20 College Football Coaches Who Overstayed Their Welcome

There’s something to be said for loyalty in college football. But sometimes that loyalty turns into stubbornness, and stubbornness turns into a program spinning its wheels while the rest of the sport moves forward.

Whether it was declining win totals, stale offenses, or just a general case of “it’s time,” these coaches stuck around a little too long. From legendary names to guys who just couldn’t read the room, here are 20 college football coaches who overstayed their welcome.

20. Les Miles – LSU

The Mad Hatter was fun while it lasted, but his offense got left behind in the Stone Age. Eventually, LSU fans got tired of losing 17-10 every Saturday with five-star athletes.

19. Kirk Ferentz – Iowa

Look, we get it. Iowa fans love defense and punting, but at some point, enough is enough.
He’s been there since the Clinton administration, and the offense still feels powered by dial-up internet.

18. Paul Johnson – Georgia Tech

The triple option worked for a while, but eventually became more gimmick than threat. By the end, even ACC defenses had figured it out.

17. Larry Coker – Miami

He inherited a loaded team and won big early, but the longer he stayed, the further the Canes slipped. On his watch, Miami went from feared to forgotten.

16. Rich Rodriguez – Michigan

Initially, the fit was awkward and never clicked in Ann Arbor. His offense might’ve worked better had he not tried to make Michigan something it wasn’t.

15. Bob Stoops – Oklahoma

He was wildly successful, but things got a little stale toward the end. Soon, fans were ready for a new voice, and Lincoln Riley was that spark.

14. Mike Riley – Oregon State

He had some good years, but the Beavers were just there by the end. Sometimes a program needs a jolt of new energy.

13. Tommy Tuberville – Auburn

He hung around just long enough for things to get weird. The “Jetgate” drama and inconsistent results made it clear his time was up.

12. Clay Helton – USC

He always felt like a placeholder coach, even when officially in charge. USC kept giving him time, but the program never looked like USC under his watch.

11. Gary Patterson – TCU

An absolute legend who built the program, but it started to fall apart at the seams. By the end, it felt like he was fighting with everyone to prove a point.

10. Charlie Weis – Notre Dame

The early hype was sky-high, but it all unraveled quickly. He stayed long enough to rack up losses and buyout money.

9. Frank Beamer – Virginia Tech

Beamer Ball was iconic, but the offense completely disappeared for years. It was hard to watch a legend fade out like that, even if it was time.

8. Steve Spurrier – South Carolina

He brought the program to new heights, but his final seasons were sluggish and uninspired. He quite literally walked away midseason, which tells you everything.

7. Dennis Erickson – Arizona State

He had talent but could never quite put it all together. Under his leadership, the Sun Devils looked neutral for too many seasons.

6. Mark Richt – Georgia

Consistently good, never great—that was the Richt era. Georgia fans were ready for the next level, and Kirby Smart delivered it.

5. Jimbo Fisher – Texas A&M

He talked like Nick Saban but coached like a guy who couldn’t score more than 20 points—all that money, all those years—and not a single CFP appearance.

4. Bo Pelini – Nebraska

Nine wins a year sounds great until you realize how exhausting it is to lose the big ones every time. His sideline meltdowns didn’t help his case either.

3. Joe Paterno – Penn State

A complicated legacy, but the program had plateaued on the football side. His final seasons were marred by diminishing results and even worse headlines.