Financial headwinds and a record number of 2023 turnovers produced a quieter coaching market last offseason, with 30 FBS head-coaching changes versus 32 the prior year. Several power conferences saw minimal movement: no SEC changes, one Big Ten change (Purdue), and limited turnover in the Big 12 and ACC. Market participants identify 15 to 20 schools in flux, but many institutions may resist costly departures after middling seasons because buyouts can exceed $20 million. Counterexamples from college basketball show programs willing to pay sizable buyouts to initiate coaching changes, suggesting potential for major football movement if a few big buyouts occur.
The signs are that it's going to be a pretty big year, said an industry source. There's 15 to 20 schools in flux, and it was really light last year. That combination lends itself to a big year. But the question is whether 6-6 is worth making a change when you need to find 20-plus million? I think the trend is going to schools looking not to make the decision.
The headwinds of financial uncertainty, combined with a record number of jobs turning over in 2023, led to a quieter year on the coaching carousel, especially at high-end schools. Last offseason, there was a dip in head coaching changes at FBS football, with 30 total. The year before, a record 32 jobs turned over, per NCAA statistics. Notably last offseason, no jobs turned over in the SEC and there was just one in the Big Ten (Purdue).
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