College Football Coach Shortage: Schools Struggle to Find Quality Replacements
The 2025 college football season has been wild—maybe even a little absurd at times. An unprecedented number of coaching changes have happened before Halloween.
Twelve FBS schools, including big names like Penn State, Florida, and LSU, have already fired their head coaches. These programs are in a scramble, trying to land replacements, and it’s turning out to be a lot harder than most people expected.
As these storied schools look ahead, the race for top-tier coaching talent is getting downright cutthroat. Everyone’s watching to see who lands where and how these moves shake up the sport.
Contents
The Unprecedented Coaching Carousel
This season, the number of coaching changes is just off the charts. Twelve FBS schools have already let their head coaches go.
Some of the biggest brands in college football—Penn State, Florida, LSU—are all in the mix. The early-season firings really show just how much pressure there is to win now, not later.
Blue Bloods on the Market
Penn State, Florida, and LSU aren’t just looking for a decent coach. They want someone who can win it all, period.
The competition for these jobs is fierce. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is a hot name, mostly because he’s made the Rebels more relevant than they’ve been in ages.
But here’s the thing: Kiffin still hasn’t made a College Football Playoff. Can he really take a blue blood program to the top? That’s the question.
Potential Coaching Candidates
A bunch of names are getting tossed around as these schools hunt for their next head coach. Each candidate has their own quirks, strengths, and, honestly, some red flags.
Clark Lea: Vanderbilt’s Miracle Worker
Clark Lea has done what almost nobody thought possible—he’s turned Vanderbilt into a top-10 team. Their upset win over No. 1 Alabama last year and a current No. 9 ranking say a lot about his ability.
Still, Lea’s first three seasons at Vandy were rough, with a 9-27 record. That’s kind of hard to ignore, right?
Matt Rhule: The Turnaround Specialist
Matt Rhule is always in the conversation. He’s rebuilt programs at Temple, Baylor, and Nebraska, which is impressive.
But his record against ranked teams—2-23, and 0-11 against top-10 teams—makes you wonder if he can really win big games. Penn State’s AD, Pat Kraft, is reportedly interested, but it’s not a slam dunk.
Jon Sumrall: The Group of 5 Darling
Jon Sumrall has quietly put together a 38-10 record at Troy and Tulane. That’s hard to argue with, even if it’s outside the Power 4.
But moving up is a different beast. Guys like Tom Herman, Scott Frost, and Luke Fickell all had mixed results after making that jump. It’s a gamble, no question.
The Sure Bets and the Wild Cards
Some coaches feel like safer bets. Others? Total wild cards. It’s tough to know who’ll actually work out.
Willie Fritz: The Consistent Winner
Willie Fritz has won at every stop, from junior college all the way up to the Big 12. He just gets results, year after year.
But he’s 65, and let’s be honest, he’s not exactly flashy. That could make schools look elsewhere, even if he’s the steady hand they need.
Bob Chesney: The Rising Star
Bob Chesney has climbed his way up from Division III and now boasts a .712 career winning percentage. His run at James Madison is turning heads.
Still, he’s not a media darling, and his low profile might work against him when big schools are looking for splashy hires.
The High Cost of Coaching Changes
Firing a head coach isn’t just a football decision—it’s a financial one. Buyouts can run anywhere from $20 million to $50 million at places like Penn State and LSU.
That’s a lot of money to bet on getting the next hire right. If they whiff, they might be paying out all over again in a couple of years.
The Risk of Repeating Mistakes
It’s a tough cycle. Schools fire good-but-not-great coaches, hoping for a superstar, and sometimes end up right back where they started.
Florida let go of Jim McElwain, who actually had a 16-8 SEC record. LSU moved on from Ed Orgeron, who went 31-17 in the SEC and even won a national title. Easy to second-guess those moves now.
The Hiring Lottery
Honestly, picking the right head coach can feel like a lottery. Athletic directors are trying to weigh all the risks and rewards, hoping they don’t end up with buyer’s remorse.
With so many schools on the hunt this year, it’s a crowded market. There’s not much room for error, and everyone knows it.
Conclusion
The 2025 college football season’s already wild. Twelve FBS programs have parted ways with their head coaches, and it’s not even November.
Schools are scrambling. The competition for coaching talent? It’s fierce—maybe the fiercest it’s ever been.
You’ve got big names floating around, like Lane Kiffin and Matt Rhule. But there are also some rising stars, say Clark Lea or Bob Chesney, who are making folks look twice.
It’s a mixed bag of candidates, honestly. Every program wants to land that just-right fit, but the stakes (and the price tags) are through the roof.
If you’re curious about who’s on the move and where things stand in this coaching carousel, check out the New York Times article.
