As the 2024 college football regular season nears its end, many schools are already looking forward to the next hiring cycle. Several coordinators have emerged as prime candidates to lead programs of their own. Here’s a look at the 10 coaches whose leadership, innovation, and résumés have them poised for head coaching opportunities in 2025.
Brennan Marion, OC, UNLV
It’s unlikely UNLV Rebels head coach Barry Odom will be able to retain Brennan Marion through another coaching cycle. The 37-year-old spent the 2010s working his way up from the high school ranks to the FCS level before earning his first FBS job as the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors’ WRs coach.
However, he truly made a name for himself in his stints with the Pittsburgh Panthers (2021) and Texas Longhorns (2022), becoming one of the hottest rising coaches in the country. Marion joined Odom in Las Vegas and immediately took the offense to new heights with his Go-Go scheme. He may be young, but Marion deserves to be a head coach in 2025.
Chip Kelly, OC, Ohio State
After spending a year in Columbus, Chip Kelly could bounce back to a Power Five head coaching role in 2025 — even a potential return to the NFL can’t be ignored. Kelly owns an impressive 81-41 career record as a collegiate head coach, although his tenure with the Oregon Ducks (46-7) carries the load compared to his six years with the UCLA Bruins (35-34).
Kelly could be content with remaining on the offensive side of the ball at this point in his career, but he’ll have options if he chooses to lead a program once again. He’s done a tremendous job with the Ohio State Buckeyes’ talent, as they rank second in the Big Ten in total (454.9 ypg) and scoring (38.9 ppg) offense.
Will Stein, OC, Oregon
Will Stein’s time on Dan Lanning’s Oregon Ducks staff might be short-lived, considering the impact he’s made in just a few seasons. After engineering success with Bo Nix, Stein has coached former UCF and Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel to a record-breaking year.
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A former Louisville QB, Stein has a knack for unlocking offensive potential and scheming playmakers into space. It also helps that he’s seemingly highly respected in coaching circles.
Andy Kotelnicki, OC, Penn State
Andy Kotelnicki’s coaching prowess has made him one of the most promising names on the coordinator circuit, and he may not be far from landing a head job. The 44-year-old played a pivotal role in the Kansas Jayhawks’ resurgence under Lance Leipold, with the team soaring to fifth in yards per play and 18th in scoring during his final two seasons there.
Since joining the Penn State Nittany Lions, Kotelnicki has elevated the offense, pushing them to fifth nationally in yards per play despite a lack of star WR talent outside.
Glenn Schumann, DC, Georgia
Glenn Schumann has quickly become a sought-after name in coaching circles, with his recent consideration for the Mississippi State Bulldogs’ head coaching role only reinforcing his rise. As co-defensive coordinator at Georgia, Schumann has partnered with Will Muschamp to forge a powerhouse defense that anchored the Bulldogs to back-to-back national titles.
In 2023, his unit ranked No. 5 in scoring defense, ninth in total yards allowed, and led the nation in third-down stops. Even with fresh faces on the field, Schumann’s defense hasn’t missed a beat.
Kane Wommack, DC, Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide coordinators often catapult to head-coaching roles, and Kane Wommack seems primed for that trajectory. After a successful 22-16 stint as the South Alabama Jaguars’ head man, including a standout 10-win campaign in 2022, Wommack joined the Tide to deepen his résumé.
With coaching roots tracing back to his father, Dave Wommack, he’s established himself as a defensive mind with experience in the South and Midwest, notably as Indiana’s defensive coordinator. At only 37, Wommack has all the tools to lead a program again, though it might take some extra dollar signs to lure him away from Tuscaloosa.
Jim Knowles, DC, Ohio State
Jim Knowles is widely respected as a top-tier defensive mind, but at 59, the question is whether he’ll get another shot at a head-coaching gig. He has outcoached his 26-34 record from his tenure at Cornell (2004-2009) and interviewed for the Duke Blue Devils’ job last year.
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Knowles may have to weigh his salary against the appeal of leading a Group of Five program.
Tony White, DC, Nebraska
A five-year Power Five force, Tony White has led the turnarounds of the Syracuse Orange and the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ defenses. Last season, White’s unit frequently compensated for an offense prone to turnovers in Matt Rhule’s first year, showcasing his aggressive, attack-oriented style.
Though he’s yet to lead a college program, the 45-year-old could be a hot commodity next cycle.
Mike Denbrock, OC, Notre Dame
Mike Denbrock helped Jayden Daniels claim the Heisman and orchestrated the nation’s most explosive offense before returning to South Bend this offseason. Denbrock faced a major challenge with a reworked and inexperienced offensive line but has orchestrated an impressive rushing attack spear-headed by dual-threat QB Riley Leonard.
Denbrock has never been a collegiate head coach, but if he has any desire to become one, it’ll need to happen soon before he completely ages out.
Buster Faulkner, OC, Georgia Tech
A large reason for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets’ resurgence has been OC Buster Faulkner and his run-heavy approach. He became an OC in his late 20s, holding several FBS coordinator roles before spending 2020 to 2022 at Georgia, where he worked with QB under Todd Monken.
Bonus: Brennan Carroll, OC, Washington
This pick is predicated on Jedd Fisch leaving after just one year with the Washington Huskies. Brennan Carroll followed Fisch from Arizona but may not be keen on hitching his wagon to him for another stop.
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The Huskies could keep Carroll in the state where his father, Pete, built a hall-of-fame career coaching the Seahawks, or the 45-year-old could earn an opportunity elsewhere after serving as Fisch’s OC and OL coach for four years.
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