Will Healy transformed Austin Peay from a dumpster fire – the FCS program went 0-11 in 2016, his first year as the head coach – to a respectable squad, which went 13-10 over his next two seasons. Healy, currently just 37 years old, turned his young age, recruiting successes, and on-field results into a new job: the head coaching gig at Charlotte.
In his first year, Healy led Charlotte to a 7-6 record and created Club Lit, a post-win locker-room celebration that served as a motivational tactic and a powerful branding tool. Healy’s name started circulating as a rising star in the coaching ranks, someone destined to lead a Power 5 program in the near future. The same was true early in 2021 when Charlotte opened with a win over Duke and started the year 4-2 before the 49ers fell flat and finished 5-7.
Healy’s stock is lower right now, with college football betting odds often listing Charlotte as an underdog, something likely to continue for the next few weeks. The 49ers are a longshot to contend in Conference USA this fall.
Charlotte is a mess
Since Healy’s first season, Charlotte is 7-12, including an embarrassing 43-13 Week 0 loss to Florida Atlantic. The 49ers have lost six of their last seven games (all conference matchups) dating back to last season, with the losses coming by an average of 24 points. Charlotte allowed FAU to run and pass for over 200 yards, as the Owls nearly recorded 500 total yards without turning the ball over.
The defense is clearly an issue. The 49ers had the third-worst scoring defense in C-USA last season, allowing 34 points per game. ESPN’s efficiency metric ranked Charlotte 128th in defense in 2021, the third-worst mark in the FBS. New defensive coordinator Greg Brown has his work cut out for him as he tries to make the unit respectable.
Healy, a former college quarterback, has a background coaching offenses, where the 49ers averaged a semi-respectable 27.2 points per game last fall. In 2020, Charlotte posted similar numbers, scoring 27 points per game and allowing 32.5 points per contest.
Not all of the blame can fall on the defense, although that’s clearly a major area for concern.
It’s fair to wonder if Healy’s offense should get more out of their talent. Chris Reynolds is considered a top-tier C-USA quarterback, and wide receivers Grant DuBose and Victor Tucker are among the best in the conference. Scoring 13 points against Florida Atlantic, even with Reynolds temporarily exiting the game with an injury, is unacceptable.
Charlotte needs more on both sides of the football.
Healy on the hot seat?
It might be a stretch to put Healy on the hot seat, given his youth and previous successes, but Charlotte has higher aspirations than losing seasons in C-USA. Charlotte, which began fielding football teams again in 2013 after a nearly 70-year hiatus, is joining the AAC in 2023. Joining a better football conference coupled with a prime location in the largest North Carolina city suggests Charlotte is capable of becoming a strong Group of 5 team.
Right now, the program’s reality doesn’t match the dream. Healy’s teams are falling short of rising expectations, and the 2022 schedule makes it hard to expect an immediate turnaround.
Already 0-1, Charlotte hosts William & Mary this week before a home game with Maryland and road games against Georgia State and South Carolina. Maryland, Georgia State, and South Carolina are all projected bowl teams, and Charlotte will likely be an underdog in all three games.
The 49ers could easily be 1-4 entering the bulk of their conference schedule. Making a bowl game could be a tall task.
Club Lit is currently closed for renovation. Will it reopen under Healy?
Bennett Conlin is a college football contributor for HERO Sports, and he works full-time covering sports betting industry news and legislation for Sports Handle and US Bets.
