...and one who has experience turning around programs, there's a dark horse name to watch (IMHO, no inside info).
Will Healy, head coach at Charlotte. He's only 35 years old, and here is his resume so far.
2009-2015 at Chatanooga. He coached QBs and WRs, and also served as recruiting coordinator for part of that stint. During his two seasons as recruiting coordinator, Chatanooga signed back to back #1 ranked recruiting classes in the FCS.
He left to become the head coach at Austin Peay for the 2016 season. Before he arrived, they had won just one game in the three seasons prior. They went 0-11 in Healy's first year (I know that's horrible). In Year 2, they went 8-4, including an 8-1 mark against other FCS schools. He went 5-6 in Year 3. Austin Peay had an FCS top 5 recruiting class in his first year and had the #1 ranked FCS class in Healy's second year.
For the 2019 season, he left to become HC at Charlotte, a relatively new FBS program (first season was 2013). Zero winning seasons before his arrival, zero winning seasons in conference play before his arrival. In Year 1, they finished 7-6 with a 5-3 mark in conference and played in their first ever bowl game (L to Buffalo).
They're 1-2 this year (1-1 in Conference USA) with a W @ North Texas, and Ls @ Appalachian State and @ Florida Atlantic. No home games yet. They have six more games vs. FIU, UTEP, @ Duke, @ MTSU, @ Marshall, and vs. Western Kentucky.
His 2020 recruiting class at Charlotte (his first full class) was ranked 71st nationally and had 24 commits per TOS. Headlined by a 4-star HS OL from Texas. (cc: @codycc64 ). 20 HS, 4 JUCOs (all of whom were the bottom of the class as fillers, the top of the class is mainly 3-star HS kids). Added transfers from P5 programs.
Consider me intrigued. Thoughts?
Will Healy, head coach at Charlotte. He's only 35 years old, and here is his resume so far.
2009-2015 at Chatanooga. He coached QBs and WRs, and also served as recruiting coordinator for part of that stint. During his two seasons as recruiting coordinator, Chatanooga signed back to back #1 ranked recruiting classes in the FCS.
He left to become the head coach at Austin Peay for the 2016 season. Before he arrived, they had won just one game in the three seasons prior. They went 0-11 in Healy's first year (I know that's horrible). In Year 2, they went 8-4, including an 8-1 mark against other FCS schools. He went 5-6 in Year 3. Austin Peay had an FCS top 5 recruiting class in his first year and had the #1 ranked FCS class in Healy's second year.
For the 2019 season, he left to become HC at Charlotte, a relatively new FBS program (first season was 2013). Zero winning seasons before his arrival, zero winning seasons in conference play before his arrival. In Year 1, they finished 7-6 with a 5-3 mark in conference and played in their first ever bowl game (L to Buffalo).
They're 1-2 this year (1-1 in Conference USA) with a W @ North Texas, and Ls @ Appalachian State and @ Florida Atlantic. No home games yet. They have six more games vs. FIU, UTEP, @ Duke, @ MTSU, @ Marshall, and vs. Western Kentucky.
His 2020 recruiting class at Charlotte (his first full class) was ranked 71st nationally and had 24 commits per TOS. Headlined by a 4-star HS OL from Texas. (cc: @codycc64 ). 20 HS, 4 JUCOs (all of whom were the bottom of the class as fillers, the top of the class is mainly 3-star HS kids). Added transfers from P5 programs.
Consider me intrigued. Thoughts?
