College football coaches in line for new jobs with big 2024 performances

Alex Atkins signed a new contractual agreement with the Seminoles last February, but another banner year offensively could threaten his future in Tallahassee. Mike Norvell called him one of his most important staffers for years, and singled him out specifically during Florida State’s unbeaten regular season and run to a conference title. Atkins recruits at a high level and has been able to use plug-and-play portal signees without issue. Norvell next tasks him with ensuring Oregon State transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is a difference maker.

Heading into his 12th season as the Hawkeyes’ secretary of defense, Phil Parker is worth his weight in gold to Kirk Ferentz. The 2023 Broyles Award winner, Parker’s unit often faces bad situations given Iowa’s ineptitude offensively and still, the Hawkeyes finished near the top of the country in ample categories defensively. At some point, there’s going to be an offer that makes Parker think a bit. The perfect opportunity may have been the vacancy at his alma-mater (Michigan State), but the Spartans quickly closed in on Jonathan Smith. Should one of the national title contenders lose their DC to the NFL during the next carousel, Parker has to get a call.

A Power conference defensive coordinator each of the past five seasons, Tony White’s unit at Nebraska should be one of the nation’s strongest based on the Huskers’ returning starters and the talent on the two-deep. Nebraska’s defense performed better than expected last fall during Matt Rhule’s first campaign, routinely bailing out a struggling unit that was giveaway-prone of the other side of the football. White’s unit is aggressive and presses the issue at the point of attack. White, 45, has never been a head coach at the college level, but a banner, top-25 finish with the Huskers in 2024 would certainly lift his resume and put him on the radar of elite programs.

If you’re Tashard Choice and the top dog at a top-five program like Texas, it would be hard to leave the Longhorns for another program unless it was a step up in role, ala coordinator or a head-coaching opportunity. The former Georgia Tech star running back has several elite playmakers in his backfield arsenal ahead of 2024 despite losing his workhorse to the NFL and is hoping to get a second straight conference championship — this time, in the SEC — as one of Steve Sarkisian’s top assistants.

Glenn Schumann, who emerged as one of the candidates for Mississippi State’s vacancy, helped captain a Georgia defense alongside Will Muschamp the last couple of years en route to consecutive national championships and a 13-win campaign in 2023. Last season, Schumann’s unit finished the season ranked No. 5 in scoring defense (15.6), ninth in yards allowed per game (289.1), No. 1 in third-down defense (25.7%). Even with a litany of new starters, Schumman’s defense still impressed last fall and that’s not going to change in 2024 after a top-ranked signing class.

Mentioned in LSU’s crosshairs before the Tigers honed in on Missouri’s Blake Baker as their new DC, Tony Gibson signed a three-year extension with the Wolfpack around Christmas that keeps him Raleigh unless a head-coaching opportunity arises. He’s one of college football’s highest-paid coordinators and just engineered one of the top defenses in program history in 2023 despite losing multiple NFL-caliber players like Drake Thomas, Isaiah Moore, Cory Durden, Tanner Ingle and Tyler Baker-Williams. After losing ACC Defensive Player of the Year Payton Wilson at linebacker, it’ll be interesting to see if Gibson’s star continues to shine brightly in the ACC.

Mike Elko intends to keep the former Kansas State star and assistant in College Station as long as he can since staff continuity is paramount in the SEC. However, if Klein has a great first season at Texas A&M and helps Conner Weigman transform into an all-conference type player at quarterback, potential offers from top 10 programs with vacancies may arise. Klein reportedly turn downs offers from Notre Dame and Penn State before landing Texas A&M’s position, so he’s a proven hot commodity.

Joe Sloan has never been a head coach, but his time is coming, especially if he produces another firework-popping offense at LSU this season as the lead man in charge following Mike Denbrock’s departure to Notre Dame. Sloan helped developed Jayden Daniels each of the past two seasons and watched him take the Heisman as a senior, dual-threat superstar. Sloan, 37, has a major opportunity to flex his value with Garrett Nussmeier at quarterback and a new-look group of wideouts set to take over after two first-rounders left the first team. The former ECU quarterback could get a Group of Five head coaching offer.

What’s the likelihood UNLV coach Barry Odom keeps Brennan Marion through another coaching cycle? They can’t be high, not considering how often Marion’s been connected to various vacancies in recent years. A wide receivers coach under Steve Sarkisian at Texas in 2022, Marion took a promotion as chief play-caller in the coordinator role at UNLV and hasn’t looked back. The Virginia native turns 37 in August and his best days appear to be ahead of him in coaching.

Could Will Stein only be around for a couple seasons on Dan Lanning’s staff at Oregon? It’s possible given the success level already achieved with Bo Nix as his facilitator offensively and now, Stein moves to former UCF and Oklahoma star Dillon Gabriel. Stein is a diamond in the rough of sorts after finding success on Jeff Traylor’s UTSA staff. He played collegiately at Louisville and the former quarterback understands various offensive concepts and how to scheme guys open in the passing game. Well-respected within the coaching fraternity, Stein should get an opportunity to lead a program on his own very soon.

Don’t call Ohio State sliding Brian Hartline into a co-OC role a demotion after hiring chip Kelly from UCLA. When you can land a coach of Kelly’s caliber, you do whatever you have to on staff to make it work. Harline’s flexibility shows he’s a team player and deeply cares about his alma-mater. He’s undoubtedly one of college football’s top recruiters and a rising star nationally as an assistant, but may not be around the collegiate coaching ranks forever after admitting last year that  leading players at the highest level is something that has always intrigued him. Hartline has signed a plethora of five stars during his time at Ohio State and when it comes to offensive principles, simply gets it.

There were sparks earlier this year leading to UCLA’s interest in the former Notre Dame and Alabama offensive coordinator, but the Bruins went with program alumnus Deshaun Foster and Tommy Rees wound up in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns. He’s a California native with family ties to UCLA, hence the connection. Rees will coach tight ends with the Browns this season and serve as the franchise’s passing game coordinator during his return to the NFL after previously working for then-San Diego Chargers in 2016. Rees, 31, will be a head coach at some point and his name is often mentioned amongst rising stars in the industry.