South Florida: a football coaching history
See South Florida’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →← all coaches
Stature and coaches, 2000–2026
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
Kevin Patrick Short tenure
No outlier style signal this stint
0-1
2023–2025
Alex Golesh Steady
Alex Golesh moved the Bulls from Regional Program II to National Program III in 3 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
+7.2 pts over 3 seasons · top 9% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Butch Davis’s North Carolina run (2007–2010)
5th-best South Florida tenure of 6 by the numbers.
Followed Jeff Scott (2020–2022) · succeeded by Brian Hartline (2026–now).
System Shift, on departure
System Shift, on arrival
| Season | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 7-6 | 7-6 | 9-3 | |
| Postseason | W bowl | W bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #76 | #50 | #65 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 43.5 | 47.4 | 44.6 | |
| Coordinators | ||||
| OC | Joel Gordon | Joel Gordon | Joel Gordon / Kodi Burns | |
| DC | Todd Orlando | Todd Orlando | Todd Orlando | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 55 | 55 | 93 | |
| Defense | 71 | 65 | 79 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 43.9 | 48.6 | 48.0 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 32.5 | 28.0 | 34.3 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 52.6 | 39.5 | 43.8 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Outperforms his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
Offense vs. talent
+17.0 pts
#45 of 208 · top quarter
Defense vs. talent
+21.0 pts
#30 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
A portal-built roster.
Portal arrivals
56
3.1★ avg rating
Portal departures
72
left via the portal
Net portal flow
-16
#46 of 187 FBS stints
Who they bring in
Typical size for position, once adjusted for position mix.
Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.
Avg. size (raw)
6′2″, 230 lbs
across 45 of 56 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix
Size vs. position-typical
+4.3 lbs
#117 of 255 · middle half
Avg. class year
Sr
#1 of 255 · top quarter
Top states: FL (19), GA (8), AL (2), TX (2), AR (2)
Who won the portal our read
Talent added
56.6
position-weighted
Talent lost
56.2
position-weighted
Net
+0.4
arrivals minus departures
Best addition: Bryce Archie (QB) from Coastal Carolina
Biggest loss: Israel Carter (QB) to Norfolk State
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
225 lbs
6′3″ avg · #85 of 767 · top quarter
Running back
202 lbs
5′10″ avg · #589 of 791 · middle half
Wide receiver
194 lbs
6′0″ avg · #367 of 791 · middle half
Tight end
240 lbs
6′4″ avg · #568 of 731 · bottom quarter
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
313 lbs
6′5″ avg · #223 of 779 · middle half
D-line
286 lbs
6′3″ avg · #345 of 753 · middle half
Linebacker
227 lbs
6′2″ avg · #470 of 772 · middle half
Cornerback
189 lbs
6′0″ avg · #470 of 771 · middle half
Safety
197 lbs
6′1″ avg · #184 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.
Postseason detail2023: Beat Syracuse 45-0 RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl2024: Beat San José State 41-39 Hawaiʻi Bowl
AI Narratives — “South Florida's Offseason Moves Reshape Roster Dynamics” and 5 more on the team page.
+7.2
23-15
2022
Daniel Da Prato Short tenure
2022 defense ranked in the 1th percentile nationally — historically bad
vs. UCF
0-3
2020–2022
Jeff Scott Steady
Jeff Scott slid South Florida from National Program III to Regional Program I in 3 seasons.
2022 defense ranked in the 1th percentile nationally — historically bad
vs. UCF
−7.8 pts over 3 seasons · bottom 21% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Chuck Long’s San Diego State run (2006–2008)
6th-best South Florida tenure of 6 by the numbers.
Followed Charlie Strong (2017–2019) · succeeded by Daniel Da Prato (2022).
System Shift, on arrival
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 1-8 | 2-10 | 1-8 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #101 | #63 | #90 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 48.1 | 42.1 | 42.4 | |
| Coordinators | ||||
| OC | Charlie Weis Jr. | Charlie Weis Jr. | Travis Trickett | |
| DC | Glenn Spencer | Glenn Spencer | Ernie Sims | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 20 | 27 | 68 | |
| Defense | 32 | 11 | 1 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 45.7 | 44.6 | 37.8 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 41.4 | 27.8 | 30.6 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 41.4 | 51.2 | 44.4 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on offense and underperforms his recruiting talent on defense.
Offense vs. talent
-10.8 pts
#152 of 208 · middle half
Defense vs. talent
-34.4 pts
#201 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
A typical amount of portal roster-building.
Portal arrivals
26
3.0★ avg rating
Portal departures
39
left via the portal
Net portal flow
-13
#93 of 187 FBS stints
Who they bring in
Brings in bigger-than-position-typical players than most.
Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.
Avg. size (raw)
6′2″, 244 lbs
across 16 of 26 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix
Size vs. position-typical
+11.1 lbs
#6 of 255 · top quarter
Avg. class year
Sr
#1 of 255 · top quarter
Top states: FL (7), GA (2), SC (2), PA (1), MI (1)
Who won the portal our read
Talent added
54.2
position-weighted
Talent lost
49.5
position-weighted
Net
+4.6
arrivals minus departures
Best addition: Gerry Bohanon (QB) from Baylor
Biggest loss: Katravis Marsh (QB) to South Florida
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′2″ avg · #370 of 767 · middle half
Running back
191 lbs
5′9″ avg · #778 of 791 · bottom quarter
Wide receiver
185 lbs
6′0″ avg · #713 of 791 · bottom quarter
Tight end
242 lbs
6′4″ avg · #498 of 731 · middle half
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
310 lbs
6′4″ avg · #321 of 779 · middle half
D-line
280 lbs
6′3″ avg · #457 of 753 · middle half
Linebacker
224 lbs
6′2″ avg · #597 of 772 · bottom quarter
Cornerback
190 lbs
6′0″ avg · #416 of 771 · middle half
Safety
194 lbs
6′1″ avg · #247 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.
1 player-season honored (All-America / national award): Brian Battie (2021)
−7.8
4-26
2017–2019
Charlie Strong Steady
Charlie Strong slid the Bulls from National Program III to National Program II in 3 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
vs. UCF
−2.9 pts over 3 seasons · top 50% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: John Bobo’s Arkansas State run (1993–1996)
3rd-best South Florida tenure of 6 by the numbers.
Followed Willie Taggart (2013–2016) · succeeded by Jeff Scott (2020–2022).
System Shift, on arrival
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 10-2 | 7-6 | 4-8 | |
| Postseason | W bowl | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #76 | #65 | #77 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 36.7 | 45.6 | 42.4 | |
| Coordinators | ||||
| OC | Sterlin Gilbert | Sterlin Gilbert | Kerwin Bell | |
| DC | Brian Jean-Mary | Brian Jean-Mary | Brian Jean-Mary | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 68 | 36 | 24 | |
| Defense | 79 | 21 | 53 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 33.4 | 37.6 | 39.0 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 29.5 | 27.8 | 40.8 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 36.7 | 36.6 | 30.8 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
Offense vs. talent
-7.7 pts
#142 of 208 · middle half
Defense vs. talent
+0.4 pts
#99 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.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Sterlin Gilbert → Kerwin Bell · 2019
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 37.6% → 39.0% (+1.4 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 74% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
Grows Running back from high school
100%
#196 of 208 stints
Postseason detail2017: Beat Texas Tech 38-34 Birmingham Bowl2018: Lost to Marshall 20-38 Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl
2 NFL Draft picks: Deadrin Senat (2018), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (2018)
−2.9
21-16
2013–2016
Willie Taggart Steady
Willie Taggart moved the Bulls from National Program II to National Program III in 4 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
vs. UCF
−3.1 pts over 4 seasons · bottom 48% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Frank Wilson’s UTSA run (2016–2019)
4th-best South Florida tenure of 6 by the numbers.
Followed Skip Holtz (2010–2012) · succeeded by Charlie Strong (2017–2019).
System Shift, on departure
System Shift, on arrival
| Season | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||
| Record | 2-10 | 4-8 | 8-5 | 10-2 | |
| Postseason | — | — | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #54 | #42 | #66 | #66 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||
| Pass rate | 49.9 | 49.2 | 33.7 | 38.6 | |
| Coordinators | |||||
| OC | — | Paul Wulff | Danny Hope / David Reaves | T. J. Weist / Darren Hiller | |
| DC | — | Chuck Bresnahan | Tom Allen | Raymond Woodie Jr. | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||
| Offense | 12 | 8 | 83 | 93 | |
| Defense | 80 | 46 | 72 | 31 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||
| 1st-down pass% | 38.6 | 39.1 | 27.7 | 38.6 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 34.9 | 34.9 | 30.5 | 24.4 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 17.1 | 34.2 | 34.2 | 37.5 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Outperforms his recruiting talent on offense and performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on defense.
Offense vs. talent
+36.5 pts
#10 of 208 · top quarter
Defense vs. talent
+0.1 pts
#104 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.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Paul Wulff → Danny Hope (co) / David Reaves (co) · 2015
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 39.1% → 27.7% (-11.4 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 39% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Danny Hope (co) / David Reaves (co) → T. J. Weist (co) / Darren Hiller (co) · 2016
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 27.7% → 38.6% (+10.8 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 89% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
DC: Chuck Bresnahan → Tom Allen · 2015
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
DC: Tom Allen → Raymond Woodie Jr. · 2016
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
Grows Tackle from high school
100%
#198 of 223 stints
Postseason detail2015: Lost to Western Kentucky 35-45 Miami Beach Bowl
6 NFL Draft picks: Aaron Lynch (2014), Reshard Cliett (2015), Austin Reiter (2015), Marlon Mack (2017), Rodney Adams (2017), Kofi Amichia (2017)
−3.1
24-25
2010–2012
Skip Holtz Steady
Skip Holtz held South Florida at National Program II for 3 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
−3.3 pts over 3 seasons · bottom 47% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Ron Vanderlinden’s Maryland run (1997–2000)
2nd-best South Florida tenure of 6 by the numbers.
Followed Jim Leavitt (2000–2009) · succeeded by Willie Taggart (2013–2016).
System Shift, on arrival
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 8-5 | 5-7 | 3-9 | |
| Postseason | W bowl | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #59 | #70 | #54 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 39.9 | 47.7 | 49.0 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 22 | 54 | 25 | |
| Defense | 83 | 50 | 15 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 38.8 | 44.2 | 43.1 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 22.0 | 33.0 | 34.5 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 6.8 | 13.5 | 12.5 | |
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 detail2010: Beat Clemson 31-26 Meineke Car Care Bowl
6 NFL Draft picks: Terrell McClain (2011), Mistral Raymond (2011), Jacquian Williams (2011), Kayvon Webster (2013), Samuel Barrington (2013), B.J. Daniels (2013)
−3.3
16-21
2000–2009
Jim Leavitt Steady
Jim Leavitt held South Florida at National Program II for 10 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
vs. UCF
1st-best South Florida tenure of 6 by the numbers.
Succeeded by Skip Holtz (2010–2012).
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||||
| Record | 7-4 | 8-3 | 9-2 | 7-4 | 4-7 | 6-6 | 9-4 | 9-4 | 8-5 | 8-5 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | — | — | L bowl | W bowl | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | #43 | #56 | #52 | #56 | #80 | #26 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | 40.5 | 34.4 | 42.3 | 43.0 | 44.0 | 36.9 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | 26 | 32 | 66 | 63 | 80 | 64 | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | 6 | 87 | 78 | 94 | 91 | 80 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | 32.7 | 25.8 | 35.2 | 33.3 | 39.8 | 29.4 | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | 18.8 | 26.5 | 29.1 | 36.6 | 40.6 | 36.3 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | 30.8 | 40.5 | 20.8 | 19.4 | 25.0 | |
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 NC State 0-14 Bowl2006: Beat East Carolina 24-7 Bowl2007: Lost to Oregon 21-56 Bowl2008: Beat Memphis 41-14 Bowl2009: Beat Northern Illinois 27-3 International Bowl
16 NFL Draft picks: Kenyatta Jones (2001), Anthony Henry (2001), Bill Gramatica (2001), Kawika Mitchell (2003), Shurron Pierson (2003), DeAndrew Rubin (2003), J.R. Reed (2004), Stephen Nicholas (2007) + 8 more
National Program II
75-44