One is an aberration. Two is noteworthy. But three might indicate a trend and the latest FBS college football head coach to leave his job and become a coordinator could indicate that one exists.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Wednesday that Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley is leaving the school to become the new defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers. Hafley has no shortage of NFL experience, having worked in the NFL from 2012 to 2018, though never as a full defensive coordinator.
But Thamel also noted that Hafley is now the third college football head coach to leave his post in order to become a coordinator. South Alabama’s Kane Wommack resigned to become the new co-defensive coordinator at Alabama under Kalen DeBoer, while Buffalo’s Maurice Linguist did the same.
“Hafley becomes the third sitting college head coach to leave on his accord this year for a coordinator job. He follows South Alabama’s Kame Wommack and Buffalo’s Maurice Linguist,” Thamel wrote.
NFL fans quickly pointed out that Hafley’s move is very different from what Wommack and Linguist did.
Hafley becomes the third sitting college head coach to leave on his accord this year for a coordinator job. He follows South Alabama’s Kame Wommack and Buffalo’s Maurice Linguist. https://t.co/ES62jcEF4G
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 31, 2024
Even so, it feels like there is more to it than the difference between a school being a Group of Five and a Power Five college.
Why do you think coaches are leaving head jobs to become assistants?