Top 10 G5/FCS Head Coaches Who May Get a Bigger Job

Jason Candle, Toledo

Like Calhoun, Candle is a guy who’s been at his job for a while. Currently in year eight in Toledo, he has an impressive 52-31 record and will play in bowl game #6 this year. He has kept things running nicely since taking over for Matt Campbell. Candle’s consistency, high floor, and ability to get to the postseason could be his ticket to a P5 job.

Charles Huff, Marshall

Huff is a man who was in the mix for Duke and has Marshall playing a tough brand of football and grinding out yards on the ground with ease. The former Nick Saban assistant just finished his 2nd regular season with the Herd and earned a trip to the Myrtle Beach Bowl. His time will undoubtedly come soon in the P5.

Sean Lewis, Kent State

The Flashes were below average this year but Lewis remains a guy who gets mentioned in these conversations. His experience in the MAC, as well as Syracuse, combined with the offensive outbursts his team has shown makes him a guy who could be on the radar for a P5 program that needs a new boss.

Troy Calhoun, Air Force

The former NFL assistant Calhoun is in year 16 at his alma mater. The dedication of the service academies to option football may turn off some, but Calhoun’s success and 12 bowl appearances will be appealing to just as many. Could in-state Colorado making a hire hurt his chances?

FCS

Matt Entz, North Dakota State

Speaking of NDSU, aren’t we obliged to put their coach on this list as long as they keep producing NFL talent and national titles? The Bison have not skipped a beat under Entz, who had been Chris Klieman’s defensive coordinator before he bolted for K-State. Entz is in year four and in his first and third year he won a title. 

This year the Bison are the #3 seed for the playoffs and will firmly be in the hunt for national title #10 in 13 years of FCS football. We have no indication if Entz wants to leave Fargo for a FBS job, should he choose to the opportunity will be there.

Brent Vigen, Montana State

In his first year with Montana State, Vigen took them to the FCS national title where they fell to NDSU, Vigen’s alma mater. Longtime Craig Bohl assistant at both NDSU and Wyoming, Vigen appears to be a prime candidate for a Mountain West or MAC job should one come up. 22-4 in his second season, and the #4 seed overall in this year's FCS playoffs. Vigen probably doesn’t get to year four in Bozeman before moving up to the FBS.

Willie Simmons, Florida A&M

Simmons is probably the most under-the-radar coach on this list, but he shouldn’t be. Simmons has led the Rattlers, and Prairie View A&M before that, for a combined 7 seasons and a 51-23 overall record. That record at those schools, with those resources, is seriously impressive. His offensive nous and production will attract attention at the FBS level soon enough and Willie is one of the risers in the game whose star hasn’t reached its brightest yet.

Jay Hill, Weber State

Longtime Utah assistant coach and former player, Hill has done a solid job for the WIldcats. Now in his 9th season and after taking over a terrible team, he has led Weber State to six playoff appearances, including a semifinal berth in 2019. They were recently knocked out of the FCS playoffs this year by the previously mentioned Montana State.

Troy Taylor, Sacramento State

Former Utah and Cal assistant Taylor has Sac State 11-0 and the #2 seed in the FCS playoffs in only his 3rd full season there. A 29-7 record and 3 Big Sky championships will be extremely impressive to athletic directors out West, and possibly even further away. A long run in the FCS playoffs, something that hasn’t happened yet for Taylor, could expedite that move upwards to a FBS job.