Historic CFB Coaching Changes

The 2023-2024 college football offseason has etched itself into history as a period of unprecedented coaching upheaval, reshaping the landscape of programs nationwide. A cascade of high-profile departures, retirements, and promotions began in late 2023, accelerating into a truly wild January that left few conferences untouched.

The seismic shift began with a bombshell announcement on January 10th: legendary Alabama head coach Nick Saban, a titan of the sport with seven national championships (six with the Crimson Tide), declared his retirement after 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa. The news sent shockwaves through college football, immediately triggering the most high-stakes coaching search in recent memory.

Alabama moved with remarkable speed. Just two days later, on January 12th, the Crimson Tide announced the hire of Kalen DeBoer, who had just led Washington to a 14-1 season and a national championship appearance. DeBoer, with an impressive 104-12 career head coaching record, including a 25-3 mark at Washington, faces the daunting task of following Saban’s unparalleled legacy. His arrival also coincided with a significant number of Alabama players entering the transfer portal, underscoring the immediate challenge of maintaining the program’s elite status amidst the transition.

DeBoer’s departure, in turn, left a massive void at Washington, fresh off its most successful season in decades. The Huskies quickly targeted Jedd Fisch, who had orchestrated an impressive turnaround at Arizona. On January 14th, Fisch officially took the reins in Seattle, tasked with sustaining Washington’s momentum as it prepares to join the Big Ten Conference. Fisch’s move left Arizona, a program he took from a 1-11 record in his first season to a 10-3 finish in 2023, needing a new leader.

Arizona found its replacement just three days later, on January 17th, hiring Brent Brennan from San Jose State. Brennan, a Bay Area native with deep ties to the region, returns to the Pac-12 (now Pac-2) after building a successful program at San Jose State, which included three bowl appearances in his seven seasons.

**Early Moves Set the Stage**

While Saban’s retirement dominated headlines, the coaching carousel had been spinning well before January. Significant shifts occurred throughout November 2023:

* **November 25th:** Jonathan Smith made an emotional departure from his alma mater, Oregon State, to take over at Michigan State. Smith had revitalized the Beavers’ program, guiding them to an 8-4 record in 2023, but the allure of a Big Ten job and a reported substantial pay raise proved too strong. Oregon State responded by promoting defensive coordinator Trent Bray to head coach on December 5th.
* **November 26th:** Mike Elko, after two successful seasons at Duke where he led the Blue Devils to consecutive bowl games, accepted the head coaching position at Texas A&M. Elko, a former Aggies defensive coordinator, returned to College Station with high expectations, inheriting a program with significant resources and a fervent fanbase. Duke later hired Manny Diaz, Penn State’s defensive coordinator, as Elko’s replacement on December 7th.
* **November 28th:** Syracuse announced the hiring of Fran Brown, Georgia’s highly regarded defensive backs coach. Known for his elite recruiting prowess and strong East Coast ties, Brown is tasked with injecting new energy into the Orange program.
* **November 30th:** Indiana made a significant hire in Curt Cignetti, who had built a powerhouse at James Madison, leading them to a dominant transition into the FBS level. Cignetti brings a consistent winning pedigree to a Hoosiers program looking for stability and success in the competitive Big Ten. James Madison subsequently hired Holy Cross head coach Bob Chesney on December 14th.

**Later Surprises and Internal Promotions**

The domino effect continued into late January:

* **December 3rd:** Willie Fritz, after a highly successful tenure at Tulane that included a Cotton Bowl victory, made the jump to the Big 12, accepting the head coaching position at Houston.
* **January 21st:** San Jose State, left vacant by Brennan’s departure, hired Ken Niumatalolo, the longtime former head coach of Navy, bringing his triple-option offense back to the college game.
* **January 26th:** Michigan, fresh off its national championship victory, promoted offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore to head coach after Jim Harbaugh departed to become the head coach of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. Moore, who served as interim head coach for four games during Harbaugh’s suspensions in 2023, provides continuity for the reigning champions.
* **January 31st:** In an unexpected move, Jeff Hafley resigned from his position as head coach at Boston College to become the defensive coordinator for the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. His departure left another late-offseason vacancy and surprised many, as head coaches rarely leave for coordinator roles. Boston College later announced the hire of Bill O’Brien, formerly the offensive coordinator at Ohio State and a former NFL head coach, on February 9th.

This unprecedented carousel, fueled by the financial stakes of college football, the impact of the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) legislation, and the ongoing conference realignments, has irrevocably altered the landscape. As teams gear up for spring practice, many will do so under new leadership, facing the dual challenges of integrating new systems and navigating the dynamic player movement that now defines the modern offseason. The 2024 season promises to be one of the most intriguing in recent memory, with a fresh cast of characters leading many of college football’s most storied programs.