The wildest school soccer teaching cycle — maybe ever — has reached the hiring section.
Faculties across the Energy 4 that fired their coaches within the first two months of the season — or, in Stanford’s case, means again in late March — are concentrating on candidates and finalizing offers. Curiously sufficient, one of many first main coaches to lose his job, Penn State’s James Franklin, was the primary noninterim coach to be employed, as he’s headed to Virginia Tech.
New hires all the time include hope and optimism, grand proclamations and the possibility to get packages heading in the right direction. However not all hiring processes are the identical. The monetary element with jobs is crucial — what faculties are keen to spend not simply on their head coach, however the assistants and help workers and, maybe most necessary, the workforce roster.
We can be reviewing all the most important teaching hires within the 2025-26 cycle, evaluating how every coach suits within the job, their main challenges and what it’ll take to achieve success. We may even assign an preliminary letter grade for every rent.
Soar to: Florida | Arkansas | Auburn
Stanford | Oklahoma State | Virginia Tech
Why is that this a very good match?
Florida followers: Sumrall is not Billy Napier. Sure, he is one other promising Group of 5 coach from a program in Louisiana, simply as Napier was when he got here to Gainesville. However Sumrall is a unique persona kind who comes from the other facet of the ball and has extra ties to the SEC, the place he each performed (Kentucky) and coached (Ole Miss, Kentucky). He is extra comfy than Napier being the face of a significant program and can delegate to his coordinators whereas compiling a powerful workers. Though Auburn appeared like a extra pure spot for Sumrall due to his connections to the state, Florida provides him a good larger platform on the lone SEC program in one of many nation’s prime talent-producing states.
The opposite factor is Sumrall wins. He received Solar Belt titles in each of his seasons at Troy and went to the American Convention title sport in his first yr at Tulane. Sumrall has succeeded in numerous methods and with several types of quarterbacks. He hasn’t received within the Energy 4 or at a program like Florida, which is an comprehensible concern. However Sumrall is prepared for the chance, and may have the ability to foster the consistency Florida has lacked for a lot too lengthy. Florida did not have a expertise downside below Napier, and Sumrall ought to proceed to excel in personnel whereas translating it higher on the sector. — Adam Rittenberg
Greatest challenges Sumrall will face
The place can we begin? Initially, Sumrall has to discover a strategy to win over a fan base that thought it had a shot at touchdown Lane Kiffin. Whether or not that was actuality or not, Gators followers had their hopes up that Kiffin would select them. With that, Sumrall has to persuade followers he isn’t one other model of Billy Napier. As soon as Sumrall has achieved that, he has to discover a strategy to win at what has confirmed to be one of many hardest jobs to crack within the SEC. Florida has not received an SEC title since 2008 and whereas there stays a perception it is without doubt one of the finest jobs within the nation, Florida goes by coaches at a reasonably frequent clip. If previous is precedent, Sumrall can be given a yr or two to seek out success earlier than the fan base begins to activate him; 4 years max to compete for a championship. Expectations are sky excessive, and Sumrall can be given no leeway to study on the job. — Andrea Adelson
Grade: B+
Sumrall has the elements to turn into the subsequent nice SEC coach. He is a wonderful communicator who connects with a spread of individuals and may get Florida followers excited concerning the future, even when they could be skpetical at first due to his background. Florida is not the place I initially noticed him ending up in a wild teaching cycle, but when the varsity provides him a while, he ought to stabilize and elevate the Gators’ on-field efficiency and begin getting extra out of very proficient rosters there. — Rittenberg
Why is that this a very good match?
Silverfield has quietly turn into a extremely profitable coach within the area, and positively appears prepared for a Energy 4 alternative like Arkansas. Though he hasn’t generated as a lot buzz as Tulane’s Jon Sumrall and different American Convention coaches, he has overwhelmed a lot of them in head-to-head matchups and boasts a 29-9 document because the begin of the 2023 season, together with an AP High 25 end final fall. Silverfield led Memphis to a win towards Arkansas earlier this season, and has overwhelmed 4 consecutive Energy 4 opponents, together with West Virginia and Iowa State in bowl video games the previous two seasons.
He has led Memphis since late 2019 however been on the program since 2016, so he understands the recruiting panorama and the place Arkansas should search for gamers. Arkansas’ location is usually a problem for buying expertise, however Silverfield should not be intimidated by it. He additionally brings a powerful background on offense to Fayetteville, and may compile a workers that has related information to the world and presumably the SEC.
What are the largest challenges for Silverfield?
The SEC is simply getting more durable with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma, the emergence of Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt, and the strain on a conventional heavyweight like Florida to begin making the CFP. The place does Arkansas actually match within the SEC pecking order? Silverfield possible should do extra with much less initially, and win video games towards packages which have been on steadier footing. His actual problem can be making an attempt to energise and unite the monetary hubs across the Arkansas program, which give this system an opportunity to speed up however have not all the time been harnessed.
Athletic director Hunter Yurachek was blunt earlier this yr concerning the elevated sources wanted to compete higher within the SEC. Arkansas seemingly might entry these people and firms with the appropriate coach and imaginative and prescient. That is the place Silverfield is available in, as Arkansas can use these relationships to beat a few of its baked-in obstacles. Silverfield will want a powerful introductory interval, as Arkansas followers won’t know him that properly and must embrace his persona and management type. The primary offseason can be essential to verify this system does not fall additional behind.
Grade: B
Silverfield’s consistency and success tended to go below the radar at a program like Memphis, the place folks have grown accustomed to essentially sturdy seasons. However his regular management type, proven in 2023, 2024 and most of this yr, ought to assist an Arkansas program that wants clear route. He hasn’t coached within the SEC, and there could possibly be a studying curve, however he should not be shocked strolling within the door at Arkansas, after spending a lot time with Memphis. — Rittenberg
Why is that this a very good match?
Each SEC faculty asks its head coaches to be engaged in recruiting, and Auburn is not any exception. Though Auburn by no means obtained the outcomes it wished with Hugh Freeze, the varsity’s strategy towards NIL and buying expertise — a significant draw when it tried to lure Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss — confirmed up on the roster. Golesh is the kind of head coach who might harness Auburn’s established personnel equipment and actually maximize issues going ahead. He is about as hands-on within the recruiting area as head coaches get. When Golesh was offensive coordinator at Tennessee, I keep in mind sitting in his workplace and seeing him monitor all of the recruiting transactions from social media on a large display. Golesh will get after it to improve Auburn’s roster and use all of the sources obtainable to him. He will not be intimidated by the SEC recruiting scene and has ties to a number of states, together with Florida and Ohio.
Golesh additionally brings an offensive background that ought to energize Auburn followers, particularly after how poorly issues went on that facet of the ball below Freeze. He hung out with Matt Campbell early in his profession, after which with Josh Heuepel at each UCF and Tennessee. South Florida ranks within the prime 5 nationally in each scoring and complete offense this season, and its protection shined in wins towards Boise State and Florida.
What can be Golesh’s largest problem?
The problem at Auburn is sort of all the time the identical. Can the pinnacle coach actually capitalize on the perfect elements of the place — an advantageous recruiting location, sturdy monetary sources and a big and intensely devoted fan base — whereas navigating the large donors and different important forces which have clashed too usually over time and in the end held again this system’s progress. Golesh is a powerful communicator and brings a very good mixture of experiences to the Plains, most notably his two seasons as an SEC coordinator at Tennessee.
He hasn’t been an SEC head coach, although, and might want to present he will not be pushed round or swayed by the forces which have doomed Auburn up to now. Golesh’s workers hires at Auburn can be particularly necessary on protection, as South Florida made strides on that facet this season but in addition struggled in key losses to Memphis and Navy. The opposite ingredient value watching is how Golesh balances the personnel ingredient, undoubtedly his ardour, with a few of the different key duties that include managing an thrilling however sophisticated program like Auburn.
Grade: B+
Regardless of no Energy 4 head-coaching expertise, Golesh checks loads of packing containers along with his background, having labored within the Large Ten, Large 12 and SEC, and within the Midwest, South and Southeast. His time at Tennessee ought to actually assist him at a program like Auburn, which has an opportunity to maneuver up within the SEC pecking order however will want a wise, aggressive strategy. Golesh’s document of 23-15 does not actually leap off the web page, and he hasn’t been a part of a convention championship simply but. However his assertive imaginative and prescient as a recruiter provides Auburn an opportunity to rapidly enhance its roster and begin to win extra in an more and more troublesome SEC. — Rittenberg
Why is that this a very good match?
Pritchard understands Stanford — its benefits, limitations and prospects — higher than most. He performed quarterback for the Cardinal from 2006 to 2009, forward of Andrew Luck’s run, after which spent the primary 13 years of his teaching profession along with his alma mater, till becoming a member of the Washington Commanders’ workers in 2023. He will not be blindsided by what he is strolling into at Stanford. He additionally has a really shut relationship with Luck, who is actually directing this system. There can be no feeling-out interval between head coach and common supervisor.
Pritchard, 38, was a part of Stanford’s seismic shift below Jim Harbaugh, quarterbacking the workforce to a signature win towards USC in 2007. He then witnessed Stanford’s rise to a constant contender and, extra importantly, noticed how issues went downhill so rapidly after COVID and within the portal/NIL period. His capacity to study from these troublesome instances and guarantee Stanford avoids them can be necessary. However once more, he isn’t doing this alone, as he is available in instantly aligned with Luck. — Rittenberg
What can be Pritchard’s largest problem?
Producing momentum. Few folks share as shut an affiliation with a few of the largest moments in Stanford historical past as Pritchard, however throughout these heights, the Cardinal by no means actually resonated broadly inside a aggressive San Francisco Bay Space sports activities market. With the collapse of the Pac-12 and 6 shedding seasons up to now seven years, Stanford soccer has primarily turn into irrelevant regionally. Constructing a program below these circumstances is troublesome.
The tutorial facet of issues will all the time be a draw and may, in idea, assist this system restrict extreme outgoing transfers, however there additionally must be a strong NIL program. At Stanford that does not should be an issue. The college’s alumni base is notably rich, nevertheless it additionally has not proved to be a bunch wanting to half with massive sums of cash to assist discipline a greater soccer workforce. That is maybe extra of a difficulty that Luck can be answerable for coping with, however it is rather a lot a part of the hand Pritchard has been dealt.
Past the structural challenges, that is only a workforce that wants a expertise improve. They do not have the gamers proper now to compete at a excessive degree. — Kyle Bonagura
Grade: C+
Luck did not take advantage of imaginative rent right here. He went with a detailed buddy who wants no introduction to Stanford and the imaginative and prescient for fulfillment there. However Pritchard hasn’t been a head coach earlier than and wasn’t talked about as being on the radar for a lot of different school or NFL jobs. Stanford is absolutely betting on potential right here. He solely actually is aware of Stanford, which could work out on this case, however he additionally should study from what occurred towards the tip of David Shaw’s tenure and chart out a brand new path. — Rittenberg
Why is that this a very good match?
Oklahoma State wanted a coach who knew the Large 12 and the area, and somebody who might deliver a transparent imaginative and prescient, particularly on offense. Quarterback play was central to Oklahoma State’s identification below Mike Gundy, and Morris has turn into top-of-the-line expertise identifiers in recent times. Oklahoma State must speed up its recruiting, however possible will not have the primary selection for gamers, and Morris has repeatedly proven the flexibility to seek out and develop under-the-radar gamers. Ideally, he can deliver quarterback Drew Mestemaker and others to Stillwater, and maybe extra importantly, make Oklahoma State a sexy vacation spot for prime offensive performers once more.
Morris performed and coached within the Large 12 at Texas Tech and hung out at Houston early in his profession, so he will not be unfamiliar with the important thing traits of a program like Oklahoma State. He isn’t a Gundy disciple, however he can respect what Gundy did to raise this system, whereas implementing his personal imaginative and prescient, which labored each at Incarnate Phrase and at North Texas. — Rittenberg
What can be Morris’ largest problem?
The reply right here is twofold: 1) Morris should reside as much as the unprecedented ranges of constant success his predecessor introduced Oklahoma State; 2) Morris may even have to determine precisely tips on how to take the Cowboys’ soccer program to the longer term.
On the primary level, whomever Oklahoma State selected to rent this cycle was going to be changing a coach who received extra — and extra persistently — than another determine in program historical past. Earlier than 2023, the Cowboys made 18 consecutive bowl appearances below Gundy, successful eight or extra video games in 13 of these seasons. Previous main Oklahoma State to the very prime of the game and turning this system right into a nationwide model, Gundy’s biggest achievement was reworking a faculty that had registered back-to-back 10-win seasons solely as soon as earlier than he took over in 2005 right into a perennial winner. Morris, who made two playoff appearances at Incarnate Phrase and has North Texas contending for the American this fall, has a historical past of manufacturing fast turnarounds. Getting Oklahoma State upright — which is able to possible require an enormous roster and workers overhaul — must be his first goal. From there, Morris can be judged on the expectations set by Gundy earlier than him.
How does Morris take Oklahoma State into the longer term? Gundy’s preliminary, outspoken reluctance, then too-little, too-late embrace of faculty soccer’s NIL/switch portal period harm the Cowboys on the sector and laid the groundwork for his unceremonious departure earlier this fall. Oklahoma State has fallen behind when it comes to roster budgeting in comparison with its Large 12 counterparts, and trade sources urged that the Cowboys’ capacity to current improved sources could be a key piece of the hiring course of. Morris has constructed a profession on making extra out of much less, and that may serve him properly in Stillwater. He has additionally confirmed able to navigating the switch portal and the present complexities of the game. With assist from Oklahoma State (and its boosters), Morris should take steps to modernize this system. If he can, a Large 12 convention panorama that is still broad open exterior of Texas Tech might as soon as once more be Oklahoma State’s for the taking. — Eli Lederman
Grade: A-
Morris is simply 40 (cue the Gundy memes), hasn’t been a Energy 4 head coach, and earlier than this season had solely middling outcomes with North Texas. His quarterback monitor document is his superpower, although, and Oklahoma State wants a renaissance on the place after issues fell off too sharply. Morris can recruit Texas and construct up the roster. Time will inform if he has the experience to win one-score video games in a league the place packages are extraordinarily related. — Rittenberg
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Paul Finebaum: Is Virginia Tech an improve for James Franklin?
Paul Finebaum weighs in on James Franklin reportedly being employed as Virginia Tech’s subsequent coach.
Why is that this a very good match?
When Franklin was fired and virtually instantly introduced his intentions to educate in 2026, Virginia Tech emerged as a pure touchdown spot for the 53-year-old. He has spent most of his profession close to the mid-Atlantic area, twice serving as a Maryland assistant, main packages in Vanderbilt and Penn State and even working throughout the state at James Madison in 1997.
He understands the important thing recruiting areas extraordinarily properly. Franklin in the end was fired for not successful the largest video games at Penn State, however he nonetheless received loads of them (104) and understands tips on how to construct a persistently profitable program. Virginia Tech in the end needed to do extra of the promoting right here and persuade a veteran coach that it was financially critical sufficient to contend within the ACC. Franklin is not shy about asking for what he wants, and he would not take the job if he did not really feel that Virginia Tech’s investments are ample to compete for ACC championships. — Rittenberg
What can be Franklin’s largest problem?
This rent wouldn’t have occurred with out the monetary funding Virginia Tech is about to make in soccer. The Hokies have languished behind their ACC counterparts in practically each space — from staffing to salaries to NIL — and a few of that has to do with an outdated mind-set. The one by line has been the thought that the Hokies might win the best way Frank Beamer received. That may be a massive cause why they employed Brent Pry, who served as Franklin’s defensive coordinator, as head coach in November 2021. That clearly didn’t work, as Pry by no means received greater than seven video games in a season. Virginia Tech pledged so as to add $229 million to its total athletics funds over the subsequent 4 years — an enormous concession that the previous mannequin not works on this new period of faculty soccer.
However Franklin has to get the complete athletic division to consider the previous Beamer days actually are over and issues should be achieved his means. That’s problem No. 1. The second problem is to revive Virginia Tech’s prowess in recruiting its residence state. Franklin had success taking gamers out of Virginia Tech’s yard and turning them into stars at Penn State. Will he have the ability to do the identical now at Virginia Tech, which has misplaced an infinite quantity of floor to powers exterior the state? The highschool gamers being recruited now have been toddlers the final time Virginia Tech was a nationally revered program taking part in in BCS video games. They do not keep in mind the Hokies being elite. Convincing gamers to remain in state can be a problem, however one which Franklin can obtain given his monitor document. — Adelson
Grade: A
Virginia Tech’s two post-Frank Beamer hires have been a coach who had not led a Energy 4 program (Justin Fuente) and a first-time head coach (Brent Pry). In Franklin, Virginia Tech will get a confirmed winner from the Large Ten and SEC, who is aware of the area extraordinarily properly and can be extraordinarily motivated to compete for league titles and CFP appearances.
Franklin’s big-stage shortcomings are a priority however maybe not as a lot for a program like Virginia Tech, which is looking for to turn into a constant convention title contender once more. — Rittenberg