Every year there is a number of major coaching changes that take place around the college football world but this year in particular the number was a lot higher than before with 27 of the 128 FBS programs hiring new head coaches this offseason. A quick look at this year’s College Football Playoff teams illustrates how important it is for coaches to establish a winning culture but the reality is that a new voice and leadership can have an immediate and dramatic impact in the right place. Here is a look at the four new college football coaches projected to have the most success next season.
Kirby Smart
Georgia Bulldogs
Smart is coming off another national championship as the defensive coordinator at Alabama and while he is becoming a head coach for the first time everything about his experience with the Crimson Tide should help him at Georgia. It also helps that he is stepping in to an excellent situation with the opportunity to inherit several quality pieces on a Bulldogs’ defense that will once again be led by star pass rusher Leonard Floyd along with a young secondary that led the nation in pass defense last season. Georgia will need to make improvements on the offensive side of the football but coordinator Jim Chaney and offensive line coach Sam Pittman are quality assistants and the Bulldogs will be able to lean on star running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. The schedule also shapes up as being pretty favorable for the Bulldogs so there is no doubt that Smart should succeed next season.
Mark Richt
Miami Hurricanes
A lot of people were surprised when Georgia actually pulled the trigger to fire Mark Richt. Yes, he hadn’t delivered an SEC Championship in a while but he’s still one of the best coaches out there. He still delivered 8, 9 and 10-win teams every year. Richt immediately got scooped up at Miami and the head coach appears to have reinstalled a level of swagger back with his alma matter. The Hurricanes looked like a different team after Al Golden was fired as head coach and they should return most of their starters on both sides of the football. Quarterback Brad Kaaya is set to take another step forward following a strong sophomore campaign and could be among the top starters in the ACC, New defensive coordinator Manny Diaz can build around a strong secondary and some quality returning talent up front. The timing couldn’t be better for Richt to make his return and he should enjoy a high level of success now that he is back with Miami. He’s taken over a team with talent; the cupboard in not bare.
Justin Fuente
Virginia Tech Hokies
Miami isn’t the only ACC team that will benefit from the addition of a new head coach as Fuente is set to step in to take over for the legendary Frank Beamer following the end of an era at Virginia Tech. Fuente was one of the hottest commodities on the open market and he will catch a break by inheriting one of the best college football defensive coordinators in Bud Foster to help him with the transition. Fuente will need to have the biggest impact on the offensive side of the football where his influence will go a long way in determining how the season plays out for the Hokies but he was a smart coaching hire and the timing is perfect as Fuente looks to build on the tradition and take Virginia Tech to that next level. He’s one of the college football coaches that should thrive next year.
D.J. Durkin
Maryland Terrapins
There has been a lot of talk this offseason about the other three college football coaches on this list but the one that has flown under the radar a little bit is Durkin’s hiring at Maryland, where he will have the potential to really turn the Terrapins in to a perennial contender in the Big Ten. The former Michigan defensive coordinator has worked under Urban Meyer, Jim Harbaugh and Will Muschamp over the past decade and he has been in charge of several highly ranked defenses throughout his career so there is reason to believe that will continue at Maryland. Durkin will benefit from inheriting some quality talent on both sides of the football right away and that should help him as he makes the successful transition as the head coach for the Terrapins.
