Coaches get hired to be fired. Hopefully, they win a few games in between. But let's face it, they usually don't win enough. That's just speaking on average. It's also why every winter is filled with college football coaches losing jobs, moving on to other opportunities and trying on new polo shirts and hats.
It's a dizzying process and one that can be hard for the average fan to follow. After all, why should you have to keep track of every single move that's being made? Lucky for you, we here at this blog do have the time. We are tracking every hiring and firing in the 2020 coaching carousel and not only breaking each down but providing a grade for how every school performed in its decision making.
Since the carousel is in full swing with the 2020 regular season about to come to a close, let's take a look at what we know so far. Below you will find your one-stop shop for all of your coaching hire needs. (Well, except those polos.)
CENTRAL FLORIDA
IN: Gus Malzahn
OUT: Josh Heupel
This is a tremendous hire for the Knights. Malzahn's proven track record of success combined with the speed of the athletes in central and south Florida should put the Knights back into a New Year's Six bowl game in a hurry.
GRADE:A+
TENNESSEE
IN: Josh Heupel
OUT: Jeremy Pruitt
Heupel is the perfect hire at the perfect time for Tennessee. New AD Danny White committed to building a program that is sustainable over time, and Heupel's offensive prowess and familiarity with White means that he will make Tennessee what it needs to be... a long-term offensive force.
GRADE: A-
BOISE STATE
IN: Andy Avalos
OUT: Bryan Harsin
Avalos returns home to his alma mater after spending two years as defensive coordinator on Mario Cristobal's staff at Oregon. He doesn't have any experience as a college head coach, but he knows the Boise State landscape and culture of competition that has led to so much success.
GRADE: B+
MARSHALL
IN: Charles Huff
OUT: Doc Holliday
Huff comes to the Thundering Herd after a successful stint on Nick Saban's staff at Alabama. It's his first head coaching job, so there will be a learning curve. But Huff's ability to recruit should replinish the roster in a hurry.
GRADE: B
TEXAS
IN: Steve Sarkisian
OUT: Tom Herman
Sarkisian will take over the Longhorns after serving as Alabama's offensive coordinator for two seasons. The former USC and Washington coach has a tremendous mind for offensive football, develops quarterbacks and has had two seasons learning from the best coach of all time. He will bring Texas "back."
GRADE: A
AUBURN
IN: Bryan Harsin
OUT: Gus Malzahn
Harsin was 69-19 in seven seasons at Boise State. He is a relative outsider to the SEC, so hiring a staff will be a big key to his success. If he lures assistants with deep recruiting ties, this could turn out to be one of the best hires of the offseason.
GRADE: B+
ARIZONA
IN: Jedd Fisch
OUT: Kevin Sumlin
After working all over the NFL and college football, the 44-year-old Fisch gets his first head coaching opportunity. He is regarded as a quality offensive mind. His lack of head coaching experience -- two games as UCLA's interim -- means that Wildcat fans will have to be patient.
GRADE: B-
LOUISIANA-MONROE
IN: Terry Bowden
OUT: Matt Viator
Two years after getting fired at Akron, Bowden is back in the game. The 64-year-old recently did a stint at Clemson as a graduate assistant. He only went to two bowl games in seven years with the Zips, and the competition is much tougher in the Sun Belt.
GRADE: C
VANDERBILT
IN: Clark Lea
OUT: Derek Mason
Lea spent the last four seasons on Notre Dame's staff, and the last three seasons as it's defensive coordinator. He is a former Vandy player who knows the challenges that the school faces.
GRADE: B
ILLINOIS
IN: Bret Bielema
OUT: Lovie Smith
Bielema returns to the Big Ten after a stint as an NFL assistant and should fit well with the program. Smith recruited well enough for Bielema to hit the ground running with his old-school style.
GRADE: B+
ARKANSAS STATE
IN: Butch Jones
OUT: Blake Anderson
Jones was a solid Group of Five coach at Central Michigan and Cincinnati, but drove Tennessee into the ground. The real Butch Jones coached on Rocky Top, and a brief stint as Nick Saban's intern won't change him.
GRADE: F
SOUTH ALABAMA
IN: Kane Wommack
OUT: Steve Campbell
Wommack is a former player at Arkansas at Southern Miss. The 33-year-old is now the youngest FBS coach, and will bring well-documented recruiting prowess to a Group of Five program with a lot of potential.
GRADE: B+
UTAH STATE
IN: Blake Anderson
OUT: Gary Andersen
The former Arkansas State coach was wildly successful in Jonesboro, going 51-37 in seven seasons, including two Sun Belt titles. His success with a wide open offense should play well with an Aggies program that needs a spark.
GRADE: A-
SOUTH CAROLINA
IN: Shane Beamer
OUT: Will Muschamp
This hire had been rumored for a while. It's a risk for South Carolina to go with a coordinator, but he's been with the Gamecocks before. Beamer is also a relentless recruiter and well-respected within the coaching community. South Carolina will have to be patient with Beamer as he jumps in the deep end of the pool as a first-time coach in the SEC.
GRADE: B-
SOUTHERN MISS
IN: Will Hall
OUT: Jay Hopson
Hall comes from the Willie Fritz school of spread option football, which should work well at a school that has a strong talent base to recruit from. He has head coaching experience at West Alabama and West Georgia, so Golden Eagles fans shouldn't have to worry about the responsibilities being too big for Hall to handle early in his career.
GRADE: B+
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