The 2023-24 coaching carousel is already shaping up with a bunch of major programs deciding they’re ready for new leadership at the top.
Texas A&M parted ways with Jimbo Fisher, Mississippi State moved on from Zach Arnett and Michigan State is still looking for Mel Tucker’s replacement.
There are surely more firings coming soon enough — and once the first round of coaching hires is complete, there could be plenty of more jobs open at schools who appeared in the top 25 this season.
So who are some of the biggest names in this year’s coaching pool? And which fanbases should be worried about their team’s stock rising too fast this year?
Let’s run through the resumes of some of the hottest names we’ll surely be hearing rumors about during this year’s cycle.
Mike Elko
Age: 46
Current Position: Duke Head Coach
Notable Previous Experience: Defensive coordinator at Bowling Green (2009-2013), Wake Forest (2014-2016), Notre Dame (2017), Texas A&M (2018-2021)
It took less than two years for Elko to revive a dormant Blue Devils program and put the ACC on notice. After going 9-4 in his first season with a victory in the Military Bowl over UCF, Duke began the 2023 campaign 4-0 and ranked as high as No. 16 in Week 8.
Lance Leipold
Age: 59
Current Position: Kansas Head Coach
Notable Previous Experience: Head coach at Wisconsin-Whitewater (2007-2014), Buffalo (2015-2020)
What Elko has done at Duke is nothing compared to the turnaround at Kansas under Leipold. After the Jayhawks compiled just 21 wins from 2010-2021 with two winless seasons, Leipold has pulled off 15 wins in less than three years. Kansas is bowl eligible in back-to-back years and looks ready to roll. Leipold has been adamant he’s not leaving, but we’ve heard plenty of coaches say that right up until the moment they take a new job.
Willie Fritz
Age: 63
Current Position: Tulane Head Coach
Notable Previous Experience: Head coach Central Missouri (1997-2009), Sam Houston State (2010-2013), Georgia Southern (2014-2015)
Every few years Willie Fritz’s name starts to rise to the top of these lists as he continually gets more out of Tulane than expected. This season, his seventh in New Orleans, the Green Wave have been one of the fiercest G5 programs, starting the year 9-1 and ranked as high as No. 17 in the AP poll. Not a bad way to follow up a Cotton Bowl victory in 2022.
Jedd Fisch
Age: 47
Current Position: Arizona Head Coach
Notable Previous Experience: Seattle Seahawks QB coach (2010), Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator (2013-2014), Los Angeles Rams assistant offensive coordinator (2019)
Most of Fisch’s experience stems from the NFL, but his short stops at Florida, Minnesota, Michigan and UCLA clearly prepared him enough to take over Arizona. The Wildcats began the year 8-3 and Fisch has the team going bowling for the first time since he arrived in 2021.
Curt Cignetti
Age: 62
Current Position: James Madison Head Coach
Notable Previous Experience: Alabama WR coach (2007-2010), Head coach Elon (2017-2018)
After guiding JMU through its transition to the FBS, the Dukes’ head coach is likely a top candidate for many programs this year. Cignetti has led JMU to back-to-back Sun Belt titles and is 118-34 since becoming a head coach at Division II IUP in 2011.
Jonathan Smith
Age: 44
Current Position: Oregon State Head Coach
Notable Previous Experience: Washington State offensive coordinator (2014-2017), Boise State QB coach (2012-2013), Montana offensive coordinator (2010-2011)
The Beavers’ head coach has done a tremendous job with his alma mater since 2018, earning Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors last year and getting Oregon State to 8-2 this season. We’ll see if he sticks around the help the team navigate conference realignment or jump to a more stable program.
Sherrone Moore
Age: 37
Current Position: Michigan Offensive Coordinator/Interim Head Coach
Notable Previous Experience: Louisville tight end coach (2012-2013), Central Michigan associate head coach (2017)
The former Oklahoma guard has done wonder as the offensive coordinator at Michigan, where he’s had to suddenly fill in as acting head coach on game days while Jim Harbaugh serves out a three-game suspension from the Big Ten. He’s young, energetic and clearly beloved by his players. Look for Moore’s name to come up quite a bit.
