Grading 10 high-profile Power Five head-coaching hires

The emergence of the transfer portal and its viability as a tool for instant improvement, as evidenced by Lincoln Riley at USC, should also help Sanders make the Buffaloes an instant contender in the Pac-12.

Grade: A+

Luke Fickell, Wisconsin | Previous gig: Cincinnati HC

It was going to be difficult for the Badgers to make a major upgrade over Paul Chryst, who left Madison as the third-winnningest coach in program history.

However,  Fickell may be the prize of the 2022 coaching carousel after a masterful tenure with Cincinnati.

The Bearcats never won fewer than nine games in Fickell's final five years as head coach and earned a spot in the 2021 College Football Playoff. The Bearcats also punched above their weight class in recruiting, pulling in four top 50 classes since 2018 despite their Group of Five status.

Grade: A

Matt Rhule, Nebraska | Previous gig: Carolina Panthers HC

Rhule heads to Lincoln after full overhauls of Temple and Baylor that resulted in three double-digit-win seasons.

Given the current state of Nebraska football — the Huskers own the longest bowl drought among Power Five programs — Rhule is exactly what the doctor ordered for the former powerhouse.

While his work in Philadelphia and Waco seems nothing short of spectacular, it's tough to feel 100% confident in Rhule's ability to make magic for a third time after a disastrous stint in the NFL.

Grade: B+ 

Troy Taylor, Stanford | Previous gig: Sacramento State HC

In a rare jump from FCS to Power Five, Taylor takes over the Cardinal after the David Shaw era ended with a fizzle.

Replacing the winningest coach in a program's history should seem like a monumental task, but the former Cal quarterback appears to have what it takes to find success in the Pac-12.

In three seasons at Sacramento State, Taylor led the Hornets to a 30-8 record and three consecutive appearances in the FCS playoffs. The Hornets offense finished each season in the top 15 in total offense. Additionally, Sac State's defense finished in the top 40 twice over Taylor's tenure.

Grade: B- 

Jeff Brohm, Louisville | Previous gig: Purdue HC

Louisville made the obvious decision to bring the former Cardinals quarterback back to lead its football program following the departure of Scott Satterfield.

In 2018, Brohm and his alma mater toyed with the idea of bringing him back. Instead, Brohm remained with Purdue for the next four seasons, leading the Boilermakers to a 44-21 record.

While the obvious choice, Brohm's inconsistency in West Lafayette — three winning seasons vs. three losing seasons — makes this seem more like a sentimental hire than the smart one.

Grade: C+ 

Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati  | Previous gig: Louisville HC

One of the more surprising hires of the 2022 coaching carousel, Cincinnati chose the maligned Louisville head coach as the man to lead the Bearcats into the Big 12.

After posting a 25-24 record at Louisville, Satterfield did not top the short list of major media outlets. 

Despite consistency at QB, Satterfield oversaw a steady decline of the Cardinals offense. Louisville's defense also finished in the bottom 50 in the nation in total defense twice during his tenure.

On the precipice of a major leap in its program, Cincinnati appears to have struck out when it needed a home run.

Grade: D

Ryan Walters, Purdue | Previous gig: Illinois DC

Starting in 2016 as Missouri's co-defensive coordinator, the former Colorado safety has shined. 

Missouri's defense made massive strides each season under Walters, going from the 118^th in total defense and 90^th scoring defense in 2016 — his first season — to 14^th and 16^th in 2019.

Walters’ defenses at Illinois ranked top 50 both in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, Illinois was the second-ranked total defense and top overall scoring defense.

Walters consistently demonstrates the coaching acumen that usually leads to success.

Grade: B+

Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State | Previous gig: Oregon OC

Considered the Sun Devils' top choice to replace Herm Edwards, Dillingham takes over at his alma mater on the heels of making Oregon the fourth overall offense in the country.

Dillingham served as offensive coordinator for Memphis, Auburn, Florida State and Oregon in the previous five seasons.

In one season at Memphis, Dillingham led the Tigers to a top five finish in total offense. However, in his three seasons between Auburn and Florida State, he never managed a top 50 finish offensively.

The youngest coach in the FBS at 32 years old, Dillingham has the biggest boom-or-bust potential of any coaching hire this offseason.

Grade: B- 

Hugh Freeze, Auburn | Previous gig: Liberty HC

From a pure football perspective, Freeze is a solid hire. He had a .609 winning percentage at Ole Miss and a 2-3 record against Nick Saban.

However, a pure football perspective cannot be taken when evaluating the Freeze hiring. Recruiting violations and a scandal involving the potential solicitation of escorts led to the end of Freeze's time at Mississippi.

Given the banter about Freeze's moral qualifications for the Auburn job, the negative PR will not help recruiting, nor will a media circus bode well for success in the fall.

Grade: D 

Brent Key, Georgia Tech | Previous gig: Tech interim HC

The lone interim head coach to earn the full-time head-coaching position in the Power Five this season, Key was not the splashy hire many anticipated for the Yellow Jackets.

However, after nearly coaching Georgia Tech to a bowl with a 4-4 record after a 1-3 start under Geoff Collins, Key proved himself as a fitting head coach for the program.

Key's coaching resume includes 17 years at the FBS level — 10 at Central Florida — and three seasons as the Alabama offensive line coach.

Grade: B