While we are still months away from the college football coaching carousel picking up steam again, and while this year’s September 14 date that saw Brent Pry (Virginia Tech) and DeShaun Foster (UCLA) let go may ultimately prove to be an outlier, the hot seat will be warm for several coaches by September 2026. That said, it’s never too early to take a peek at who could be part of the next cycle.
I hit the phone lines with agents (who do not represent any of these coaches), search firms, and athletic directors to get their take on names that might pop up in the next hiring cycle. This is not meant to be a doomsday “your coach is leaving” exercise. Rather, it reflects a simple reality of the industry: if your coach is listed here, it means you’ve had success and people are talking about them.
Context matters here, too.
Last year, we saw the American Conference (AAC) raided heavily. Based on the general pulse and the information I am seeing now, many eyes appear to be shifting westward for the next group of coaches who could potentially find themselves squarely on the 2026 coaching carousel.
Jason Eck
Career Head Coaching Record: 35–17 (.673)
Idaho Vandals (FCS, Big Sky Conference | 2022–2024): 26–13
- 2022: 7–5 (6–2 Big Sky); FCS First Round
- 2023: 9–4 (6–2 Big Sky); FCS Quarterfinals
- 2024: 10–4 (6–2 Big Sky); FCS Quarterfinals
New Mexico Lobos (FBS, Mountain West Conference | 2025): 9–4
- 2025: 9–4 (6–2 Mountain West); Tied for 1st Place
“Eck generated meaningful interest during the most recent coaching cycle. While the market leaned more into the AAC coaches, there were legitimate conversations. Based on our feedback, he projects as a top-three candidate and, in many scenarios, a preferred target for a Power Four institution seeking to identify and have a coach from the Group of Six, contingent on continued on-field success next year. Should Colorado elect to move in a different direction, a reunion between Eck and Lovo would represent an almost too easy move to happen.” – Consultant, Executive Search Firm
Brent Vigen
Career Head Coaching Record: 61–12 (.836 winning percentage)
Montana State Bobcats (FCS, Big Sky Conference | 2021–2025): 61–12 overall
- 2021: 11–3 (7–1 Big Sky; FCS Championship Game appearance)
- 2022: 12–2 (8–0 Big Sky; Big Sky champion; FCS Semifinals)
- 2023: 8–4 (6–2 Big Sky; FCS Second Round)
- 2024: 15–1 (8–0 Big Sky; FCS Championship Game appearance)
- 2025: 14–2 (8–0 Big Sky; FCS National Champions)
“People may underestimate how close he came to the Washington State position two cycles ago. The interest was real, and so was his desire to compete at the highest level. Now, with a national championship on his résumé and real momentum behind the program, it’s reasonable to expect his name to surface in multiple searches. The complicating factor is timing. If his teams continue to play into December, the reality of our industry is that some gigs will move quickly and prioritize candidates who can step in immediately, which can narrow opportunities regardless of fit or even merit.” – Deputy Athletic Director, FBS
Dan Mullen
Career Head Coaching Record: 103–61 (.628 winning percentage)
Mississippi State Bulldogs (FBS, Southeastern Conference | 2009–2017): 69–46
- 2009–2017: 69–46 overall; eight consecutive bowl appearances
Florida Gators (FBS, Southeastern Conference | 2018–2021): 34–15
- 2018–2021: 34–15 overall; SEC East title and New Year’s Six appearances
UNLV Rebels (FBS, Mountain West Conference | 2025): 10–4
- 2025: 10–4 (6–2 conference); Mountain West Championship Game appearance, Frisco Bowl appearance
“Mullen is one to keep an eye on. There was a bit of an understated season at UNLV, where the roster was extremely talented but wildly inconsistent and, at times, very undisciplined. Regardless, he needs to win in his second year in Las Vegas. If he does, the conversation will quickly shift back to his track record and success in the SEC, where he, at a big picture, did a lot of nice things there.” – Former FBS Athletic Director
Sean Lewis
Career Head Coaching Record: 45–46 (.495 winning percentage) (FBS only; includes Kent State and San Diego State through 2025)
Kent State Golden Flashes (FBS, Mid-American Conference | 2018–2022): 24–31
- 2018: 2–10 (0–8 MAC)
- 2019: 7–7 (5–3 MAC; Frisco Bowl win)
- 2020: 3–1 (COVID-shortened; first back-to-back winning seasons since the 1970s)
- 2021: 7–6 (5–3 MAC; MAC East Division title)
- 2022: 5–7 (3–5 MAC)
San Diego State Aztecs (FBS, Mountain West Conference | 2024–2025): 21–15
- 2024: 3–9 (2–5 MW)
- 2025: 9–4 (6–2 MW; New Mexico Bowl appearance, 47–49 loss)
“Man, Sean Lewis is a dark horse in the next cycle. Don’t be fooled by his career record at Kent State; he did yeoman’s work there. That place is closer to a division two school than it actually is to its peers. After time in the Boulder experiment with Deion and a difficult first year in San Diego, he put together a solid season. If he backs it up for a second straight year, I think he really takes off in the carousel. Might be early on him.” – Current FBS Deputy Athletic Director
Kris McCullough
Career Head Coaching Record: 37–13 (.740 winning percentage, D-II and overall)
East Central Tigers (NCAA Division II, Great American Conference | 2022): 9–3 overall
- 2022: 9–3 (GAC season; Heritage Bowl victory)
UT Permian Basin Falcons (NCAA Division II, Lone Star Conference | 2023–2025): 28–10 overall
- 2023: 10–1 (8–0 LSC; Lone Star Conference champions, first program playoff appearance)
- 2024: 7–5 (6–3 LSC; second postseason appearance)
- 2025: 11–3 (LSC; NCAA Division II quarterfinals)
“There’s no chance he moves on in the next cycle, but there’s no denying there’s something there. At the very least, he’s intriguing in a lot of ways. What he’s done at the places he’s done it is unreal, and a lot of us are paying close attention.” – FCS Athletic Director
Jeff Traylor
Career Head Coaching Record: 53–26 (.671)
UTSA Roadrunners (FBS, American Athletic Conference | 2020–2025): 53–26 overall
- 2020: 7–5 (5–2 Conference USA; bowl appearance)
- 2021: 12–2 (7–1 Conference USA; C-USA champions)
- 2022: 11–3 (8–0 Conference USA; C-USA champions)
- 2023: 9–4 (7–1 AAC; Frisco Bowl win)
- 2024: 7–6 (4–4 AAC; Myrtle Beach Bowl win)
- 2025: 7–6 (4–4 AAC; First Responder Bowl win)
“Traylor’s shine has worn off a bit, especially over the last two years, but if he can get back to nine or ten wins next season, it will come back pretty quickly. And there’s just something about those Texas high school coaches that keeps their name in circles.” – Retired Agent
Matt Entz
Career Head Coaching Record: 69–15 (.821 winning percentage)
North Dakota State Bison (FCS, Missouri Valley Football Conference | 2019–2023): 60–11
- 2019: 16–0 (8–0 MVFC); FCS National Champions
- 2020–21: 7–3 (5–2 MVFC); FCS Quarterfinals
- 2021: 14–1 (7–1 MVFC); FCS National Champions
- 2022: 12–3 (7–1 MVFC); FCS Runner-Up
- 2023: 11–4 (5–3 MVFC); FCS Semifinals
Fresno State Bulldogs (FBS, Mountain West Conference | 2025): 9–4
- 2025: 9–4 (5–3 Mountain West); Arizona Bowl Win (18–3 over Miami (OH))
“Entz checks a **** ton of the boxes you look for in the carousel, especially if he can continue winning at Fresno State. I actually think he doesn’t get talked about enough. The FCS national championships always come with the ‘was it really him or NDSU?’ question, but he was a former student-athlete, and a head coach is a head coach. Winning is winning, especially over that many seasons. I also think the USC year will prove to be valuable.” – Consultant, Executive Search Firm
Indiana Coordinators: Bryant Haines (DC) and Mike Shanahan (OC)
“Haines and Shanahan are expected to emerge more prominently on the radar next year, provided their programs continue to win, which, at present, appears likely. There is a distinct sense of loyalty and identity among coaches in the Cignetti lineage, distinct from more expansive coaching trees such as Nick Saban’s, from which Cignetti himself originated. At the end of it, money talks, and coaches want to be a head coach.” – Agent, Opposing Firm
