On3 coach survey: 25 assistants deserving strong head coach consideration
In this latest installment of the On3 rising star coaches series, we sought to identify coaches who are emerging as possibilities to lead FBS programs at some point in the near future.
We decided to do this a little different than the standard “head coach candidate” list. Instead of looking at the expected candidates for the upcoming cycle, we thought it worthwhile to survey coaches to see who they view as ready and deserving of head coach consideration.
Here are 25 assistants whose names came up frequently.
A note: We limited the list to coaches who will be under 55 this next cycle, and we did not include guys who already have been FBS head coaches.
The coaches are listed alphabetically.
Houston defensive coordinator Doug Belk
Recent jobs: Houston (2019-present), West Virginia cornerbacks coach (2017-18), Alabama graduate assistant (2014-16)
+ Entering his second season as Houston’s DC after two years as co-DC/safeties coach for the Cougars.
+ Was a Broyles Award semifinalist last season. The award goes to the nation’s top assistant.
+ Led the way as the Cougars improved from 55th nationally in total defense in 2020 to sixth last season.
+ Has been associate head coach for Houston since 2020.
+ Was a target for multiple Power 5 defensive coordinator jobs during the offseason but signed a contract extension with the Cougars.
Baylor quarterbacks coach Shawn Bell
Recent jobs: Baylor (2017-present), Cedar Ridge (Texas) High coach (2016), Magnolia (Texas) West coach (2010-15)
+ Broke 28 school records as a quarterback at Baylor from 2003-06.
+ Served as a high school coach in Texas for eight seasons before joining Baylor’s staff in 2017.
+ Was named District 13-6A Coach of the Year in 2016 after leading Cedar Hill to an 11-1 record and its first district championship.
+ Guided Magnolia West to the playoffs in each of his six seasons as coach.
+ Entering his second season as Baylor’s quarterback coach after previously working as tight ends coach (2020), offensive line coach (2018-19) and as an analyst (2017).
Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn
Recent jobs: Oklahoma State (2011-present), Southern Miss wide receivers coach (2010), Seattle Seahawks running backs coach (2008-09)
+ The longest consecutively serving Oklahoma State assistant since 1962.
+ Was promoted to associate head coach in 2019 and to offensive coordinator in 2020.
+ Led the way for an offense that ranked 12th nationally and first in the Big 12 in first downs last season.
+ Helped Spencer Sanders become only the second quarterback in Oklahoma State history to garner first-team all-conference honors.
Miami offensive coordinator Josh Gattis
Recent jobs: Miami (2022-present), Michigan OC (2019-21), Alabama co-OC/wide receivers coach (2018), Penn State wide receivers coach (2014-17)
+ Received interest for multiple head-coaching jobs this past coaching cycle, including as a top candidate for Virginia’s opening.
+ Won the Broyles Award last year.
+ Was part of Michigan’s turnaround from 2-4 in 2020 to 12-2, a Big Ten championship and a College Football Playoff berth last season.
+ Gattis’ Wolverines offense improved from fifth in the Big Ten in scoring in 2020 (28.3 points per game) to second last season (35.8).
Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh
Recent jobs: Tennessee (2021-present), UCF co-OC/tight ends coach (2020), Iowa State tight ends coach (2016-19)
+ Is Tennessee’s play-caller.
+ Helped the Vols go from 102nd nationally in total offense to ninth last season.
+ Previously worked under Josh Heupel at UCF; he also spent four seasons as an assistant under Matt Campbell at Iowa State.
+ Was co-OC for a 2020 UCF offense that ranked second nationally in total offense.
Baylor offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes
Recent jobs: Baylor (2021-present), BYU OC (2018-20), LSU offensive line coach (2014-17)
+ Was one of five finalists for the Broyles Award last season.
+ Was a big part of Baylor going from 2-7 in 2020 to 12-2 and Big 12 champions last season.
+ Spearheaded the Bears’ improvement from second-worst in the Big 12 in scoring offense in 2020 (23.3 points per game) to third last season (31.6).
+ Improved BYU’s offense from 119th nationally in 2017 and 101st in 2018 to 28th in 2019 and sixth in 2020. Grimes’ 2020 Cougars offense, which featured current New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, ranked first nationally in yards per play (7.84) and plays of at least 30 yards (45).
+ Has developed 17 future NFL offensive linemen, including three first-round picks.
USC defensive coordinator Alex Grinch
Recent jobs: USC (2022-present), Oklahoma DC (2019-present), Ohio State co-DC/safeties coach (2018), Washington State DC (2015-17)
+ Led Oklahoma defenses that ranked no worse than sixth in the Big 12 any of his three seasons as the Sooners’ DC after inheriting a unit that ranked worst in the conference in 2018. That includes top-three finishes in both 2019 and ’20.
+ Grinch’s 2020 Sooners defense ranked in the top 10 nationally in interceptions (third), opponent third down conversion percentage (fourth), sacks (seventh), pass efficiency defense (ninth) and rush defense (ninth).
+ Guided a 2017 Washington State defense that ranked 16th nationally.
+ Nephew of former Missouri coach Gary Pinkel.
LSU wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton
Recent jobs: LSU (2022-present), Georgia wide receivers coach (2018-21), Vanderbilt wide receivers coach (2015-17)
+ Joined Brian Kelly’s staff at LSU after four seasons at Georgia.
+ Also serves as pass game coordinator for the Tigers.
+ Has landed commitments from three Class of 2023 wide receivers, including five-star Shelton Sampson Jr. and top-40 overall recruit Jalen Brown.
+ Recruited and developed players at Georgia such as wide receiver George Pickens, a 2022 second-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
+ Former NFL wide receiver; spent four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-06).
Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline
Recent jobs: Ohio State (2017-present)
+ Entering his fifth season as Ohio State’s wide receivers coach after one season as a Buckeyes analyst.
+ Was promoted to pass game coordinator earlier this year.
+ Produced three All-American wide receivers last season and two top-11 picks in this year’s NFL draft (Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave).
+ Has been one of the lead recruiters on 22 four-star or better recruits Ohio State has landed since 2019, including three of the top nine receivers in the 2023 recruiting class.
+ Former standout Ohio State receiver.
+ Played seven seasons in the NFL, finishing with 344 catches.
LSU defensive coordinator Matt House
Recent jobs: LSU (2022-present), Kansas City Chiefs linebackers coach (2019-21), Kentucky DC (2017-18)
+ Back at the college level after three seasons working for Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs.
+ Was part of two Chiefs teams that played in the Super Bowl, including Kansas City’s Super Bowl-winning squad in 2019.
+ In 2018, House helped Kentucky post its first 10-win season since 1977.
+ Led the way for a Wildcats defense that ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense.
+ Was Aaron Donald’s college defensive coordinator at Pitt, helping Donald win ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior in 2013.
Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby
Recent jobs: Oklahoma (2022-present), Ole Miss OC (2020-21), UCF OC (2019), UCF QB coach (2018), Southeastern (Fla.) OC (2017), Baylor assistant (2008-16)
+ Joined Brent Venables’ staff at his alma mater, Oklahoma, after two seasons as Lane Kiffin’s OC and quarterbacks coach at Ole Miss.
+ A leading figure behind Rebels offenses that ranked first in the SEC each of the past two seasons.
+ The past two quarterbacks he’s coached are Matt Corral, a third-round pick of the Carolina Panthers, and Dillon Gabriel, who transferred to Oklahoma this year after leading the nation in passing yardage under Lebby at UCF in 2019.
Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard
Recent jobs: Wisconsin (2016-present)
+ Has been Wisconsin’s DC since 2017 after getting into coaching in 2016 as the Badgers’ secondary coach.
+ Has led Wisconsin to top-five finishes in total defense each of the past three seasons, including No. 1 last year.
+ Former Wisconsin and NFL defensive back.
+ Became a three-time All-American for the Badgers after beginning his career as a walk-on.
+ Played 10 seasons in the NFL, with the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns.
Tennessee running backs coach Jerry Mack
Recent jobs: Tennessee (2021-present), Rice OC (2018-20), North Carolina Central head coach (2014-17)
+ Helped Tennessee rank ninth nationally in total offense and 11th in rushing offense last season.
+ Posted a 31-15 record as coach at FCS North Carolina Central.
+ Was named HBCU Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year Award in 2016.
Iowa State offensive coordinator Tom Manning
Recent jobs: Iowa State (2019-present), Indianapolis Colts tight ends coach (2018), Iowa State OC (2016-17), Toledo offensive line coach (2012-15)
+ Played with Matt Campbell at Mount Union and has worked with him for all but two years since 2009, including 10 of Campbell’s 11 seasons as head coach at Toledo and Iowa State.
+ Has been part of the turnaround at Iowa State, which has been ranked for at least parts of each of the past five seasons after going 11 years without being ranked.
+ Has produced three of the top four offenses in Iowa State history the past three years.
Georgia running backs coach Dell McGee
Recent jobs: Georgia (2016-present), Georgia Southern running backs coach/interim coach (2014-15), Auburn analyst (2013)
+ A trusted lieutenant for Kirby Smart since 2016.
+ Has been an assistant head coach and run game coordinator for Georgia in addition to being the Bulldogs’ running backs coach.
+ Developed five current NFL running backs who went in the top four rounds of the NFL draft, including Browns Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb.
+ Has been a lead recruiter on five-star players such as starting offensive tackle Broderick Jones and freshman defensive lineman Mykel Williams.
+ Served as interim coach at Georgia Southern in 2015, leading the Eagles to a win in their first bowl game.
+ Won a state title and posted an 88-19 record (including 21-6 in the playoffs) as coach at Columbus (Ga.) Carver from 2005-12 after inheriting a program that hadn’t finished with a winning record in nine years and had never posted a double-digit win season. Led the team to seven consecutive double-digit win seasons. Twice was named Georgia high school Coach of the Year.
+ Former Auburn and NFL defensive back. Was a 1996 fifth-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals.
Michigan co-coordinator/offensive line coach Sherrone Moore
Recent jobs: Michigan (2018-present), Central Michigan tight ends coach (2014-17)
+ Oversaw a Michigan offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award last season. The award is given annually to the nation’s best o-line.
+ Was promoted to co-offensive coordinator earlier this year.
+ Coached the Wolverines’ tight ends group for three seasons before moving to offensive line coach last season.
+ Served as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator at Central Michigan in addition to being the team’s tight ends coach.
+ Former Oklahoma offensive lineman.
Ole Miss co-coordinator/safeties coach Chris Partridge
Recent jobs: Ole Miss (2020-present), Michigan assistant (2016-19), Michigan director of player personnel (2015)
+ Promoted to play-caller earlier this year after DJ Durkin left for Texas A&M.
+ Helped Ole Miss’ defense improve by two touchdowns per game last season, from ranking last in the SEC in scoring defense in 2020 (38.3 points per game) to ranking eight last year (24.7).
+ Made the move to the college level in 2015 after five seasons as a high school coach at Paramus (N.J.) Catholic, where he developed more than 30 Division I players.
+ Served as Michigan’s special teams coordinator while also coaching the Wolverines’ linebackers (2016-17) and safeties (2018-19).
+ Has been a lead recruiter on highly ranked prospects like Rashan Gary and Dax Hill at Michigan and defensive lineman Tywone Malone at Ole Miss. Malone was the No. 89 overall player in the 2021 On3 Consensus Rankings.
Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees
Recent jobs: Notre Dame (2017-present), San Diego Chargers offensive assistant (2016), Northwestern graduate assistant (2015)
+ Has helped Notre Dame go 21-4 the past two seasons, with a College Football Playoff berth in 2020.
+ Led an offense that ranked 19th nationally in scoring last year.
+ Helped QB Ian Book, a former three-star recruit, become a top-10 Heisman finisher and a 2021 fourth-round pick of the New Orleans Saints.
+ Was promoted to OC in 2020 after three seasons as the Fighting Irish’s quarterbacks coach.
+ Former Notre Dame starting quarterback. Ranks third in school history with 61 career touchdown passes, including 27 as a senior in 2013.
Penn State running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider
Recent jobs: Penn State (2018-present), Florida running backs coach (2017), West Virginia running backs coach (2013-16)
+ Was promoted to co-OC earlier this year.
+ Has developed multiple all-conference and future NFL running backs, including Miles Sanders at Penn State as well as Charles Sims and Wendell Smallwood at West Virginia.
+ Continues to be one of the nation’s top recruiters. Has landed highly ranked prospects such as Nittany Lions five-star freshman running back Nick Singleton and five-star Class of 2023 offensive lineman Alex Birchmeier.
+ Won the Doug Williams National Offensive Player of the Year as a quarterback at Florida A&M in 1999 after beginning his college playing career at West Virginia. Was a 2000 sixth-round pick of the San Diego Chargers.
Louisville offensive coordinator Lance Taylor
Recent jobs: Louisville (2022-present), Notre Dame running backs coach (2019-21), Carolina Panthers wide receivers coach (2017-18), Stanford running backs coach (2014-16)
+ Joined Scott Satterfield’s Louisville staff after three seasons at Notre Dame.
+ Was run game coordinator for the Fighting Irish in addition to being running backs coach.
+ Helped Kyren Williams break out and rush for 2,127 yards and 27 touchdowns the last two seasons, including 1,125 yards and 13 TDs as a redshirt freshman in 2020.
+ Contributed to DJ Moore leading Carolina Panthers receivers with 788 yards as a rookie in 2018.
+ Was Christian McCaffrey’s running backs coach at Stanford. Mentored McCaffrey on his way to becoming a Heisman finalist and 2017 first-round pick of the Panthers.
+ Former Alabama wide receiver. Began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under Nick Saban with the Crimson Tide in 2007 and ’08.
Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters
Recent jobs: Illinois (2021-present), Missouri DC (2018-20), Missouri safeties coach (2015-17), Memphis cornerbacks coach (2014)
+ Led the way as Illinois improved from 97th nationally in scoring defense in 2020 to 31st last year in his first season as defensive coordinator.
+ Helped the Fighting Illini go from 10th to first in Big Ten conference play in passing defense as well as from 14th to third in touchdowns allowed and 14th to fourth in scoring defense.
+ Contributed to safety Kerby Joseph becoming Illinois’ first All-Big Ten first-team defensive back since 1989.
+ Improved Missouri’s defense from 83rd in 2017 to 62nd in 2018 and 14th in 2019.
+ Former Colorado starting safety. Was a team captain and team MVP as a senior in 2008.
Alabama wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins
Recent jobs: Alabama (2019-present), Virginia Tech wide receivers coach (2016-18), Memphis wide receivers coach (2012-15)
+ Has coached five NFL first-round picks, a second-round pick and a Heisman winner in his first three seasons as Alabama’s wide receivers coach.
+ Was promoted to assistant head coach of offense for the Crimson Tide last year.
+ Spent seven seasons working under Justin Fuente at Virginia Tech and Memphis before being hired at Alabama.
+ Coached the two leading receivers in Virginia Tech history. Cam Phillips was a first-team All-ACC selection under Wiggins and set Virginia Tech career records for receptions and receiving yards. Isaiah Ford broke Tech’s single-season record with 79 catches under Wiggins in 2016.
USC secondary coach Donte Williams
Recent jobs: USC (2020-present), Oregon cornerbacks coach (2018-19), Nebraska cornerbacks coach (2017), Arizona cornerbacks coach (2016), San Jose State secondary coach (2013-15)
+ Was retained by Lincoln Riley after originally joining the USC staff in 2020.
+ Served as USC’s interim coach last season.
+ Had been associate head coach for the Trojans under Clay Helton.
+ USC’s defensive pass game coordinator in addition to being the team’s secondary coach.
+ One of the nation’s top recruiters. Has landed a top-five overall recruit each of the past four cycles at Oregon and USC— linebacker Justin Flowe (2020), defensive lineman Korey Foreman (2021), cornerback Domani Jackson (2022) and wide receiver Zachariah Branch (2023).
+ Helped USC hold opponents to 216 passing yards per game in 2020, its best pass-defense average since 2013.
UCF defensive coordinator Travis Williams
Recent jobs: UCF (2021-present), Auburn co-DC/linebackers coach (2019-20), Auburn linebackers coach (2016-18), Auburn analyst (2014-15)
+ Led a massive defensive turnaround in his first season as a coordinator as UCF went from 123rd nationally in total defense in 2020 (491.8 yards per game) to 53rd last season (369.3 yards per game).
+ During a 6-1 stretch to close the season, Williams’ defense limited opponents to an average of 11.8 points in the six wins and posted an average of five sacks in those six games.
+ Continues to be regarded as a top-tier recruiter. At Auburn, Williams recruited, coached and developed players such as former five-star linebacker Owen Pappoe, All-SEC linebacker Zakoby McClain and Tampa Bay Buccaneers fifth-round pick K.J. Britt, a 2019 first-team All-SEC selection.
+ Was promoted to co-DC at Auburn in 2019 and to recruiting coordinator in 2020.
+ Was an All-SEC linebacker for Auburn in 2004 and ’05. The defensive recipient of the team’s Pat Dye Leadership Award both years.
Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods
Recent jobs: Iowa (2008-present)
+ Has been Iowa’s special teams coordinator since 2018 after previously working for the Hawkeyes as tight ends coach (2015-17), linebackers coach (2012-14) and as an administrative assistant (2008-11).
+ Helped Iowa rank in the top 20 nationally last season in kickoff return defense (14th), field goal efficiency (18th) and kickoff returns (18th).
+ Contributed to Charlie Jones winning Big Ten Returner of the Year and kicker Caleb Shudak being a first-team All-Big Ten selection.
+ Former Iowa and NFL linebacker. Was an All-Big Ten selection and the winner of the Hawkeyes’ Hayden Fry Extra Heartbeat Award (given to the player who demonstrates extraordinary effort on the field) as a senior at Iowa in 2000.
+ Played seven seasons in the NFL, with the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions and Tennessee Titans.
Others mentioned as names to know moving forward: Miami secondary coach Jahmile Addae, FSU OC Alex Atkins, Tennessee DC Tim Banks, Oregon OC Kenny Dillingham, Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye, Alabama DC Pete Golding, Rutgers DC Joe Harasymiak, UCF co-OC/running backs coach Tim Harris, Virginia OC Des Kitchings, Texas Tech OC Zach Kittley, Boston College DC Tem Lukabu, Texas wide receivers coach Brennan Marion, Virginia Tech DC Chris Marve, Notre Dame running backs coach Deland McCollough, Michigan DC Jesse Minter, Miami offensive line coach Alex Mirabal, Washington State OC Eric Morris, Penn State co-DC/safeties coach Anthony Poindexter, TCU OC Garrett Riley, Utah DC Morgan Scalley, Iowa State running backs/wide receivers coach Nathan Scheelhaase, Georgia co-DC Glenn Schumann, Cincinnati DC Mike Tressel, Notre Dame defensive line coach Al Washington, Kentucky DC Brad White, South Carolina DC Clayton White.