Well folks we finally made it, college football is officially here. Since Michigan hoisted the trophy back in January, there has been plenty of changes to the coaching staff’s of our sport, and a few have particularly caught my attention.

This list in necessarily the best or worst coaches or any kind of ranking. It’s just five that will be on my mind frequently and may deserve a closer look from you.

Kalen DeBoer – Alabama HC

It would be easy make an argument that Nick Saban’s retirement was the biggest news of the 2024 offseason. Alabama probably made the best hire they could getting Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer has won everywhere he has been going 104-12 all time as a coach. He got Washington to the National Championship game in just his 2nd season as head coach.

Yet, despite the accolades he could be doomed. DaBoer has the impossible job of replacing the greatest coach of all time. He could go 9-3 in his first year in the SEC which to my scale would be a successful season. However a 9-3 season would send Alabama fans into a full meltdown demanding him to be fired.

I’m personally rooting for coach DeBoer. He is a great coach, but I’m concerned this is Icarus flying too close the the Alabama crazy expectations son.

Curt Cignetti – Indiana HC

I imagine Curt Cignetti’s phone was ringing like crazy last fall after what he did at JMU. Taking a program from FCS to FBS and immediately dominating is a difficult task, but Cignetti made it possible.

However there are parts of me that feel like JMU is an easier rebuild than Indiana is. Sure Indiana had a magical season in 2020 when no one was allowed to practice, but outside of that, the Indiana football program has had a low ceiling of success.

Cignetti does have a ton of confidence. He immediately made a statement that Purdue, Ohio State and Michigan. Which is bold considering he hasn’t coached a game for Indiana yet, but i’d be lying if I said I didn’t respect it.

“Purdue sucks…so does Michigan and Ohio State” …Curt Cignetti has arrived in the Big Ten pic.twitter.com/4Edzp3z5Zo

— Michael Niziolek (@michaelniziolek) December 2, 2023

The entire Arkansas Staff

Arkansas made one of the most surprising moves of the off season brining back Bobby Petrino to be the offensive coordinator in 2024. This move I feel like did not get enough attention when it happened. Arkansas is so lost with what to do in the program that they brought back Bobby motorcycle riding, dating a recently graduated student Petrino? I mean sure he has created some great offense at Arkansas and other schools in the past, but brining Bobby back means Arkansas has done a full lap of the of college coach carousel and has gone absolutely nowhere.

Bobby does also feel a little bit like a baby sitter for Sam Pittman. In a sort of Dick Cheney situation the vice president of Arkansas Football may be the one actually running the show behind the curtains this year.

The scandal was 12 years ago, it’s not that big of deal. It just fascinates me that he has made it back to Fayetteville.

Sherrone Moore – Michigan HC

I do believe Moore was the best choice to be the next Head Coach at Michigan. He did go 4-0 as the interim, and the in-house hire helps keep recruits and avoids the team getting gutted by the transfer portal.

I do feel bad that on top of being the new head coach of this team he has been left with the fall out of this Connor Stallions nonsense. I’m not sure why it took the NCAA this long to start diving into this, but it couldn’t be at a worse time for Sherrone Moore. Everyone else got out to the NCAA before they could get punished and Sherrone Moore is the only one left to be punished. Sherrone Moore has all the capabilities to keep Michigan as a true title contender into the future, but this Connor Stallions nonsense may get that off to a delayed start.

Willie Fritz – Houston HC

Willie Fritz takes the job at Houston which should be an upgrade since it get’s him into the “power 4”, but I’m not sure it’s all that great. It’s fantastic news for Houston, but this feels very lateral Fritz. He probably had a better chance of making the CFP with Tulane this year than he does now at Houston.

I know he has ties to the state of Texas, but this still feels like stepping stone job for Willie Fritz. I’m not sure he couldn’t have gotten a better gig, but maybe this is the one he really wanted.

I’m not sure if this is going to last, but the success he had at Tulane is more than enough for Houston have my attention this season.