We’re back with our annual listing of all the head coaching changes in NFL and college football. The college coaching carousel got off to a quick start in 2020 with Jay Hopson stepping down at Southern Miss, and an opening at Jackson State (FCS – MS) as well.
With the vast majority of the small college teams playing in the spring of 2021 instead of the fall of 2020, this will be an interesting page to follow.
Consider this your one-stop shop for coaching changes at every level of football – NFL, NCAA and NAIA – throughout the fall and winter, so check back frequently. For your reference, here are the lists of changes for the 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-2017, 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20 seasons.
There have been eight NFL head coaching changes so far this year. There were five coaching changes last year, eight in 2018, seven changes following the 2017 season, and six changes after 2016.
| Team | 2020 Coach | 2021 Coach |
| LA Chargers | Anthony Lynn | Brandon Staley |
| Atlanta Falcons | Dan Quinn | Arthur Smith |
| Detroit Lions | Matt Patricia | Dan Campbell |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Doug Marrone | Urban Meyer |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Doug Pederson | |
| New York Jets | Adam Gase | Robert Saleh |
| Houston Texans | Bill O’Brien |
There have been 14 FBS head coaching change so far this season. Number of changes over the past 11 seasons: 22 (2008), 23 (2009), 24 (2010), 28 (2011), 31 (2012), 20 (2013), 15 (2014), 29 (2015), 21 (2016), 21 (2017), 28 (2018), and 24 (2019).
| Team | 2020 Coach | 2021 Coach |
| Arizona | Kevin Sumlin | Jedd Fisch |
| Arkansas State | Blake Anderson | Butch Jones |
| Auburn | Gus Malzahn | Bryan Harsin |
| Boise State | Bryan Harsin | Andy Avalos |
| Illinois | Lovie Smith | Bret Bielema |
| Louisiana-Monroe | Matt Viator | Terry Bowden |
| Marshall | Doc Holliday | Charles Huff |
| South Alabama | Steve Campbell | Kane Wommack |
| South Carolina | Will Muschamp | Shane Beamer |
| Southern Miss | Jay Hopson | Will Hall |
| Tennessee | Jeremy Pruitt | |
| Texas | Tom Herman | Steve Sarkisian |
| Utah State | Gary Andersen | Blake Anderson |
| Vanderbilt | Derek Mason | Clark Lea |
At the FCS level, there have been two head coaching changes, and the jobs have been filled. Sixteen jobs came open last coaching cycle, twenty-five FCS jobs came open in 2018, 24 in 2017, 15 in 2016.
| Team | 2020 Coach | 2021 Coach |
| Jackson State (MS) | John Hendrick | Deion Sanders |
| Austin Peay (TN) | Marquase Lovings (I) | Scotty Walden |
One team at the Division II level has made a head coaching change. 31 jobs opened last off season, and 21 jobs opened at the D-II level following the 2018 season.
| Team | 2020 Coach | 2021 Coach |
| Missouri Southern | Jeff Sims |
There has been three Division III head coaching changes. Last year, 22 programs saw head coaching changes, and 21 head coaching changes happened in 2018.
| Team | 2020 Coach | 2021 Coach |
| Capital (OH) | Chad Rogosheske | Brian Foos |
| Howard Payne (TX) | Braxton Harris | Jason Bachtel |
| Knox (IL) | Damon Tomeo | |
| Maryville (TN) | Shaun Hayes |
There have been five NAIA head coaching changes. Last year there was seven NAIA head coaching changes, and in 2018 there were 15 coaching changes.
| Team | 2020 Coach | 2021 Coach |
| Benedictine (KS) | Larry Wilcox | |
| Bethany (KS) | Curran White | Tyrone Carter |
| Briar Cliff (IA) | Dennis Wagner | Shane LaDage |
| Hastings (NE) | Tony Harper | |
| Webber International (FL) | Kelly Scott |
(I) denotes that the coach has, or will lead the team as an interim head coach
(*) denotes coach announced plans to retire before the end of the current season
(n) denotes a new program
(c) denotes co-head coaches
(h) denotes a coach stepping down citing health reasons
(x) denotes the program will not field a team in 2019
As always, if we missed anyone please let us know at 225.229.3429, [email protected], or via Twitter (DM if you’d like) @FootballScoop.
