Even by college football standards, where patience is rarely practiced, the AAC has been on a firing spree when it comes to its head coaches.
Through the end of the regular season, six of the 14 schools let go of their coach during the season. What is even more staggering is that three of the coaches were gone before completing their second season.
Schools appear more impatient than ever, and this is not just limited to Group of Five schools. But even in this climate, it’s staggering the short leash that the recently fired AAC coaches were given.
Here is a list of coaches who are no longer with their teams with their record at the school:
Florida Atlantic – Tom Herman (6-16) was fired in his second season after a 2-8 start.
Charlotte – Biff Poggi (6-16) was fired in his second season after a 3-7 start.
Tulsa – Kevin Wilson (7-16) was fired in his second season after a 3-8 start.
Temple – Stan Drayton (9-25) was gone during his third season after a 3-7 start.
East Carolina – Mike Houston (27-38) was fired in his sixth season after a 3-4 start.
Rice – Mike Bloomgren (24-52) was fired in his seventh season after a 2-6 start.
None of these coaches had winning records during their time at their AAC schools, but Houston led East Carolina to one bowl game and the Pirates earned a berth in another in 2021, but the Military Bowl was canceled that season due to a COVID-19 outbreak with Boston College.
Bloomgren never had a winning record in his six-plus seasons, but Rice earned bowl berths in consecutive years, 2022 and 2023.
One thing is for sure – these schools have high expectations for their football programs. That was evident by the comments made by FAU athletic director Brian White after the firing of Herman. Here is what FAU released in a statement on its website when announcing Herman’s dismissal:
“I extend my appreciation to Tom Herman for his dedication to our university and our student-athletes,” White said. “I informed Tom of my decision this morning and then met with the staff and team. We firmly believe in our ability to win championships and to compete for bowl games, and that remains our standard.”
That seems to be the standard for all the schools, and it should be, but it doesn’t make it easier on coaches, who are advised to get off to a good start.
It is not as if most G5 schools are flush with cash, but even that doesn’t seem to matter. Sports Illustrated reported that Herman is owed a $4.1 million buyout.
G5 coaching jobs are often looked at as stepping stones. Of the six fired coaches, Herman, Houston, and Wilson were head coaches before. Herman coached at Houston (before it was a Power Four school and while still in the AAC) and Texas and was a combined 54-22 at both schools with a 5-1 bowl record.
Wilson was the head coach at Indiana from 2011 through 2016, compiling a 26-27 record.
Houston was a head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne, The Citadel, and James Madison before being hired at East Carolina.
Bloomgren, Drayton, and Poggi were all first-time head college football coaches.
It shows coaches come from a variety of backgrounds, whether they were formally guiding a P4 team, were an up-and-coming assistant coach, or were a standout head coach at a so-called lower level.
As of the beginning of the week, three AAC positions have been filled. On Monday, Florida Atlantic hired Zach Kittley, who was the offensive coordinator at Texas Tech.
Temple hired Sam Houston head coach KC Keeler, who is originally from Emmaus, Pennsylvania, and was previously a head coach at two schools located within an hour of Temple – Rowan and Delaware.
Rice has named former Davidson head coach Scott Abell as its new head coach.
East Carolina named defensive coordinator Blake Harrell as the interim coach to replace Houston, but after he guided the Pirates to a 4-0 record, he was named the head coach before ECU’s final game of the regular season.
ECU lost its regular season finale to Navy 34-20. Will that put Harrell on the hot seat?
Only kidding, but you get the point. The time for a new coach to prove himself appears to be lessening as the expectations keep increasing.
