With the college football coaching carousel coming to an end in 2025 ABL sports is going to go over all the power 4 head coaching hires and give them a grade. We are going to grade these hires based off the caliber of coach the schools originally fired and the caliber of coach they hired. Every school has different standards as for example California was not going after Lane Kiffin.

SEC

Arkansas

Fired: Sam Pittman

Hired: Ryan Silverfield (Former Memphis HC)

Grade: D

Analysis: I would like to start this out by saying I do know Arkansas is not able to hire the same caliber of coach as Auburn or LSU, but like Kentucky did, they could’ve rallied their big money donors to build some excitement. It feels like this is going to be one of these hires where Arkansas is back in the coaching carousel 3-4 years from now. Why not offer Jon Gruden the job and build some excitement.

Auburn

Fired: Hugh Freeze

Hired: Alex Golesh (former USF HC)

Grade: A-

Analysis: The whole Auburn coaching search, the talk was Jon Sumrall and the entire fanbase was excited about the idea of Sumrall being their next head coach. However, last second Florida came in and swooped him away and instead of panicking and hiring DJ Durkin, Auburn stayed professional and acquired the next best candidate in Golesh. Great move for the tiger considering Arkansas and Penn State were pursuing this guy.

Florida

Fired: Billy Napier

Hired: Jon Sumrall (Former Tulane HC)

Grade: B+

Analysis: This was a very good hire by Florida. It felt like for a long time they were getting Lane Kiffin and the whole fan base was anticipating that but then when they hired Sumrall, there were a lot of disappointed Gator fans. Yes I know the resemblance to Billy Napier is obvious, but this guy is a great Football coach and will win at Florida as long as he builds a proper staff.

Kentucky

Fired: Mark Stoops

Hired: Will Stein

Grade: A

Analysis: Great hire from Kentucky. I know this is a huge risk but that is what you must do when you’re a school like Kentucky. If Stein is successful, will he be take another job in a couple of years? Yes absolutely. However, he will leave Kentucky in a better position than when he arrived and that high flying offense will be fun to watch in the SEC.

LSU

Fired: Brian Kelly

Hired: Lane Kiffin (former Ole Miss HC)

Grade: A

Analysis: Kiffin’s high-profile move from Ole Miss to LSU is the sort of headline-making shakeup that defines this carousel. Some would say Lane Kiffin was the coaching Carousel. Big expectations, a program accustomed to competing, and pressure to deliver fast. Many are pointing to the messy exit and locker-room disruption as reasons why he won’t succeed at LSU, but Lane Kiffin has already assembled a fantastic staff and recruited multiple 5 stars. Kiffin will win a national championship at LSU.

Ole Miss

Hired: Pete Goulding (former Ole Miss DC)

Grade: B-

Analysis: This was a very efficient coaching search, but sometimes promoting the substitute teacher is not always the best idea. Look at what happen to USC with Clay Helton. I know Ole Miss wants to do well in this playoff, but so far they are losing a lot of blue chips recruits to other places.

BIG 10

Michigan State

Fired: Jonathan Smith

Hired: Pat Fitzgerald (former Northwestern HC)

Grade: A-

Analysis: Now this is a coach who can change a culture. Fitzgerald turned Northwestern into a big 10 west contender which was thought to be impossible. He won’t be winning national championships at Michigan State, but with the right investments, he could definitely help Michigan State become a respectable team in the Big 10.

Penn State

Fired: James Franklin

Hired: Matt Campbell (former Iowa State HC)

Grade: A

Analysis: I thought this Penn State coaching hire would be a disaster, but they ended up getting arguably the best coach available. Yes, the timing was terrible and the recruiting class is down the drain, but Campbell will bring some Iowa State players over and he has a chance to go 8-4 or 9-3 in his first year with Penn State. The only issue will be his philosophy on developing talent because Penn State fans are customed to top 10 recruiting classes but that isn’t Matt Campbell’s style. I think this is a home run hire.

ACC

California

Fired: Justin Wilcox

Hired: Tosh Lupoi

Grade: F

Analysis: Justin Wilcox was good for Cal. I don’t know what Cal thought they were doing firing him as he was consistently leading the bears to bowl games. Nothing against this new guy, but Wilcox was good for Cal.

Virginia Tech

Fired: Brent Pry

Hired: James Franklin

Grade: A+

Analysis: The only perfect score given out today. James Franklin is definitely a top 15-20 coach in college football. Virginia Tech is nowhere near a top 20 job. Virginia went to hit above their weight class and they landed a perfect punch. Franklin doesn’t need to compete for national championships at VT. If he wins 8-9 games a year and competes for ACC championships he will be celebrated at VT for life.

BIG 12

Iowa State

Left: Matt Campbell

Hired: Jimmy Rogers

Grade: C

Analysis: Iowa State is one of the toughest places to win in the country. Whoever they hire will face a challenge

Kansas State

Retired: Chris Klieman

Hired: Colin Klein

Grade: A

Analysis: The former QB is coming home. Colin Klein has been a great OC for several years now and will bring that high flying offense back to KSU.

Oklahoma State

Fired: Mike Gundy

Hired: Eric Morris

Grade: A-

Analysis: Eric Morris has options and chose Oklahoma State. That should say something. There are a lot of great offensive players from North Texas who could follow their coach to OK State.