Anthony Wilson
CBS Sports revealed the first half of your 2024 coaches rankings Tuesday, leaving a group of program leaders with the dubious distinction of the bottom 10. That list includes three of the four first-time coaches, as expected. It also features familiar names like former Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott and longtime head coach Scott Satterfield.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders is by far the biggest name in the bottom 10 after an encouraging 3-0 start as the Buffs fall to 1-8 in the conference. In fact, he dropped from his 2023 debut to 55th place. Purdue coach Ryan Walters also fell from his debut position, while Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea fell seven spots into the bottom 10.
Of the bottom 10 coaches in the 2023 rankings, three are no longer with their programs: Zach Arnett (fired), Tom Allen (fired) and Jeff Hafley (left for a period). NFL assistant work). Four coaches remain in the group: Troy Taylor, Ryan Walters, Kenny Dillingham and Tony Elliott.
Every coach on this list should look no further than Jedd Fisch for inspiration. Fisch led Arizona to a 10-win season and jumped 30 spots in the rankings. With so many new coaches on the board, a big jump is absolutely possible. See how we evaluate the chances of each of the bottom 10 coaches moving up in 2025.
68. DeShaun Foster, UCLA
Resume: UCLA RBs coach, former All-American RB
Foster was easily the least credentialed new hire from a power conference school this cycle, but there is context. UCLA was forced to search for a coach late in the cycle after Chip Kelly surprisingly left to take the offensive coordinator job at Ohio State. Foster has a deep history with the program, dating back to his 2001 All-American season with 1,109 rushing yards in just eight games.
How can it rise: There’s no secret that Foster’s main responsibility will be presiding over UCLA’s jump to the Big Ten. Foster has a solid reputation in football, but he was also hired to rebuild a strong football operation off the field with his vocal and emotional leadership. Perhaps the biggest point of optimism regarding Foster’s tenure is the team he has assembled. A long time NFL Assistant candidate and head coach Eric Bienemy will call the offense, with former NFL staffer Juan Castillo coaching the offensive line. Several prominent assistants return from Kelly’s staff, including Ikaika Malloe taking over as defensive coordinator. That said, the task facing Foster is immense; It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him near last place next year either.
67. Fran Brown, Syracuse
Resume: Georgia DBs coach, Temple co-DC, Baylor assistant head coach
Brown’s hiring marked another rare leap from head coach to head coach, but he learned from some of the best in the business. The former NFL corner served under Matt Rhule (Temple and Baylor) and Greg Schiano (Rutgers) before joining Kirby Smart’s staff at Georgia. He is considered perhaps the best recruiter in the Northeast region.
How can it rise: Brown has emerged as one of the world’s fiercest recruiters. college football and also produced some important victories in his short tenure. The Orange jumped from 73rd to 36th in 247Sports’ overall recruiting rankings after rebounding on a top-25 transfer class headlined by Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord. Frankly, Brown is on track to climb the rankings if his roster delivers on some of its promises.
66. Jeff Lebby, Mississippi State
Resume: Oklahoma OC, Ole Miss OC, UCF OC
Besides promoted Michigan assistant Sherrone Moore, Lebby is the highest-ranked rookie coach in the Power Four. Lebby follows the old Baylor system that he learned from his father-in-law, Art Briles. He implemented versions of it with Josh Heupel at Tennessee, Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss and finally on his own at Oklahoma.
How can it rise: After the failed Zach Arnett era, Mississippi State is starved for offense. Lebby built one of the most productive college football in recent years in Oklahoma. The Sooners finished third in total offense last season. Injecting some life into the Bulldogs and scoring against the best programs in the sport would make them a quick riser.
65. Ryan Walters, Purdue
Record: 4-8 (all at Purdue)
There’s a lot of context for Walters’ freshman year struggles, but the results still haven’t been great. Purdue falls to 4-8 in 2023 after 17 wins and a Big Ten title game appearance the previous two years. Losses to Fresno State and Syracuse in the first three weeks set the tone and the Boilermakers struggled to regain their footing. Before Purdue, Walters was a respected defensive coordinator at Illinois and Purdue.
How can it rise: Under previous head coach Jeff Brohm, the Boilermakers built an identity of dynamic passing and quarterback development. The first year of the Walters era, on the other hand, was largely devoid of any real definition. Graham Harrell committed an aerial tackle, but highly touted transfer QB Hudson Card completed less than 60% of his passes. Walters’ signature defense was last in points allowed in the Big Ten despite playing a putrid group of offenses in the Big Ten West. Finding direction will be perhaps the most pressing issue facing Walters.
64. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State
Record: 3-9 (all in the state of Arizona)
Dillingham’s freshman year was a mess, but there were some reasonable explanations. The program was destroyed after the previous coach, Herm Edwards, left amid scandal and awaiting NCAA sanctions. The Sun Devils also suffered string injuries at the quarterback position and were even forced to play a true Wildcat. ASU could face some of the same issues in 2024, especially after losing quarterback Jaden Rashada to the transfer portal,
How can it rise: Dillingham is an offensive genius, but his offense was largely devoid of consistent talent thanks to injuries and a few mistakes. While the quarterback position remains up in the air after adding transfers Sam Leavitt and Jeff Sims, a stacked running back room gives him something to work with. The Sun Devils are still firmly in the midst of a rebuild and handing over nearly 50 scholarship spots in 2024. More than anything, Dillingham needs to lean on his experience and create a legitimately creative and scary offense. Wins may come later, but production must come now.
63. Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
Record: 9-27 (all at Vanderbilt)
Lea received some praise after a 5-7 campaign in 2022 that included two SEC victories. That optimism disappeared in 2023, when the Commodores dropped their last 10 contests and lost every conference game by at least 16 points. A 16-point loss to Wake Forest might be the worst blemish on the list. Vandy made some shrewd moves during the offseason, with the headline bringing much of the confidence from New Mexico State, which surprisingly won 10 games and upset Auburn. Former head coach Jerry Kill, offensive coordinator Tim Beck and quarterback Diego Pavia are leading the movement.
How can it rise: Vanderbilt is at a huge disadvantage in the SEC, so no one expects consistent winning records in conference games. That being said, losing to Wake Forest and UNLV in Year 3 is a disaster. Add those losses to a scoresheet that also includes East Tennessee State and Stanford in 2021 and things look complicated. Lea remains perhaps the ideal coach for Vanderbilt football. He played quarterback for the Commodores alongside Jay Cutler and coached at private schools Wake Forest and Notre Dame. Lea has done an excellent job raising funds and getting Vanderbilt to SEC-level facilities. Eventually, though, you have to win.
62. Tony Elliott, Virginia
Curriculum: 6-16 (all in Virginia)
Elliott’s freshman year was largely erased following the deaths of three players in a senseless act of gun violence. Year 2 brought many casualties on the football field during a 3-9 campaign. While five one-score losses provide some optimism, the Cavs have had next-to-no consistency over the past two seasons. Both the offense and defense ranked third in the ACC.
How can it rise: Overall, the Cavaliers were better when dynamic freshman quarterback Anthony Colandrea was in the lineup, although his antics cost them a potential win against NC State. Colandrea has averaged 278 yards per game in seven starts and has been limited to three interceptions with eight touchdowns in his last four. Elliott should overcome growing pains with Colandrea, who could eventually become an ACC star.
61. Deion Sanders, Colorado
Record: 31-14 (4-8 Colorado)
Sanders’ rating was hotly contested, with voters spread across the map on “Coach Prime.” In full transparency, I placed Sanders a few spots higher than he achieved due to his 23-3 record in non-pandemic seasons at Jackson State. While their 4-8 record in Year 1 was perfectly reasonable, Year 2 comes with real expectations after adding 52 new players – and counting – to complement Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter in their final season.
How can it rise: Sanders’ insistence on rebuilding rosters from scratch through the transfer portal is both a blessing and a curse. On the bright side, he has emerged as one of the best talent acquirers for his level in college football. That also comes with high expectations, and it’s unclear whether the Colorado roster can cash the checks the program itself has written. Reaching a bowl game should move Sanders significantly up the list, but getting into the top 40 will require more than eight wins.
60. Troy Taylor, Stanford
Record: 33-17 (3-9 at Stanford)
Taylor took a circuitous path to boosting conference football that included a spot on the New York Jets roster, colorful commentary and several years coaching football in Folsom, California. Ultimately, three consecutive top-10 finishes at FCS Sacramento State earned him the chance to replace the legendary David Shaw at Stanford. The first season had many flaws, but there are reasons for optimism.
How can it rise: Taylor has already moved up nine spots after showing promise during a 3-9 rookie season. Stanford played Washington and Arizona to 10 points and had the misfortune of, ironically, playing Taylor’s former Sac State team in a revenge game. Elic Ayomanor is the best wide receiver in the country that no one talks about. What’s most exciting is that Taylor has put together a top-30 recruiting class. The wins have to come, but Taylor is heading in the right direction.
59. Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati
Record: 79-57 (3-9 at Cincinnati)
Satterfield led App State to one of the most successful transitions ever when the Mountaineers moved from the FCS to the Sun Belt. After one season in Cincinnati, the Bearcats haven’t followed any of the same steps. The transition was always going to be difficult after Luke Fickell left for Wisconsin, but nearly every unit ranked among the worst in the Big 12 in his first year. To make matters worse, Louisville (Satterfield’s old job) earned a trip to the ACC title game.
How can it rise: Satterfield is the only veteran FBS coach on our list, which makes his path that much more complicated. At the power conference level, he holds just a 28-33 record and hasn’t finished above .500 in conference games since his freshman year at Louisville. In fact, Satterfield only needs to show any indicators of a healthy, growing program in Year 2, whether it’s building an identity, scoring recruiting wins or finding some young stars. Running back Corey Kiner and defensive tackle Dontay Corleone are a solid start, but Satterfield inherited both players.
