Stature and coaches, 1975–2026
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
DynastyBlue BloodPower ProgramNational ProgramRegional Program
Run↔pass identity, by season
Akron's highest stature since 2018
Every coach
Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.
2022–now
Joe Moorhead Steady
Joe Moorhead moved Akron from Regional Program VI to Regional Program V in 5 seasons.
2026 defense ranked in the 5th percentile nationally — historically bad
+1.8 pts over 5 seasons · top 25% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Charles Huff’s Marshall run (2021–2024)
6th-best Akron tenure of 6 by the numbers.
Followed Tom Arth (2019–2021).
System Shift, on arrival
| Season | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||
| Record | 2-10 | 2-10 | 4-8 | 5-7 | 1-8 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #122 | #108 | #101 | #128 | #132 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||
| Pass rate | 56.8 | 55.1 | 55.1 | 48.4 | 48.6 | |
| Coordinators | ||||||
| OC | — | Billy Fessler | — | — | — | |
| DC | Tim Tibesar | Tim Tibesar | Tim Tibesar | Tim Tibesar | Tim Tibesar | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||
| Offense | 23 | 9 | 18 | 19 | 34 | |
| Defense | 39 | 48 | 44 | 61 | 5 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 62.2 | 54.5 | 54.2 | 42.5 | 42.7 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 48.8 | 36.1 | 56.1 | 49.5 | 32.1 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 34.1 | 33.3 | 29.4 | 28.6 | 23.1 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Underperforms his recruiting talent on offense and performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on defense.
Offense vs. talent
-25.2 pts
#188 of 208 · bottom quarter
Defense vs. talent
+4.6 pts
#81 of 208 · middle half
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Roster construction · portal era
A typical amount of portal roster-building.
Portal arrivals
66
3.0★ avg rating
Portal departures
82
left via the portal
Net portal flow
-16
#92 of 187 FBS stints
Who they bring in
Brings in smaller-than-position-typical players than most.
A typical class-year mix of incoming transfers.
Avg. size (raw)
6′2″, 228 lbs
across 46 of 66 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix
Size vs. position-typical
+1.5 lbs
#203 of 255 · bottom quarter
Avg. class year
Jr
#103 of 255 · middle half
Top states: MD (6), PA (5), FL (5), TX (4), CA (3)
Who won the portal our read
Talent added
55.4
position-weighted
Talent lost
54.7
position-weighted
Net
+0.6
arrivals minus departures
Best addition: Reese Poffenbarger (QB) from North Texas
Biggest loss: Zach Gibson (QB) to Georgia Tech
Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.
Roster size, by position
Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)
Quarterback
213 lbs
6′4″ avg · #383 of 767 · middle half
Running back
201 lbs
5′11″ avg · #606 of 791 · bottom quarter
Wide receiver
185 lbs
6′0″ avg · #706 of 791 · bottom quarter
Tight end
243 lbs
6′4″ avg · #444 of 731 · middle half
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
306 lbs
6′4″ avg · #503 of 779 · middle half
D-line
276 lbs
6′3″ avg · #556 of 753 · middle half
Linebacker
230 lbs
6′1″ avg · #298 of 772 · middle half
Cornerback
187 lbs
6′0″ avg · #523 of 771 · middle half
Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Buys Running back via the portal
78%
#18 of 208 stints
Buys Wide receiver via the portal
69%
#26 of 243 stints
AI Narratives — “Akron — stat check”.
+1.8
14-43
2021
Oscar Rodriguez Short tenure
2021 defense ranked in the 5th percentile nationally — historically bad
0-3
2019–2021
Tom Arth Steady
Tom Arth slid the Zips from Regional Program V to Regional Program VI in 3 seasons.
2019 offense ranked in the 0th percentile nationally — historically bad
−4.0 pts over 3 seasons · bottom 42% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Mike Sanford Sr.’s UNLV run (2005–2009)
5th-best Akron tenure of 6 by the numbers.
Followed Terry Bowden (2012–2018) · succeeded by Oscar Rodriguez (2021).
System Shift, on departure
System Shift, on arrival
| Season | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 0-12 | 1-5 | 2-7 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #113 | #124 | #118 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 54.9 | 41.2 | 44.9 | |
| Coordinators | ||||
| OC | Tommy Zagorski | Tommy Zagorski / Bryan Gasser | Tommy Zagorski | |
| DC | Matt Feeney | Matt Feeney | Matt Feeney | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 0 | 3 | 22 | |
| Defense | 29 | 3 | 5 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 53.1 | 38.3 | 43.0 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 58.8 | 55.2 | 48.4 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 34.8 | 26.7 | 60.0 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Underperforms his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
Offense vs. talent
-24.4 pts
#186 of 208 · bottom quarter
Defense vs. talent
-22.5 pts
#182 of 208 · bottom quarter
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Roster construction · portal era
Barely touches the portal — recruits and develops his own.
Portal arrivals
3
3.0★ avg rating
Portal departures
14
left via the portal
Net portal flow
-11
#178 of 187 FBS stints
Who they bring in
Brings in smaller-than-position-typical players than most.
Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.
Avg. size (raw)
6′2″, 228 lbs
across 1 of 3 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix
Size vs. position-typical
+1.7 lbs
#201 of 255 · bottom quarter
Avg. class year
Sr
#1 of 255 · top quarter
Top states: OH (1)
Who won the portal our read
Talent added
9.7
position-weighted
Talent lost
31.4
position-weighted
Net
-21.7
arrivals minus departures
Best addition: Nikolas Ognenovic (TE) from Kentucky
Biggest loss: Brayden Hawkins (QB) to the portal
Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Tommy Zagorski → Tommy Zagorski / Bryan Gasser (co) · 2020
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 53.1% → 38.3% (-14.9 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 151% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
Roster size, by position
Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)
Quarterback
204 lbs
6′2″ avg · #618 of 767 · bottom quarter
Running back
201 lbs
5′11″ avg · #604 of 791 · bottom quarter
Wide receiver
186 lbs
6′0″ avg · #690 of 791 · bottom quarter
Tight end
249 lbs
6′4″ avg · #224 of 731 · middle half
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
309 lbs
6′5″ avg · #398 of 779 · middle half
D-line
274 lbs
6′3″ avg · #596 of 753 · bottom quarter
Linebacker
223 lbs
6′2″ avg · #632 of 772 · bottom quarter
Cornerback
190 lbs
6′0″ avg · #380 of 771 · middle half
Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Running back from high school
75%
#162 of 208 stints
Grows Linebacker from high school
83%
#183 of 225 stints
−4.0
3-24
2012–2018
Terry Bowden Steady
Terry Bowden held Akron at Regional Program V for 7 seasons.
Swung 20.6 points of pass rate — #23 of 449 FBS coaching stints since 2004
+3.4 pts over 7 seasons · top 45% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Jerry Pettibone’s Oregon State run (1991–1996)
4th-best Akron tenure of 6 by the numbers.
Followed Rob Ianello (2010–2011) · succeeded by Tom Arth (2019–2021).
System Shift, on arrival
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||||
| Record | 1-11 | 5-7 | 5-7 | 8-5 | 5-7 | 7-7 | 4-8 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | W bowl | — | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #121 | #114 | #112 | #126 | #129 | #128 | #125 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||||
| Pass rate | 61.5 | 50.1 | 59.2 | 40.9 | 51.0 | 49.3 | 49.0 | |
| Coordinators | ||||||||
| OC | — | — | A. J. Milwee | A. J. Milwee | A. J. Milwee | A. J. Milwee | A. J. Milwee | |
| DC | — | — | Chuck Amato | Chuck Amato | Chuck Amato | Chuck Amato | Todd Stroud | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||||
| Offense | 44 | 16 | 11 | 21 | 26 | 11 | 5 | |
| Defense | 42 | 73 | 71 | 82 | 50 | 35 | 73 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 53.7 | 46.1 | 65.1 | 42.6 | 57.0 | 51.2 | 52.0 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 59.6 | 35.2 | 48.6 | 29.6 | 40.0 | 30.4 | 50.0 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 33.3 | 32.5 | 25.6 | 24.4 | 40.6 | 29.0 | 18.9 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Underperforms his recruiting talent on offense and outperforms his recruiting talent on defense.
Offense vs. talent
-27.0 pts
#195 of 208 · bottom quarter
Defense vs. talent
+16.3 pts
#44 of 208 · top quarter
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
DC: Chuck Amato → Todd Stroud · 2018
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
Postseason detail2015: Beat Utah State 23-21 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl2017: Lost to Florida Atlantic 3-50 Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl
2 NFL Draft picks: Jatavis Brown (2016), Ulysees Gilbert III (2019)
+3.4
35-52
2010–2011
Rob Ianello Short tenure
2011 offense ranked in the 2th percentile nationally — historically bad
2-22
2004–2009
J.D. Brookhart Steady
J.D. Brookhart moved Akron from Regional Program IV to Regional Program III in 6 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
+0.9 pts over 6 seasons · bottom 44% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Ryan Silverfield’s Memphis run (2020–2025)
2nd-best Akron tenure of 6 by the numbers.
Followed Lee Owens (1995–2003) · succeeded by Rob Ianello (2010–2011).
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||
| Record | 6-5 | 7-6 | 5-7 | 4-8 | 5-7 | 3-9 | |
| Postseason | — | L bowl | — | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #101 | #88 | #82 | #74 | #97 | #95 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||
| Pass rate | 48.2 | 56.2 | 51.3 | 46.0 | 48.2 | 46.5 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||
| Offense | 55 | 30 | 37 | 14 | 58 | 10 | |
| Defense | 14 | 83 | 83 | 68 | 14 | 32 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 53.8 | 48.7 | 41.8 | 37.9 | 40.1 | 43.1 | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | 53.4 | 41.3 | 41.3 | 41.4 | 43.0 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | 35.8 | 43.8 | 22.2 | 19.0 | 23.3 | |
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
Postseason detail2005: Lost to Memphis 31-38 Bowl
4 NFL Draft picks: Charlie Frye (2005), Domenik Hixon (2006), Andy Alleman (2007), Reggie Corner (2008)
+0.9
30-42
1995–2003
Lee Owens Steady
Lee Owens held the Zips at Regional Program IV for 9 seasons.
+3.5 pts over 9 seasons · top 44% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Jerry Pettibone’s Oregon State run (1991–1996)
3rd-best Akron tenure of 6 by the numbers.
Followed Gerry Faust (1987–1994) · succeeded by J.D. Brookhart (2004–2009).
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
3 NFL Draft picks: Jason Taylor (1997), Dwight Smith (2001), Jake Schifino (2002)
+3.5
40-61
1987–1994
Gerry Faust Steady
Gerry Faust held the Zips at Regional Program II for 8 seasons.
1st-best Akron tenure of 6 by the numbers.
Followed Jim Dennison (1975) · succeeded by Lee Owens (1995–2003).
Regional Program II
36-49-3
1975
Jim Dennison Short tenure
7-4