UMass Minutemen head coach Don Brown was brought in before the 2022 season to resurrect a flailing team, much like he did in his first stint with the program. The plan was to have the highly-regarded defensive mind guide the Minutemen through conference realignment until they officially join the MAC in 2025.
However, after under three years in charge and a 6-26 record during his second UMass tenure, it was time to make a change. Here are five candidates to replace Brown at the Minutemen.
Brennan Marion (UNLV Offensive Coordinator)
If it seems like we at College Football Network put Brennan Marion on most coaching hotboards, it’s because we do. Most of the institutions firing coaches this season are tough places to win. To win at schools that haven’t had much success, a coach needs to be creative, innovative, and willing to buck tradition.
That’s Marion, whose “Go Go” offense is the most creative in FBS football. He’s won at multiple stops as a position coach or coordinator, and he’s coached all over the United States. There’s an interesting connection to UMass here, as Marion worked under former Minutemen head coach Mark Whipple at Pittsburgh.
Sammy McCorkle (Dartmouth Head Coach)
The Ivy League to UMass coaching trajectory is popular because coaches who know how to win there typically have less of a learning curve. Sammy McCorkle is a relatively new head coach at Dartmouth, taking over midway through the 2023 season, but he’s had great early success and has also been a long-time assistant coach there.
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McCorkle is a bit older than some of these other candidates but has the experience and ability to fit in well at Amherst.
Ricky Santos (New Hampshire Head Coach)
Ricky Santos is one of the up-and-comers at the FCS level. Over the past few years, he’s developed several quality quarterbacks, including Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer. Santos is a New Hampshire graduate, but UMass could lure him to the FBS level.
He’s familiar with the challenges of coaching in the Northeast, and if chosen, he could be a high-ceiling hire for the Minutemen.
Will Lawing (Boston College Offensive Coordinator)
Could a head coaching job be enough to lure away Bill O’Brien’s right-hand man from Chestnut Hill? Lawing is young, and he’s not getting a ton of noise during this coaching cycle, but a team could consider him a perfect fit.
Lawing has both NFL and college experience and experience recruiting in the northeast. His dad was a long-time SEC assistant on the defensive side of the ball, so he has experience in a variety of environments.
Kirby Moore (Missouri Offensive Coordinator)
The Missouri Tigers’ offensive coordinator is a rising star in the sport and a hot name for openings at smaller FBS schools. The former Boise State Broncos wide receiver has become a respected quarterbacks coach and play-caller and has done it at the sport’s highest level this season.
Moore doesn’t have ties to the Northeast, but I’m not sure that should be a requirement for this particular position, as that familiarity hasn’t helped several recent coaches in the position.
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