Time may heal all wounds. Just don’t tell college football coaches.
CBS Sports has decided to go back three years and regrade the 16 new hires we evaluated in the 2021 hiring cycle. There are plenty of success stories. Texas is finally all the way back under Steve Sarkisian. Josh Heupel has shaped Tennessee into a top-10 program. Jedd Fisch cashed his turnaround job at Arizona into a Big Ten job at Washington.
But of those 16 hires, only nine remain at the school that hired them three years ago. Five were fired, and none of those five have gotten another head coaching job to this point. (To be fair, Southern Miss’ Will Hall was fired last week, while Utah State’s Blake Anderson was let go before the season.)
One (Fisch) changed head coaching jobs. Another — Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack — gave up a head coaching job at a Group of Five school to be a coordinator at a top-five program.
Seven of the 16 got their first head coaching job in 2021. Three were Power Five gigs. Two of those seven have been fired. Only three — Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea, Marshall’s Charles Huff and South Carolina’s Shane Beamer — are still at their 2021 schools.
Such is the profession these days. That Class of 2021 coaches you see below have a cumulative .496 winning percentage at the schools that hired them that year. They have accumulated 25 bowls, two conference championships one College Football Playoff berth.
Here’s how time has shaped and reshaped the careers of those 16 coaches three years later.
Coaches still in place
Steve Sarkisian, Texas
In ’21, we compared Sark to the Tom Herman hire at Texas in 2017. Back then, that meant: championship pedigree, offensive-minded coach, hottest name left on the board. That was Sark in 2021. The way things are working out, Sark will be remembered as one of the greatest hires in Texas athletic history. He methodically prepared the program for the SEC, a journey headlined by a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff berth in 2023. Despite the recent loss to Georgia, Texas is in the SEC hunt in its first year as an SEC member. Sark has recruited at a high level, particularly matching up along both lines in the SEC. In his fourth season, he also led the Horns to their first No. 1 ranking in 14 years. Regrade: A+ | 2021 grade: A
Josh Heupel, Tennessee
OK, so I wasn’t a believer four years ago. Winning at UCF and diving into the SEC cauldron at Tennessee are two different things. But Heupel quickly woke the echoes, ending the Alabama losing streak two years ago and recruiting at an elite level. Under Heupel, the Vols have become nationally relevant again. It will be a surprise if they don’t make the CFP with at least a 10-2 record. Former five-star QB recruit Nico Iamaleava has eased into the role in his first year as a starter. Most pleasing might be the defense under coordinator Tim Banks. If that unit keeps producing, Tennessee will be in the SEC hunt annually. We got a personal look at Heupelearlier this season when he beat his alma mater (Oklahoma), a place where he both won a national championship and was fired as a coordinator. Regrade: A+ | 2021 grade: C
Bret Bielema, Illinois
Bielema led the Illini out of the disaster that was the Lovie Smith era. It took until his fourth season, but Bielema has built the Illini in his image and likeness. They are physical. They are resilient. They are ranked within a season for only the second time since 2011. Under Bielema, Chase Brown became third Illini player to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons. Ole Miss transfer quarterback Luke Altmyer has blossomed the last two seasons. Since the beginning of 2022, the defense has created 60 turnovers. After underachieving at Arkansas, Bielema looks to be a long-timer at Illinois in a conference he knows well. Regrade: A | 2021 grade: A-
Lance Leipold, Kansas
After three seasons, Kansas under Leipold was one of the most inspiring turnaround stories in the country. This season has been a disappointment, however. The Jayhawks have made a habit out of losing late. This was a program that hoped to contend for the Big 12 title, but quarterback Jalen Daniels has simply turned the ball over too much during a 2-6 start. With the calendar about to flip to November, Kansas has beaten exactly one FBS opponent. The loss of offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki to Penn State has had an impact. Let’s hope this season is merely a hiccup with a nine-figure stadium renovation on the horizon. Leipold remains one of the most respected coaches in the game. Regrade: A | 2021 grade: A-
Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
Until this season, Lea was known best by his 2022 media days proclamation: “We know in time Vanderbilt football will be the best program in the country.” No one’s laughing anymore. After a monster upset over Alabama this season, Lea at least hinted the Commodores can be competitive in the SEC. After masterfully activating the transfer portal, including the acquisition of quarterback Diego Pavia, Lea has a chance to win nine games for only the fifth time in program history. This season, Lea proved he can recruit, develop and coach. It seems the 42-year-old former Vanderbilt running back is in for the long haul. A playoff berth in the near future isn’t out of the question. Regrade: A | 2021 grade: B
Charles Huff, Marshall
There were questions about Huff having never been a coordinator when he arrived in Huntington, West Virginia, as Alabama’s running backs coach. Three-and-a-half seasons in, Marshall football is on solid footing. Huff can draft for a long time off the 2022 win at Notre Dame. A fourth straight bowl under Huff is possible. Given Marshall’s investment in football, you can envision the Thundering Herd getting hot in the Sun Belt and grabbing a playoff spot some year. Regrade: A- | 2021 grade: B-
Shane Beamer, South Carolina
I was not optimistic in 2021. Beamer had never been a coordinator. There were massive defections upon his hiring. The Gamecocks had been 6-16 the previous two seasons. Under Beamer, South Carolina has become a program too dangerous to play at times. Beamer’s 24-21 record represents the best winning percentage over four seasons at South Carolina since Steve Spurrier. Beamer’s best win remains a 31-30 upset over a top-10 Clemson a couple of years ago. After starting 3-5 against ranked teams, Beamer has lost his last nine against ranked teams in the top 25. Beamer has built a solid foundation, but now it’s time to take the next step. That might come Saturday against Texas A&M. Regrade: C+ | 2021 grade: C
Gus Malzahn, UCF
Back then, we said the change in lifestyle would fit Malzahn perfectly. No more living in Alabama’s shadow. No more aggravation from Auburn boosters. UCF welcomed him with open arms. This was a comeback at a program that would eventually transition to the Power Four in the Big 12. After some early promise at UCF, the program has leveled out in Year 4. The offense that was so dynamic at Auburn and carried the Knights to the AAC Championship Game in 2022 has slowed. Malzahn is 9-14 in his 23 games and hasn’t made a dent yet in the Big 12. He has company; that’s the same record as Auburn’s Hugh Freeze over that span. There must be something about Auburn. Malzahn’s quarterbacks have included Dillon Gabriel, John Rhys Plumlee and KJ Jefferson. Not a bad group. Still, the Knights are only 27-21 in his four seasons. Regrade: C | 2021 grade: A+
Butch Jones, Arkansas State
Jones’ upward arc started to flatten after an uneven stay at Tennessee. After shooting up the charts at Central Michigan and Cincinnati, Jones is a cumulative six games under .500. A rehab stay under Nick Saban as an analyst/assistant got him back in the game. However, the turnaround at Arkansas State took longer than expected. In Year 4, the Red Wolves are looking at their first winning season since 2019. Jones has Arkansas State tied for second in the Sun Belt West with a month go. Division rivals Louisiana and ULM stand in the way of a division title. “The way I look at it we’re just beginning,” Jones said. Regrade: C | 2021 grade: B
Coaches who were fired or resigned
Andy Avalos, Boise State
The former Broncos linebacker followed a familiar trend. Since 1998, the school has hired a former Boise State player or assistant coach for the head job. The former Boise assistant had a weird three-and-out run at his alma mater. Avalos won 10 games his second season, became Mountain West Coach of the Year and was 5-5 in his third season before being fired. During the same year in which the Broncos threatened to finish with its first losing season in 1997, it also won the Mountain West. Avalos is currently the TCU defensive coordinator. Regrade: C- | 2021 grade: B
Blake Anderson, Utah State
It’s important to strike the right tone with Anderson. The man deserves all the sympathy in the world after losing his wife to cancer and a son to suicide. After winning the Mountain West in his first season, Anderson never made it to a fourth season. After an internal investigation, Anderson was found to be non-compliant with school rules requiring reporting of sexual misconduct claims. In August, Anderson said he intended to sue Utah State for wrongful termination. Regrade: C- | 2021 grade: B+
Terry Bowden, ULM
At age 66, Bobby Bowden’s son wanted one more shot. He got it three years ago at ULM but didn’t last to 2024 after going 10-26. The Warhawks are in the middle of a dramatic turnaround under first-year coach Bryant Vincent, however. They’ve won five games and stand a half game out of first in the division. Win two more and the Warhawks would have their most wins since 2012. Regrade: D- | 2021 grade: B
Will Hall, Southern Miss
Hall made total sense for the Eagles in 2021. The Mississippi native had been a two-time JUCO All-American quarterback. As Tulane’s offensive coordinator in 2020 under Willie Fritz, the Green Wave averaged 34 points, its highest number in a decade. He failed from there, however, losing 18 of his last 24 games at Southern Miss. Hall was fired on Oct. 20 after a 1-6 start. Regrade: D- | 2021 grade: B
Bryan Harsin, Auburn
Harsin never seemed to be a good fit; that’s an understatement. A Boise guy from the Mountain West never was comfortable in the SEC climate. Harsin turned out to be one of the biggest fails in our time grading hires. He lasted 21 games, and in the end both parties couldn’t get away from each other fast enough. It’s tragic, but a big buyout will cushion the fall. Harsin will be back somewhere in the game; he is too good of an offensive mind. For now, though, he’s doing a lot of nothing judging by this recent interview. Regrade: F | 2021 grade: A-
Coaches who were hired away
Jedd Fisch, Arizona
Fisch’s turnaround at Arizona remains one of the best of the decade. At a time when the athletic department and school were bleeding money, Fisch took the Wildcats from 1-11 to 10-3 in two seasons. He cannot be blamed for bolting to Washington after last season. The Huskies are off to a 4-4 start one season after playing for the national championship. Look at it as a jumping off point for Fisch, similar to what happened at Arizona. Regrade: A | 2021 grade: C
Kane Wommack, South Alabama
Wommack remains one of the young up and comers — just not as a head coach. He was among a group of head coaches (Chip Kelly, Jeff Hafley) who gave up being the head guy to become assistants. Wommack can’t be blamed for leaving South Alabama to become Alabama’s defensive coordinator. His resume as an assistant at ‘Bama probably looks better than staying with the Jags. At the age of 37, Wommack already has been a defensive coordinator at two Power Four programs — Indiana and Alabama. In three seasons with the Jags, Wommack led South Alabama to the 2022 Sun Belt Championship Game. Other than that, he was 12-13. Wommack left the program largely like he found it, which isn’t a bad thing. Regrade: B | 2021 grade: B
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