Stature and coaches, 1962–2026
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
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.
2025
Brian Smith Short tenure
No outlier style signal this stint
9-4
2021–2024
Tim Albin Steady ◆ COY
Tim Albin moved the Bobcats from Regional Program II to Regional Program I in 4 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
+3.8 pts over 4 seasons · top 17% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Woody Widenhofer’s Vanderbilt run (1997–2001)
2nd-best Ohio tenure of 8 by the numbers.
Followed Frank Solich (2005–2020) · succeeded by Brian Smith (2025).
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||
| Record | 3-9 | 10-4 | 10-3 | 10-3 | |
| Postseason | — | W bowl | W bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #98 | #126 | #96 | #92 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||
| Pass rate | 41.9 | 48.5 | 44.1 | 37.7 | |
| Coordinators | |||||
| OC | Allen Rudolph / Scott Isphording | Allen Rudolph / Scott Isphording | Allen Rudolph / Scott Isphording | Scott Isphording / Brian Smith | |
| DC | Ron Collins / Pete Germano | Spence Nowinsky | Spence Nowinsky | John Hauser / Nate Faanes | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||
| Offense | 37 | 75 | 60 | 89 | |
| Defense | 26 | 22 | 94 | 88 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||
| 1st-down pass% | 41.6 | 46.6 | 47.1 | 38.6 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 36.7 | 37.7 | 35.0 | 24.5 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 25.6 | 23.9 | 24.4 | 19.2 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Outperforms his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
Offense vs. talent
+29.7 pts
#13 of 208 · top quarter
Defense vs. talent
+20.1 pts
#31 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.
Roster construction · portal era
Barely touches the portal — recruits and develops his own.
Portal arrivals
29
3.0★ avg rating
Portal departures
49
left via the portal
Net portal flow
-20
#149 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″, 227 lbs
across 21 of 29 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix
Size vs. position-typical
-1.1 lbs
#240 of 255 · bottom quarter
Avg. class year
Sr
#1 of 255 · top quarter
Top states: OH (4), AZ (2), MI (2), CA (2), NJ (1)
Who won the portal our read
Talent added
50.4
position-weighted
Talent lost
54.5
position-weighted
Net
-4.2
arrivals minus departures
Best addition: Parker Navarro (QB) from UCF
Biggest loss: Kurtis Rourke (QB) to Indiana
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: Allen Rudolph (co) / Scott Isphording (co) → Scott Isphording (co) / Brian Smith · 2024
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 47.1% → 38.6% (-8.5 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 13% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
DC: Spence Nowinsky → John Hauser / Nate Faanes (co) · 2024
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
Roster size, by position
Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)
Quarterback
218 lbs
6′4″ avg · #223 of 767 · middle half
Running back
214 lbs
5′11″ avg · #165 of 791 · top quarter
Wide receiver
195 lbs
6′0″ avg · #274 of 791 · middle half
Tight end
253 lbs
6′5″ avg · #110 of 731 · top quarter
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
301 lbs
6′4″ avg · #683 of 779 · bottom quarter
D-line
298 lbs
6′2″ avg · #115 of 753 · top quarter
Edge
241 lbs
6′3″ avg · #170 of 188 · bottom quarter
Linebacker
228 lbs
6′2″ avg · #409 of 772 · middle half
Cornerback
189 lbs
5′11″ avg · #459 of 771 · middle half
Safety
196 lbs
6′0″ avg · #188 of 346 · 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 D-line from high school
78%
#183 of 239 stints
Grows Running back from high school
83%
#186 of 208 stints
Postseason detail2022: Beat Wyoming 30-27 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl2023: Beat Georgia Southern 41-21 Myrtle Beach Bowl
Coach of the Year: MAC Coach of the Year (2022), MAC Coach of the Year (2024)
+3.8
33-19
2005–2020
Frank Solich Steady
Frank Solich moved the Bobcats from Regional Program IV to Regional Program II in 16 seasons.
2006 offense ranked in the 2th percentile nationally — historically bad
+9.9 pts over 16 seasons · bottom 39% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)
Closest comparable run: P.J. Fleck’s Minnesota run (2017–now)
3rd-best Ohio tenure of 8 by the numbers.
Followed Brian Knorr (2001–2004) · succeeded by Tim Albin (2021–2024).
System Shift, on arrival
| Season | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||||||||||
| Record | 4-7 | 9-5 | 6-6 | 4-8 | 9-5 | 8-5 | 10-4 | 9-4 | 7-6 | 6-6 | 8-5 | 8-6 | 9-4 | 9-4 | 7-6 | 2-1 | |
| Postseason | — | L bowl | — | — | L bowl | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | L bowl | — | L bowl | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #102 | #101 | #109 | #88 | #103 | #112 | #96 | #93 | #116 | #102 | #92 | #115 | #103 | #120 | #103 | #127 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||||||||||
| Pass rate | 38.2 | 38.7 | 42.2 | 49.6 | 46.9 | 35.4 | 41.6 | 40.3 | 47.9 | 44.4 | 42.4 | 45.7 | 36.7 | 35.9 | 38.9 | 31.6 | |
| Coordinators | |||||||||||||||||
| OC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Tim Albin | Tim Albin | Tim Albin | Tim Albin | Tim Albin | Tim Albin | Tim Albin | |
| DC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Jim Burrow | Jim Burrow | Jim Burrow | Jim Burrow / Ron Collins | Jim Burrow / Ron Collins | Ron Collins / Pete Germano | Ron Collins / Pete Germano | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||||||||||
| Offense | 22 | 2 | 24 | 57 | 8 | 40 | 78 | 71 | 25 | 18 | 42 | 29 | 92 | 97 | 90 | 28 | |
| Defense | 30 | 76 | 61 | 57 | 56 | 41 | 27 | 54 | 25 | 64 | 68 | 83 | 70 | 30 | 35 | 84 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 29.3 | 28.3 | 30.8 | 41.3 | 42.5 | 31.3 | 40.4 | 37.2 | 38.2 | 40.7 | 39.9 | 46.2 | 39.5 | 36.5 | 39.7 | 39.1 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 32.1 | 23.7 | 23.6 | 38.1 | 51.1 | 22.7 | 33.9 | 44.3 | 43.9 | 36.2 | 31.7 | 43.1 | 27.7 | 30.0 | 26.2 | 29.2 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 14.3 | 14.6 | 17.4 | 35.0 | 21.7 | 42.9 | 12.8 | 18.2 | 10.0 | 28.6 | 32.6 | 22.4 | 19.4 | 35.7 | 19.0 | — | |
Recruiter or developer?
Outperforms his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
Offense vs. talent
+26.1 pts
#18 of 208 · top quarter
Defense vs. talent
+23.2 pts
#24 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: Jim Burrow (co) → Jim Burrow (co) / Ron Collins (co) · 2017The defense slipped
2-season window either side.
DC: Jim Burrow (co) / Ron Collins (co) → Ron Collins (co) / Pete Germano (co) · 2019The system held
2-season window either side.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Kicker from high school
100%
#52 of 56 stints
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Postseason detail2006: Lost to Southern Miss 7-28 Gmac Bowl At Mobile Al2009: Lost to Marshall 17-21 Bowl2010: Lost to Troy 21-48 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl2011: Beat Utah State 24-23 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl2012: Beat UL Monroe 45-14 AdvoCare V100 INDEPENDENCE BOWL2013: Lost to East Carolina 20-37 Beef 'o' Brady's Bowl St. Petersburg2015: Lost to App State 29-31 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl2016: Lost to Troy 23-28 Dollar General Bowl2017: Beat UAB 41-6 Bahamas Bowl2018: Beat San Diego State 27-0 Dxl Frisco Bowl2019: Beat Nevada 30-21 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
9 NFL Draft picks: Landon Cohen (2008), Michael Mitchell (2009), Taylor Price (2010), LaVon Brazill (2012), Eric Herman (2013), T.J. Carrie (2014), Tarell Basham (2017), Blair Brown (2017) + 1 more
+9.9
115-82
2001–2004
Brian Knorr Steady
Brian Knorr held the Bobcats at Regional Program IV for 4 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
−1.8 pts over 4 seasons · top 43% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Ted Roof’s Duke run (2003–2007)
5th-best Ohio tenure of 8 by the numbers.
Followed Jim Grobe (1995–2000) · succeeded by Frank Solich (2005–2020).
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||
| Record | 1-10 | 4-8 | 2-10 | 4-7 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | #92 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | 46.7 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||
| Offense | — | — | — | 30 | |
| Defense | — | — | — | 61 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | 44.4 | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | 45.5 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | |
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Interior line from high school
100%
#198 of 224 stints
Grows Linebacker from high school
100%
#205 of 225 stints
1 NFL Draft pick: Dave Zastudil (2002)
−1.8
11-35
1995–2000
Jim Grobe Steady
Jim Grobe moved the Bobcats from Regional Program VI to Regional Program IV in 6 seasons.
+8.3 pts over 6 seasons · top 21% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Randy Walker’s Miami (OH) run (1990–1998)
6th-best Ohio tenure of 8 by the numbers.
Followed Tom Lichtenberg (1990–1994) · succeeded by Brian Knorr (2001–2004).
+8.3
33-33-1
1990–1994
Tom Lichtenberg Steady
Tom Lichtenberg slid Ohio from Regional Program V to Regional Program VI in 5 seasons.
−2.1 pts over 5 seasons · top 44% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Fred Goldsmith’s Duke run (1994–1998)
8th-best Ohio tenure of 8 by the numbers.
Followed Cleve Bryant (1985–1989) · succeeded by Jim Grobe (1995–2000).
−2.1
8-45-2
1985–1989
Cleve Bryant Steady
Cleve Bryant slid the Bobcats from Regional Program IV to Regional Program V in 5 seasons.
−5.0 pts over 5 seasons · bottom 36% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Derek Mason’s Middle Tennessee run (2024–now)
7th-best Ohio tenure of 8 by the numbers.
Followed Brian Burke (1979–1984) · succeeded by Tom Lichtenberg (1990–1994).
−5.0
9-44-2
1979–1984
Brian Burke Steady
Brian Burke slid the Bobcats from Regional Program III to Regional Program II in 6 seasons.
−3.7 pts over 6 seasons · bottom 29% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Jack Bicknell’s Louisiana Tech run (1999–2006)
4th-best Ohio tenure of 8 by the numbers.
Followed Bob Kappes (1978) · succeeded by Cleve Bryant (1985–1989).
−3.7
31-34-1
1978
Bob Kappes Short tenure
3-8
1962–1977
Bill Hess Steady
Bill Hess held Ohio at National Program II for 16 seasons.
1st-best Ohio tenure of 8 by the numbers.
Succeeded by Bob Kappes (1978).
National Program II
80-83-3