Biff Poggi, formerly Charlotte’s head coach, was aiming to change the culture of the team, which has been in the FBS for about a decade.
But he was 6-16 during two seasons with the 49ers, including a 3-7 mark this year. That led to him being fired.
Associate head coach Tim Brewster became the 49ers interim head coach for the rest of the 2024 season.
“I am thankful to Biff Poggi for his leadership and mentorship of our student-athletes over these past two seasons,” Charlotte athletic director Mike Hill said in a press release. “No one can question Biff’s passion for helping young people succeed in life, both personally and professionally, but our on-field results have unfortunately fallen short of everyone’s expectations. As we move forward into the next chapter of Charlotte 49er Football, we will be looking for a leader to take our program to the next level as a consistent bowl and championship contender.”
Here are some coaches Charlotte could consider for its head coaching search.
Syracuse Offensive Coordinator Jeff Nixon
Nixon has a plethora of experience coaching for NFL and college teams and has worked with plenty of star players.
Nixon is in his first season as the Orange’s OC, and they are 22nd in the country in total offense (445.6 yards per game) and are 36th in scoring offense (31.8 points per game) going into Week 13 of this year. Before coaching at Syracuse, Nixon was a running backs coach with the New York Giants and worked with Saquon Barkley. He also was a coach for the Carolina Panthers before that and was briefly their interim OC while also coaching running backs.
Before that, Nixon called plays as a co-offensive coordinator for Baylor, which ranked 17th in the FBS with 35.2 points per game in 2019. He was in the NFL before that, coaching tight ends for the San Francisco 49ers (2016), running backs for the Miami Dolphins (2011-15), and offense and special teams for the Philadelphia Eagles (2007-10). He also coached running backs at Temple (2006), Chattanooga (2003-05), Shippensburg (1999-02), and Princeton (1998). The former West Virginia and Penn State running back began his coaching career as a student assistant at Penn State in 1997.
Nixon’s offensive knowledge and resume would make him a good choice.
East Tennessee State Head Coach Tre Lamb
Lamb was previously the head coach at Gardner-Webb, which made impressive strides during his time there.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs were 2-2 in the spring of 2021 and 4-7 during the fall of that year. Then Lamb, who was Tennessee Tech’s offensive coordinator before, led the Runnin’ Bulldogs to their first Big South championship since 2003 by going undefeated in conference play. Lamb was the conference’s coach of the year in 2022.
Last year, the Runnin’ Bulldogs were Big South/OVC co-champions and reached the FCS Playoffs again. ETSU is 6-5 this year.
If the 49ers were to consider someone from the FCS ranks, Lamb’s name should certainly come up.
Duke Offensive Coordinator Jonathan Brewer
Brewer has familiarity with the region and the AAC.
Brewer is in his first season being the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Duke, which is 7-3 overall this year. Before this, he was a co-offensive coordinator and QBs coach at SMU, which was competing in the American Athletic Conference at the time, from 2022-23. He was also an offensive quality control analyst there from 2018-19.
Brewer also worked under current Duke head coach Manny Diaz when he was the head coach at Miami. Brewer was a senior offensive quality control assistant from 2020-21.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant with a focus on the offensive line at Auburn from 2013-15. He also was an offensive analyst there in 2016 and at UConn in 2017.
Brewer would make sense for Charlotte.
Duke Running Backs Coach Willie Simmons
Simmons, another Duke assistant, has the kind of head coaching experience Charlotte might be looking for.
Simmons is in his first season at Duke after previously being the head coach at Florida A&M. In six years there, Simmons went 45-13 and 34-5 against SWAC opponents. In 2023, a year when Simmons was the SWAC Coach of the Year, the Rattlers won their first SWAC title and the Celebration Bowl. They also were fifth in the FCS rankings. He coached multiple All-American players like Isaiah Land, who was the Buck Buchanan Award winner in 2021.
Before going to Florida A&M, Simmons was the head coach at Prairie View A&M from 2015-17. He had a winning record there as well, going 21-11.
Previously, he was an offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Alcorn State (2012-14). But he also has other FBS experience, having been an offensive coordinator, running backs coach, and passing game coordinator at Middle Tennessee (2007-11). He was also a graduate assistant at Clemson in 2006.
Clemson Co-Defensive Coordinator Mickey Conn
Conn is another current Power Four assistant currently working in that area of the country who would be a good hire for Charlotte.
Clemson is currently in the top 50 in the FBS in scoring defense (22.2 points per game allowed) and total defense (346.8 yards per game allowed). Conn has worked with several All-Americans and All-ACC honorees as well.
Conn has coached at Clemson since 2016. He’s currently the team’s safeties coach and was a senior defensive analyst early during his time there as well. Before that, he was the head coach at Grayson High School in Georgia for 16 seasons, where he went 137-48.
Texas A&M Offensive Line Coach Adam Cushing
Cushing has been an assistant at multiple FBS schools and has head coaching experience, which could make him one for Charlotte to consider.
He’s in his first season as Texas A&M’s offensive line coach and run game coordinator. The Aggies are 12th in the country with 212.5 rushing yards per game after Week 12 this season.
Before this, he was a run game coordinator and offensive line coach at Duke for two seasons. And before that, he was Eastern Illinois’ head coach from 2019-21.
Previously, he worked in several roles at Northwestern. While there, he was an offensive line coach (2012-18), an offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator (2009-11), a superbacks coach and recruiting coordinator (2008), a tight ends/H-Backs coach (2005-07), and a graduate assistant who focused on the offensive line (2004).
He could end up being a coach to watch out for during Charlotte’s search.
