2024-2025 NCAA FBS Head Coaching Changes: Bill Belichick Is Back!
The ‘Age of the Aged’ is definitely upon us! As 82-year-old President Joe Biden steps down to be replaced by 78-year-old Donald J. Trump, we now learn that 72-year-old NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick is stepping into the college football spotlight at the University of North Carolina, replacing 73-year-old Mack Brown. Ha! Are the 70s the new 50s?
Belichick’s Legendary Career, Setbacks, and the Lingering Tom Brady Question
All credit goes to Bill Belichick for his exceptional NFL coaching career, during which he won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and two more as a defensive coordinator with the New York Giants. However, let’s not forget that Belichick won those six Super Bowls alongside Tom Brady, arguably the best quarterback in NFL history. After leaving the Patriots, Brady went on to win another Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, raising lingering questions about Belichick’s success being tied to his star QB.
Belichick’s legacy also carries some controversy. The 2007 “Spygate” scandal resulted in a $500,000 fine—the largest in NFL history at the time—for illegally videotaping opposing coaches’ signals. Additionally, his performance without Brady has been underwhelming. The Patriots posted records of 7-9 in 2020, 10-7 in 2021, 8-9 in 2022, and finished his last season in 2023 with a disappointing 4-13 record. Given his recent struggles and lack of interest from NFL franchises, critics suggest the so-called “Greatest Coach in NFL History” may be washed up. Yet here we are.
Despite the doubters, Belichick clearly believes he still has what it takes to succeed. It’s also likely that the question of whether he can achieve greatness without Brady looms large in his mind. But as the saying goes, Father Time is undefeated. Will Bill Belichick defy the odds and ride off into the sunset triumphantly? Or will he be another cautionary tale of an aged icon who overstayed his welcome?
What will the football gods ordain?
The 2025-2026 college football season is poised to write the next chapter in Belichick’s storied career. However, from my perspective, there seems to be too much—new—for the aged legend to overcome here. So, it is more likely that this will not end well for Belichick or North Carolina. Whether this tale ends in triumph or heartbreak, one thing is sure—football fans everywhere will be watching closely. Here’s hoping the legendary coach proves us doubters wrong and he cements his legacy on a high note.
Here is the current listing of NCAA FBS head coaching changes for 2024-2025, last updated on December 30, 2024.
2024-2025 NCAA FBS Head Coaching Changes
| Shool | Conference | Old Coach | Reason For Move | New Coach, Former School and Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno State | Mountain West | Jeff Telford | Resigned (health issues) | Matt Entz, USC AHC |
| Utah State | Mountain West | Blake Anderson | Fired | Bronco Mendenhall, New Mexico HC |
| East Carolina | American | Mike Houston | Fired | Blake Harrell, East Carolina DC |
| Southern Miss | Sun Belt | Will Hall | fired | Charles Huff, Marshall HC |
| Rice | American | Mike Bloomgren | Fired | Scott Abell, Davidson (FCS) HC |
| Kennesaw State | USA | Brian Bohannon | Fired | Jerry Mack, Jacksonville Jaguars RBC |
| Ball State | MAC | Mike Neu | Fired | Mike Uremovich, Butler (FCS) HC |
| Temple | American | Stan Drayton | Fired | K.C. Keeler, Sam Houston HC |
| UMass | Independent | Don Brown | Fired | Joe Harasymiak, Rutgers DC |
| Florida Atlantic | American | Tom Herman | Fired | Zach Kittley, Texas Tech OC |
| Charlotte | American | Biff Poggi | Fired | Tim Albin, Ohio HC |
| Tulsa | American | Kevin Wilson | Fired | Tre Lamb, East Tennessee State HC |
| North Carolina | ACC | Mack Brown | Fired | Bill Belichick, New England Patriots HC (2000-2023) |
| Purdue | Big Ten | Ryan Walters | Fired | Barry Odom, UNLV HC |
| Florida International | USA | Mike MacIntyre | Fired | Willie Simmons, Duke RBC |
| West Virginia | Big 12 | Neal Brown | Fired | Rich Rodriguez, Jacksonville State HC |
| Appalachian State | Sun Belt | Shawn Clark | Fired | Dowell Loggains, South Carolina OC |
| Washington State | Pac 12 | Jake Dickert | Moved on to Wake Forest | Jimmy Rogers, South Dakota State (FCS) HC |
| Sam Houston | USA | K.C. Keeler | Moved on to Temple | Phil Longo, Wisconsin OC |
| Marshall | Sun Belt | Charles Huff | Moved on to Southern Miss | Tony Gibson, North Carolina State DC |
| UNLV | Mountain West | Barry Odom | Moved on to Purdue | Dan Mullen, Florida HC (2018-2021) |
| Jacksonville State | USA | Rich Rodriguez | Moved on to West Virginia | Charles Kelly, Auburn DC |
| Wake Forest | ACC | Dave Clawson | Resigned | Jake Dickert, Washington State HC |
| Central Michigan | MAC | Jim McElwain | Retired | Matt Drinkall, Army OLC |
| Ohio | MAC | Tim Albin | Moved on to Charlotte | Brian Smith, Ohio AHC |
| University of Central Florida | Big 12 | Gus Malzahn | Resigned | Scott Frost, Nebraska HC (2018-2022) |
| New Mexico | Mountain West | Bronco Mendenhall | Moved on to Utah State | Jason Eck, Idaho HC |
Related Links
2023-2024 NCAA FBS Head Coaching Changes
List of Black Head Football Coaches at NCAA Division I (FBS) Schools
