List of college football head coaches with non-consecutive tenure

This is a list of college football head coaches with non-consecutive tenure, meaning that an individual was a head coach at a college or university for a period, departed, and then returned to the same college or university in the same capacity.

This list includes only head coaches. This list does not include the following:

  • Head coaches whose break in tenure was due to a temporarily suspended football program with no other coach during the break in tenure. Most such cases involve programs that halted play for World War I (including the flu pandemic linked to that conflict), World War II, or COVID-19. Another recent example is Bill Clark, former head coach at UAB. UAB dropped football after his first season at the school in 2014, but announced six months later that it would reinstate the sport, eventually resuming play in 2017. Clark was under contract to UAB throughout the program's hiatus.
  • Coaches who left and returned to an administrative capacity in the title of "head coach" but did not coach any games, such as when Tom Osborne temporarily named himself head coach while athletic director for the Nebraska Cornhuskers until Bo Pelini was hired in 2007.[1]
  • Coaches whose break in tenure was due to a medical or personal leave, with no new permanent head coach having been hired. A recent example is Joe Moglia, head coach at Coastal Carolina from 2012 to 2018. He went on a medical leave shortly before the 2017 season, and returned to coaching in 2018. During the 2017 season, offensive coordinator Jamey Chadwell was interim head coach, but was not hired as the permanent replacement at that time; he would succeed Moglia after the latter retired after the 2018 season.
  • Coaches who were hired as interim head coaches while the permanent head coach was on a personal or medical leave, such as Chadwell.

Several College Football Hall of Fame coaches have made the list, accenting not only their return to the same program but the success their return brought to the program.[2] Critics have pointed out that returning coaches appear to be less successful at producing winning teams and programs during their second tenure[3] and make comparisons to previous records of coaches attempting to return to a prior coaching job.[4]

Head coach Team Tenure Notes
Eli Abbott[5] Alabama 1893–1895, 1902
A. A. Abraham[6] Alcorn State 1936, 1938, 1941–1942
Hobbs Adams[7] Kansas State 1940–1941, 1946
Bob Agler Otterbein 1955–1965, 1970–1974
Jack Alexander Brevard 1940, 1948
George E. Allen[8] Maine 1941, 1946–1948
William Allen[9] Washington State 1900, 1902
Barry Alvarez Wisconsin 1990–2005, 2012, 2014 Alvarez, who stepped down from coaching after the 2005 season to concentrate on his second role as athletic director and entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010, has been interim coach for two Wisconsin bowl games after the Badgers' head coach left for another school. He coached in the 2013 Rose Bowl (part of the 2012 season) after Bret Bielema left to take the head coaching vacancy at Arkansas,[10] and the 2015 Outback Bowl (part of the 2014 season) following Gary Andersen's departure for the Oregon State vacancy (though Alvarez coached the bowl game in 2015).[11]
Gary Andersen Utah State 2009–2012, 2019–2020
Carl "Swede" Anderson Western Kentucky 1929, 1934–1937
Chester Anderson Bemidji State 1955–1960, 1962–1965
Eddie Anderson Holy Cross 1933–1938, 1950–1964 Member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Coached six years at Holy Cross in the 1930s, moved on to Iowa which he interrupted to serve in the U.S. Army. He then returned first to Iowa then to Holy Cross for 13 seasons.[2]
Iowa 1939–1942, 1946–1949
Bob Andrews Brevard 1946–1947, 1949–1950
Houston Arbogast 1925, 1927
Phillip Arbuckle Rice 1912–1917, 1919–1923
Samuel Archer Morehouse 1905–1908, 1912–1915
Bo Atterberry Southeastern Oklahoma State 2014–2018, 2023–present
Chris Ault Nevada 1976–1992, 1994–1995, 2004–2012 Stepped down and returned twice during his tenure at Nevada, each time to focus on his (now-relinquished) second role as athletics director.[2] Ault was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002, during his second break in tenure.
David Austin Middlebury 1903–1904, 1907–1908
Cory Bailey Assumption 2004–2007, 2009–2012
Willard Bailey Virginia Union 1971–1983, 1995–2003
Boydson Baird Maryville 1959–1963, 1970
Ed Baker Kalamazoo 1967–1983, 1988–1989
Edward Baker Carnegie Tech 1940–1942, 1949–1959 School is now known as Carnegie Mellon.
William C. Baker Chadron State 1955, 1957–1961
George Baldwin Kutztown 1973–1983, 1985–1987
D. M. Balliet Purdue 1893–1895, 1901
Laurence Bankart Colgate 1910, 1913–1916
Harry E. Barco Virginia Union 1903, 1911–1912
T. L. Bayne Tulane 1893, 1895
Ernest Bearg Washburn 1918–1919, 1929–1935
Matty Bell SMU 1935–1941, 1945–1949
Joe Benda Saint John's (MN) 1930–1936, 1941–1942, 1945–1949
John R. Bender Washington State 1906–1907, 1912–1914
Christie Benet South Carolina 1904–1905, 1908–1909
Curt Bennett Sterling 1966–1973, 1981, 1997–2000
Harry Newsham Bentz Shippensburg 1924–1925, 1927–1928
Martin V. Bergen Grinnell 1894–1895, 1902–1903, 1905 Served as co-head coach with Tuffy Fisk in 1905
Hugo Bezdek Oregon 1906, 1913–1917
Bernie Bierman Minnesota 1932–1941, 1945–1950
Jack Bishop Southern Utah 1978–1982, 1986–1995
Gene Bissell Kansas Wesleyan 1952–1961, 1963–1978
C. P. Blakeslee Minnesota State 1924–1931, 1933–1934
J. Merrell Blanchard William & Mary 1904–1905, 1910
Bill Bloss Oregon State 1893, 1897
Branch Bocock Virginia Tech 1909–1910, 1912–1915
William & Mary 1928–1930, 1936–1938
Stanley Borleske North Dakota State 1919–1921, 1923–1924, 1928 Co-head coach with Casey Finnegan in 1928
Robert E. Bowles William Jewell 1913–1926, 1933–1936
Jerry Boyes Buffalo State 1986–2000, 2009–2018
Jimmy Bradshaw Fresno State 1936–1942, 1946 Fresno State did not play in 1943, but resumed in 1944.[12]
Jubie Bragg Florida A&M 1907–1925, 1930 Team did not play from 1910 until 1919 and again in 1924. FAMU's current stadium bears his name.
Sidney O. Brandon Campbell 1927–1928, 1932–1934, 1946
Chester Brewer Michigan State 1903–1910, 1917, 1919 Michigan State played its 1918 season.
Arthur W. Briggs Missouri State 1912, 1914–1917, 1919–1933 Missouri State, then known as the Fourth District Normal School, played in 1918.[13]
John Briley Augustana (IL) 1941–1942, 1946
Eugene Brodhagen Winona State 1946–1950, 1952–1954
Reuben Bronson Idaho State 1915–1916, 1919 Idaho State played in 1917, but not in 1918.[14]
Joseph W. Brooks Williams 1916, 1919–1920
Charles H. Brown Birmingham-Southern 1916, 1919–1923
Don Brown UMass 2004–2008, 2022–2024
John Brown Alabama State 1943, 1945–1948 Alabama State played in 1944.[15]
Mack Brown North Carolina 1988–1997, 2019–2024
George Buchheit Bloomsburg 1932–1935, 1940–1941, 1945
Matthew Bullock UMass[a] 1904, 1907–1908
Luther Burleson Hardin-Simmons 1913, 1918
Derrick Burroughs Lane 2010–2013, 2015–2019
Samuel D. Burton West Texas A&M 1921–1924, 1931–1932
Perrin Busbee North Carolina State 1892, 1896–1897
Henry Butova American International 1948, 1952–1955
Johnny Cain Louisiana[b] 1937–1941, 1946
L. Jay Caldwell Colgate 1893, 1895
Walter Camp Stanford 1892, 1894–1895
V. M. Campbell Memphis[c] 1917, 1919 Memphis played in 1918.[16]
Mike Canales North Texas 2010, 2015 Canales served as interim head coach of the Mean Green for their last 5 games in 2010, and again for their last 7 games in 2015.
Jack Cannell Dartmouth 1921–1922, 1929–1933
William L. Carberry Northern State 1933–1939, 1942–1945 Team did not play in 1943 and 1944 due to WWII.
Roger Caron Pomona–Pitzer 1994–2004, 2007–2016
Gilbert Carson Eastern Illinois 1936–1937, 1939–1941
Marino Casem Southern 1987–1988, 1992
Frank Casey Simpson 1935–1939, 1942–1947
Joe Bailey Cheaney Howard Payne 1928–1934, 1946–1947
Ade Christenson St. Olaf 1929–1942, 1946–1948, 1951–1957
Harvey Chrouser Wheaton (IL) 1940–1941, 1946–1960
William W. Church Georgetown 1899, 1901
George Clark Nebraska 1945, 1948
Heze Clark Rose-Hulman 1908–1911, 1923–1927
Louis Clark Dayton 1913, 1917–1918
Tom Clark Catholic 1994–2000, 2004–2005
Edward Clemons Edward Waters 1929–1932, 1965 33 years between coaching periods
Roy Clogston St. Lawrence 1938–1941, 1946–1947
George Cobb Rhode Island 1909–1911, 1913–1914
Jasper Colebank Fairmont State 1924–1932, 1934–1939
Bill Cooke Missouri Southern 1988, 2000–2003 Was interim coach in 1988
Gerald Coonan Wisconsin-Superior 1913, 1917
Duaine Counsell Wisconsin-Stevens Point 1957–1965, 1967–1968
Dean Cromwell USC 1909–1910, 1916–1918
H. P. Cross Stanford 1896, 1898
Shannon Currier Concordia–St. Paul 2000–2003, 2016–present Team did not play in 2020 due to COVID-19
Charles Dudley Daly Army 1913–1916, 1919–1922
Bill Davis Savannah State 1986–1992, 2000–2001
Mark Dean Indiana State 1951–1954, 1956
James DeHart Washington & Lee 1922–1925, 1931–1932
Frank Dennie Missouri S&T 1909–1911, 1915–1917
Hugh Devore Notre Dame 1945, 1963
Oliver Morton Dickerson Western Illinois 1906, 1910
Marvin D. Dickinson Georgia 1903, 1905
Chester C. Dillon Samford[d] 1919, 1927–1928
Jacksonville State 1938–1939, 1945
Sam Doak Tusculum 1919–1921, 1928–1936
Frank Dobson Richmond 1913–1917, 1919–1933
Mike Donahue Auburn 1904–1906, 1908–1922
George Donges Ashland 1935–1937, 1945–1953
James C. Donnelly WPI 1909, 1911, 1915
Hubert R. Doubs Fayetteville State 1959–1962, 1966–1969
Ben Douglas Grinnell 1940–1941, 1946
Sidney Drew Hope 1916, 1918
Don Drumm Marietta 1912–1916, 1942 26 years between coaching periods
Moon Ducote Spring Hill 1919, 1921–1922, 1933–1934
E. C. Duggins Appalachian State 1947–1950, 1952–1955
Mike Dunbar Central Washington 1983, 1987–1991
E. A. Dunlap Richmond 1905–1909, 1912
John Dunlop Boston College 1897–1899, 1901
Joe Dupaix Southern Virginia 2009–2013, 2022–present
Ron Dupree Kansas Wesleyan 1979–1980, 1996
Schubert R. Dyche Montana State 1928–1935, 1938–1941
Thomas Eck Massachusetts[a] 1945, 1947–1951
Randy Edsall UConn[e] 1999–2010, 2017–2021
George R. Edwards Kansas Wesleyan 1914, 1917
Jake Eldridge Montana State–Northern 2014, 2017 Was interim head coach for the entire 2014 season and for the final 3 games of the 2017 season.
Larry Elliott Washburn 1974–1978, 1984–1989
Harry Ely Fordham 1892, 1903
Homer Englund South Dakota Mines 1959–1960, 1962
Rex Enright South Carolina 1938–1942, 1946–1955
Dennis Erickson Idaho 1982–1985, 2006 21 years between coaching periods[2]
Dan Estes Central Arkansas 1915–1916, 1919–1932
Harry W. Ewing Otterbein 1935–1938, 1942–1945, 1951–1954
Jack Faber Maryland 1935, 1940–1941
Dave Fagg Davidson 1970–1973, 1990–1992
Don Fambrough Kansas 1971–1974, 1979–1982
George M. Farley Nebraska Wesleyan 1935–1936, 1941–1942
Wells Farley Maine 1901, 1903
Don Faurot Missouri 1935–1942, 1946–1956
John Fenlon Richmond 1942, 1946–1947
Jim Fenwick Eastern Oregon 2002–2003, 2005
A. R. Ferguson Hastings 1912–1914, 1917–1918
Stewart Ferguson Arkansas-Monticello 1934, 1938–1941
Carl Ferrill New Mexico Highlands 1996–1998, 2006
Lou Ferry Villanova 1970–1973, 1974 Ferry served as interim head coach for the final 3 games in 1974
Doug Fessenden Montana 1935–1941, 1946–1948
Charles A. Fisher Lebanon Valley 1899, 1901
Red Floyd Middle Tennessee 1917, 1935–1938
Ed Foley Temple 2016, 2018 Foley was interim head coach for two Temple appearances in bowl games, the 2016 Military Bowl after Matt Rhule left for Baylor and the 2018 Independence Bowl after Geoff Collins left for Georgia Tech.
Fred Folsom Colorado 1895–1899, 1901–1902, 1908–1915
Frank Forbes Morehouse 1932–1933, 1935–1942, 1945–1949
Ted Forbes UC Davis 1949–1953, 1955
Dixon Foster South Carolina 1917, 1919
Dennis Franchione Texas State 1990–91, 2011–2015 20 years between coaching periods[17]
John Edmund Fries Carroll (WI) 1914–1918, 1920
Scott Frost UCF 2016–2017, 2025–future
Thomas B. Fullerton Emory and Henry 1915–1916, 1920–1926
Phillip Fulmer Tennessee 1992, 1993–2008 Fulmer was named interim head coach for the first three games of the 1992 season in Johnny Majors' absence. He returned to his position as offensive coordinator upon Majors' return. Following Majors' resignation after the season, Fulmer was promoted to head coach.
John Fuhrer Pittsburg State 1909–1914, 1918
Mike Furrey Limestone 2016–2017, 2022–present
Glen Galligan Winona State 1927–1933, 1935
J. A. Gammons Brown 1902, 1908–1909
Mike Gardner Tabor 2004–2005, 2010–present
Frank Gargan Fordham 1916, 1922–1926
Wix Garner Western Illinois 1942–1943, 1945–1947
Al Garten Eastern New Mexico 1936–1937, 1939–1953 Team did not play from 1942 until 1944 due to WWII.
Rufus Gilbert Kalamazoo 1905, 1907–1908
Rose-Hulman 1915, 1917–1920
W. J. Gobrecht Dickinson 1965–1979, 1984 Was interim head coach in 1984
Ernie Godfrey Wittenberg 1916, 1919–1928
Milton Goering Bethel (KS) 1954–1956, 1958–1959
Otto Graham Coast Guard 1959–1965, 1974–1975
Paul Graham RPI 1920–1926, 1942–1945 Went 16 years between coaching stints
Ralph Graham Wichita State[f] 1942, 1946–1947
Artis P. Graves Morris Brown 1940, 1944–1949
B. C. Graves Sul Ross 1923–1925, 1927–1939
Ernest Graves, Sr. Army 1906, 1912
Rob Green Missouri Southern 1997, 2003 Green had no wins in nine games as head coach.
Ray Greene Alabama A&M 1979–1983, 1986–1988
Roger A. Greene Colby 1916, 1923
James Griffin Hampton 1941–1942, 1947–1948
John G. Griffith Idaho 1902–1906, 1910–1914
Fred Gushurst South Dakota Mines 1917, 1919–1920
Joe Guyon Union (TN) 1919, 1923–1926
Roy J. Guyer Lebanon Valley 1908–1910, 1913–1916
Eugene M. Haas Gettysburg 1957–1968, 1973–1974
Odell Haggins Florida State 2017, 2019 Haggins served as the Seminoles' interim head coach for the final 2 games of 2017 after Jimbo Fisher left for Texas A&M and for the final 4 games in 2019 after Willie Taggart was fired.
Bert Hall West Chester 1920, 1922
Henry Hall Olivet 1901–1903, 1908–1910, 1912
Dale E. Hamilton Central Oklahoma 1941–1949, 1952–1957 Program idle from 1943 to 1945; from 1950 to 1951, Hamilton served in the Korean War.
Tom Hamilton Navy 1934–1936, 1946–1947
Pittsburgh 1951, 1954
Charles Hammett Allegheny 1913–1917, 1919
Howard Hancock Wisconsin–Oshkosh 1921–1928, 1930
A. G. Harbaugh Montana State 1901, 1905
Jack Harding Miami (FL) 1937–1942, 1945–1947
Clarion Hardy Dakota Wesleyan 1902, 1907–1908, 1913–1914
Lyle W. Hare Black Hills State 1906, 1911–1919
Walter Hargesheirner UMass[a] 1941–1942, 1946
Homer Woodson Hargiss Emporia State 1914–1917, 1920–1927
Dick Harlow Harvard 1935–1942, 1945–1947
Harvey Harman Rutgers 1938–1941, 1946–1955
Robert E. Harmon Illinois College 1903, 1917
William T. Harmon Illinois College 1910–1916, 1919–1931
C. E. Harris Grinnell 1897–1900, 1904
L. Harris Alcorn State 1937, 1939–1940
Sox Harrison Edinboro 1926–1938, 1941–1942
Herbert L. Hart Monmouth (IL) 1925–1929, 1932–1937
Harry Hartsell NC State 1917, 1921–1923
Burwell Towns Harvey Morehouse 1916–1925, 1927–1928
Bobby Hauck Montana 2003–2009, 2018–present
Charlie Havens McDaniel 1935–1941, 1946–1956 School was called Western Maryland College
Patrick Haverty Fitchburg State 2002–2006, 2011–2017
Jimmy R. Haygood Henderson State 1907–1918, 1920–1924
Herman Hayward Wisconsin-River Falls 1921, 1923
C. M. Hazen Richmond 1882–1886, 1888 Team did not play in 1883 and 1884
Charles B. Hedgcock Northern Michigan 1922–1933, 1936–1937
Jim Heinitz Augustana (SD) 1985–1992, 1996–2004
John Heisman Oberlin 1892, 1894
Clay Helton USC 2013, 2015–2021 Helton was interim coach for the 2013 Las Vegas Bowl and for seven games after Steve Sarkisian's firing in 2015. He was named permanent head coach after the 2015 UCLA game.
Ernie Hertel Wartburg 1935–1937, 1944–1945
Fred Hess Wyoming 1892, 1894, 1898 Hess was co-head coach with Justus Soule in 1894.
Simon Hester William Penn 1900, 1903
Bob Higgins West Virginia Wesleyan 1920, 1922–1924
Sam H. Hill Wichita State 1923–1924, 1928–1929
Nick E. Hinch Eastern Washington 1908, 1912
Tony Hinkle Butler 1926, 1935–1941, 1946–1969
Lance Hinson Saint Mary 2005–2013, 2020–present
Robert T. Hinton Georgetown (KY) 1908–1917, 1919
Brady Hoke San Diego State 2009–2010, 2020–2023
Bill Hollenback Penn State 1909, 1911–1914
Pennsylvania Military 1912, 1915 Now called Widener University
Lamar Hoover Wichita State 1916–1917, 1921–1922
George W. Hoskins Bucknell 1899–1906, 1909
Blue Howell Pittsburg State 1929–1935, 1937
Henry B. Hucles Virginia Union 1919–1920, 1926–1942
Harry W. Hughes Colorado State 1911–1941, 1946
Claude J. Hunt Washington 1917, 1919 Washington played in 1918.[18]
Maurice Hunt Morehouse 1979–1989, 1995–1996
John Hunthausen Carroll (MT) 1957, 1959–1961 [19]
R. Victor Hurst Northern Michigan 1934–1935, 1938–1942
Vic Hurt Oklahoma Baptist 1923–1929, 1931–1934
T. Briscoe Inman Centre 1952–1956, 1963–1965
Carl Iverson Western Colorado 1988–1995, 1997–2000
Edward Jackson Delaware State 1933–1936, 1939, 1941–1942, 1945, 1953–1956
Red Jarrett North Dakota 1942, 1946–1948
Allen Jeardeau Wisconsin-Platteville 1895, 1898 School was then called Platteville Normal
Harry R. Jefferson Bluefield State 1925–1929, 1932–1933
Willie Jeffries South Carolina State 1973–1978, 1989–2001
Greg Johnson Langston 1992–1996, 2004–2010
Walter A. Johnson Presbyterian 1915–1917, 1919–1940
Tad Jones Yale 1916–1917, 1920–1927
Thomas Kane Saint Anselm 1909, 1913
Ted Karras Jr. Marian (IN) 2007–2012, 2023–present
Tom Kelley Framingham State 1982–1984, 2007–present Team did not play in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns.
Dan Kenan Wesleyan 1916, 1920
A. R. Kennedy Washburn 1903, 1916–1917
Walter S. Kennedy Albion 1904–1905, 1907–1911, 1914–1920 Was co-head coach with Bruce Guyselman from 1918 to 1919.
William C. Kenyon Maine 1942, 1944–1945
Bill Kern West Virginia 1940–1942, 1946–1947
Dale Kessinger Highland 1955, 1960–1969 School was known as Doniphan County Junior College from 1960–1965
Glenn Killinger West Chester 1934–1941, 1945–1959
Eddie Kimball BYU 1937–1941, 1946–1948
Philip King Wisconsin 1896–1902, 1905
W. J. King William & Mary 1897–1898, 1900
Ray Kirchmeyer Wagner 1928–1937, 1938–1941, 1946 Team did not play from 1942 until 1945
James Kitts Virginia Tech 1941, 1946–1947
Bill Klika FDU–Florham 1974–1996, 2000–2001
Greg Knox Mississippi State 2017, 2023 Knox was named interim head coach of the Bulldogs for their appearance in the 2017 TaxSlayer Bowl after Dan Mullen left for Florida and for the final 2 games in 2023 after Zach Arnett was fired.
Robert Kolf Oshkosh State 1929, 1931–1942, 1946–1962 School now known as Wisconsin–Oshkosh
Hal Kopp Rhode Island 1950, 1952–1955
Stan Kostka North Dakota State 1941, 1946–1947
Harl Lahar Colgate 1952–1956, 1962–1967
Oliver M. Lanhorst Elmhurst 1933–1948, 1960–1962
Charles Lantz Eastern Illinois 1911–1934, 1944 No season in 1918.[20]
Frank Leahy Notre Dame 1941–1943, 1946–1953
Edwin W. Lee Washington (St. Louis) 1898, 1900
Jay L. Lee William Penn 1915, 1917–1920 Team did not play in 1918
John P. Lee Fordham 1891, 1893
Kelley Lee Eastern New Mexico 2017–2020, 2023–present Team did not play in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Sam Lee Keystone 1936, 1942–1943
Wally Lemm Lake Forest 1952–1953, 1957
Al Leonzi Kutztown 1984, 1993–1997
Henry W. Lever Linfield 1930–1938, 1940–1942
Emil Liston Baker 1920–1937, 1940–1942
George Little Miami (OH) 1916, 1919–1921
Dominic Livedoti Olivet 1988–1992, 2005–2009
Mike Locksley Maryland 2015, 2019–present Was interim head coach of the team for their final 5 games in 2015 after Randy Edsall's firing.
John B. Longwell Samford[d] 1909, 1911, 1916–1917
Will Lotter UC Davis 1954, 1956–1957, 1959–1963
Lynn Lundin Bethel (MN) 1950, 1953–1959
Richard W. Luther Western Reserve 1947, 1950
Bill Lynch DePauw 2004, 2013–2019
George Lynch St. Cloud State 1920–1928, 1933–1934
James Lytle Shaw 1928–1929, 1934–1945 Team did not play from 1943 to 1944
Frank Maile Utah State 2018, 2020 Maile served as the Aggies interim head coach for their appearance in the 2018 New Mexico Bowl after Matt Wells left for Texas Tech, and for the final 5 games of the 2020 season after the school parted ways with Gary Andersen.
Rip Major Wofford 1919, 1922–1926
Johnny Majors Pittsburgh 1973–1976, 1993–1996 Won a national title at Pittsburgh in his first tenure.[2]
Oliver Mann Rutgers 1903, 1905
Wally Marks Indiana State 1927–1930, 1933–1941, 1946–1948
Duncan M. Martin Hillsdale 1896, 1898
Art Martynuska Saint Francis 1969–1979, 1981
Robert Mastny St. Procopius 1927–1928, 1930, 1934–1936 School now known as Benedictine (IL)
Charles Mayser Franklin & Marshall 1919–1914
1924–1925
1944–1945
Peter Mazzaferro Bridgewater State 1968–1986, 1988–2004
William McAndrew Southern Illinois 1913–1916, 1921–1938
Bill McArthur Western Oregon 1947–1954, 1956–1982 Was known as Oregon College until 1981.
William McAvoy Delaware 1908–1916, 1922–1924
Sam P. McBirney Tulsa 1908, 1914–1916
Dan McCann Duquesne 1970–1983, 1988–1992
Tim McCarty East Central 2004–2005, 2009–2017
Jack McClairen Bethune–Cookman 1961–1972, 1994–1997
Sam McCorkle West Alabama[g] 1985–1990, 2004–2005
James H. McCurdy Springfield 1895–1903, 1907–1916
Raymond McDougal Fayetteville State 1970–1979, 1989–1991
Stan McGarvey William Jewell 1978–1980, 1987–1988
Dan McGugin Vanderbilt 1904–1917, 1919–1934
Jack McKay Butler 1907–1908, 1910
Tuss McLaughry Dartmouth 1941–1942, 1945–1954
Westminster (PA) 1915–1916, 1918, 1921 Co-head coach with Andrew Park in 1915
R.D. McLeod Colorado College 1885, 1895
Maury McMains[21] Drexel 1944–1945, 1948 After coaching two full seasons at Drexel, McMains left the head coaching position after the 1945 season to become athletic director. During the 1948 football season, after an 0–5 start, McMains relieved head football coach Ralph Chase of his duties and became head coach for the last three games of the season.
R.D. McLeod Colorado College 1885, 1895
Daryl C. McNeill Johnson C. Smith 1995–1996, 2005–2009
Herb McQuillan Stetson 1924–1934, 1955–1956 Went 21 years between coaching periods.
Randolph M. Medley Southwestern 1939–1947, 1950
T. Nelson Metcalf Oberlin 1913, 1919–1921
Ray Michaels Muskingum 1917, 1919
Dennis Michie Army 1890, 1892
John O. Miller New Mexico State 1899, 1901–1907
Alfred Miles Middle Tennessee 1913–1916, 1919–1923
T. R. Mobley Louisiana[b] 1916, 1919, 1921–1930
George Moody Elizabeth City State 1993–1995, 1998–1999
Jim Moore Murray State 1941, 1946–1947
Charles Morgan Pittsburg State 1936, 1938–1948
Edward Morrison Howard 1920–1924, 1928
Ray Morrison SMU 1915–1916, 1924–1934 Was co-head coach with Ewing Y. Freeland from 1922–1923.
Vanderbilt 1918, 1935–1939
David C. Morrow Washington & Jefferson 1908–1911, 1919–1920, 1924–1925 [22]
Mertz Mortorelli Wisconsin-Superior 1954–1969, 1975–1983
Arthur Mosse Central Missouri 1899, 1902
B. Moyer Willamette 1903, 1907
Moon Mullins Saint Ambrose 1940, 1947–1950 [23]
Frank Murray Marquette 1922–1936, 1946–1949
W. E. Murray Benedict 1926, 1932
Denny Myers Boston College 1941–1942, 1946–1950
Howdy Myers Johns Hopkins 1946–1949, 1979 Myers had a 30-year break in tenure at Johns Hopkins[24]
Robert L. Myers Centre 1917, 1924–1925
Edward Mylin Lafayette 1937–1942, 1946
Sliv Nemzek Minnesota State–Moorhead 1919, 1923–1940
Samuel B. Newton Williams 1907, 1909–1910
Lafayette 1898–1901, 1911
Robert Neyland Tennessee 1926–1934, 1936–1940, 1946–1952 Interrupted his coaching twice to serve in the U.S. Army[2]
Angus Nicoson Indianapolis 1947–1949, 1954
Ralph Nichols Washington 1895–1896, 1898
Billy Nicks Morris Brown 1930–1935, 1937–1939, 1941–1942
Prairie View A&M 1945–1947, 1952–1965
Bob Nielson Minnesota–Duluth 1999–2003, 2008–2012 Won two Division II national titles in his second tenure.
Harvey O'Brien The Citadel 1916–1918, 1920–1921
Maynard O'Brien Eastern Illinois 1946–1950, 1952–1955
Howie O'Daniels Cal Poly 1933–1941, 1946–1947
Frank "Buck" O'Neill Colgate 1902, 1904–1905
Syracuse 1906–1907, 1913–1915, 1917–1919
Tex Oliver Oregon 1938–1941, 1945–1946
Cliff Olson Pacific Lutheran 1929–1941, 1946
Leonard A. Olson Augustana (SD) 1931–1942, 1946
Preston Vaughn Overall Tennessee Tech 1923–1946, 1952–1953
Foster F. Parker William Penn 1898–1899, 1901
Herb Parker Minot State 1947–1949, 1951
Wallace Parker Central Michigan 1921–1923, 1926–1928
Willie Parker Alabama State 1973–1975, 1984, 1986
Art Parkhurst Northwestern Oklahoma State 1956–1964, 1972–1973
Tom Parry Central Washington 1966–1982, 1984–1986
Dale Patterson Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 1996–2003, 2011–2012
Simon F. Pauxtis Pennsylvania Military 1916–1929, 1939–1946 Now called Widener University
Mike Pecarovich Loyola Marymount 1928, 1939
Bo Pelini Nebraska 2003, 2008–2014 Pelini coached the final game (the Alamo Bowl) of the 2003 season after Frank Solich was fired.
James Owen Perrine Northern Iowa 1910, 1917
Marty Peters Benedictine (KS) 1937–1941, 1946–1947
Bobby Petrino Louisville 2003–2006, 2014–2018
Bill Pierce Austin 1935, 1947–1948
Alvin Pierson Fresno State 1945, 1949
Boozer Pitts Auburn 1923–1924, 1927
Doug Porter Fort Valley State 1979–1985, 1987–1996
Tom Porter St. Olaf 1958–1967, 1969–1990
Frank Potts Colorado 1940, 1944–1945
Irving Pray Louisiana State 1916, 1919, 1922
Gabby Price Husson 2003–2008, 2013–2018
Mike Price UTEP 2004–2012, 2017 Price returned as interim head coach after the resignation of Sean Kugler during the 2017 season.[25]
Percy S. Prince Louisiana Tech 1909–1915, 1919
John Pucillo Millersville 1925–1929, 1933–1936
Charles M. Rademacher Saint Louis 1917, 1919–1920
W. C. Raftery Washington and Lee 1917, 1919–1921
George Ralston Wilkes 1946–1954, 1957
Casto Ramsey Emory and Henry 1953–1956, 1960–1968
Alured Ransom Geneva 1941, 1946–1948
Eddie Reed Loyola (LA) 1926, 1935–1936
Red Reese Eastern Washington 1930–1941, 1946
Bill Reid Harvard 1901, 1905–1906
Benjamin F. Reiter Marietta 1909–1911, 1917–1918
Charlie Richard Baker 1980–1990, 1992–1994
John Richards Wisconsin 1911, 1917, 1919–1922
Pat Riepma Northwood 1993–2007, 2014
Ed Rifilato Fort Lewis 2004–2009, 2016–2018
Walter Riggs Clemson 1896, 1899
Mike Riley Oregon State 1997–1998, 2003–2014 Returned to Oregon State after coaching in the NFL[4]
Manuel Rivero Lincoln (PA) 1934–1947, 1951 Team did not play in 1943
Eddie "Robbie" Robinson Brown 1898–1901, 1904–1907, 1910–1925
John Robinson USC[26] 1976–1982, 1993–1997 Won a national title in his first tenure[2]
Merton Robinson Howard 1908, 1918–1919
Stanley L. Robinson Mississippi College 1920–1923, 1928–1953 Team did not play from 1942 to 1945
Harry Rockafeller Rutgers 1927–1930, 1942–1945
Ira Rodgers West Virginia 1925–1930, 1943–1945
Rich Rodriguez West Virginia 2001–2007, 2025–future
George Rogers The Citadel 1913–1915, 1919
Bill Roper Princeton 1906–1908, 1910–1911, 1919–1930 Three undefeated seasons and four national championships at Princeton[2]
Dana Rucker Richmond 1891, 1893–1895
Frederick Bushnell "Jack" Ryder Ohio State 1892–1895, 1898
Elton Rynearson Eastern Michigan[h] 1917, 1919–1920, 1925–1948 No season in 1944. Rynearson is considered the most successful coach in the program, leading the team to several undefeated seasons. Eastern Michigan's current stadium bears his name.[27]
Henry Russell Sanders Vanderbilt 1940–1942, 1946–1948
Don Salls Jacksonville State 1946–1952, 1954–1964
Paul Samson Emporia State 1904–1906, 1908 Then called Kansas State Normal
Joe Savage Saint Francis 1911–1912, 1917–1919 Team did not play in 1918
Herb Schmalenberger UC Davis 1958, 1964–1969
Harvey Schofield Wisconsin-Stevens Point 1900, 1903
Ed Schwager Wisconsin-Whitewater 1942, 1946–1955
John D. Schwender Carroll (WI) 1899–1900, 1904–1905
Clark Shaughnessy Maryland 1942, 1946
Tulane 1915–1920, 1922–1926
Greg Schiano Rutgers 2001–2011, 2020–present
Jack Schouten Hope 1917, 1920–1930
Robert M. Shores Lenoir-Rhyne 1932–1936, 1938–1941
Clarence A. Short Delaware 1902, 1906
Brad Smith Chadron State 1987–2004, 2011 Was interim head coach for the final 4 games of the 2011 season.
Clyde B. Smith Wisconsin–La Crosse 1938–1942, 1946–1947
Fred L. Smith Fordham 1901, 1904, 1906–1907 Smith was co-head coach with Maurice McCarthy in 1901.
Hampton Smith Albany State 1971–1976, 1982–1999
Herbert L. Smith Wayne State 1948, 1955–1959
Sid Smith McPherson 1953–1966, 1971–1972
Warren W. Smith Oregon 1901, 1903
W. Smith Union (NY) 1900–1901, 1903–1904
Carl Snavely North Carolina 1934–1935, 1945–1952
Norm Snead Apprentice 1977–1984, 1988–1989
Bill Snyder[28] Kansas State 1989–2005, 2009–2018
Harry Snyder Slippery Rock 1908–1909, 1911–1913
Tommy Spangler Presbyterian 2001–2006, 2017–2020
Frank Spaziani Boston College 2006, 2009–2012 Spaziani coached the final game of the 2006 season (the Meineke Car Care Bowl) after Tom O'Brien left.
Thomas Stephens Curry 1972–1979, 1981–1982
J. W. Stephenson Jacksonville State 1920–1921, 1929–1930
Peter P. Stevens Ursinus 1941–1943, 1946
Roy Stewart Murray State 1932–1940, 1942–1945 No season in 1943.[29] Murray State's current stadium bears his name.
Bob Stoops Oklahoma 1999–2016, 2021 Stoops retired in 2016, but returned as interim head coach for Oklahoma's bowl game after Lincoln Riley left for USC.
Tony Storti Montana State 1952–1953, 1956–1957
Eugene Stringer Saint Francis 1926, 1930–1931
Arthur L. Strum Indiana State 1923–1926, 1932, 1942
Dwight Stuessy Macalester 1937–1938, 1946–1956
Fred Sullivan Ohio 1899, 1903
Jack Surridge Concordia–St. Paul 1973–1977, 1983
Jim Sweeney Fresno State 1976–1977, 1980–1996
Tony V. Swinton Allen 1932–1933, 1938–1939
Clark Swisher Northern State 1946–1955, 1957–1968
Bud Talbott Dayton 1920, 1921 Talbott was interim head coach for Dayton's final game of the 1921 season.
Charles Tambling Central Michigan 1902–1905, 1918
Jim Tatum North Carolina 1942, 1956–1958
Nat Taylor Morgan State 1974–1975, 1982
Mike Taylor North Greenville 1987–1991, 2004–2008
Jeff Tedford Fresno State 2017–2019, 2022–2023
Buddy Teevens Dartmouth 1987–1991, 2005–2022
Gordon A. Teller Hobart 1897–1899, 1901
Ralph Thacker Macalester 1917–1918, 1922–1924
Jesse Thomas Western Kentucky 1933, 1946–1947
Bobby Thompson Fort Hays State 1979–1980, 1984
John Thompson Arkansas State 2012, 2013 Thompson was an interim head coach for two Arkansas State appearances in the game now known as the LendingTree Bowl. He was first named interim coach after the 2012 regular season when Gus Malzahn left to take the head coaching vacancy at Auburn, and coached in the 2013 game. Thompson again became interim coach after the 2013 regular season when Bryan Harsin left for Boise State, and coached in the 2014 game.[30]
Thomas Trenchard North Carolina 1895, 1913–1915
Washington & Lee 1899, 1901
Richard Tysseling Central (IA) 1938–1944, 1946–1960
Otto D. Unruh Bethel (KS) 1919–1942, 1967–1969 25 years and nine other head coaches held the post between times of service, including his son David Unruh[31]
Fred Vail Gettysburg 1904–1906, 1909–1911
LaRue Van Meter Illinois College 1932–1933, 1937
Alphonso Varner Fort Valley State 1960, 1962
Johnny Vaught Ole Miss 1947–1970, 1973
Matt Viator McNeese 2006–2015, 2025–future
Dave Waddell Linfield 1901, 1905
Charley Wade Western New Mexico 1994–1995, 2001–2006
Wallace Wade Duke 1931–1941, 1946–1950
James J. Walker Central State 1957–1964, 1967–1973
Bobby Wallace North Alabama 1988–1997, 2012–2016
Bill Walsh[32] Stanford 1977–1978, 1992–1994
Charles W. Wantland Central Oklahoma 1912–1919, 1921–1930
W. Rice Warren Virginia 1913, 1920–1921
Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner Cornell 1897–1898, 1904–1906
Carlisle 1899–1903, 1907–1914
Louis L. Watson Howard 1923, 1925–1927
Vincent S. Welch Hobart 1916, 1918–1929
Edward A. Werner Trinity 1909–1910, 1914
Bill Wertenbaker Washington and Lee 1900, 1902
Charles A. West North Dakota 1928–1941, 1945
Charles Fremont West Howard 1928, 1934–1935
Charles Whelan Tufts 1903–1907, 1912–1917, 1919
Mark Whipple UMass 1998–2003, 2014–2018 Whipple won a Division I-AA (FCS) national title in the first year of his first tenure.
William C. White Samford[d] 1940–1941, 1954
Mickey Whitehurst Western Maryland 1901–1906, 1912 Now McDaniel College
Todd Whitten Tarleton State 1996, 2000–2004, 2016–present
Harry J. Wienbergen Dickinson State 1928–1943, 1946–1949, 1951–1952 Team did not play in 1942
Henry L. Wilder Lebanon Valley 1906–1907, 1911–1912, 1921–1922
Bob Williams Clemson 1906, 1909, 1913–1915
Charles Holston Williams Hampton 1914–1917, 1919–1920
Doug Williams Grambling State 1998–2003, 2011–2013
Rick Willis Wartburg 1997–2005, 2008–2021
Fred Wilson Lewis & Clark 1965–1983, 1987
Jimmy Wilson Buffalo 1932–1933, 1950–1951
Squibb Wilson Fairmont State 1940–1942, 1946–1951
Edgar Wingard Susquehanna 1916–1917, 1919, 1924–1925
William J. Wisdom Tarleton State 1920–1922, 1924–1928, 1930–1935
Frank N. Wolf Waynesburg 1921–1922, 1928–1941
Sol Wolf Lock Haven 1923, 1934
Star Wood ETSU 1952–1953, 1955–1965
Warren B. Woodson Hardin-Simmons 1941–1942, 1946–1951
Hoover J. Wright Prairie View A&M 1966–1968, 1973–1979
Frank Wyatt Northwestern Oklahoma State 1906–1915, 1919–1923
James J. Yeager Colorado 1941–1943, 1946–1947
Louis Yeager West Virginia 1899, 1901–1902
Fielding H. Yost Michigan 1901–1923, 1925–1926
Donzell Young Arkansas–Pine Bluff 1973–1975, 1984–1986
Don Young Black Hills State 1948–1950, 1953–1958, 1967
Ralph H. Young Kalamazoo 1916–1917, 1919–1922
Walter Yund Carroll (MT) 1914–1915, 1919
Herman F. Zimoski Delta State 1928–1932, 1934–1945
Bill Zorn Wisconsin-Eau Claire 1928–1940, 1942

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c School then athletically known as "Massachusetts", though the term "UMass" was in wide use for most if not all of the 20th century.
  2. ^ a b Then known as Southwestern Louisiana.
  3. ^ Then known as West Tennessee, from its formal name of West Tennessee Normal School.
  4. ^ a b c Then known as Howard College, or Howard (Alabama) to distinguish from Howard University in Washington, D.C.
  5. ^ Officially known for athletic purposes as Connecticut until 2013, though "UConn" was in regular use during Edsall's first tenure.
  6. ^ Then known as Wichita, from its formal name of Municipal University of Wichita.
  7. ^ Known as Livingston State during McCorkle's first tenure, and West Alabama since 1995.
  8. ^ Then formally known as Michigan State Normal College; short form Michigan Normal.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Tom Osborne Names Himself Interim Nebraska Football Coach". Sports by Brooks. November 29, 2007. Archived from the original on April 22, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Wieberg, Steve (July 23, 2009). "Hard to Stay Off Sidelines". USA Today. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  3. ^ Huston, Chris (November 26, 2008). "you Can't Go Home Again". Heisman Pundit. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Oregon State Turns Back to Riley". February 19, 2003. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  5. ^ "College Football: University of Alabama Directory". Sports Network. January 24, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  6. ^ "College Football: Alcorn State University Directory". Sports Network. December 27, 2011. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  7. ^ "2002 Notable Sports Deaths". Sports Illustrated. December 29, 2002. Archived from the original on February 10, 2003. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  8. ^ "College Football: University of Maine Directory". Sports Network. December 13, 2011. Archived from the original on August 18, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  9. ^ "College Football: Washington State University". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. December 15, 2011. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  10. ^ Rittenberg, Adam (December 26, 2012). "Alvarez savors return to Rose Bowl". ESPN. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  11. ^ "Barry Alvarez to coach bowl game". ESPN.com. December 11, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  12. ^ "Fresno State Bulldogs Historical Data". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  13. ^ "Missouri State Bears Historical Data". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  14. ^ "Idaho State Bengals Historical Data". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
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  18. ^ "Washington Huskies Historical Data". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  19. ^ Past Carroll Coaches Archived 2010-05-29 at the Wayback Machine, Carroll College, retrieved July 17, 2010.
  20. ^ "Eastern Illinois Panthers Historical Data". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  21. ^ "McMains Named Head Grid Coach" (PDF). The Triangle. October 22, 1948. p. 6. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  22. ^ "Presidents Football 2009" (PDF). 2009 Football Guide. Washington & Jefferson College. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 2, 2010. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  23. ^ St. Ambrose Football Year-by-Year Coaching Records Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine (PDF), Saint Ambrose University, 2009.
  24. ^ With best start in 6 years, Hopkins seeks 4th win at Moravian, The Baltimore Sun, October 26, 1979.
  25. ^ Rittenberg, Adam (October 2, 2017). "Mike Price returns to UTEP as interim coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  26. ^ "Robinson Aims For Fun In 2nd Tenure At USC". Sports. San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. August 25, 1993. p. D2.
  27. ^ Callos, Alex (May 23, 2012). "The Best Coach in the History of Every College Football Team – Eastern Michigan: Elton Rynearson". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  28. ^ "Snyder to attempt second 'miracle' turnaround for Kansas State". ESPN.com. November 24, 2008. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
  29. ^ "Murray State Racers Historical Data". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  30. ^ "Harsin Steps Down as A-State Head Football Coach" (Press release). Arkansas State Red Wolves. December 11, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  31. ^ "Bethel College Coaching Results". Bethel College Athletics. Archived from the original on November 17, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  32. ^ "Walsh returning to Stanford, not San Francisco". TimesDaily. Associated Press. January 17, 1992. p. 3B. Retrieved October 9, 2012.