2025-26 College Football Coach Fired/Hired Thread

[2nd Degree Gopher]

Wasn't Joe Paterno still coaching til like age 85?

Nominally, at a job that he had held for over 45 years. Not sure how that's relevant to the discussion of the likelihood of Penn State seeking to hire Ferentz or Ferentz wanting the job. He's in his 70s, he's coached at Iowa for decades, can stay as long as he likes and they would be asking him to start over at a school where winning 37 games over your last 3 1/2 seasons isn't enough to keep your job.

As it seems that the search is spiraling out of control, maybe Penn State would get to the point where they are desperate enough to try to hire someone to provide some stability and get down that list far enough to get to Kirk. But why would he possibly want that job at this point in his career?

 

[Random Guy 12]

Nominally, at a job that he had held for over 45 years. Not sure how that's relevant to the discussion of the likelihood of Penn State seeking to hire Ferentz or Ferentz wanting the job. He's in his 70s, he's coached at Iowa for decades, can stay as long as he likes and they would be asking him to start over at a school where winning 37 games over your last 3 1/2 seasons isn't enough to keep your job.

As it seems that the search is spiraling out of control, maybe Penn State would get to the point where they are desperate enough to try to hire someone to provide some stability and get down that list far enough to get to Kirk. But why would he possibly want that job at this point in his career?

he wouldn't. Ferentz would've been a good replacement for Paterno 15 years ago before the scandal there but that's about it.

 

[WAGopher]

It might be heading there. I don’t think any recruits signed with PSU today.

Penn State did sign 2 recruits yesterday. Both were from Pennsylvania:
Jackson Ford - 4 Star edge rusher
Peyton Falzone - 3 Star Quarterback

Needless to say, whoever the next coach is will have to hit the portal hard.

 

[Gilthorp57]

Who are the realistic candidates for Penn State at this point? Would they be willing to hire a coordinator from a P4 program? If not, the list of coaches that didn't just re-up and would be willing to leave is pretty short and unlikely to meet fan expectations. Matt Campbell was mentioned above. I'd add Tony Elliott at Virginia

Can they lure Dan Mullen off the Vegas strip? He's a NE guy and only 53.

 

[Some guy]

Can they lure Dan Mullen off the Vegas strip? He's a NE guy and only 53.

Coincidentally, his firing at Florida is probably the most similar thing I’ve seen to franklins firing at Penn state (though he probably deserved it more than Franklin)

 

[Gophers1992]

Can they lure Dan Mullen off the Vegas strip? He's a NE guy and only 53.

That's actually not a bad option IMO.

 

[howeda7]

Coincidentally, his firing at Florida is probably the most similar thing I’ve seen to franklins firing at Penn state (though he probably deserved it more than Franklin)

Forget Lane Kiffen, Dan Mullen is who the Gophers should have hired in 2007.

 

[Random Guy 12]

Can they lure Dan Mullen off the Vegas strip? He's a NE guy and only 53.

Hadn't thought of that or seen him mentioned. They could definitely do worse. He's def no upgrade from Franklin but i think that ship has sailed.
I can understand why someone like PJ would want to stay here. If you're not one of the "bluebloods" with insane expectations you can bounce around from 7 to 9 wins with an occasional 6 win or 10 win year and have some reasonable job stability. Still well compensated and who knows, you might catch lightening in a bottle some year.

 

[Hates Monikers]

Forget Lane Kiffen, Dan Mullen is who the Gophers should have hired in 2007.

If I remember correctly, Mullen wanted $5 million per year total for him and his staff at that time. (I'm not sure if it was reported in the paper or only here.) Back then, that seemed crazy -- at least in these parts. Mason was making $1.65 million per year. Would've loved to see Mullen could do here.

 

[Ski-U-Ham]

 

[PMWinSTP]

Can they lure Dan Mullen off the Vegas strip? He's a NE guy and only 53.

I've definitely seen him on lists for PSU.

 

[MaxyJR1]

View attachment 40644

Makes too much sense. An Ohio native that went to Pittsburgh for a year before playing at Mt Union. Oh and already coached D1 in Ohio. I’m guessing this was the fall back all along and it’s probably better than some of the people who turned them down.

 

[MaxyJR1]

 

[gopherguy06]

 

[gopherdudepart2]

View attachment 40644

If he goes to Penn State, wonder if we can poach any lineman from ISU either defensive or offensive tackles?

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I'm not a Kiffin fan, nor an LSU fan. Blake Baker, LSU's D-Coordinator, is getting a lot of rumors about becoming the next Tulane HC. Kiffen apparently wants him to stay, but being a HC for arguably the best G5 team is a big pull. If he travels the 90-minute drive to Tulane, I wonder how many of his recruits will follow him? Hope it's a lot.

Doubtful

LSU’s roster is mostly, if not all from the Deep South, where every Friday Night baller’s dream is to play premo college football.

LSU also dwarfs Tulane in: prestige, facilities, stadium, NFL alumni and NIL.

The sledding a bit deeper in this part of the board

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

He'll be 71 before the first game next fall. Can't imagine either party would be interested in that.

There’s no benefit for him at this point. He also has a perfect setup; they’re competitive, ranked many times and go to bowl games, so the fans and administrators are happy.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

It's getting bleak for PSU now. It's like closing time at the bar and they're flailing around trying to find someone...anyone to go home with them.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

NFL coaches work really hard but in the NFL there is structure and rules. In college right now it is the wild west and the landscape keeps changing all the time.

There was a college head coach from BC I think who left to be a position coach or coordinator in the NFL because he wanted to get back to coaching and to be able to stop dealing with all the BS of college athletics right now.

Billy O’ Brien IIRC.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Wasn't Joe Paterno still coaching til like age 85?

He was a PSU lifer, who built that program from the ground up.

 

[mkAz]

This is a better fit for him than Florida.

 

[fmlizard]

We better hope Penn State gets Matt Campbell, because if they don't it's not long before they start reaching out to PJ Fleck.

Fleck is sort of the Big Ten Matt Campbell, though he's had a little less transformative success than his Iowa State counterpart. Fleck also doesn't have a significant NFL QB on his resume.

 

[IceBoxGopher]

As of Friday morning. Looks like just five openings left.

Jobs Filled

• Alabama-Birmingham - Alex Mortensen, internal (OC). Career record of 2-4 [IHC]
• Arkansas - Ryan Silverfield from Memphis. Career record of 50-25
• Auburn - Alex Golesh from South Florida. Career record of 23-15
• California - Tosh Lupoi from Oregon (DC)
• Colorado State - Jim Mora from Connecticut. Career record of 73-53
• Florida - Jon Sumrall from Tulane. Career record of 42-11
• James Madison - Bill Napier from Florida. Career record of 62-35
• Kansas State - Collin Klein from Texas A&M (OC)
• Kentucky - Will Stein from Oregon (OC)
• Kent State - Mark Carney, internal (OC). Career record of 5-7 [IHC]
• LSU - Lane Kiffin from Mississippi. Career record of 116-53
• Michigan State - Pat Fitzgerald. Career record of 110-101
• Mississippi - Pete Golding, internal (DC)
• North Texas - Neal Brown, previously at West Virginia. Career record of 72-51
• Oklahoma State - Eric Morris from North Texas. Career record of 46-33
• Oregon State - JaMarcus Shephard from Alabama (Co-OC/AHC)
• South Florida - Brian Hartline from Ohio State (OC)
• Stanford - Tavita Pritchard from Washington Commanders (QB Coach)
• Virginia Tech - James Franklin from Penn State. Career record of 128-60
• UCLA - Bob Chesney from James Madison. Career record of 131-51

Jobs Open

• Coastal Carolina, Tim Beck fired, 20-18 over 3 seasons
• Connecticut, Jim Mora left for Colorado State, 27-23 over 4 seasons
• Memphis, Ryan Silverfield left for Arkansas, 50-25 over 6 seasons
• Penn State, James Franklin fired, 104-45 over 12 seasons
• Tulane, Jon Sumrall left for Florida, 19-7 over 2 seasons

 

[Random Guy 12]

Well Michigan State just landed a $401 mil donation for their athletic department. Large portion specifically for football. I would have a hard time believing this guy didn't get some input on the Fitz hire or at least thumbs up it. Will he be under pressure to win? absolutely. but he'll have all the resources.

Greg and Dawn Williams Make Historic $401M Commitment to Michigan State University and Spartan Athletics - Michigan State University Athletics

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University today announced a historic $401 million commitment from Greg and Dawn Williams. Made through the university's...

msuspartans.com

 

[Gopher_Devil]

Campbell to PSU seems locked up. I hope it means that ISU-MN pipeline gets cutoff. Could also mean that he takes that with him and is bolstered by ridiculous PSU money.

 

[GreasyGopher]

Campbell to PSU seems locked up. I hope it means that ISU-MN pipeline gets cutoff. Could also mean that he takes that with him and is bolstered by ridiculous PSU money.

Is this an example of the grass isn’t always greener on the other side?

Virginia Tech cashing in on Penn State’s arrogance/ineptitude.

 

[MaxyJR1]

Well Michigan State just landed a $401 mil donation for their athletic department. Large portion specifically for football. I would have a hard time believing this guy didn't get some input on the Fitz hire or at least thumbs up it. Will he be under pressure to win? absolutely. but he'll have all the resources.

Greg and Dawn Williams Make Historic $401M Commitment to Michigan State University and Spartan Athletics - Michigan State University Athletics

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University today announced a historic $401 million commitment from Greg and Dawn Williams. Made through the university's...

msuspartans.com

I believe $290M is for Athletics

 

[MaxyJR1]

Campbell to PSU seems locked up. I hope it means that ISU-MN pipeline gets cutoff. Could also mean that he takes that with him and is bolstered by ridiculous PSU money.

Would think some of the MVFC or MAC coaches would be in line for the job. Or would they run at someone recently fired.

Matt Enz went 8-4 in first year at Fresno. Was previously LB coach at USC and former NDSU HC
Jimmy Rogers currently at Washington State and formerly at South Dakota State
Both are moving to the PAC12 for 2026

 

[Dave H]

Well Michigan State just landed a $401 mil donation for their athletic department. Large portion specifically for football. I would have a hard time believing this guy didn't get some input on the Fitz hire or at least thumbs up it. Will he be under pressure to win? absolutely. but he'll have all the resources.

Greg and Dawn Williams Make Historic $401M Commitment to Michigan State University and Spartan Athletics - Michigan State University Athletics

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University today announced a historic $401 million commitment from Greg and Dawn Williams. Made through the university's...

msuspartans.com

Are you Fitz's agent?

Remember when Northwestern got their huge donation for their new sports complex. Pretty sure Fitz was coach then and he still crapped out at the end.

 

[Dave H]

Campbell to PSU seems locked up. I hope it means that ISU-MN pipeline gets cutoff. Could also mean that he takes that with him and is bolstered by ridiculous PSU money.

I dint think Campbell be more successful at PSU than Franklin was. It would be a good hire but a lateral one.