By mid-October, there’s already 9 head coach openings in faculty soccer. Boosters and donors are opening their checkbooks, getting ready for what may very well be a wild teaching carousel season.
Maybe probably the most stunning teaching change up to now was Penn State’s firing of James Franklin after the Nittany Lions misplaced three straight video games — first a nail-biter to Oregon, adopted by disastrous and disappointing defeats to UCLA and Northwestern. Simply final January, Penn State was taking part in within the semifinals of the School Soccer Playoff. Whereas Franklin by no means did, they’ve the assets to win massive, making the job an extremely excessive profile one that may appeal to a few of the greatest candidates within the sport.
Elsewhere, Oklahoma State despatched longtime coach Mike Gundy packing, Arkansas bid farewell to Sam Pittman, and Virginia Tech severed ties with Brent Pry.
Right here’s each head teaching change in 2025 up to now:
James Franklin fired on Oct. 12
Franklin received 69 p.c of his video games at Penn State. He received a Rose Bowl, a Huge Ten title, and had a run to the School Soccer Playoff semifinals simply final season. However after beginning the season because the No. 2 staff within the AP Ballot — considered by many as a legit nationwide championship contender — shedding three straight video games proved to be an excessive amount of to abdomen for the parents with energy in Pleased Valley. Franklin misplaced lots to the opposite marquee packages within the Huge Ten — particularly Michigan and Ohio State — and sometimes failed to fulfill the lofty expectations that followers of the Nittany Lions had. Nonetheless, he has a 128-60 file and 7 bowl wins as a head coach. If he needs to maintain teaching, he’ll have plenty of choices.
Trent Dilfer fired on Oct. 12
A former NFL quarterback who rode the coattails of an all-time nice protection to a Tremendous Bowl win, Dilfer had by no means coached in faculty earlier than getting the UAB job in 2023 and his tenure went the best way plenty of people predicted: a 9-21 file throughout three seasons with just a few episodes of him sticking his foot in his mouth. UAB most likely needs it had simply caught with Bryant Vincent, who went 7-6 with a bowl win because the interim coach in 2022.
Trent Bray fired on Oct. 12
After an 0-7 begin this season, which adopted a 5-7 file in 2024, the Beavers made the choice to maneuver on from Bray, who performed at Oregon State and had beforehand served as defensive coordinator beneath former head coach Jonathan Smith. The 2 years because the dissolution of the previous Pac-12 has not been sort to Oregon State soccer.
Sam Pittman fired on Sept. 28
The Razorbacks fired Pittman after an 0-3 begin, capped off by a blowout dwelling loss to Notre Dame. The interim coach is Bobby Petrino — who you may keep in mind was the top coach at Arkansas from 2008 to 2011 till he was fired following an incident by which he was concerned in a bike crash whereas using with a former Razorbacks volleyball participant who he had employed to his workers. Whether or not Arkansas sticks with Petrino for a second time stays to be seen.
Mike Gundy fired on Sept. 23
A 3-time Huge 12 Coach of the Yr, Gundy’s 21-year tenure because the Cowboys’ head coach ended following a 19-12 loss at dwelling to Tulsa. He discovered himself on the recent seat after posting a 3-9 file final season. Issues in Stillwater haven’t gotten a lot better since his dismissal.
Brent Pry fired on Sept. 17
In somewhat greater than three seasons on the job, Pry went 16-24 along with his tenure starting and ending with losses to Outdated Dominion. The Hokies are nonetheless chasing what this system was once beneath longtime head coach Frank Beamer, however have had issue discovering constant success with the 2 coaches they’ve fired since. What may appeal to candidates was the announcement that got here just a few weeks after Pry’s firing — a $229 million funding into Virginia Tech’s athletic division.
DeShaun Foster fired on Sept. 17
UCLA pulled the plug on Foster’s teaching tenure three video games into this season, throughout which the Bruins went 0-3 with two losses to Mountain West packages. For the reason that change, with Tim Skipper because the interim head coach and Jerry Neuheisel calling the offense, the Bruins have notched spectacular victories over Penn State and Michigan State. Skipper had a good run because the interim coach at Fresno State and will coach his technique to the full-time gig if the Bruins hold successful.
Kenni Burns fired on April 15
Kent State fired its former head coach within the spring for a number of violations of his contract, together with how he used a private bank card. For the reason that flip of the century, Kent State has had simply 4 seasons by which they’ve posted .500 or higher data.
Troy Taylor fired on March 25
Former Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck is now the overall supervisor of this system and employed Frank Reich to educate the staff on an interim foundation this season. Taylor was dismissed within the spring following a report that he was investigated for mistreating staffers. Now within the ACC and working within the period of income sharing and NIL, the Stanford gig looks like a tough one. Lots has modified on this sport because the Cardinal’s glory days with Luck and Christian McCaffrey.
