Coaching movement in
college movement can be like a carousel, often from the pursuit of
the next best thing – either on the school or coach’s end. A year
after huge
change following the 2023 season, FCS football head coaching
changes figure to be lower during the 2024
offseason.
FCS football head coaching changes since the start of the 2024
season (announcement date in parentheses):
Alabama A&M (Southwestern
Athletic Conference)
Former coach Connell Maynor (Dec. 2) – 6-6 record in 2024, 40-32
in seven overall seasons
New coach Sam Shade (Dec. 29) – posted an 18-15 record while
coaching Miles in the 2022-24 seasons
Butler (Pioneer Football
League)
Former coach Mike Uremovich, (Dec. 4) – resigned to become Ball
State’s head coach with 9-3 record in 2024, 23-11 in three overall
seasons
New coach Kevin Lynch (Dec. 12) – had been a part Ball State’s
staff since 2016, including the 2024 season as assistant head coach
and quarterbacks coach
Colgate (Patriot
League)
Former coach Stan Dakosty (Dec. 2) – 2-10 record in 2024, 16-29
in four overall seasons
New coach Curt Fitzpatrick (Dec. 21) – posted a 45-5 record in
four seasons at Cortland State, winning the 2023 Division III
national title
Davidson (Pioneer Football
League)
Former coach Scott Abell (Nov. 26) – resigned to become Rice’s
head coach with 6-5 record in 2024, 47-28 in seven overall
seasons
New coach Saj Thakkar (Dec. 17) – went 14-6 in two seasons as
Division II Bentley’s head coach
Delaware State (Mid-Eastern
Athletic Conference)
Former coach Lee Hull (Dec. 3) – 1-11 record in 2024, 2-21 in
two overall seasons
New coach DeSean Jackson (Dec. 17) – first-time head coach spent
15 seasons (2008-22) as an NFL wide receiver and returner
Drake (Pioneer Football
League)
Former coach Todd Stepsis (Dec. 3) – resigned to become Northern
Iowa’s head coach with 8-3 record in 2024, 29-32 in six overall
seasons
New coach Joe Woodley (Dec. 23) – led a 2024 NAIA championship
season and posted a 72-5 record as Grand View’s coach from
2019-24
ETSU (Southern
Conference)
Former coach Tre Lamb (Dec. 8) – resigned to become Tulsa’s head
coach following one season and a 7-5 record in 2024
New coach Will Healy (Dec. 12) – 2017 Eddie Robinson Award
recipient at Austin Peay had a 28-45 overall record across seven
seasons with the Governors and at Charlotte
Idaho (Big Sky
Conference)
Former coach Jason Eck (Dec. 14) – resigned to become New
Mexico’s head coach following 10-4 record in 2024, 26-13 in three
overall seasons
New coach Thomas Ford (Dec. 18) – former Vandals assistant spent
the 2024 season as Oregon State’s running backs coach
McNeese (Southland
Conference)
Former coach Gary Goff (Nov. 25) – 6-6 record in 2024, 10-23 in
three overall seasons
New coach Matt Viator (Dec. 2) – previously went 78-33 with four
Southland titles and five FCS playoff appearances in 10 seasons
(2006-15) at McNeese; also 19-39 at UL-Monroe from 2016-20
Mississippi Valley State
(Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Former coach Kendrick Wade (Dec. 4) – 1-11 record in 2024, 2-21
in two overall seasons
New coach Terrell Buckley (Jan. 21) – the fifth overall pick of
the 1992 NFL Draft has worked on the FBS level under such coaches
as Bobby Bowden, Jimbo Fisher, Terry Bowden, Bobby Petrino, Dan
Mullen and Lane Kiffin
Nicholls (Southland
Conference)
Former coach Tim Rebowe (Dec. 1) – retired with 4-8 record in
2024, 57-56 in 10 overall seasons
New coach Tommy Rybacki (Dec. 1) – elevated from defensive
coordinator as a first-time head coach
Norfolk State (Mid-Eastern
Athletic Conference)
Former coach Dawson Odums (Nov. 26) – 4-8 record in 2024, 15-31
in four overall seasons
New coach Michael Vick (Dec. 17) – former NFL Pro Bowl
quarterback hired for his first coaching position
North Carolina A&T (CAA
Football)
Former coach Vincent Brown (Dec. 4) – 1-11 record in 2024, 2-21
in two overall seasons
New coach Shawn Gibbs (Dec. 6) – served as A&T’s running
backs coach from 2011-21, then went 22-9 as Fort Valley State’s
head coach from 2022-24
North Dakota (Missouri Valley
Football Conference)
Former coach Bubba Schweigert (Nov. 30) – 5-7 record in 2024,
66-57 in 11 overall seasons
New coach Eric Schmidt (Dec. 8) – UND’s linebackers coach in
2006 and ‘07 and defensive coordinator from 2014-19 was San Diego
State’s defensive coordinator in 2024
Northern Iowa (Missouri Valley
Football Conference)
Former coach Mark Farley (Nov. 10) – retired with 3-9 record in
2024, 183-12 in 24 overall seasons
New coach Todd Stepsis (Dec. 3) – led Drake to a 29-32 record
with two PFL titles and two playoff appearances from 2019-24
Prairie View A&M
(Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Former coach Bubba McDowell (Nov. 24) – 5-7 record in 2024,
17-18 in three overall seasons
New coach Tremaine Jackson (Dec. 21) – guided Valdosta State to
a 2024 Division II national runner-up finish while going 30-9 over
three seasons
Sacramento State (Big Sky
Conference)
Former coach Andy Thompson (Dec. 6) – 3-9 record in 2024, 11-14
in two overall seasons
New coach Brennan Marion (Dec. 20) – first-time head coach spent
the 2024 season as UNLV’s offensive coordinator, having also served
in that role at Howard and William & Mary
South Dakota (Missouri Valley
Football Conference)
Former coach Bob Nielson (Jan. 16) – retired after posting a
11-3 record in 2024, 53-48 in nine overall seasons; was 239-128-1
in 32 seasons as a head coach
New coach Travis Johansen (Jan. 16) – elevated to head coach
after six seasons as defensive coordinator
South Dakota State (Missouri
Valley Football Conference)
Former coach Jimmy Rogers (Dec. 28) – resigned to become
Washington State’s head coach following 12-3 record in 2024 and
27-3 in two overall seasons while winning the 2023 FCS national
title
New coach Dan Jackson (Dec. 31) – former SDSU player (2003-05)
and assistant coach (2012-19) was Idaho’s defensive coordinator in
the 2024 season
Stetson (Pioneer Football
League)
Former coach Brian Young (Dec. 3) – 2-9 record in 2024, 13-30 in
four overall seasons
New coach Mike Jasper (Dec. 20) – posted a 44-20 record at
Bethel from 2019-24
Valparaiso (Pioneer Football
League)
Former coach Landon Fox (Nov. 24) – 4-7 record in 2024, 21-42 in
six overall seasons
New coach Andy Waddle (Dec. 9) – went 55-61 guiding Marietta for
12 seasons from 2013-24
Top photo: Former
South Dakota State coach Jimmy Rogers (Dave
Eggen/Inertia)
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