FCS Head Coaching Changes Before The 2026 Season

Last offseason, there were 23 FCS head coaching changes. That was down from 30 in 2024 and 28 in 2023.

We’ll track the head coaching changes heading into the 2026 season below.

Southern

Departing coach: Terrence Graves
Date: 10/20
Reason: “Relieved of his duties”

New hire: Marshall Faulk (Colorado RBs Coach)

Samford

Departing coach: Chris Hatcher
Date: 11/9
Reason: “Relieved of duties”

New hire: John Grass (Clemson Senior Offensive Assistant/Assistant QBs Coach)

Weber State

Departing coach: Mickey Mental
Date: 11/10
Reason: “Parted ways”

New hire: Eric Kjar (Corner Canyon High School HC)

UAlbany

Departing coach: Jared Ambrose (2025 interim)
Date: 11/18
Reason: Conduct a national search for a new head coach after Ambrose served as the 2025 interim HC

New hire: Tom Perkovich (Susquehanna University HC)

Portland State

Departing coach: Bruce Barnum
Date: 11/22
Reason: “Relieved of his coaching duties”

New hire: Chris Fisk (Central Washington HC)

Hampton

Departing coach: Trent Boykin
Date: 11/23
Reason: “Leadership change”

New hire: Van Malone (Kansas State DBs/assistant HC)

Cal Poly

Departing coach: Paul Wulff
Date: 11/23
Reason: “Change in leadership”

New hire: Tim Skipper (UCLA interim HC)

Penn

Departing coach: Ray Priore
Date: 11/24
Reason: Stepping down from his position

New hire: Rick Santos (New Hampshire HC)

Sac State

Departing coach: Brennan Marion
Date: 12/4
Reason: Accepted the Colorado OC position

New hire: Alonzo Carter (Arizona RBs/assistant HC)

Bucknell

Departing coach: Dave Cecchini
Date: 12/8
Reason: “Leadership change”

New hire: Jeff Behrman (John Carroll University HC)

Florida A&M

Departing coach: James Colzie III
Date: 12/8
Reason: Relieved of his duties

New hire: Quinn Fordham Gray Sr. (Albany State HC)

Mercer

Departing coach: Mike Jacobs
Date: 12/10
Reason: Accepted the Toledo HC position

New hire: Joel Taylor (West Georgia HC)

Monmouth

Departing coach: Kevin Callahan
Date: 12/11
Reason: Transitioning to a special advisor role within the athletic department

New hire: Jeff Gallo (Monmouth associate HC)

West Georgia

Departing coach: Joel Taylor
Date: 12/11
Reason: Accepted the Mercer HC position

New hire: Steve Englehart (Presbyterian HC)

New Hampshire

Departing coach: Rick Santos
Date: 12/13
Reason: Accepted the Penn HC position

New hire: Sean Goldrich (Delaware QBs coach, pass game coordinator)

Gardner-Webb

Departing coach: Cris Reisert
Date: 12/15
Reason: Accepted the Toledo OC position

New hire: Kris McCullough (University of Texas-Permian Basin HC)

Howard

Departing coach: Larry Scott
Date: 12/15
Reason: Stepped down to accept the position as Auburn’s TEs coach

New hire: Ted White (Maryland Senior Offensive Assistant)

VMI

Departing coach: Danny Rocco
Date: 12/16
Reason: Stepped down to accept a job on the Virginia Tech staff

New hire: Ashley Ingram (Carson-Newman HC)

Presbyterian

Departing coach: Steve Englehart
Date: 12/17
Reason: Accepted the West Georgia HC position

New hire: Matt Rahl (Presbyterian OL coach, run game coordinator)

Mercyhurst

Departing coach: Ryan Riemedio
Date: 1/28
Reason: Took the Youngstown State DC position

New hire: Thomas Sydeski (Mercyhurst OC)

Montana

Departing coach: Bobby Hauck
Date: 2/4
Reason: Retired, then was hired as Illinois DC

New hire: Bobby Kennedy (Montana WRs coach)

South Dakota

Departing coach: Travis Johansen
Date: 2/6
Reason: Took the Rutgers DC position

New hire: Matt Vitzthum (USD co-OC/QBs coach)

Drake

Departing coach: Joe Woodley
Date: 2/9
Reason: Took a defensive assistant coaching job at Rutgers

New hire: Matt Walker (University of Wisconsin-River Falls HC)

Yale

Departing coach: Tony Reno
Date: 2/17
Reason: Stepping down due to health reasons

New hire: Kevin Cahill (Lehigh HC)

Lehigh

Departing coach: Kevin Cahill
Date: 2/24
Reason: Took the Yale HC job

New hire: Rich Nagy (Lehigh DC)