The 2015 season is looking at a lot of different coaching changes, and exciting new coaches rising in the ranks. Let's take a look at the new coaches around the nation.
Buffalo- Lance Leipold
College Resume- 1987 Wisconsin-Whitewater Quarterback Coach, 1988 Wisconsin-Whitewater Wide Receiver Coach, 1989 Doane Assistant, 1990 Wisconsin-Whitewater Assistant, 1991-1993 Wisconsin Graduate Assistant, 1994-2000 Nebraska-Omaha Assistant, 2001-2003 Nebraska Assistant, 2004-2006 Nebraska-Omaha Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator.
Head Coach Resume- 2007-2014 Wisconsin-Whitewater (109-6).
Leipold joins the Buffalo Bulls as the fastest coach in Division III history to reach 100 wins. The 4 time AFCA Division III Coach of the year replaces Jeff Quinn and Interim coach Alex Wood, a team that has won just 22 games over the past 5 seasons.
Leipold gets a Senior QB in Joe Licata, who has started games in the past 3 seasons, an extremely depleted offensive line loosing 3 starters, and a team returning a total of 4 defensive starters.
Central Michigan- John Bonamego
College Resume- 1988-1991 Maine Assistant Coach, 1992 Lehigh Assistant Coach, 1993-1998 Army Assistant Coach
NFL Resume- 1999-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars Assistant Special Teams Coordinator, 2002 Jacksonville Jaguars Special Teams Coordinator, 2003-2005 Green Bay Packers Special Teams Coordinator, 2006-2007 New Orleans Saints Special Teams Coordinator, 2008-2010 Miami Dolphins Special Teams Coordinator, 2011 New Orleans Saints Assistant Special Teams Coach, 2012 Jacksonville Jaguars Special Teams Coordinator, 2013-2014 Detroit Lions Special Teams Coordinator.
Bonamego is an accomplished Special Teams Coordinator in the NFL, Central Michigan being the first team he has been hired to coach since his days as an assistant coach in West Point. He has worked for big coaching names, such as Mike Sherman, Sean Payton and Jim Caldwell in NFL ranks. He told the Detroit Free Press that he is to "Begin and finish" his head coaching career at Central Michigan.
Bonamego takes over a team with 11 returning starters, not including his Junior kicker and sophomore punter. With challenging road trips to Michigan State and Syracuse, and the season opener against Oklahoma State, it will be a struggle for his first season in Central Michigan.
Colorado State- Mike Bobo
College Resume- 1999 Georgia Graduate Assistant, 2000 Jacksonville State Quarterback Coach, 2001-2006 Georgia Quarterback Coach, 2007-2014 Georgia Offensive Coordinator.
While Bobo's resume isn't very long, it's very skilled, and he's highly qualified to take over the coaching job. A former Georgia QB in the late 1990's, and a long time offensive coordinator, Bobo helped develop monsters such as AJ Green, Matthew Stafford, Aaron Murrey, Tod Gurley, and more.
Taking over a team that went 10-3 last season and looses QB Garrett Grayson, Colorado State is looking to have a down year as the QB who will replace Garrett is down to a 2 man battle between redshirt sophomore Nick Stevens and highly touted Sophomore Coleman Key. Bobo will have a lot of work left to do on his hands.
Florida- Jim McElwain
College Resume- 1985-1986 Eastern Washington Graduate Assistant, 1987-1994 Eastern Washington Quarterback and Wide Receiver coach, 1995-1999 Montana State Offensive Coordinator, 2000-2002 Louisville Wide Receiver & Special Teams Coach, 2003-2005 Michigan State Assistant Head Coach-Wide Receivers & Special Teams Coach, 2007 Fresno State Offensive Coordinator, 2008-2011 Alabama Offensive Coordinator.
NFL Resume- 2006 Oakland Raiders Quarterback Coach
Head Coach Resume- 2012-2014 Colorado State (22-16)
McElwain's career as a coach exploded when Nick Saban hired him to coordinate his offense with Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, and Greg McElroy as the stars. It took off, the Crimson Tide winning 2 National Championships under Saban and McElwain's offensive team. McElwain accepted the head coaching position at Colorado State following a 3-9 season with just 1 conference win in the Mountain West. The team turned around under McElwain's supervision, collecting 4-8, 8-6, and 10-3 seasons, respectively.
Taking on the Florida job will be an easier start for McElwain when he took over Colorado State back in 2012. Already hiring an impressive staff, and with great players to begin with, McElwain will have a lot more talent and a better staff to work with in Gatorland, and probably a much better record to show for it.
Houston- Tom Herman
College Resume- 1998 Texas Lutheran Wide Receivers Coach, 1999-2000 Texas Graduate Assistant, 2001-2004 Sam Houston State Wide Receivers/Special Teams Coach, 2005-2006 Texas State Offensive Coordinator, 2007-2008 Rice Offensive Coordinator, 2009-2011 Iowa Offensive Coordinator, 2012-2014 Ohio State Offensive Coordinator.
Herman has spent coming up on 20 years coaching college football, including his last job, which was serving 3 years under Urban Mayer as his offensive coordinator, and leading Ohio State to an undefeated season in 2012, and then a National Title in 2014. Well known for his knowledge of offense, Herman was a top candidate and has landed a solid starting job at Houston.
With QB's John O'Korn and Greg Ward, and a fresh bunch of new WR's, Herman has an interesting offense to begin his career with as Head Coach in Houston, Texas. It should be a good 2 or 3 year job for Herman as he works his way into an elite conference as a head coach.
Kansas- David Beaty
College Resume- 2006-2007 Rice Wide Receivers Coach, 2008-2009 Kansas Wide Receivers Coach, 2010 Rice Offensive Coordinator, 2011 Kansas Wide Receivers/Co-Offensive Coordinator, 2012-2014 Texas A&M Wide Receivers Coach.
Beaty returns to Kansas University after a 3 year stint in Texas A&M where Beaty helped develop some monster receivers in Ryan Swope, Mike Evans, and Malcolm Kennedy, players that broke school records for their receiving. He was OC at Rice in 2010, and lead an offense that averaged 28.7 points per game.
I think Beaty is a little under-qualified for the job, and Kansas made another bad move hiring Beaty so early in his career. I suppose only time will tell, but Kansas does have a lot of work to do with 12 returning starters on both sides of the ball (6 offense, 6 defense).
I think Beaty is a little under-qualified for the job, and Kansas made another bad move hiring Beaty so early in his career. I suppose only time will tell, but Kansas does have a lot of work to do with 12 returning starters on both sides of the ball (6 offense, 6 defense).
Michigan- Jim Harbaugh
NFL Resume- 2002-2003 Oakland Raiders Quarterback Coach.
Head Coach Resume- 2004-2006 University of San Diego (29-6), 2007-2010 Stanford (29-21), San Francisco 49ers (49-22).
Jim Harbaugh was a long time NFL Quarterback, and a Michigan alumni, and his return has been a dream come true for Michigan fans across the nation. Harbaugh has had 3 coaching jobs previously before taking Michigan, and has seen lots of success on every level. Harbaugh turned Stanford into a respectable opponent in the PAC-12, his final season the Cardinals going 12-1. Harbaugh left college ranks and led San Francisco to 3 NFC Championships, and a Super Bowl appearance where Harbaugh faced his brother, John.
Harbaugh has a lot of work to do with a Michigan team that has talent but seems to have lost it's identity. 2014 was a miserable 5-7 season with the Wolverines missing the Bowl season for the first time since 2009. Fans will look to Harbaugh as a savior, and, well, I can't disagree with them. He's been successful wherever he's been, so I don't see why Michigan won't come around in 2015.
Nebraska- Mike Riley
College Resume- 1975 California Graduate Assistant, 1976 Whitworth Graduate Assistant, 1977-1982 Linfield Defensive Coordinator, 1986 Northern Colorado Defensive Coordinator, 1993-1996 USC Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator.
Canadian Resume- 1983 Winnipeg Blue Bombers Defensive Backs Coach.
NFL Resume- 2002 New Orleans Saints Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs.
Head Coach Resume- 1987-1990 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL, 46-34), 1991-1992 San Antonio Riders (WLAF, 11-9), 1997-1998 Oregon State (8-14), 1999-2001 San Diego Chargers (14-34), 2003-2014 Oregon State (85-66).
Mike Riley is a long time and extremely experienced coach, exactly the man Nebraska needs to take over the program. Coaching in the CFL, NFL and college ranks, Riley has taken coaching positions all over the board. Although it may seem his main knowledge is on defense, he led USC to 3 Bowl wins as the Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator there. He's a man of all trades, and has coached up some incredible players from Oregon State.
Riley takes over a program loosing RB Ameer Abdullah and DE Randy Gregory. In a run heavy division such as the B1G, Riley will still have plenty of talent, probably more then he's had in a long time, to work with in a tougher division. Expect success to continue rolling for the Cornhuskers.
Oregon State- Gary Andersen
College Resume- 1988 Southeastern Louisiana Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator, 1989-1991 Ricks College Offensive Line Coach, 1992-1993 Iowa State Defensive Line Coach, 1995-1996 Northern Arizona Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line/Special Teams Coach, 1997-2000 Utah Defensive Line Coach, 2001-2002 Utah Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Tackles/Special Teams Coach, 2004 Utah Defensive Line Coach, 2005-2008 Utah Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator.
Head Coach Resume- 2003 Southern Utah (4-7), 2009-2012 Utah State (26-24), 2013-2014 Wisconsin (19-7).
Gary Anderson spent a lot of time coaching in the middle of nowhere, and it paid off. After 15 years of coaching teams in Utah, Andersen was landed the job at Utah State, where he recruited and developed QB Chuckie Keaton and LB Jake Doughty. In 2012, his final season in Logan, Utah, Andersen led the Aggies to a 11-2 record, including a Idaho Potato Bowl win over Toledo, and a #16 ranking from the AP Poll. From there, Anderson accepted the Wisconsin coaching job, developing Melvin Gordon into a Heisman trophy candidate.
Why Anderson chose to accept the empty Oregon State Beaver slot, I will never know. However, with his recruiting talent, I'm sure Andersen can keep Oregon State in the top 5 of the PAC-12, and make a run for the PAC-12 title in the seasons to come.
Pittsburgh- Pat Narduzzi
College Resume- 1990-1991 Miami (Ohio) Graduate Assistant, 1992 Miami (Ohio) Wide Receivers Coach, 1993-1997 Rhode Island Linebackers Coach, 1998-1999 Rhode Island Defensive Coordinator, 2000-2002 Northern Illinois Linebackers Coach, 2003 Miami (Ohio) Defensive Coordinator, 2004-2006 Cincinnati Defensive Coordinator, 2007-2014 Michigan State Defensive Coordinator.
Pat Narduzzi is well rounded in his defensive strategy and technique. Narduzzi played Linebacker at Youngstown State in 1985, before transferring to Rhode Island where he played between 1987-1989. His 7 year stint at Michigan State under Mark Dantonio featured a defense that has allowed less then 20 points per game over the last 4 years.
Narduzzi has a season opener against his alma mater Youngstown State, and then a non-conference schedule that includes Iowa and Notre Dame. It'll be a tough opening season for Narduzzi, but a challenge for the Pittsburgh defense nonetheless.
SMU- Chad Morris
College Resume- 2010 Tulsa Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator, 2011-2014 Clemson Offensive Coordinator.
A long time High School coach, Morris caught the attention of Tulsa's Todd Graham, after coaching Lake Travis High School to back to back 16-0 State Championship seasons, featuring Garrett Gilbert at QB. Graham hired Morris as his OC, and the team went 10-3 averaging 41.4 points per game and 506 total yards. Graham moved on to coach Arizona State, and in the meantime, Morris was hired by Clemson as the highest paid assistant coach in the NCAA. Clemson never missed a step, leading Clemson to 3 10+ win seasons, and developed players like Andre Ellington, Sammy Watkins and Tajh Boyd.
Now going to SMU, a team that was just destroyed last season by anyone it faced, in or outside of the AAC, Morris has a chance to shine. Not a well recruited school to begin with, Morris will be limited on talent and depth, but has a great chance to turn the program back around.
Troy- Neal Brown
College Resume- 2003 Massachusetts Offensive Line/Tight End Coach, 2004 Sacred Heart Quarterback/Wide Receiver Coach, 2005 Delaware Wide Receiver Coach, 2006-2007 Troy Wide Receiver Coach, 2008-2009 Troy Offensive Coordinator, 2010-2012 Texas Tech Offensive Coordinator, 2013-2014 Kentucky Offensive Coordinator.
Neal Brown is still very young, but he has a solid resume. He returns to Troy from his days when he coached the offense almost 10 years before. In the 2 years he had been OC, the team averaged over 32 points per game, and 400 yards of total offense. Both times, the team went to Bowl games, just to loose in Overtime. Brown left Troy to coordinate the offense at Texas Tech, the team averaging 470+ yards of total offense and Brown's first Bowl Win as an OC. He left to join Mark Stoops in Kentucky, where he has built an SEC formidable offense.
Brown is filling big shoes, replacing Larry Blakeney who has coached Troy for the past 24 years. He will have his hands full with an out of conference schedule including Wisconsin, North Carolina State and Mississippi State. Don't expect a Bowl game appearance for Troy in 2015.
Tulsa- Philip Montgomery
College Resume- 1995 Tarlton State Graduate Assistant, 2003-2007 Houston Quarterback/Running Back Coach, 2008-2012 Baylor Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterback/Running Back Coach, 2013-2014 Baylor Offensive Coordinator.
Philip Montgomery has a huge list of accomplishments. Basically, though, he's been under the wing of Art Briles for almost 10 years. He's developed big college players like Terrance Ganaway, Lache Seastrunk, Robert Griffin III and Bryce Petty, and run one of the most effective offenses in College Football.
Montgomery has a big challenge taking over a team that went from a 2012 season of 11-3 to 3-9 in 2013, and last season's 2-10. They have considerable talent in the AAC, and that may be all that Montgomery needs to revamp the team that fell so suddenly.
UNLV- Tony Sanchez
College Resume- 1996 New Mexico State Student Assistant.
A long time High School Football coach, Sanchez has spent the past 15 years coaching High School Football successfully. His last coaching job, at Bishop Gorman High, Sanchez led the team to success and into Nevada Division 1 play where they have won the state championships every season of his career.
Sanchez opens his college career with non-conference games Michigan against Jim Harbaugh, and hosting UCLA. It'll be a tough schedule for a team searching for an identity, but I think Sanchez will wort the team out to a 5-7 or 6-6 start.
Wisconsin- Paul Chryst
College Resume- 1989-1990 West Virginia Graduate Assistant, 1993 Wisconsin-Platteville Offensive Coordinator, 1995 Illinois State offensive Coordinator, 1997-1998 Oregon State Offensive Coordinator, 2002 Wisconsin Tight End Coach, 2003-2004 Oregon State Offensive Coordinator, 2005-2011 Wisconsin Offensive Coordinator.
CFL Resume- 1994 Ottawa Rough Raiders Assistant, 1996 Saskatchewan Roughriders Offensive Coordinator.
WLAF Resume- 1991-1992 San Antonio Riders Assistant.
NFL Resume- 1999-2001 San Diego Chargers Tight End Coach.
Head Coach Resume- 2012-2014 Pittsburgh (19-19).
Paul Chryst returns to Wisconsin after 3 years in Pittsburgh coaching the Panthers to a mediocre 3 seasons with shocking wins (2012 Virginia Tech, 2013 Notre Dame) and stunning losses (2012 season opener verse Youngstown State). Chryst is a well qualified coach, however, coaching in just about every level of football besides High School.
Chryst will need to work to get Wisconsin back into form with the loss of it's key RB and DE. I think Wisconsin is going to struggle with Chryst at the helm, and with the season opener against Alabama, Chryst is going to need to have that team ready to step it up all season.
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