Not every coach who gets a massive contract or a big-name job actually delivers. Some come in with sky-high expectations, only to fizzle out in spectacular fashion, leaving fans wondering what all the hype was about.
Whether they were recruiting “gurus,” offensive “geniuses,” or just came with a lot of buzz, these coaches all failed to live up to the hype. Here are 10 college football coaches who simply didn’t measure up.
10. Charlie Weis (Notre Dame, Kansas)
Charlie Weis came to Notre Dame promising “a decided schematic advantage,” but what he actually delivered was a lot of disappointment. After back-to-back BCS bowl losses, the magic wore off fast, and he left Notre Dame and Kansas with massive buyouts and very few wins.
9. Rich Rodriguez (Michigan)
Rich Rodriguez was supposed to bring his high-powered spread offense to Michigan, but instead, he brought three losing seasons and NCAA violations. His system never fit the Wolverines, and he left Ann Arbor with a defense that could barely stop a breeze.
8. Will Muschamp (Florida, South Carolina)
Will Muschamp was billed as a defensive mastermind, but his offenses were so bad that they made SEC fans long for the days of three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust football. After flaming out at Florida and South Carolina, he’s now back where he probably belongs—as an assistant.
7. Lane Kiffin (Tennessee, USC)
Lane Kiffin talked a big game at Tennessee, then bolted after one season for USC, where he was eventually fired on an airport tarmac. He’s since reinvented himself, but his first go-round as a head coach was more hype than substance.
6. Brady Hoke (Michigan)
Brady Hoke rode the momentum of Rich Rodriguez’s recruits to a great first season at Michigan, then watched the program crumble under his watch. By the end of his tenure, Michigan looked lost, and Hoke looked even more lost without a headset on the sidelines.
5. Scott Frost (Nebraska)
Scott Frost was supposed to be the guy to bring Nebraska back to glory, but instead, he turned them into a meme. After going 13-0 at UCF, he couldn’t even crack .500 at his alma mater, proving that sometimes Cinderella stories don’t translate to the big stage.
4. Kevin Sumlin (Texas A&M, Arizona)
Kevin Sumlin was riding high with Johnny Manziel, but once Johnny Football left, so did the wins. His time at Arizona was even worse, as he left the program in shambles after an embarrassing 70-7 loss to Arizona State.
3. Butch Jones (Tennessee)
Butch Jones talked about “five-star hearts” and handed out leadership bricks, but all he really built was a mess in Knoxville. His time at Tennessee was filled with bizarre slogans and disappointing seasons, and he was eventually shown the door when the fanbase had enough.
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2. Gene Chizik (Auburn)
Gene Chizik won a national championship at Auburn, but let’s be honest—Cam Newton carried that team on his back. Two years later, without Cam, Auburn went 3-9, and Chizik was gone, proving that sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
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1. Tom Herman (Texas)
Tom Herman was supposed to bring Texas back to national prominence, but instead, he just brought a lot of “almost good” seasons. After being hyped as the next great coach, he left with a 32-18 record, never won the Big 12, and proved that not even an elite recruiting base can fix bad coaching.
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