The 2025 college football season is already buzzing with anticipation, but it’s not just the players generating headlines.
Analyst Adam Breneman has spotlighted a wave of new coordinator hires that could quietly shift the balance of power in the football world. Which programs got the biggest boost from their new coordinator hires?
Analyst Breaks Down the Biggest Offseason Coordinator Hires
Analyst Adam Breneman wasted no time in emphasizing the magnitude of this offseason’s coordinator carousel. “These could change the game completely,” he says, pointing to the arrival of Ryan Grubb as Alabama’s new offensive coordinator.
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Grubb, who “was DeBoer’s OC at Washington when he had Michael Penix Jr. and they were dominant,” now brings his high-octane playbook to Tuscaloosa, promising a fresh identity for the Crimson Tide’s offense.
Michigan, too, is betting big on new leadership. Chip Lindsey, now the Wolverines’ offensive coordinator, “led the ACC in passing with Drake Maye but struggled without him.”
Breneman’s analysis suggests that Lindsey’s ability to adapt to Michigan’s roster will be pivotal, especially as the team looks to maintain its recent success despite key departures.
Meanwhile, Miami’s defense could see a swift resurgence under Corey Hetherman, who “led Minnesota to top 10 ranked total defense and scoring defense” in just one Power 4 season. His arrival signals a commitment to immediate improvement for the Hurricanes.
The shakeup isn’t limited to offense. On the defensive side, Ohio State’s hire of Matt Patricia, “two-time Super Bowl-winning DC with the Patriots,” is a headline in itself. While Patricia’s NFL head coaching stint was rocky, Breneman notes that his championship pedigree could bring a new edge to the Buckeyes’ already formidable defense.
At Clemson, Tom Allen steps in after Penn State’s defense “ranked seventh in total defense,” while Clemson’s was “69.” Allen’s challenge is clear: elevate the Tigers back to their defensive standard.
Which Coordinator Will Make the Fastest Impact?
Breneman singles out the “biggest hire of the offseason” as Jim Knowles, now at Penn State. Last year, Knowles helped Ohio State “lead the nation in both total defense and scoring defense,” guiding the Buckeyes to their first national title in a decade.
His move to Penn State is described as a hire that “changes college football completely,” raising the stakes for the Nittany Lions and their Big Ten rivals.
.@CoachJimKnowles didn’t chase this job.
It came fast. The opening was there. And he knew — if it was @PennStateFball, he had to listen.
But before he said yes, it wasn’t about money, titles, or scheme.
It was about the people.
The staff. The culture. The ones who’d be in the… pic.twitter.com/MqDI1l5xV1— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) May 12, 2025
As Breneman’s analysis makes clear, these coordinator moves are more than just new faces on the sideline-they’re the ultimate X-factors for 2025.
KEEP READING: Analyst Adam Breneman Reveals Under-the-Radar QBs Poised to Break Out During the 2025 College Football Season
Whether it’s a revitalized offense or a lockdown defense, how quickly these coaches settle in could determine which teams rise and which are left chasing.
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