Scorching seat rumors, teaching carousel reset: Billy Napier subsequent? Intel on Penn State

There may be little doubt all through the teaching trade from directors, brokers, and faculty soccer coaches themselves that the 2025 teaching cycle is setting as much as be unprecedented. There are already 9 open jobs, together with seven which have opened midseason, and extra are anticipated to pop quickly.

You hardly ever get greater than a pair adjustments earlier than Halloween in a standard yr. That is the primary yr for the reason that FBS period started in 1978 that seven or extra jobs have opened earlier than November, in response to CBS Sports activities researchers. Final yr noticed 30 jobs change, however solely 5 Energy 4 jobs amongst them. 

This cycle will likely be just like 2021, when LSU and USC fired coaches early within the cycle — resulting in severe downstream results. We have already seen certainly one of faculty soccer’s bluest of blue bloods open in Penn State, which has solely had 4 complete coaches since 1950. Trade sources are bracing for as many 40 jobs to open, particularly given the probability of head coaches getting poached for jobs like Penn State or UCLA.

Along with the coaches preventing for his or her jobs and the numerous disruptions to the trade that can come through coaches transferring jobs, there’s one other class that would shake the carousel — retirements. 

All of it comes collectively for a cycle that within the phrases of 1 supply is “about to get f***** wild.” 

CBS Sports activities surveyed sources across the nation to color an image of simply the place the teaching carousel sits midway via the season with a lot already spinning. 

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Scorching seat scale on jobs that would come open

Observe: Faculties listed by diploma of warmth (the extra flames, the warmer the seat) which may in fact swing swing by the week. 

Florida 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Billy Napier’s been perpetually on the new seat for nearly 18 months at this level. A 1-3 begin did him no favors. The Gators have a winnable recreation at house this weekend towards Mississippi State forward of their bye week, however a bye week is an opportune time to make a change, win or lose. Of observe, Napier can be owed round $20 million if fired with half of that due inside 30 days, per his contract. 

Wisconsin 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Within the phrases of 1 trade supply: “The job I am listening to is the most well liked is Wisconsin.” Luke Fickell is in his third yr and is 15-17 at Wisconsin, a program that did not put up a dropping season between 2002 and 2023. Fickell’s buyout is sizable at round $25 million, and is a priority sources have introduced up. Nevertheless, in contrast to with Napier, Fickell can be paid out month-to-month via 2032. Wisconsin has video games with Ohio State and Oregon over the following two weeks forward of its bye week. 

Coastal Carolina 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 

Tim Beck picked up a wanted win final week over ULM, however trade sources proceed to level to Coastal as a job that would open. Coastal’s athletic director, Likelihood Miller, didn’t rent Beck, and Beck’s report over the past two years is simply 9-10. 

Colorado State 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 

As a number of have written about earlier than, Jay Norvell has not obtained a contract extension with only one yr left on his deal after this season. That is an indication change may come because it’s uncommon for coaches to work below that kind of uncertainty. Trade sources proceed to circle this job as one which’s trending towards coming open after the Rams’ 2-4 begin. 

Auburn 🔥🔥🔥🔥 

With Auburn within the midst of a three-game dropping streak, trade sources have pointed to Hugh Freeze’s seat as getting hotter by the week. 

“In the event that they lose the following two, I believe he is out,” one supply stated. “The stress is actual. I do not assume they need to do it. I believe he is teaching for his job. Again towards the wall.”

Athletic director John Cohen delivered a tacit vote of confidence when he stated {that a} teaching change is “not my expectation at this level.”

When requested whether or not or not he expects Freeze to be Auburn’s head coach in 2026, Cohen stated he has a “by no means say by no means” perspective, and used a metaphor a few automobile not beginning to clarify his thought course of.

“I do not know if I’ll stroll outdoors and my automobile goes to begin or not, I believe it’s,” Cohen stated. “I’ve an expectation it should. But when my automobile would not begin sufficient, then I’ll consider that and make choices about my automobile. However that is not my expectation at this level about our soccer program.”

Florida State 🔥🔥🔥

The warmth is beginning to flip again up on Mike Norvell after the goodwill he created with a 3-0 begin. Latest losses to Virginia and Pittsburgh have kicked up the hornet’s nest once more. However the actuality is Norvell can be owed round $58 million if he had been to be fired. As one trade supply put it: “That is some huge cash, man.” Particularly so at a spot like FSU that is been looking for methods to generate extra income. Nonetheless, it is a job price monitoring because the season continues. 

Kentucky 🔥🔥🔥 

Issues have gone sideways in Lexington the final two seasons. Mark Stoops suffered his first non-COVID dropping season since 2016 final yr, and the Wildcats are off to a 2-3 begin in 2025 with a brutal schedule forward. Nonetheless, Stoops does have a good quantity of safety through his contract. The winningest head coach in program historical past, Stoops’ buyout is near $38 million and it might be owed in a lump sum inside 60 days. That is some huge cash for an athletics division that simply took $141 million in loans from the college to offset stadium renovation prices and as a money infusion to offset a budgetary deficit.

Akron 🔥🔥🔥

One of many hardest jobs in the whole FBS, Joe Moorehead is simply 10-33 in 4 seasons with the Zips. Many within the trade speculate that Moorhead may finally depart Akron and take an offensive coordinator job elsewhere. Of observe, Moorhead’s youngest youngster, Donovan, is a highschool senior and is dedicated to play quarterback at Jacksonville State.

If we needed to place North Carolina in a flame meter dialogue, in truth it might be 2.5 out of 5. Final week’s theatrics are emblematic of the shortage of alignment that underscored Invoice Belichick’s rent within the first place. Issues aren’t going effectively in Chapel Hill, the place the Tar Heels have one of many worst rosters within the Energy 4. 

Belichick addressed the rumors in a press convention on Monday. “Studies about my searching for a buyout or making an attempt to depart right here is categorically false,” Belichick stated. “There’s zero fact to any of that. I am glad I am right here.”

A secure touchdown?

Whereas many roles are heating up on the halfway level of the season, the seats of a number of coaches have cooled significantly due to sturdy begins. 

Arizona

Brent Brennan’s seat was heat coming into his second season following a 4-8 debut that noticed the Wildcats lose all of the momentum they’d generated below Jedd Fisch. However the Wildcats have gotten off to a robust begin this season at 4-2 with loads of alternatives to select up wins down the stretch. Conversations round that job have cooled significantly.

California

Within the ACC there was some scuttle that Cal head coach Justin Wilcox could possibly be in hassle after 5 straight dropping seasons and an offseason of roster losses. However the Bears look resurgent at 4-2 and have a constructing block for the long run in true freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. 

Cincinnati

There was plenty of stress on Scott Satterfield getting into this yr after back-to-back dropping seasons with the Bearcats. However due to sturdy portal courses and inside growth, the Bearcats have raced out to 5-1 and appear like a burgeoning Large 12 contender.

Louisiana Tech

Coach Sonny Cumbie might have had the most well liked seat within the nation getting into the yr, however that is cooled due to the Bulldogs’ 4-2 report. Louisiana Tech did endure a foul 35-7 loss to Kennesaw State over the weekend, although, so it is not like Cumbie is completely secure. 

Newest on open jobs 

Arkansas 

Athletic director Hunter Yurachek stated final month that this system was not set as much as win a championship in soccer and a transparent imaginative and prescient for future sources is a should. One personnel government questioned Arkansas’ entrance workplace setup with an overarching common supervisor with a basketball background, Remy Cofield, overseeing negotiations for a number of sports activities. Arkansas has a number of mouths to feed useful resource clever as John Calipari will count on ammunition to construct on a Candy 16 debut season, and baseball can be a major concern to the college’s fanbase. 

The plain title is Rhett Lashlee, a Springdale, Arkansas native and Razorback alum. He will definitely have assist, together with from Dallas Cowboys proprietor and Jerry Jones. For Lashlee to think about it, nevertheless, Arkansas should show that it has sources that might entice Lashlee away from an SMU job with practically limitless sources. Trade sources have indicated different jobs that would come open this cycle are way more prone to tempt Lashlee than Arkansas. Lashlee can be stated to be fairly completely satisfied at SMU, a college that is given him nearly every little thing essential to compete within the ACC. 

Sources advised CBS Sports activities the present Arkansas soccer roster is price round $14 million in income share and NIL mixed, which is taken into account on the very low finish of the SEC useful resource clever. 

Parker Search agency is aiding Arkansas’ search and sources count on a sitting head coach to be the primary place Hogs look with North Texas head coach Eric Morris and USF’s Alex Golesh additionally probably in play amongst others. 

“I believe they’re all over. I believe they have a prime two to 3 however they’re all over outdoors the highest three,” an trade supply stated.

There may be additionally, clearly, the matter of interim head coach Bobby Petrino, who will definitely have his supporters. The size of this interim tenure (seven video games) gives a real trial run for Petrino to show if he nonetheless has what it takes to be a big-time faculty soccer coach and win over a fanbase divided over him as the pinnacle hog. If Petrino finally ends up with the job completely certainly one of two issues possible occurred: Finest case is Arkansas shocks some mixture of their remaining opponents (Texas A&M, Auburn, Mississippi State, LSU, Texas, and Missouri) or worst case, no one Arkansas deems price hiring really wished the job. 

Kent State

Out of 136 FBS head coach jobs, Kent State is yearly within the operating to be the very worst. 

Interim head coach Mark Carney has been on the helm for the reason that offseason firing of Kenni Burns, and a number of trade sources had little readability about the place Kent State was at within the course of even with its sizable head begin on the remainder of its friends within the backside rung of the game. Regardless that Kent State introduced its intent to do a full search when he was named Carney the interim, it is unclear the place they’d flip to as many within the trade view it as a lifeless finish. There’s an opportunity the interim tag will get eliminated if the Golden Flashes can discover a method to squeak out a pair wins within the MAC. 

Oregon State

Beavers athletic director Scott Barnes has been an AD at a number of stops and promoted Trent Bray, a former OSU linebacker, to everlasting head coach in 2024 after an interim spell. He was frank about Bray’s limitations after firing him after OSU started the season 0-7. 

“The distinction between these hires and this one was Trent did not embrace the enterprise as a complete,” Barnes advised John Canzano. “The CEO seat and the enterprise and the powerful choices. All coordinators are a piece and progress however you see an urge for food for desirous to tackle the powerful choices, desirous to command the enterprise, and I did not see that.” 

There may be an open query from trade sources about whether or not Barnes will likely be in his put up longterm. Oregon State has funding points as an athletic division as one of many two groups left behind within the Pac-12’s implosion, to not point out dwindling contributions from its state authorities (a rising concern for universities nationwide). There may be additionally an open query as to the equity of its deal with NIL advertising company Blueprint sports activities. 

Whoever takes the job, as regular for the Beavers, should do extra with much less and middle-of-the-road sources within the new-look Pac-12. One title floated by sources is Montana State head coach Brent Vigen. 

Oklahoma State

The Cowboys are conducting a head teaching search in soccer for the primary time since 2004 when Les Miles left this system for LSU and this system promoted a 38-year-old Mike Gundy to the pinnacle job. 

There are questions as as to if athletics director Chad Weiberg would make the following rent given he is been working with no contract since June. However sources point out he is anticipated to quickly signal an extension and is fronting the search. Weiberg is getting help from the search agency TurnkeyZRG. 

Whoever is the following head coach should make investments extra within the present period of NIL and rev share. Gundy stated earlier this yr the Cowboys had solely spent “round $7 million” over the past three years on its roster. A typical criticism among the many Cowboys’ brass was Gundy’s unwillingness to embrace each NIL and the switch portal. 

As for candidates to know, there’s overlap with the Arkansas job, one other program with an analogous geographic profile. Trade sources have indicated names like Texas State head coach GJ Kinne, UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor and probably even Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle must be on the radar together with rising Group of Six coaches like Ryan Silverfield and Alex Golesh. 

However different names have been linked closely with this job in speaking with sources. One is Morris, who will likely be a candidate for a number of jobs this cycle. The opposite two are each Oklahoma State alumni. 

A number of sources have linked Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson with the Cowboys. Robinson is a former Oklahoma State quarterback and has been an on-the-rise title in NFL circles for years. Mentioned one supply of the search: “That is who I believe is getting the job.” Robinson hasn’t coached in faculty, nevertheless, and it is not fairly clear he’d be keen to depart the NFL for school soccer. 

The opposite alumnus to know is Purdue offensive coordinator Josh Henson. A lineman for the Cowboys within the 90s who’s made a number of stops with this system as an assistant, Henson is a well-liked title amongst Oklahoma State’s booster class and is gaining some traction. 

A quote to notice from Weiberg’s press convention within the wake of Gundy’s firing: “We’re not going to be afraid to speak to people who find themselves assistant coaches.”

Penn State

The Nittany Lions despatched a shockwave via the school soccer world when AD Pat Kraft fired James Franklin on Sunday in a choice that got here collectively quickly after Saturday’s loss to Northwestern (the second loss in a row as a 20+ level favourite). When requested earlier than the Northwestern recreation about Franklin’s job safety, one trade supply stated “if they do not make the playoff, let’s have this dialog once more.” 

The rationale many had been stunned was because of the large price ticket of Franklin’s roughly $48 million buyout. Kraft declined to enter any specifics of the financials of Franklin’s buyout, and Penn State shouldn’t be compelled to launch Franklin’s full contract below Pennsylvania public information legal guidelines. In line with Entrance Workplace Sports activities, Franklin has an obligation to mitigate clause in his contract. The clause, which is customary in faculty head teaching contracts, states that Franklin should actively search new employment. If he will get it, the buyout owed to him is offset by his new wage. 

Chatting with sources throughout the trade, the title that comes up in any dialog about Penn State is Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule. The 50-year-old is a Penn State alumnus and is near Kraft, who employed him at Temple in 2012. 

Rhule did not precisely tamp down any Penn State hypothesis along with his preliminary feedback on the job earlier this week: “(Nebraska) is elite. And I need to be an important father, and I need to be an important faculty soccer coach. And so I am not going to speak lots about job openings once they come.”

Outdoors of the apparent connections between Rhule and the Nittany Lions, many conversations with trade sources did not stray an excessive amount of from an inventory any frequent message board fan may put collectively because of the timing of Franklin’s firing. Although, names like Curt Cignetti, Matt Campbell, Clark Lea, Manny Diaz, Eli Drinkwitz, Alex Golesh and even City Meyer have come up in conversations. 

Stanford 

Common supervisor Andrew Luck is on the helm for a search that can function his official stamp on the way forward for Stanford soccer. Trade sources differ on the anticipated impression his father, Oliver, may have on the search. Some say the previous West Virginia AD is a de facto co-leader of the search, whereas one other termed his as extra of a confidant — which is sensible in case your father had run double-digit government hiring processes. 

Stanford lately introduced a $50 million inflow into the soccer program by a donor which made headlines, however when requested if the funds are instantly accessible in full, a Stanford spokesperson advised CBS Sports activities that a few of it’s and “a few of it’s pledged over time.” 

The spokesperson was unable to supply a breakdown of how a lot of the cash can be utilized now and sooner or later.

It’s not anticipated that Stanford will calm down admissions requirements for soccer gamers sooner or later and it’s nearly sure that Luck’s search will find yourself being extensive ranging, together with NFL assistant coaches just like the Commanders’ Tavita Pritchard or Troy Walters and former NFL assistants like present Maryland OC Pep Hamilton. 

UAB

One other unclear AD state of affairs lies in Birmingham the place Mark Ingram stays within the job after firing Trent Dilfer. 

“Ingram took a threat with Dilfer, it may cost him his job,” an trade supply stated.  

UAB president Ray Watts shouldn’t be thought-about deeply concerned in athletics, and any transfer on Ingram would possible come from the college’s board of trustees. 

One title floated for the job is SMU offensive coordinator Casey Woods, who was as soon as an assistant. One other is ULM head coach Bryant Vincent, who can be interim AD for the Warhawks and was previously interim head coach of the Blazers. There may be potential, if Ingram is now not within the job, to reunite with former head coach Invoice Clark as effectively. 

UCLA 

The tenor round UCLA has modified significantly in latest weeks following back-to-back wins over Penn State and Michigan State. Interim head coach Tim Skipper is 2-1 and offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel, the son of former Bruins head coach Rick Neuheisel, could be the preferred individual on that campus. 

Whether or not Skipper is given an actual alternative to get the job stays to be seen. Skipper, 47, served as Fresno State’s interim head coach final yr and lots of within the trade anticipated him to get the full-time job. However a 6-7 end sunk any likelihood he had. May Skipper change his destiny a yr later? Trade sources are skeptical, but when Skipper continues to win he might drive the administration’s arms. 

UCLA’s search effort is fronted by athletic director Martin Jarmond and senior affiliate athletics director Erin Adkins, the identical pair who led the abrupt 2023 search that led to DeShuan Foster. That pair will likely be assisted by a committee that’s fronted by leisure government Casey Wasserman, former Warriors GM Bob Myers, former NFL professional Eric Kendricks and present Washington Commanders GM Adam Peters, every of whom are Bruin alums. 

There may be appreciable trade doubt as to UCLA’s funding in soccer. The Bruins have lagged significantly behind different Large Ten packages in NIL funding the previous couple of seasons, per a number of sources, however the Bruins brass has indicated there will likely be further funding for the brand new regime. 

UCLA has already begun its preliminary spherical of conversations with potential candidates, per a supply. Preliminary names which have come up early as potentialities embody Washington’s Jedd Fisch, North Texas’ Morris, UNLV’s Dan Mullen, Arizona’s Brent Brennan and New Mexico’s Jason Eck amongst others. Sources have indicated Florida State defensive coordinator Tony White, an alumnus who’s been within the combine for a number of head jobs over the previous couple of years, is . However the UCLA admin has communicated to brokers that they’d favor to rent a sitting head coach. 

Fast observe with Mullen: The 53-year-old, who’s off to a 6-0 begin, strongly denied curiosity in another jobs when requested at a latest press convention.  

“Pay attention, I will make it actual easy. Need me to try this? I’ll be the pinnacle coach at UNLV subsequent yr,” Mullen stated.

Virginia Tech

The Hokies’ search committee contains former coaches Bruce Arians and Bud Foster along with former participant Eddie Royal and a number of alums from the enterprise world. The search had a little bit of a false begin when Arians went on the Pat McAfee Present and stated the college was “going to rent a common supervisor and get him in command of soccer” earlier than they “get into the teaching search” in late September. 

The Hokies have since walked that again, in response to athletic director Whit Babcock, who shouldn’t be main the search, however aiding it. That is because of suggestions Virginia Tech obtained that its candidate pool can be restricted if it took a GM-first hiring strategy. 

His longterm future within the job is a really open query in response to trade sources as Virginia Tech seems to re-do its total athletic division, together with hiring a CEO-type chief of the division to modernize a division that a number of trade sources known as “outdated.” 

The Hokies are anticipated to begin with sitting head coaches after which go from there, and have their very own budgetary issues. Just lately, the college’s board of rectors greenlit a $229.2 million infusion of funds over the following 4 years, with $47.1 million coming subsequent yr, and roughly $61 million within the subsequent three years. However when wanting into the funding sources, $30 million annually are as a consequence of come from fundraising efforts, which suggests that the funds aren’t already readily available on the college. 

Requests for remark by CBS Sports activities from a number of members of the board charged with designing the finances weren’t returned, however Babcock stated on a school-produced podcast he’s assured the athletic division can safe the funds. 

“We definitely have a excessive diploma of confidence that we are going to function with the extra $47.1 million finances sources dedicated to us this fiscal yr and the out years too.”

Babcock stated athletics will have the ability to use fundraising staffers from the college facet, which raised $225 million final yr. Do not count on far more public feedback from the search committee because it was reported the committee signed non-disclosure agreements and can now not be talking about it. 

However trade sources don’t low cost the opportunity of a return by South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer to Blacksburg, the place his father’s legacy looms giant. 

Requested about his doable curiosity within the Virginia Tech job in September, Beamer stated: “I believe the week of the Virginia Tech recreation, I advised everybody how I really feel about South Carolina and my love for this place. That is the place my focus is at proper now, simply getting our soccer crew higher.”