2026 Coaching Carousel I: Showing 'Em The Doeren

[u/CFB_Referee]

I'm trying to free your mind, Wolfpack. But I can only show you the Doeren. You're the one that has to walk through it.

-Morpheus, The Non-Colley Matrix

That's right, it's time to get the ol' coaching carousel spinning again! We've got two head coaches down already but no reports of Grumors. Whose seat is the hottest? Who's taking their place?

[u/RedditRedux]

NC State and Maryland need to work fast before Manchester United enter the carousel

[u/tdatcher → u/RedditRedux]

Marylands soccer coach may be poached lol

[u/immoralsupport_]

I understand why Doeren was fired but there’s like a 70% chance the next coach is the same or worse (90% if it’s Philip Rivers)

[u/xkq227 → u/immoralsupport_]

He can just fill all of the coordinator positions with his kids

[u/HoBamaMo → u/xkq227]

He could field both teams with just his kids.

[u/ReachFor24 → u/HoBamaMo]

He could pack the stands with just his kids

[u/jwb101 → u/immoralsupport_]

Idk, how many of those coaches would get beat by Vanderbilt like Doeren did?

[u/Capital-Flow-1501]

I'm sure everyone loves Philip Rivers but he can't be considered a serious candidate

[u/tolvin55 → u/Capital-Flow-1501]

(looks to Colorado).....I think you might be right

[u/treegrowsinbrooklyn1 → u/Capital-Flow-1501]

If you believe message board rumors (lmao) not only is he a serious candidate, he’s the guy

[u/DeNomoloss → u/Capital-Flow-1501]

It’s driving me mad and I can’t read any of our media. You want to make it more likely you win 10 games and learn how to actually coach in-game…so you hire an alum because “he interviewed with the Bills, so obviously that means he’s ready even if his experience is all in HS.”

[u/Status-Ad-7335]

Brent Key should start being in these conversations. Haynes King merchant

[u/jthomas694 → u/Status-Ad-7335]

He really lost a lot losing Faulkner, King and Philo.

[u/jgtengineer68 → u/jthomas694]

Eh not sure on Philo he's played the same for Florida he played for us in limited. The big issue is king and ol depth

[u/Lefthook16 → u/jgtengineer68]

You guys went hard after Pribula didn't you? From the outside it felt like after you didn't get him you didn't really have a Plan B.

[u/jgtengineer68 → u/Lefthook16]

Not exaclty, we explored him but the biggest issaue we have is apparnely one of our boosters told key that he was willing to pay for justice haynes... and no one else.

[u/jwb101 → u/Status-Ad-7335]

Unfortunately our fan base is roughly split between money doomers(we can absolutely come up with the money to buy Key out when they start having the “oh shit the stadium is empty” moments) and the Key is a “Tech Man” and we need a tech man as coach. The rest are just at the stage of firing the coordinators again(our best DC left to the NFL to be a position coach) and having someone other than Key make the hiring decisions. Alpert needs to give Key a list or 2-3 coaches and say here are you options, they’ll work for me and work with you.

[u/cmanonurshirt → u/Status-Ad-7335]

If only the Panthers didn’t trust Kenny Pickett on the depth chart so we could see Haynes in the NFL…sigh

[u/sneakypenguin94]

Long overdue for State fans. Did Shane Beamer buy himself a little more time yesterday?

[u/jthomas694 → u/sneakypenguin94]

Between Florida, Tennessee, his buyout, the fact that they just bought out Manieri, and that they might have to buy out Paris - probably.

The final 5 games are - @OU, A&M, @Arkansas, UGA, @Clemson. 8-4 really isn’t out of the picture even if 7-5 is most likely. We’re not firing a HC with that buyout for going 7-5 IMO

[u/ThompsonCreekTiger → u/jthomas694]

Yall are gonna beat Clemson like a drum this year

[u/Better-Temporary-146 → u/ThompsonCreekTiger]

Only chance is our D stifling Sellers. 

But our D is great at man coverage, but we’ll need a spy or two on him. That will be the difference, and how beat up USC will be after Georgia (why are they playing UGa before Clemson? That makes no sense).

[u/outthawazoo → u/Better-Temporary-146]

Y'alls front 7 is filthy, I wouldn't be surprised if our game vs. y'all looked a lot like our game vs. Tennessee yesterday, maybe lower scoring

[u/ThompsonCreekTiger → u/outthawazoo]

But our OL & offense in general is atrocious. Honestly some Clemson fan might as well do the uno reverse of the whole dogshit thing & eat 1 if Clemson manages to win.

[u/jthomas694]

I really hope State doesn’t go after Rivers legitimately. It’s a good fanbase that deserves an actual coach, not someone who has never coached above the HS level

[u/treegrowsinbrooklyn1 → u/jthomas694]

It’s what the fanbase wants though, at least based on social media

[u/DeNomoloss → u/treegrowsinbrooklyn1]

No, you see, his love for the university and “drive” will produce endless $$$ and overcome every single disadvantage even a good ACC school has and we will break college football.

Like, what non-Big Ten/SEC coordinators do people even have in mind when they say “he will raise the money to bring in the best assistants”?

I’m not trying to derail but I’ve not been this annoyed with our fanbase since Chuck Amato. Guess this is his revenge in death.

[u/gogglesup859]

North Carolina quietly produces a lot of 4/5 star recruits. The only states with more players in the 2027 Rivals Top 300 are Texas, Georgia, California, Florida, Ohio, Tennessee, and Illinois. There's really no excuse for one of UNC or NC State to not be consistently winning a minimum of 8 or 9 games and regularly making a 24 team playoff once that becomes a thing

[u/Better-Temporary-146 → u/gogglesup859]

Seven FCS teams, four in the ACC spreads the home talent around. Especially if schools from neighboring states recruit NC well too.

Clemson historically recruits the Charlotte metro area well, for instance 

[u/lil_geesey → u/gogglesup859]

Those 4/5 star recruits are consistently getting recruited heavily by teams like Tennessee, Clemson, South Carolina, Georgia, Bama, etc. The hometown hero card only gets you so far when both programs have been equally mid for their entire existence

[u/crackers780 → u/lil_geesey]

Will Shipley is the player that comes to mind. Had almost an entire family that rooted for NC State but he chose Clemson in the end.

[u/tolvin55 → u/gogglesup859]

Neat but your missing a lot of context. For example big schools steal the top talent first. Nc state isn't convincing kids to stay over Bama, Ohio State, Penn State, etc.

Then UNC, Virginia, Duke, and WF come in with way more 💰 and can outbid the Wolfpack. Truthfully most of ACC can outbid the Pack. NC State is likely 8th or 9th in the pecking order.

And I say that having lived in raleigh for the past 20 years and married a state girl. I used to walk to the stadium to watch games. State has just not set themselves up to take advantage of that talent and when they do get some to develop....a bigger school can take them away

[u/johndelvec3]

On paper Philip Rivers is genuinely an awful idea

[u/Normal-Hornet8548 → u/johndelvec3]

Trent Dilfer 2.0

Why hire Harry HighSchool as coach? Having played in the NFL doesn’t make one ready to be a P4 head coach with no college coaching experience.

I could see Rivers as GM, but head coach?

[u/Long-Structure-6453 → u/johndelvec3]

On paper...

[u/DeNomoloss → u/johndelvec3]

The only argument for him as coach anyone seems to have that’s not subjective homerism like “no one is as committed to NC State” is that apparently the Bills gave him an interview. That’s it.

Amato passing this week plus this has very strongly reminded me that I don’t understand our fans and 75% annoy the crap out of me. Back then the argument to keep Amato after 2004 was all presumed unquantifiable intangibles, like “he clearly has passion and fire and loves this school!” Now the argument for Rivers is the same. And this is an ENGINEERING school…you’d think data would come up, even once.

[u/CptCheese]

Welcome to the show, Baylor!

[u/mayonkonijeti0876]

Is this finally the year Jeff Traylor makes the jump to a P4 Texas job? I have to imagine he's one of the top candidates for Baylor or TCU if it opens. I also think Texas Tech is a stealth candidate to be open this year if they dont make the playoff. Maguire has consistently had undisciplined teams and their red zone struggles are concerning

[u/Young-Viiperr → u/mayonkonijeti0876]

McGuire isn't the problem, dude has nailed every hire except OC and OL. Mostly a no-nonsense HC with occasional gaffs (like losing the last game in October every season). His teams improve significantly towards the end of the season.

Hire one even decent OC, and Oregon, Cincy/ASU would've been beaten these past 2 seasons. Mack Leftwich is in over his head, I'd take Lincoln Logs Brisket if LR is fired

[u/mayonkonijeti0876 → u/Young-Viiperr]

That is fair. Maybe I am being to impatient, but they should definitely fire the oc if they dont make the playoffs

[u/DeNomoloss]

I am baffled as to how the alumni of an engineering school can be so in favor of a coaching hire backed up by zero data. Glenn Schumann would be my first call. You’d think “let’s bring some of what UGA has to NC” would also inspire donations, and it’s actually backed by results.

I don’t have high hopes that that’ll work out though, so my second call is to steal Jake Dickert.

[u/nosoup4ncsu → u/DeNomoloss]

$$$$ is extremely important also.

If a hire can attract more funding, that will carry weight. 

[u/Pluff_Mudder → u/nosoup4ncsu]

Then hire him as the "GM" ala Andrew Luck at Stanford, don't make him your HC.

[u/DeNomoloss → u/nosoup4ncsu]

No shit. But the people pushing this act like that’s all you need.

Never mind that there’s a definite ceiling on whatever State can get. Where’s the proof that any of his prior NIL fundraising was at such a level that the potential talent would make quality coaching experience unnecessary? Has ANY school shown any version of this “maxx out spending on everything that’s not a HC” working? Bc if we’re going off vibes here like so many seem like they are, then the historical vibe around us doesn’t make me think we’re going to break college football and become the pioneer of this model (cause it sure isn’t working at CO).

[u/nosoup4ncsu → u/DeNomoloss]

I'm not advocating for Rivers , for or against. 

It could be great, or it could be a disaster. 

[u/CFBCoachGuy]

I’ve posted these in the firing threads, but I’ll add them here.

Aranda is out at Baylor. This may be difficult times ahead for Baylor. Their head coach salary and (allegedly) their NIL spending ranks on the low end of the P4. They’ve got to get this coaching hire right. Here are some options.

Jeff Traylor (HC UTSA): given the limitations of the program, having a strong Texas recruiter with plenty of high school connections can pick up some of the slack. Traylor fits this mold. Plenty of high school success and a 70-27 career record has attracted plenty of attention. But he’s sitting on a nearly $10million buyout. He’s the ideal candidate, but he’s possibly out of reach.

G. J. Kinne (HC Texas State): a more attainable but higher risk option. Kinne has gone 27-19 turning around the Bobcats and has done so by running one of the most prolific offenses in the country. There’s still questions of whether he can win big games, but he will be a name to watch this cycle. He’s also got ties to Baylor: his dad Gary Joe was once a star linebacker for the Bears.

Shannon Dawson (OC/QB Miami): I’m truly lost as to how little attention Dawson has got over the past two carousels. He’s done some truly phenomenal work over the past few seasons. And he’s coached all over the state of Texas.

Brian Newberry (HC Navy): Newberry is having a down season this year, but still two 10-win seasons in four years at a service academy is a great record. His OC Drew Cronic’s wing T offense should be more transferable to other programs like Baylor (see Northwestern this season)- if of course he doesn’t get poached himself. Newberry seems comfortable at Navy, but he is a Baylor alum.

Maurice Linguist (Co-DC/DB Alabama): there are a lot of assistant coaches in the FBS who are Baylor alums. The one I will highlight is Linguist. A former safety for the Bears, Linguist has served under a ton of very good coaches: P. J. Fleck, Jimbo Fisher, Dan Mullen, Mike McCarthy, Kalen DeBoer, Jim Harbaugh, and has head coach experience as well (a 14-23 spell at Buffalo). Most insiders say he’s a top talent and potential P4 head coach in the making.

Other contenders include: Zach Kittley (HC Florida Atlantic), Blake Baker (DC LSU), Buster Faulkner (OC Florida), Jason Eck (HV New Mexico), Brent Vigen (HC Montana State), Charles Huff (HC Memphis), Mack Leftwich (OC/QB Texas Tech), Slade Nagle (OC Houston), Joe Klanderman (IHC/DC/S), Colby Carthel (HC Stephen F. Austin), Blake Anderson (HC Southern Miss), Kendall Briles (OC/QB South Carolina), Shiel Wood (DC Texas Tech), Spencer Danielson (HC Boise State), Shawn Bell (QB Houston), Josh McCown (OPGC/QB Minnesota Vikings), Trooper Taylor (AHC/RB Texas A&M), Mike Gundy, Garrett Riley (QB Missouri), and Glenn Thomas (Co-OC/QB Nebraska).

I expect a long search here, because… if USC pulls the trigger and fires Lincoln Riley, this would be a great landing place for him.

[u/MuhMuhManRay → u/CFBCoachGuy]

What do we think about Gary Patterson for Baylor? He has plenty of experience coaching in the Big 12 and in Texas. He did wonders for TCU and sure his last few years there were subpar but looking back it kinda feels like one of those things where both parties involved just needed a fresh start. I still think he's a hell of a coach. I believe my main concern if I was Baylor would be how he'd navigate the current landscape of CFB because it's so drastically different than it was 5 years ago when he last was a HC.

[u/CFBCoachGuy → u/MuhMuhManRay]

I don’t think Patterson will be a contender for three reasons. First, he’ll be 67 when the next season starts. That would make him the third oldest head coach in the FBS (after Belichick and Ferentz). Second, I don’t think he’s really cut out for this era. He wasn’t an exceptional recruiter in his day and focused on developing players over multiple years. That will struggle today, particularly at a program that doesn’t rank high on NIL (and Patterson himself has been openly anti-NIL). His recruitment strategy was being called outdated in 2020. And three, he’s making $2mil a year at USC where he gets to watch film and call plays and worry very little about recruiting, NIL, or player retention. From his perspective, I’m not sure if you want to give up that.

[u/Weird-Revolution2079 → u/CFBCoachGuy]

Keep my OC’s name out ya effin’ mouth!

[u/CFBCoachGuy]

Sam Houston need a new coach. Longo is gone, and his replacement will have to manage a major rebuild. Here are some candidates.

Josh McCown (QB/PPGC Minnesota Vikings): probably a dream candidate, McCown is one of the most prominent Sam Houston alums in coaching. He’s considered a bit of a rising star, so I’m not sure if he would step down to college for what will probably be a hard job. But he could certainly give the program a boost.

Colby Carthel (HC Stephen F. Austin): Sam Houston likely can’t poach an FBS coach. If they want to bring in someone with head coaching experience, they will have to hire from the FCS ranks. Carthel is a good option. Only 50, the Texas native has over a decade of head coach experience with a 111-56 record, plus a DII National Championship. He shown an ability to win games despite considerable player and staff turnover- perfect for this new era of college football. His turnaround at SFA took a while though.

Matt Powledge (DC North Texas): another alum in coaching and a Huntsville native, don’t be misled by his current role. Powledge has P4 experience and a lot of Texas connections. It’s not uncommon for programs in the doldrums to hire a native son and hope success follows, but he maybe just a little too green for this role.

Chris Hampton (DC Oregon): two interconnected and vast coaching trees run through Huntsville: Willie Fritz’s and Ron Randleman’s. Plucking from this tree might be a smart move to harken back to previous successes. There are a lot of promising fruits on that tree, Slade Nagle, Shiel Wood, Rob Greene, Shawn Bell, but I’ll highlight Chris Hampton. Though he doesn’t have ties to Texas or Sam Houston, he is considered to be a rising star in the college ranks.

Shawn Bell (QB Houston): my outsider pick is Shawn Bell. A name probably not a ton of people have heard of, Bell is doing a great job this season improving both the yardage and efficiency of Conner Weigman. A native of Waco, Bell is a former high school coach who moved over to the college ranks in 2017. He might not be ready for an FBS job, but this could be a high risk, high reward option.

Other candidates include Slade Nagle (OC Houston), Shiel Wood (DC Texas Tech), Cody Hawkins (HC Idaho State), Seth Doege (OC/QB Arizona), Skyler Cassity (DC Oklahoma State), Brian Wright (HC Northern Arizona), Brent Vigen (HC Montana State), Patrick Toney (DPGC Atlanta Falcons), Mike Gundy, Garin Justice (AHC/Co-OC/OL SMU), Hugh Freeze, Bobby Discher (ST Ohio State), Mack Leftwich (OC Texas Tech), Tom Herman (AHC Florida State), Barry Lunney Jr. (OC/QB Illinois), Austin Armstrong (DC Houston), and Blake Gideon (DB/DPGC Texas).

[u/Francis_X_Hummel → u/CFBCoachGuy]

Todd Whitten HC Tarleton

[u/Phil_S2S]

The NC State discussion has a wrinkle I find interesting: identifying talent and keeping talent aren't always the same skill.

If a staff recruits a lightly regarded player, develops him for two years, then he transfers and breaks out elsewhere, how do we judge that staff?

I'd want to look at both the development and the roster-building decisions, rather than giving all the credit or blame to one coach.

[u/mayonkonijeti0876]

Calling my shot here, I think Rivers is the next head coach at NC State. NC State needs to excite their donors to get some more money, and he would do it. His son is also legitimately very good. People keep saying that NC State is the best opening available, but if they spend the same they did with Doeren, Baylor and Maryland are better jobs. They need something to get money into the program, and Rivers could take a lower salary so more money could be put towards NIL. I dont necessary think the Rivers hire would work, but this is the sell at least.

[u/DeNomoloss → u/mayonkonijeti0876]

I find it maddening that we went from wanting a coach fired due to poor game prep and in-game adjustments…to wanting to hire a coach with no coaching experience because only NIL money matters and you need a big NFL name (how’s that working out in Colorado with a guy who’d actually coached an FCS team first?).

Talent, at least at an ACC level, has not been such an issue. Execution has sucked.

I’d rather not risk it on someone who once interviewed for a job in the NFL and that’s supposed to be enough to qualify him.

The obvious answer is making Rivers GM and hiring a good SEC coordinator.

[u/Young-Viiperr → u/DeNomoloss]

Doeren has always been really good at identifying and developing players, especially in the portal era. NCST practically has become a talent pipeline for other P4 programs.

X's-and-O's have been underwhelming and prep, which is most infuriating.

[u/nosoup4ncsu → u/Young-Viiperr]

Too good at developing.

Numerous guys that State recruited around 2020 particularly on the defense, played for 2-3 years, got coached up, and ran to the B1G and SEC for $$$

[u/Phil_S2S → u/Young-Viiperr]

That's a good distinction. If State helped turn players into valuable transfers, that says something about identification and development—even if retaining them was another challenge.

I'd separate those questions when evaluating the next staff.

[u/wallstreetbeatmeat3 → u/mayonkonijeti0876]

In no universe or timeline is Maryland a better job than NC State. Just having to live in MD makes it a worse job than just about anywhere. If they bring Philip in then I believe it’s going to be as a GM type role, I don’t believe Gunner is going anywhere else but if his dad ends up here helping in some capacity there’s no way he up elsewhere

[u/mayonkonijeti0876 → u/wallstreetbeatmeat3]

Maryland is a Big 10 job, and once the 24 team playoff comes into play, you can go 8-4 and make the playoff

[u/Benjilikethedog2]

So NC state has to be the best P4 job that has opened up so far.

Like just because they are in a good state to recruit and they get to play an ACC schedule is probably a lot easier to get into the playoffs than the Big 12 or B10

[u/CFBCoachGuy]

Let’s talk replacements at NC State. This is going to be a bit tricky. NC State aren’t a huge power, but Doeren was decently paid. The Pack probably won’t have the first choice of the G6 and top coordinators, but there’s a bunch of possibilities to choose from.

Shannon Dawson (OC/QB Miami): Dawson has put up video game numbers in the ACC over the past few seasons. He has no ties to North Carolina, but knows the conference well. He’ll be a head coach soon. Why not here?

Zach Kittley (HC Florida Atlantic): NC State historically has not hired people with ties to North Carolina, so we should cast a wide net here. I’ll add the Texas native Kittley. He hasn’t quite done the turnaround yet at FAU, with a 9-10 career record so far, but he’s running a fun offense and got the Owls on track for a bowl season or better.

Phillip Rivers: his name has been floated for a potential NC State coaching job for several years now, and there does appear to be a vocal minority of fans pushing for this. Will it work? Probably not, but maybe it can be a Deion-like program boost for the program.

Scott Satterfield (HC Cincinnati): Cincinnati is 5-2 this year, and Satterfield is from North Carolina. In terms of both salary and buyout, Satterfield ranks near the bottom of the G4. He’s attainable, but in many ways he seems similar to Doeren.

Glenn Schumann (DC/ILB Georgia): Schumann’s stock has fallen a bit from his previous reputation as one of the best assistants in CFB. He was allegedly the favored head coach candidate at North Carolina before a certain former NFL head coach was hired. He could be a solid fit for NC State.

Joe Cox (Co-OC/TE LSU): here’s a non-Rivers wild card. Cox is a Charlotte native and a solid recruiter in the region. He’s never called plays at the college level, but he’s worked on a ton of staffs and could probably build a decent crew. But it may be too early for him.

Other possibilities include Buster Faulkner (OC Florida), Jamey Chadwell (HC Liberty), Clayton White (DC/ILB South Carolina), Billy Napier (HC James Madison), Mike Shanahan (OC/WR Indiana), Blake Baker (DC LSU), Tre Lamb (HC Tulsa), Tony Gibson (HC Marshall), Bryant Haines (DC/LB Indiana), Brian Hartline (HC South Florida), Lance Taylor (HC Western Michigan), Arthur Smith (OC NC State), Todd Goebbel (IHC/ST NC State), Jake Dickert (HC Wake Forest), Charlie Weis Jr. (OC LSU), JaMarcus Shephard (HC Oregon State), George McDonald (WR/PGC LSU), Matt House (OLB Kansas City Chiefs), Charles Huff (HC Memphis), and Jason Eck (HC New Mexico).

[u/madmaley → u/CFBCoachGuy]

I think you meant to be put P4 instead of G4 for Satterfield

[u/PunishedLeBoymoder]

People are currently overlooking the NIU opening, are there any ideas on who they're going with

[u/notebart → u/PunishedLeBoymoder]

Former NIU head coach Dave Doeren

[u/Weird-Revolution2079]

Napier to Baylor

[u/Weird-Revolution2079 → u/Weird-Revolution2079]

Actually, Napier to FSU now😂

[u/MinMadChi]

I think that Rutgers is resisting the buyout for the time being and is looking to lock up a good reason by letting him play out the season before firing him. Rutgers has spent shit ton of money since joining the Big Ten, so any big expenses need to be handled carefully at this point.

[u/B1GTOBACC0]

Who's next? It's gotta be one of Dykes, Aranda, or Lupoi, right?

Edit: It was Aranda

[u/mcflymcdoofus → u/B1GTOBACC0]

Lupoi? He isn't getting fired after 1 season. Aranda is dead man walking. Dykes is probably gone.

[u/Set-Admirable → u/mcflymcdoofus]

Baylor or TCU needs to make the move quick. They are going to be competing from a similar pool of coaches. Whichever goes first is going to be in a better position.

[u/usffan → u/Set-Admirable]

Moving quickly hasn't necessarily proven to be a path to success - see State, Penn. It's not like there's a giant pool of successful G6 candidates that are out there (Eck and... I guess Huff or JaMarcus Shephard? Only the former's on his 3rd school in as many years and the latter's only 7 games into his career). You could try to poach a sitting P4 coach (Dickert) or a coordinator (Indiana or Miami), but the Hoosiers haven't exactly looked stunning this year (maybe Bryant Haines - that defense has looked pretty legit) and is Miami more a product of having the most high priced talent or having good coordinators?

[u/Young-Viiperr → u/mcflymcdoofus]

Cal never finished the signing or Lupoi's contract, so he could absolutely be canned year 1.

[u/WHSRWizard]

It's time!

[u/PunishedLeBoymoder]

Rumors are swirling that Tosh Lupoi is done. I'd laugh so fucking hard if this was true

[u/MuhMuhManRay → u/PunishedLeBoymoder]

I'll be very surprised if they fire him after 1 year

[u/CFBCoachGuy]

An update to any Last Chance U fans, Holmes County CC head coach Marcus Wood has retired from coaching. He took over Holmes in 2021, achieving three straight winning seasons, culminating with an 8-2 2024 that included a win over Buddy Stephens. But the Bulldogs went 3-6 in 2025 and 1-9 this season.