9 New Football Coaches Announced As Lane Kiffin’s LSU Move Kickstarts Yet Another Whirlwind Coaching Carousel Feat. Florida

December 1, 2025 | 11:21 AM EST

The 2025 regular college football season at its tail end has seen a lot of changes take place over the campaign, with multiple coaches and programs walking away from each other throughout this season.

Arguably the biggest of them all was Lane Kiffin’s departure from Ole Miss to the LSU Tigers after leading the Rebels to the SEC top spot and an overall 11-1 record so far this season.

Kiffin’s decision to switch bases from Oxford to Louisiana has not only affected the two involved programs but also a lot of the other teams who were contingent on Kiffin’s decision.

Let’s take a look at nine such college football programs that have announced new head coaches recently.

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A Look At 9 Football Programs With New Head Coaches

1. Jon Sumrall (Florida Gators)

The Florida Gators, after firing Billy Napier earlier this season, have hired Jon Sumrall from the Tulane Green Wave. Sumrall’s contract is reportedly worth $44.7 million spread over a period of six years, averaging a hefty $7.45 million every year.

2. Lane Kiffin (LSU Tigers)

Lane Kiffin’s much-awaited move to the LSU Tigers has finally actualized as the former Ole Miss head coach is now set to take over the reins from Brian Kelly after the latter was fired following a 5-3 start to the Tigers’ season. Kiffin is now set to become one of the highest-paid college football coaches after inking a seven-year, $84 million contract, averaging $7.45 million every year.

3. Pete Golding (Ole Miss Rebels)

Kiffin’s departure saw the Ole Miss Rebels promote their defensive coordinator Pete Golding to the head coach spot, with Golding now tasked to lead the Rebels into their playoff leg this season. Before joining Ole Miss back in 2023, Golding had previously been with the Alabama Crimson Tide, working with the legendary Nick Saban from 2018 to 2022.

4. Alex Golesh (Auburn Tigers)

After firing Hugh Freeze earlier this month, the Auburn Tigers have found their next head coach in Alex Golesh. Golesh, the former South Florida Bulls head coach, will coach the Tigers after inking an annual $7.4 million contract, which will run through the next six years.

5. Ryan Silverfield (Arkansas Razorbacks)

Ryan Silverfield has joined the Arkansas Razorbacks after leaving the Memphis Tigers with an 8-4 record this season. Silverfield, under his tenure as the Memphis coach, boasted a record of 50-25, and the Razorbacks would expect him to put up a similar display for them.

6. Reggie Howard (Memphis Tigers)

Ryan Silverfield’s departure to Arkansas means Reggie Howard will coach the side as the Tigers’ new interim head coach. A Memphis alumnus, Howard previously played in the NFL in 2000, having represented the likes of the Carolina Panthers. He joined the Tigers as their head of defensive staff back in 2024 whilst also having coached the Washington Commanders as their defensive quality control coach.

7. Michigan State University – TBD

Following Jonathan Smith’s firing, Michigan State University is still on the hunt for their next head coach candidate, with reports suggesting that former Northwestern Coach Pat Fitzgerald could take over the proceedings at MSU. Fitzgerald boasts an impressive career record of 110 wins over a span of 17 years for the Northwestern Wildcats.

8. South Florida Bulls – TBD

Alex Golesh’s departure from South Florida has the program searching for their next best candidate, although rumors suggest that former Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher could potentially be their next appointment, with the likes of Willie Simmons, Will Stein, Brian Hartline, and Jason Candle in the mix too.

9. Tulane Green Wave – TBD

The Tulane Green Wave are on the lookout for a new head coach after Jon Sumrall’s departure to the Florida Gators. Even though Tulane hasn’t locked in a candidate just as yet, they could look at the likes of Blake Baker, Bob Chesney, or even someone like Shannon Dawson to coach the program.