Grading sub-FBS coaching hires

This year’s coaching carousel was the busiest in the five years I have spent covering the sub-FBS ranks for Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. When the 2023 season begins, it will mark the beginning of a new era for 10 teams in Texas. In other words, that’s a whopping 28.6 percent of the 35 active sub-FBS football programs with a new head coach. Add in UTRGV hiring a coach to start its football program, and there were 11 new hires overall. 

The question I receive the most during the offseason is regarding my thoughts on the new coaches. Each new hire brings a period of optimism to the fan base of that school, while fans of opposing schools ponder how the new regimes will work in the conference.