Mastering Dual Roles: Coaching Challenges in the College Football Playoff
In the high-stakes world of college football, the postseason is a whirlwind. Coaches are scrambling, strategizing, and sometimes juggling more than one job at once.
This year, the College Football Playoff (CFP) has thrown a curveball at several coaches. They’re calling plays in crucial games while stepping into new head coaching gigs.
It’s a tough landscape to navigate. Some coaches are just trying to keep their heads above water.
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The Dual Role Dilemma: Coaches in the CFP
The 2025 College Football Playoff has forced a handful of coaches into wearing two big hats at the same time. Collin Klein is one of them. He’s prepping Texas A&M for its first CFP game and, at the same time, stepping into his dream job as Kansas State’s head coach.
This kind of double duty? It’s not for the faint of heart. It takes grit, a bit of stubbornness, and a lot of caffeine.
Collin Klein’s Balancing Act
Klein’s story is pretty wild. He was Kansas State’s quarterback back in 2012, led them to a Big 12 championship, and now he’s coming home as head coach.
But first, he’s got Texas A&M’s playoff game against Miami on his mind. Even with all the buzz around his new job, Klein didn’t let it distract him from his players at A&M.
He pushed through the stress and exhaustion, refusing to bail on his current team. That’s not something every coach would do.
Coaching Carousel and the CFP
The overlap between the CFP and the coaching carousel is a headache for everyone involved. This year, it’s especially messy.
Tulane’s Jon Sumrall and James Madison’s Bob Chesney are both moving up—Sumrall to Florida, Chesney to UCLA. Meanwhile, some former Ole Miss assistants are helping Lane Kiffin at LSU, but still finishing out their commitments at Ole Miss during the playoff.
Strategies for Success
Coaches like Oregon’s Will Stein and Tosh Lupoi have had to get creative. Stein’s heading to Kentucky, Lupoi to Cal, but they’re still locked in on their current teams for now.
They’ve built routines around strict time management and compartmentalization. Honestly, it sounds exhausting. They’re leaning hard on their staff—both current and future—to keep things from falling apart.
Impact on Teams and Players
This double-duty thing isn’t just hard on coaches. It shakes up the whole team.
Take Texas A&M’s playoff game against Miami. The offense totally sputtered, recording its worst performance of the year. That kind of result can make for a rocky handoff as Klein heads to Kansas State.
Lessons from the Past
History’s got a few examples of how this can go. Alabama’s Nick Saban had coordinators like Kirby Smart and Lane Kiffin take head coaching jobs while still working the playoff grind.
Some, like Smart, pulled it off. Others, like Kiffin, ran into trouble and had to make quick exits mid-playoff.
Organizational Skills and Delegation
Staying organized is everything for these guys. Lupoi’s approach? Plan every detail, set priorities, and delegate like crazy.
By focusing on what’s right in front of him and trusting others to step up, he tries to make sure both his teams get what they need.
Maintaining Focus Amidst Change
Ohio State’s Brian Hartline is another example. He’s got a new gig lined up at South Florida but is still helping Ohio State chase a title.
He’s taken on new, slightly different responsibilities to keep things steady for the team. It’s a delicate dance, but sometimes that’s what it takes.
The Future of Dual Roles in College Football
This trend of coaches taking on two jobs at once? It’s probably not going anywhere. The transfer portal, early signing days, and the pressure to win in the postseason all feed into it.
Coaches are just going to have to keep adapting. There’s no magic fix, but the ones who figure it out might just change the game.
Conclusion
The 2025 College Football Playoff really puts a spotlight on just how tough it is to juggle dual roles in college football. Coaches like Collin Klein, Will Stein, and Tosh Lupoi? They show what real dedication and strategy look like in the thick of it all.
Honestly, as the sport keeps shifting and changing, being able to handle multiple big responsibilities at once seems like a skill that’s only going to get more important. If coaches want to stay on top, they’ll need to keep mastering that balancing act—no way around it.
