year honors. His first season as permanent coach was much more challenging. Northwestern had major problems along the offensive line as well as quarterback questions. Braun hired an offensive coordinator in Zach Lujan with a similar background to his own (no FBS experience). Lujan’s debut didn’t go nearly as well as Braun’s, as Northwestern finished 128th nationally in scoring and 122nd in rushing. The team had a nice opening win against Miami (Ohio) but was repeatedly blown out on the road.
Northwestern opens the new $850 million Ryan Field in 2026 and needs a jolt in performance from its team to boost enthusiasm. Braun must show improvement this coming fall to ensure he’s the coach leading the team into the new facility.
Trent Bray, Oregon State Beavers
Hiring grade: B+
What was written then: I should have viewed Bray as a stronger candidate to replace [Jonathan] Smith right away, given Bray’s deep roots with the program, his ability to maintain continuity and his popularity with Oregon State fans. He will be a first-time head coach at a very delicate time in the program’s history. There could be a steep learning curve, but Bray, like Smith, understands the program and its distinct elements and challenges as well as anyone.
Year 1 record: 5-7
Year 1 grade: C
Evaluation: Even though Bray had been on the Oregon State staff, he inherited an unprecedented situation for a first-time coach, as the Beavers moved from a power conference to a two-team transitioning league, and lost many of their best players to the portal. Oregon State needed stability and a coach who wanted to be in Corvallis, and Bray checked those boxes. The on-field results were uneven, as Oregon State started 4-1 before dropping six of its final seven games. The Beavers’ lone win, though, came against Washington State in the sole Pac-12 matchup of 2025.
The Washington State and Colorado State wins resonated, but Oregon State also lost to a Nevada team that went winless in Mountain West play. Bray’s defense allowed nearly 400 yards per game and will need to improve in his second season as head coach.
Fran Brown, Syracuse Orange
Hiring grade: C
What was written then: Brown’s hire came as a surprise, as Syracuse had spoken to candidates with head coaching and coordinator experience, including some currently overseeing college programs. Selecting a candidate best known for recruiting can carry risks, and Brown will face a learning curve as he oversees a Power 5 program after being a career defensive backs coach.
Year 1 record: 10-3
Year 1 grade: A
Evaluation: I was highly skeptical of Syracuse, as hires motivated primarily by a candidate’s recruiting prowess almost never work out at Power 4 programs. But he proved me and many others wrong, not only upgrading Syracuse’s talent level but also establishing a new identity for the program with a very exciting style of play. Led by quarterback transfer Kyle McCord, Syracuse led the nation in passing (370 ypg) by nearly 20 yards per game. The Orange recorded quality nonleague wins against eventual MAC champ Ohio and Mountain West runner-up UNLV. Syracuse also went 7-2 in games decided by eight points or fewer.
The Orange never lost back-to-back games and spoiled Miami’s CFP hopes with the largest comeback in team history, rallying from a 21-0 deficit to win 42-38 at the JMA Wireless Dome. Brown brought an edge to the program — “Winners get washed,” he said — and guided Syracuse to just its second 10-win season since 2001.
