The cycle stops for no man, nor any school.
Thus, as the weekend slate of conference championship games kicks off later Friday, several schools are still seeking leaders atop quality FBS programs, and FootballScoop is bringing you the latest information.
Quite of a number of coaches who are coaching in conference championship games this weekend are high on other schools' lists. In no particular order we are talking about Barry Odom, Jon Sumrall, Rich Rodriguez, Tyson Helton, Tim Albin, Chuck Martin, Jeff Monken, Charles Huff, Casey Woods and others. There's a lot to discuss...
Let's start at Appalachian State, which has a number of factors that make it an attractive opening.
There's great fan support, an incredible living environment and good facilities; geographically, a coach can recruit a pretty wide region.
Though hardly the only two coaches involved, Neal Brown -- recently of West Virginia -- and Missouri offensive coordinator Kirby Moore both are in that process.
Both bring high-energy, creative offensive approaches; Brown has head coaching experience but Moore is seen as a brilliant, up-and-coming future head coach.
App State would also like to meet with SMU's Casey Woods we are told.
At Charlotte, the 49ers continue to canvass a number of candidates in seeking their next program leader.
Ohio coach Tim Albin is in the mix for a number of jobs, this being one of them, and Albin simply is proving to be a big-time winner. He has the Bobcats competing for the MAC championship.
Albin's success this year already is triggering bonuses and an added-year extension to his current pact at Ohio; he's also already set the record for most wins in a 3-year period in school history -- even with two games left to play.
A school will have to pay a buyout to pluck Albin from Ohio, but he's winning with a consistency few can match right now in FBS football -- especially while navigating considerable roster flux.
Charlotte, as well as Purdue, openings both are linked to Albin.
Interim Charlotte coach Tim Brewster also is in deep consideration for the permanent job, and ETSU's Tre Lamb, a fast-rising young head coach who set program records for winning at Gardner-Webb, has spoken with the 49ers.
FootballScoop's Zach Barnett proclaims that the Central Florida vacancy might rest as the most attractive right now in this head coaching cycle.
There are factors for that take. UCF is a highly talented state, has a massive student body that will passionately support the team and create a good atmosphere in the 'Bounce House.'
Additionally, UCF now is a power conference program with residency in the Big 12 and has a natural path to a College Football Playoff berth.
It also must contend in-state with the likes of Florida, Florida State, Miami and USF, among others.
Too, UCF doesn't have a century-old tradition and many deep-pocketed boosters to help fund a competitive NIL approach.
After zeroing in earlier this week on Liberty coach Jamey Chadwell, meeting in person with Chadwell and offering him the job, per multiple sources, UCF's search now appears to be focusing on UNLV head coach Barry Odom and former UCF head coach Scott Frost.
Odom has UNLV battling Boise State for the Mountain West Conference title, and the former Missouri head coach has stopped just short of working miracles for the Rebels program.
Not only is Odom's current 19-win stretch across two seasons the most successful back-to-back campaigns in school history, but Odom has the program one win from matching its win total in the six seasons prior to his arrival.
Former record-setting UCF head coach Scott Frost, fired at Nebraska in 2022 is currently consulting with the Los Angeles Rams; but has expressed a desire to return to UCF. Sources tell FootballScoop Frost and UCF AD Terry Mohajir were set to meet today, following up from earlier Zoom calls this week.
As with Tim Albin as mentioned above, Barry Odom also has been on Purdue's list and there are West Virginia connections as well.
Jeff Monken of Army remains a consistent name popping up in these searches. The proven winner who's delivered the Black Knights' best season in three decades, Monken has the academic and athletic know-how to be a fit at Purdue or North Carolina, pending how those searches unfold.
Miami (Ohio) coach Chuck Martin, like Albin but with a bit longer track record, is Mr. Consistent. The RedHawks are back in the MAC title game a year after winning the conference crown and posting a double-digit wins season. Purdue has noticed.
Martin has a pair of NCAA Division II national titles from his work at Grand Valley State and has Miami bowling for a fourth-straight season.
FIU's search to replace the fired Mike MacIntyre has a couple key names associated with it, among other potential candidates.
UCF offensive coordinator Tim Harris has spoken to the school in-depth about his head coaching vacancy; so, too, has Willie Simmons, the former record-setting FAU head coach who's spent the past season on Manny Diaz's Duke staff.
Harris is a South Florida native with several seasons' experience as an FIU assistant coach and a beloved figure in the Miami community after serving as both a prep football coach there and starring for the Hurricanes' track and field program.
Simmons also is a former Florida high school coach with several seasons recruiting the state from his work atop the FAMU program.
FIU expects to have their next head coach before the end of the weekend and preferably sooner.
As we said, there's a lot going on here...after the games are played this weekend. Cheers to a great weekend of football.
We'll be here all weekend on The Scoop keeping the coaching community current on all the moves.