College Football Head Coach Hires Ranked From Worst To Best Christmas Edition Part 1

by Tyler Feinstein
Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

The 2024-2025 college football head coaching cycle has come and gone and while it wasn’t as much chaos as prior cycles, there were definitely some huge names that found new homes. Let’s see who got the best Christmas presents of all them all and who simply got a lump of coal in their stockings. Before we start the list however, I would like to wish all the head coaches that are on this list the best of luck. So don’t take this post too seriously. This is just one jolly goober’s opinion and obviously these guys possess miles more football knowledge than I do. With that out of the way, let’s get started.

#27 Phil Longo-Sam Houston State 

This is one of the very few head coach hires this cycle that had me quite vexed. Phil Longo had a strong run of success as an offensive coordinator at Slippery Rock, Sam Houston State, Ole Miss and North Carolina. But his time as the offensive play caller for Wisconsin was underwhelming to say the least. The offense looked clunky most of the time and showed no improvement in his two seasons there and eventually got fired. 

Coaches get fired and get hired to other programs all the time, it’s part of the sport. But hiring a recently fired offensive coordinator to be the leader of your football program is a questionable decision in my opinion. It’s possible that Wisconsin was a poor fit for Longo, and now being at a place he’s familiar with will get him back on his feet, but it’s still a hire with a ton of risk involved.

#26 Charles Kelly-Jacksonville State 

Charles Kelly is really the only other hire I was quite confused by. It isn’t the recruiting I’m worried about, as Charles Kelly has been a strong recruiter and player developer, but his recent stint as Colorado’s defensive coordinator left a ton to be desired. The Buffaloes ranked in the bottom 20 in almost every defensive category and left Colorado to become Auburn’s Co-DC afterwards before landing the JSU gig. 

It will be up to Kelly to hire a competent staff around him and with experience under Nick Saban, Jimbo Fisher, and Paul Johnson, he definitely has the blueprints on how to assemble a staff that can fit the team’s strengths. There’s definitely good qualities with Charles Kelly, but I feel this is quite the gamble for a team riding high off of winning the CUSA Championship. 

#25 Dowell Loggains-Appalachian State 

Dowell Loggains’ over decade long stint in the NFL should definitely help him win some recruits over. He was an offensive coordinator for the Titans, Bears, Dolphins and Jets during that 13 year span. As South Carolina’s offensive play caller, the Gamecocks offense took a huge jump from 2023 to 2024 and the Gamecocks exceeded expectations and went 9-4 against a vicious schedule. 

So why is Loggains so low on the list? This was the first time in his coaching career where an offense he orchestrated produced above average results. Loggains could be a late bloomer and finally found his rhythm as an offensive coordinator, but there’s also the chance that it was just a one hit wonder. Assembling a strong inaugural coaching staff will be crucial for him to succeed. 

#24 Joe Harasymiak-UMass

It’s extremely difficult to get good head coach candidates when your program has been a ten foot tall stocking filled with coal in it for 15 years but the Minutemen got a solid hire in my eyes in Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak. The 38 year old Ridgewood, New Jersey native also has head coaching experience during his 3 year stint as head coach of the Maine Black Bears from 2016-18. He compiled a 20-15 record, including a 10 win season and a CAA Championship in his final year and made the FCS(Football Championship Subdivision) Semifinals for the first time in program history. Harasymiak was awarded FCS Coach of the Year for the Black Bears historic breakthrough. 

During his 3 year run as defensive coordinator of Rutgers, the defense was pivotal to the Scarlet Knights reaching back to back bowl appearances for the first time since 2013-14. UMass has been a nightmare of a program ever since transitioning to the FBS level back in 2012, having yet to eclipse 4 wins in a season and haven’t had a winning season since 2010. This might be the toughest job in the FBS, but Harasymiak isn’t afraid of obstacles and will look to bring back the joy to a desolate program.

#23 Tre Lamb-Tulsa

After the Kevin Wilson experiment failed, the Golden Hurricane brass decided to hire a young riser that’s always ready for a new challenge in ETSU head coach Tre Lamb. At just 35 years old, Tre Lamb helped turn around both Gardner Webb and ETSU in short order, including back to back Big South titles in 2022 and 2023 with the former. His 27-25 career record as a head coach isn’t eye popping, but Lamb has done more with a lot less talent at his disposal and Tulsa is no exception. The results might not come pouring in immediately, but if he’s done it twice, success at a third program with similar setbacks isn’t out of the cards.

#22 Matt Drinkall-Central Michigan

After the retirement of head coach Jim McElwain, Central Michigan decided to throw a curveball and hire Army offensive line coach Matt Drinkal. The 42 year old from Bettendorf, Iowa brings with him a winning pedigree with a 42-17 record as the head coach of Kansas Wesleyan from 2014-2018, winning the KCAC in his final season and a run to the NAIA semifinals. 

His success at the NAIA level got Army Black Knights head coach Jeff Monken’s attention and tabbed him as a quality control coach in 2019. Drinkall would be moved around a lot on Monken’s staff serving as a tight ends coach, co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. The Black Knights offensive line only allowed 6 sacks and allowed the fourth least tackles for loss with 32. A disciplined offensive line combined with a lethal rushing attack of quarterback Bryson Daily and running back Kanye Udoh propelled the Black Knights to a 12-2 record and winning the AAC. 

The MAC is a wild west of a conference where surprises are seemingly the norm. It’s likely tough road ahead as for most first year head coaches, but the Chippewas could surprise in 

Drinkall’s debut.

Stay tuned for part 2 where I will cover a few head coaches making the jump from FCS to FBS(Football Bowl Subdivision) including New Mexico’s Jason Eck, Ball State’s Mike Urenovich, Rice’s Scott Abel and more. 

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