The Zeitgeist List · coaching

Tulane: a football coaching history

National Program II#60 of 138–
See Tulane’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →
← all coaches
Program GOAT
Red Dawson
Peaked at Power Program II
Built by
Willie Fritz
Regional Program V → National Program III (+19.2)
The fall
Tommy O'Boyle
Regional Program I → Regional Program IV (−11.0)
Right now
Will Hall
in year 1 — too new to place in Tulane's history

Stature & coaches, 1936–2026

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.

program stature (★ = Dynasty-tier season)DawsonFrnkaPilneyPittmanEllenderTeevensScelfoToledoFritz19401960198020002020

Every coach

2026–now
Will Hallshort tenure
0–0
2024–2025
Jon Sumrallshort tenure
20–8
2023–2023
Slade Nagleshort tenure
0–1
2016–2023
Willie Fritzbuilder🏆 COY
Willie Fritz raised Tulane from Regional Program V to National Program III.
+19.2
54–47
2012–2015
Curtis Johnsoncaretaker
Curtis Johnson held Tulane at Regional Program V for 4 seasons.
Regional Program V
15–34
2012–2012
Mark Hutsonshort tenure
0–6
2007–2011
Bob Toledocaretaker
Bob Toledo held Tulane at Regional Program IV for 5 seasons.
Regional Program IV
15–40
1999–2006
Chris Scelfocaretaker
Chris Scelfo held Tulane at Regional Program II for 8 seasons.
Regional Program II
36–57
1997–1998
Tommy Bowdenshort tenure
18–4
1992–1996
Buddy Teevenscaretaker
Buddy Teevens slid Tulane from Regional Program III to Regional Program IV in 5 seasons.
−8.3
10–46
1988–1991
Greg Daviscaretaker
Greg Davis slid Tulane from Regional Program II to Regional Program III in 4 seasons.
Regional Program III
14–31
1985–1987
Mack Browncaretaker
Mack Brown slid Tulane from Regional Program I to Regional Program II in 3 seasons.
Regional Program II
11–23
1983–1984
Wally Englishshort tenure
7–15
1980–1982
Vince Gibsoncaretaker
Vince Gibson moved Tulane from Regional Program I to National Program III in 3 seasons.
National Program III
17–17
1976–1979
Larry Smithcaretaker
Larry Smith held Tulane at Regional Program I for 4 seasons.
Regional Program I
18–27
1971–1975
Bennie Ellendercaretaker
Bennie Ellender moved Tulane from Regional Program III to Regional Program I in 5 seasons.
Regional Program I
27–29
1966–1970
Jim Pittmancaretaker
Jim Pittman moved Tulane from Regional Program IV to Regional Program III in 5 seasons.
Regional Program III
21–30
1962–1965
Tommy O'Boylecaretaker
Tommy O'Boyle slid Tulane from Regional Program I to Regional Program II in 4 seasons.
−11.0
6–33
1954–1961
Andy Pilneycaretaker
Andy Pilney held Tulane at National Program II for 8 seasons.
−9.8
25–49
1952–1953
Raymond Wolfshort tenure
6–13
1946–1951
Henry Frnkacaretaker
Henry Frnka held Tulane at Power Program III for 6 seasons.
Power Program III
31–23
1942–1945
Claude Simonscaretaker
Claude Simons held Tulane at Power Program II for 4 seasons.
−8.9
13–17
1936–1941
Red Dawsoncaretaker
Red Dawson held Tulane at Power Program II for 6 seasons.
Power Program II
36–19