'Be where your feet are': Jon Sumrall is happy with job at Tulane amid coaching carousel speculation

Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall received a lot of attention during this past coaching carousel cycle. The former Kentucky linebacker and co-defensive coordinator was very much involved in the North Carolina head coach search. There has also been plenty of speculation in the Bluegrass that the 43-year-old could become the head coach at his alma mater one day. During the crazy Thanksgiving Saturday when everyone thought Mark Stoops was going to Texas A&M back in 2023, Sumrall was talked about online as the potential No. 1 candidate for Mitch Barnhart.

Once you are in the carousel cycle, it can be hard to get out. Sumrall is living proof of that right now. After being peppered with questions heading last November and December about his future, this storyline has not gone away over seven months later. At American Conference Kickoff in Charlotte on Friday, Sumrall was asked how he finds balance in being at his current school but also listening when power conference programs want to talk.

The coach with a 32-9 career record in three seasons is currently just thankful to be at Tulane.

“I actually had a very transparent conversation with our team similar to that question about opportunities that present in you life this past week. Because I like to do it before we get into the season and them understand where your mindset needs to be,” Sumrall said. “I’m a believer in ‘be where your feet are.’ Like, I’m not looking anywhere else other than right where I’m at.”

“I’ve found often in life that you may be in a situation and look across the fence and see somebody else’s grass and think it looks a little greener, and you might go over there and find out the grass is fake. Right? It doesn’t always make you happier. I LOVE, LOVE where I’m at. Love it. I got four young kids in awesome schools. My wife loves New Orleans. If you can’t love New Orleans, you’ve got a problem. It’s one of the coolest cities in the world.”

Many can confirm that New Orleans does indeed rule. Sumrall also has a season to get through and games to win. That’s what Tulane expects and that’s what potential power conference schools who will want to hire Sumrall away will need to see. For now, the Alabama native is just focused on winning another conference title after Tulane fell to Army in the American Championship Game in his first season.

Jon Sumrall is fully focused on the present.

“For me, I’m firmly planted right where I’m at. I told our team a few days ago, this is my 21st year coaching college football. My first year I think I made about $15,000 total. That was with a camp stipend and all this other stuff. I don’t know that in this point in life more money is what brings you happiness. I think you find joy in doing the job really, really well with people you love and care about and helping them grow and develop to be their best. And so our jobs as coaches is about serving and developing our players. That’s what it is about,” Sumrall explained. “I love who I get to do it with. I’m very passionate. I’ve made it very clear that I don’t know if I’m gonna die coaching at Tulane. I don’t know that. But I’d be cool if that was the case. Now I hope that will be a long time from now”

“I’m firmly planted where we are. I love where we are.”

Jon Sumrall loves Tulane. That’s understandable after the Green Wave inked the head coach to an extension following the interest from Chapel Hill during the search that ultimately ended with Bill Belichick wearing Carolina Blue. However, we know how this works. Good American Conference coaches get hired away to lead power conference programs. Sumrall will depart New Orleans for a big opportunity when the timing is right.

When will that be? Will it time up with a Kentucky opening? We all have to play the waiting game.