Nobody likes the hot seat, but a plethora of new teams at the Power Five level put lots of college football head coaches under more pressure this year. Here is a look at the 10 coaches on the hot seat for 2024.
10. Kalani Sitake, BYU
A proud program out west, the Cougars’ first shot at the Power Five level didn’t go so well, as they went 5-7, just their second losing season in 19 years. Both were under Kalani Sitake, and the first was in 2017. Another losing record in the Big 12 could cost him his job.
9. Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati
One year does not a coach make, but Scott Satterfield took over a Bearcats team that went undefeated in the regular season in 2021 and went 3-9 with them his first year. It was Cincy’s first year in the Big 12 just like BYU, but they didn’t go to the league to get destroyed like that, so Satterfield has work to do.
8. Justin Wilcox, Cal
Derek Dooley’s hot seat was sealed at Tennessee after he lost Justin Wilcox, but over a decade later, Wilcox is on the hot seat withe Golden Bears. He’s 36-43 there and has suffered four straight losing seasons. Leaving the Pac-12 and joining the ACC may actually save him, but he’s in trouble.
7. Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
In all fairness, the Vandy Commodores head coach should never be on the hot seat. However, after a strong finish to 2022 in which they played their final game with a shot at a bowl, they fell back apart in 2023, going from 5-7 to 2-10 after a 2-0 start. Even Vandy can’t accept that from Clark Lea.
6. Mario Cristobal, Miami
Nobody is considering Mario Cristobal for the hot seat, especially with the Hurricanes landing Washington State Cougars transfer Cam Ward at quarterback, but he is still responsible for the dumbest decision in football last year, running a play when he could’ve taken a knee. If Miami disappoints, that’ll come back up, and he’ll be fired.
5. Dave Aranda, Baylor
Things looked so hopeful when Dave Aranda lead the Bears to a 12-2 record and Big 12 championship in 2021. Since then, though, his program has cratered, as he went 6-7 in 2022 and then 3-9 in 2023. Aranda is on a serious hot seat entering 2024 because of expectations Art Briles created in Waco, Texas, but he’s got to live up to them.
4. Shane Beamer, South Carolina
Shane Beamer is two lucky November wins over College Football Playoff teams back to back in 2022 away from already being fired. Given the Connor Stalions scandal, those are now in question. Beamer is 20-18 in three years with the Gamecocks, and he had a major letdown last year, going 5-7. He could easily get fired after this year.
3. Ryan Day, Ohio State
Losing three straight to the Michigan Wolverines is bad enough, but last year, Ryan Day had the most talented team in college football. Now, the Buckeyes have spent $20 million reportedly in NIL money this offseason, and Day surrendered offensive coordinator duties to Chip Kelly. The message is clear. Win it all or be replaced by Kelly.
2. Sam Pittman, Arkansas
Similar to Day, Sam Pittman had an offensive coordinator forced on him, and he just so happens to be the last great Arkansas Razorbacks head coach, Bobby Petrino. An impressive start has become a collapse, and he’s now 23-25 in four years there while coming off a 4-8 season. Similar to Day, it looks like he has to improve, or his OC will replace him.
1. Billy Napier, Florida
Two straight losing seasons with the Gators is unacceptable, regardless of what Dan Mullen left you. Billy Napier has failed miserably in Gainesville, and his “attention to detail” hasn’t paid off at all. Now, he’s on an extremely hot seat, and he’s got the toughest schedule arguably in history. There’s a chance he doesn’t even finish the season.
