CFB Coaching Carousel: A Slower Spin

**College Football’s Quieter Coaching Carousel: A Shift Towards Stability After Last Year’s Seismic Shake-Ups**

The familiar rumble of the college football coaching carousel, traditionally a deafening roar around Thanksgiving, felt decidedly more subdued this year compared to the seismic shifts that rocked the sport in 2021. While last year delivered blockbuster moves like Brian Kelly’s departure from Notre Dame to LSU and Lincoln Riley’s cross-country jump from Oklahoma to USC, this late November period saw fewer of those massive, program-altering shake-ups, with several prominent programs opting for continuity or navigating prolonged, deliberate searches.

The 2021 carousel set a high bar for drama. On November 28, 2021, Riley stunned the college football world by leaving Norman for Los Angeles. The very next day, Kelly made his surprising, multi-million dollar move from South Bend to Baton Rouge. These high-profile departures sparked a cascade of openings, leading to other significant hires like Billy Napier at Florida and Brent Venables at Oklahoma, reshaping the power landscape across multiple conferences.

This year, however, major programs like Auburn and Florida State demonstrated a marked pause in making significant coaching changes, or at least, their searches unfolded with less immediate fanfare.

Auburn, in particular, became the focal point of a protracted and at times, perplexing, coaching search. Following the October 24 firing of Bryan Harsin – a tenure marked by on-field struggles and off-field controversy – interim coach Cadillac Williams rallied the Tigers, injecting a much-needed jolt of energy into the program. Yet, the subsequent search for a permanent successor appeared fraught with deliberation. Reports swirled around a host of candidates, including Kalen DeBoer, who had revitalized Fresno State and subsequently elevated Washington, and Glenn Schumann, the highly respected defensive coordinator from Georgia. Even former interim coach Kevin Steele’s name surfaced. Lane Kiffin of Ole Miss was widely considered a strong contender, with speculation about his move to Jordan-Hare reaching a fever pitch before he ultimately announced his decision to stay in Oxford. This protracted process created a palpable sense that Auburn struggled to quickly secure its top targets. Ultimately, on November 28, the Tigers officially announced the hire of Hugh Freeze, a coach with a complex past at Ole Miss and a recent successful stint at Liberty, signaling a decision to prioritize his offensive prowess and recruiting acumen.

Meanwhile, in Tallahassee, Florida State navigated its own period of scrutiny but ultimately chose a path of stability. After a somewhat rocky start to his tenure, Mike Norvell orchestrated a significant turnaround in 2022, leading the Seminoles to a 9-3 regular season record. Despite initial speculation and the lingering, albeit costly, uncertainty surrounding Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M, FSU leadership opted to stick with Norvell. This decision appeared to be a deliberate vote of confidence, emphasizing the program’s commitment to continuity and building on the progress made.

While lacking the sheer volume of top-tier moves from the previous year, the 2022 carousel still featured significant shifts. The biggest splash, arguably, came not from a Power Five move but from the jump of a cultural icon. Deion Sanders, “Coach Prime,” captivated the nation by leaving Jackson State for the head coaching position at Colorado on December 3. His move injected unparalleled enthusiasm and star power into a struggling Pac-12 program, promising a dramatic reshaping of the Buffaloes’ fortunes.

Other notable changes included Luke Fickell, who built Cincinnati into a College Football Playoff contender, departing for Wisconsin on November 27. This move sent ripples through both the Big Ten and the Group of Five, as Fickell brought a proven track record of success to a program hungry for a new direction. Jamey Chadwell, another successful Group of Five coach known for his innovative offense at Coastal Carolina, made the move to Liberty on December 4.

Intriguingly, several coaches who frequently appear on hot-seat lists or are perennial candidates for bigger jobs chose to stay put. Matt Campbell at Iowa State and Dave Aranda at Baylor, both of whom have been linked to numerous high-profile openings in recent years, ultimately recommitted to their respective programs. This trend, coupled with the quieter overall activity, might suggest a shift in the coaching market – perhaps higher buyouts making changes more challenging, or coaches becoming more selective about their next destination, seeking true alignment rather than just a bigger paycheck.

In conclusion, while the 2022 college football coaching carousel didn’t deliver the same rapid-fire, high-stakes drama as its 2021 predecessor, it offered a different kind of narrative: one of deliberative processes, strategic stability, and a few impactful moves that promise to reshape the competitive landscape for years to come.