The job of a college football head coach has shifted away from on-field coaching, making assistant and coordinator hires more critical than ever. Recent firings highlight the shrinking patience for underperformance: Michigan dismissed offensive coordinator Jason Beck after less than a year, owing him more than $10 million in what is believed to be the largest assistant coach buyout ever. Oregon fired Drew Mehringer in his first season, and Oklahoma parted ways with Ben Arbuckle midway through his second year.
Here are 10 of the worst coordinator hires of the past five years, including several that derailed College Football Playoff contenders in the 2026 season.
Dino Babers was hired as offensive coordinator at Arizona in 2024 after 10 years as a head coach at Syracuse. The Wildcats collapsed from a 10-win season to 4-8, and quarterback Noah Fifita's completion rate dropped from 72% to 60%, yards per attempt fell from 8.6 to 6.9, and he doubled his interception total.
Todd Grantham took over as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State in 2025 on a fully guaranteed three-year contract but was fired after four games during a 1-11 campaign. His unit surrendered a combined 114 points in two games against Power Four opponents Oregon and Baylor, including a 69-3 loss to Oregon that ranks among the worst in program history.
Alex Grinch followed Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma to USC as defensive coordinator in 2022. The Trojans ranked 119th nationally in total defense (432.8 yards per game) and allowed 6.3 yards per play against Power Four competition before Riley fired him.
Freddie Kitchens, a former NFL head coach, became offensive coordinator at North Carolina in 2025 under Bill Belichick. The Tar Heels managed only 23 combined points in their first two games against UCF and TCU, scored 20 points or fewer against three Power Four opponents, and finished 2-1 in games where they reached 20 points.
Seth Littrell, previously successful at North Carolina and North Texas, lasted seven games as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator in 2024. The Sooners posted their worst offense through seven games since 1961, culminating in a 34-3 Red River loss to Texas with a backup quarterback.
Drew Mehringer was elevated to offensive coordinator at Oregon in 2026 after Dan Lanning's previous coordinator departed. Despite returning nearly all key players, the Ducks plummeted from 5th to 49th in FEI offense, turning 426 yards into just 10 points in a 21-10 loss to Illinois. After his firing, Oregon scored 75 points over two games against ranked opponents, including a 41-28 win over Ohio State.
Chad Morris returned to Clemson as offensive coordinator in 2026 after not calling plays at the college level since 2020. The Tigers ranked 115th in total offense and 127th in yards per play, a full-yard-per-play regression from the previous year, placing Dabo Swinney under intense pressure.
Mike Shula, a former Alabama head coach and NFL offensive coordinator, joined South Carolina in 2025 to develop quarterback LaNorris Sellers. Instead, Sellers regressed in every category, with his completion rate falling from 66% to 61%, and the Gamecocks went 4-8 sandwiched between two eight-win seasons.
Tony White arrived at Florida State in 2025 on a three-year, $1.6 million-per-year contract after leading Nebraska to a top-20 defense. The Seminoles dropped to 122nd in total defense in his second season, surrendering 113 points in the final three games of Mike Norvell's tenure before interim coach Rick Stockstill fired him.
Holman Wiggins, a respected wide receivers coach, became Texas A&M's offensive play-caller in 2026. The Aggies fell from 21st to 119th in yards per play despite returning quarterback Marcel Reed, who regressed to eight touchdowns and eight interceptions, likely costing the team a bowl berth.
