Photo Credit: California Golden Bears Athletics
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College football fans rarely offer patience anymore. The transfer portal allows coaches to overhaul rosters quickly. NIL money can attract immediate difference-makers. Meanwhile, administrators expect expensive coaching hires to produce immediate results. However, several prominent first-year coaches have discovered that rebuilding still takes time. Some inherited difficult situations. Others took jobs where winning immediately represented the expectation. Through five games, eight new coaches stand out for disappointing starts. That group includes some highly accomplished names.
Kyle Whittingham — Michigan
Michigan hired Kyle Whittingham after Sherrone Moore’s departure. The move looked like one of the offseason’s safest hires. Instead, Michigan sits 3-2 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play. Michigan’s problems include turnovers and inconsistent quarterback play. Bryce Underwood struggled badly during Michigan’s loss at Minnesota. He completed 10 of 21 passes for 101 yards. Underwood also threw two interceptions. The Wolverines entered the season expecting to contend nationally. Instead, Whittingham must stabilize a team already chasing the Big Ten leaders. Nobody should question his coaching résumé after five games. However, Michigan did not hire him for rebuilding seasons.
Matt Campbell — Penn State
Matt Campbell left Iowa State for one of college football’s biggest pressure cookers. Penn State sits 3-2 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play. The Nittany Lions recently surrendered 413 rushing yards against Northwestern. Their offense has also lacked consistency. Campbell admitted Tuesday that Penn State currently lacks an offensive identity. That statement should concern Penn State fans. Campbell built Iowa State through patience, development and culture. Penn State operates differently. The Nittany Lions expect College Football Playoff contention, not lengthy rebuilding projects. Therefore, Campbell needs improvement quickly.
Ryan Silverfield — Arkansas
Ryan Silverfield knew Arkansas represented a significant step up from Memphis. The SEC has quickly reminded him. Arkansas sits 2-3 overall and 0-2 in conference play. Even worse, the Razorbacks have struggled badly against Power Four competition. Three Power Four opponents have outscored Arkansas 122-34. Those numbers tell the story. Silverfield needs time to reshape the roster. However, Arkansas cannot continue suffering noncompetitive losses. The Razorbacks still face several ranked opponents. Therefore, this season could become much uglier before November arrives.
Jim Mora — Colorado State
Jim Mora looked like an excellent hire after rebuilding UConn. His Colorado State tenure has already produced chaos. The Rams started 2-0 before losing three consecutive games. Colorado State allowed 156 combined points during those three defeats. Then came an unusual coaching situation against Oregon State. Mora removed defensive coordinator Tyson Summers from play-calling duties during the game. Summers then left the sideline. Mora later confirmed Summers no longer worked with the program. Oregon State won 56-26 while gaining 650 yards. Colorado State now sits 2-3. Mora rebuilt UConn successfully, so his résumé deserves respect. Still, his Colorado State era has started poorly.
Jason Candle — UConn
Jason Candle replaced Mora after leaving Toledo. So far, UConn has not benefited from the change. The Huskies sit 2-3 through five games. UConn suffered a disappointing Week 2 loss against Maryland. The Huskies then lost heartbreakers against Miami of Ohio and Syracuse. The Syracuse loss particularly hurt. UConn allowed a fourth-and-goal conversion from the 17-yard line during overtime. Candle won consistently at Toledo. However, maintaining Mora’s momentum at UConn presents a different challenge. The Huskies cannot afford to let close games keep slipping away.
Pat Fitzgerald — Michigan State
Pat Fitzgerald returned to Big Ten football with Michigan State. The Spartans started 2-0. Unfortunately, everything has fallen apart since then. Michigan State sits 2-3 after three consecutive double-digit defeats. Notre Dame, Nebraska and Wisconsin exposed significant weaknesses. Most importantly, Michigan State still lacks an offensive identity. The offensive line has struggled. Receivers have failed to consistently create separation. Meanwhile, quarterback Alessio Milivojevic has received little help around him. Fitzgerald built Northwestern around toughness and physical football. Michigan State has not displayed enough of either quality yet.
Kirby Moore — Washington State
Few first-year situations look more disappointing than Washington State. Kirby Moore arrived with an excellent reputation as an offensive coach. Instead, Washington State sits 1-4. The Cougars have scored only three offensive touchdowns during four games against FBS opponents. That statistic looks especially troubling because offense represents Moore’s specialty. Washington State also struggled badly on third down against Fresno State. The Cougars failed on 11 of 14 third-down attempts. Fans have already expressed their frustration. Moore accepted responsibility after the Fresno State loss. Now, he needs answers.
Tosh Lupoi — California
California hired Tosh Lupoi after his successful run as Oregon’s defensive coordinator. Lupoi also convinced quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele to remain at California. Those developments created optimism. However, California sits only 2-3. The Bears committed 16 penalties for 147 yards during their loss against UNLV. Even more surprisingly, Lupoi’s defense has struggled. California ranks near the bottom of the ACC against the run. Opponents have already scored 11 rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, Lupoi has considered changing responsibilities among his offensive coaches. Five games do not define a coaching tenure. Still, California needs progress soon.
Patience Has Become Rare
These eight coaches face different expectations. Whittingham and Campbell inherited programs expecting championship contention. Silverfield faces the weekly brutality of the SEC. Meanwhile, Mora, Candle, Fitzgerald, Moore and Lupoi inherited programs needing different levels of reconstruction. Therefore, comparing every situation equally would make little sense. College football also provides examples of first-year coaches thriving immediately. Bob Chesney started 4-0 at UCLA. Jon Sumrall also opened 4-0 at Florida. Brian Hartline started 4-0 at South Florida before Temple handed USF its first loss. Those successful starts make struggling coaches look worse. Fair or unfair, immediate success elsewhere raises expectations everywhere.
Nobody should declare these eight hires failures after five games. However, the honeymoon has already ended. October now becomes critical. Whittingham and Campbell must restore championship expectations. Silverfield needs Arkansas to become competitive against quality opponents. Fitzgerald and Lupoi need clearer identities. Candle must turn close losses into victories. Meanwhile, Moore desperately needs Washington State’s offense to resemble his reputation. Mora might face the strangest challenge of everyone. He must stabilize Colorado State after three disastrous defensive performances and a midgame staff departure. First-year coaches always ask for patience. In modern college football, patience has become increasingly difficult to find.
This is how difficult coaching college football is that some first-year head coaches are doing go so far and some are not.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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