The Zeitgeist List · Coordinators

The coordinators, by what they inherited — and what they built.

Same question as the head coaches, one level down: was the unit already strong when they got there, or did they build it? FBS-relative, 187 qualifying OC stints and 202 DC stints, 3+ seasons each, 2014–present.

Every qualifying coordinator, inherited vs. built

buildersinheritors/sustainersdeclinesactive

Who lost ground

The mirror of the builders — ranked by the most percentile-points a unit lost under a coordinator, against what it was the season before they arrived.

Poach watch

Every current FBS coordinator, with the chance he leaves this winter for a head-coaching job or a bigger coordinator job — including going with his head coach if he’s hired away. Settled under 10%, Noticed 10–20%, Wanted 20–35%, Coveted 35% and up: words for the market’s interest, none of which says he is leaving. The rank counts all 329 scored coordinators, offense and defense together; nothing shows until his team has played 3 games.

The hottest names on the market right now: Kevin Decker (Memphis OC) 42%, Nate Potter (Boise State OC) 41%, Shannon Dawson (Miami OC) 32%. The top defensive coordinator: Josh Aldridge (South Florida DC) 19.7%.

Head coaches: who gets poached →

Offensive coordinators153

#CoordinatorPoach watch
1Kevin Decker · Memphis42%Coveted
2Nate Potter · Boise State41%Coveted
3Shannon Dawson · Miami32%Wanted
4Landon Keopple · Texas State31%Wanted
5Mike Denbrock · Notre Dame27%Wanted
6Cam Aiken · James Madison26%Wanted
7Mike Bloesch · North Texas24%Wanted
8Scott Isphording · Ohio22%Wanted
9Charlie Weis Jr. · LSU22%Wanted
10Mike Shanahan · Indiana21%Wanted
11Mike Bobo · Georgia21%Wanted
12Luke Schleusner · New Mexico20%Wanted
13Newland Isaac · Liberty20%Wanted
14Cris Reisert · Toledo20%Wanted
15Jordan Davis · East Carolina20%Wanted
16Mitch Dahlen · Oregon State20%Wanted
18Mack Leftwich · Texas Tech19.7%Noticed
20Ryan Grubb · Alabama18%Noticed
21Kevin McGiven · Utah18%Noticed
22Cody Worley · Army18%Noticed
23Mike Thiessen · Air Force17%Noticed
24Tim Leger · Louisiana17%Noticed
26Josh Davis · Fresno State16%Noticed
27John David Baker · Ole Miss16%Noticed
28Rick Bowie · UTSA16%Noticed
29Corey Dennis · UNLV16%Noticed
31Drew Cronic · Navy15%Noticed
32Matt Johnson · San Diego State15%Noticed
33Joey Halzle · Tennessee15%Noticed
34Dean Kennedy · UCLA15%Noticed
35Walt Bell · Western Michigan15%Noticed
36Buster Faulkner · Florida14%Noticed
37Terence Archer · Delaware14%Noticed
40Luke Huard · USC13%Noticed
41Rod Smith · Marshall13%Noticed
42Brian Brohm · Louisville13%Noticed
43Pryce Tracy · Colorado State13%Noticed
44Rob Ezell · Wake Forest13%Noticed
46Nunzio Campanile · UConn12%Noticed
47Nathan Young · Louisiana Tech12%Noticed
48Aaron Roderick · BYU12%Noticed
49Hue Jackson · Georgia State12%Noticed
51Gus Ragland · Miami (OH)12%Noticed
52Drew Mehringer · Oregon12%Noticed
54Seth Doege · Arizona12%Noticed
55Slade Nagle · Houston12%Noticed
59Kade Bell · Pittsburgh11%Noticed
60Nick Petrino · Coastal Carolina11%Noticed
61Jordan Shoemaker co-coordinator · Texas State11%Noticed
63Kendal Briles · South Carolina11%Noticed
64Ryan Aplin · Georgia Southern11%Noticed
66Matt Miller · Washington State10%Noticed
67Tim Beck · South Florida10%Noticed
68Kyle Flood · Texas10%Noticed
Show the 99 Settled
70Kevin Barbay · Tulsa9.8%Settled
71Sean Brophy · Oklahoma State9.8%Settled
72Ty Howle · Virginia Tech9.8%Settled
73Mike Anthony · App State9.7%Settled
77Chip Lindsey · Missouri9%Settled
78Tyler Walker · Temple9%Settled
79Arthur Smith · Ohio State9%Settled
80Taylor Housewright · Jacksonville State9%Settled
81Garrett Altman · Arkansas State9%Settled
82Zak Hill co-coordinator · Boise State9%Settled
86Tony Tokarz · Buffalo9%Settled
87David Weeks co-coordinator · Memphis9%Settled
89Jonathan Brewer · Duke9%Settled
92Mark Cala · Missouri State8%Settled
95Anthony Arceneaux · Hawai'i8%Settled
98Craig Stutzmann · San José State8%Settled
99Joe Sloan · Kentucky8%Settled
104Holmon Wiggins · Texas A&M8%Settled
106Russ Callaway · Tulane8%Settled
109Kyle Cefalo · Southern Miss8%Settled
110Joe Cox co-coordinator · LSU8%Settled
112Kurt Roper · NC State8%Settled
113Dana Holgorsen · Nebraska8%Settled
115Jake Spavital · Baylor7%Settled
116Joel Gordon · Auburn7%Settled
117Max Warner · Massachusetts7%Settled
118Adam Austin · Troy7%Settled
121Ryan Wallace co-coordinator · Oregon State7%Settled
122Mike Piatkowski · Eastern Michigan7%Settled
125David Gilbertson · Nevada7%Settled
126Anthony Scelfo · Middle Tennessee7%Settled
128David Yost · New Mexico State7%Settled
130Tim Lester · Iowa7%Settled
131Jason Beck · Michigan7%Settled
133Desmond Kitchings · Virginia6%Settled
134Taylor Mouser · Penn State6%Settled
135Keenan Bailey co-coordinator · Ohio State6%Settled
138Chip Kelly · Northwestern6%Settled
141Barry Lunney Jr. · Illinois6%Settled
143Mitch Militello · Kennesaw State6%Settled
146Christian Taylor · Wyoming6%Settled
147Gordon Sammis · TCU6%Settled
148Vince Munch · Rice6%Settled
154Marcus Arroyo · Arizona State6%Settled
157Kody Cook · Old Dominion6%Settled
158Greg Nosal · Bowling Green6%Settled
159Bobby Petrino · North Carolina6%Settled
162Steve Cooper · UCF5%Settled
163Clay Patterson · Kent State5%Settled
169Jim Zebrowski · Kansas5%Settled
175Tim Beck · Vanderbilt5%Settled
176Todd Fitch · Charlotte5%Settled
177Sean Gleeson · Kansas State5%Settled
178Nick Coleman · Florida International5%Settled
181Garin Justice co-coordinator · SMU5%Settled
181Rob Likens co-coordinator · SMU5%Settled
184Jesse Montalto · UL Monroe5%Settled
185Clint Trickett · Maryland5%Settled
187Robert Anae · Utah State5%Settled
188Ty Darlington co-coordinator · Tulsa5%Settled
189Tim Harris Jr. · Florida State5%Settled
192Jeff Nixon · Syracuse5%Settled
196Kirk Ciarrocca · Rutgers5%Settled
200Greg Harbaugh · Minnesota5%Settled
201Ben Arbuckle · Oklahoma4%Settled
202Zack Patterson · Sam Houston4%Settled
209Tyler Roehl · Iowa State4%Settled
211Tim Cramsey · Arkansas4%Settled
213Dan Larson · North Dakota State4%Settled
215Jeff Grimes · Wisconsin4%Settled
216Josh Henson · Purdue4%Settled
222Nick Sheridan · Michigan State4%Settled
223A. J. Milwee co-coordinator · Texas4%Settled
232Chad Morris · Clemson4%Settled
233Lanear Sampson · UTEP4%Settled
238Cody Woodiel co-coordinator · Ole Miss4%Settled
242Tino Sunseri co-coordinator · Indiana3%Settled
247George Godsey · Georgia Tech3%Settled
248Jordan Somerville · California3%Settled
255Terry Heffernan · Stanford3%Settled
256Glenn Thomas co-coordinator · Nebraska3%Settled
263Jim Chapin co-coordinator · Central Michigan3%Settled
265Bodie Reeder co-coordinator · Western Kentucky3%Settled
265Joe Bernardi co-coordinator · Western Kentucky3%Settled
275Brennan Marion · Colorado3%Settled
278Nic Cardwell co-coordinator · Cincinnati2%Settled
278Pete Thomas co-coordinator · Cincinnati2%Settled
283Kyle Richardson co-coordinator · Clemson2%Settled
283Matt Luke co-coordinator · Clemson2%Settled
285Matt Lubick co-coordinator · Kansas2%Settled
288Chris Weinke co-coordinator · Georgia Tech2%Settled
290A. J. Ricker co-coordinator · TCU2%Settled
295Derek Fulton co-coordinator · Central Michigan2%Settled
299Mike Johnson co-coordinator · Syracuse2%Settled
302Tony Petersen co-coordinator · Northern Illinois2%Settled
310Joe Pappalardo co-coordinator · UTEP2%Settled
312Kodi Burns co-coordinator · Auburn2%Settled
315Ike Hilliard co-coordinator · California2%Settled
325A. C. Patterson co-coordinator · Sacramento State1%Settled

Defensive coordinators176

#CoordinatorPoach watch
17Josh Aldridge · South Florida19.7%Noticed
19Spence Nowinsky · New Mexico18%Noticed
25Erik Chinander · Boise State16%Noticed
30Bryant Haines · Indiana16%Noticed
38Matt Patricia · Ohio State14%Noticed
39Nick Benedetto · Fresno State14%Noticed
45Aaron Bohl · Wyoming13%Noticed
50Chris Ash · Notre Dame12%Noticed
53Colin Hitschler · UCLA12%Noticed
56Shawn Quinn · Liberty12%Noticed
57Glenn Schumann · Georgia11%Noticed
58Luke Olson · Louisiana Tech11%Noticed
62Brian Williams · Jacksonville State11%Noticed
65Corey Hetherman · Miami11%Noticed
Show the 162 Settled
69Phil Parker · Iowa9.8%Settled
74Blake Baker · LSU9.6%Settled
75Tayler Polk · Tulane9.5%Settled
76Jim Salgado · Louisiana9%Settled
83D. J. Smith · App State9%Settled
84Dontae Wright · Troy9%Settled
85Bill Brechin · Miami (OH)9%Settled
88Shiel Wood · Texas Tech9%Settled
90Jim Knowles · Tennessee8%Settled
91Jovan Dewitt · Florida International8%Settled
93Jess Loepp · UTSA8%Settled
94Kurt Mattix · Ohio8%Settled
96Nick Howell · Utah State8%Settled
97Paul Guenther · UNLV8%Settled
100Rob Aurich · Nebraska8%Settled
101Blake Seiler · Old Dominion8%Settled
102Kane Wommack · Alabama8%Settled
103Lance Guidry · Memphis8%Settled
105Corey Batoon · Missouri8%Settled
107Dennis Thurman · Hawai'i8%Settled
108Jay Hill · Michigan8%Settled
111Kane Ioane · Nevada8%Settled
114Mike Tressel · Wisconsin8%Settled
119Steve Russ · Air Force7%Settled
120Josh Reardon · Tulsa7%Settled
123Mike Mutz · Georgia Southern7%Settled
124Danny Gonzales · Arizona7%Settled
127Scottie Hazelton · Wake Forest7%Settled
129Jahmal Brown · Toledo7%Settled
132Todd Bates · Oklahoma6%Settled
136Andy Avalos · TCU6%Settled
137Tim McGarigle · Northwestern6%Settled
139Griff McCarley · Arkansas State6%Settled
140Chris Hampton · Oregon6%Settled
142Bojay Filimoeatu · San José State6%Settled
144Jordon Hankins · East Carolina6%Settled
145Austin Armstrong · Houston6%Settled
149Jared Keyte · Massachusetts6%Settled
150Bryan Brown · Ole Miss6%Settled
151Mike MacIntyre · Oregon State6%Settled
152Daryl Dixon · Army6%Settled
153Joe Klanderman · Baylor6%Settled
155Colton Swan · Utah6%Settled
156Brian Smith · Temple6%Settled
160Todd Orlando · South Alabama6%Settled
161Ryan Walters · Washington6%Settled
164Brian Dougherty · Buffalo5%Settled
165Tom Allen · Clemson5%Settled
166Jonathan Patke · Duke5%Settled
167Robert Bala co-coordinator · James Madison5%Settled
168Todd Grantham · UAB5%Settled
170Will Muschamp · Texas5%Settled
171Manny Rojas · Delaware5%Settled
172L. D. Scott · Coastal Carolina5%Settled
173Tim Walton co-coordinator · Ohio State5%Settled
174Ryan Manalac · UConn5%Settled
179Jay Bateman · Kentucky5%Settled
180Sean Cronin · Central Michigan5%Settled
183Trent Bray · Washington State5%Settled
186Brad Lambert · Marshall5%Settled
190Danny Collins · Minnesota5%Settled
191Matt Powledge · North Texas5%Settled
193Marc Mattioli · Kennesaw State5%Settled
194Will Windham · Texas State5%Settled
195Joe Morris · New Mexico State5%Settled
197Kelly Poppinga · BYU5%Settled
198Jordan Peterson · Kansas State5%Settled
199Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay · Sam Houston5%Settled
203Eric Lewis · Navy4%Settled
204Tim Tibesar · Akron4%Settled
205Travaris Robinson co-coordinator · Georgia4%Settled
206Grant Olson · North Dakota State4%Settled
207John Rudzinski · Virginia4%Settled
208Cherokee Valeria · Kent State4%Settled
210Joe Bowden · Bowling Green4%Settled
212Brian Stewart · Middle Tennessee4%Settled
214Davis Merritt · Western Kentucky4%Settled
217Clayton White · South Carolina4%Settled
218Skyler Cassity · Oklahoma State4%Settled
219Vince Kehres · Syracuse4%Settled
220Terrence Brown co-coordinator · Boise State4%Settled
221Brad White · Florida4%Settled
224Aaron Henry co-coordinator · Notre Dame4%Settled
225D. J. Durkin · Auburn4%Settled
226Jon Kay · Rice4%Settled
227Demetrius Sumler · San Diego State4%Settled
228Stephen Belichick · North Carolina4%Settled
229D'Anton Lynn · Penn State4%Settled
230Josh Linam co-coordinator · James Madison4%Settled
231Joe Bolden · Southern Miss4%Settled
234Lyle Hemphill · Texas A&M4%Settled
235Jack Curtis · Missouri State4%Settled
236Cory Sanders · Pittsburgh4%Settled
237Jesse Bobbit · Iowa State4%Settled
239Alex Grinch · UCF4%Settled
240Nathan Burton co-coordinator · Troy4%Settled
241Brett Dewhurst · Florida Atlantic3%Settled
243Duane Vaughn co-coordinator · Western Michigan3%Settled
243Greer Martini co-coordinator · Western Michigan3%Settled
245Brent Pry · Virginia Tech3%Settled
246Tony White · Florida State3%Settled
249Gary Patterson · USC3%Settled
250Nate Woody · Cincinnati3%Settled
251D. K. McDonald · Kansas3%Settled
252Maurice Linguist co-coordinator · Alabama3%Settled
253D. J. Eliot · NC State3%Settled
254Brian Ward · Arizona State3%Settled
257Ron Roberts · Arkansas3%Settled
258Jeff Knowles · Ball State3%Settled
259Mike Gray co-coordinator · Tulsa3%Settled
260Joe Rossi · Michigan State3%Settled
261Bobby Hauck · Illinois3%Settled
262Steve Gregory · Vanderbilt3%Settled
264Kyle Beyer · UTEP3%Settled
267Tyson Summers · Colorado State3%Settled
268D. J. Bland · Northern Illinois3%Settled
269Nate Fuqua co-coordinator · Tulane3%Settled
270Troy Reffett · UL Monroe3%Settled
271Roy Tesh co-coordinator · East Carolina3%Settled
272Maurice Crum Jr. co-coordinator · SMU3%Settled
272Rickey Hunley Jr. co-coordinator · SMU3%Settled
274Cort Dennison co-coordinator · Oregon State3%Settled
276Jason Semore · Georgia Tech3%Settled
277Nate Faanes · Charlotte3%Settled
280Chris Kiffin co-coordinator · LSU2%Settled
281Nick Eason co-coordinator · Clemson2%Settled
282Anthony Poindexter co-coordinator · Tennessee2%Settled
286Ted Roof · Boston College2%Settled
287Ted Monachino · Maryland2%Settled
289Zac Alley · West Virginia2%Settled
291Zach Arnett · Mississippi State2%Settled
292Kasey Teegardin co-coordinator · Eastern Michigan2%Settled
292Tate Omli co-coordinator · Eastern Michigan2%Settled
294Bradley Dale Peveto co-coordinator · North Texas2%Settled
296Cam Clark co-coordinator · Georgia State2%Settled
296John Haneline co-coordinator · Georgia State2%Settled
298Nick Monroe co-coordinator · Minnesota2%Settled
300Jason Washington co-coordinator · South Alabama2%Settled
301Ricky Brown co-coordinator · Navy2%Settled
303Rob Greene co-coordinator · Texas Tech2%Settled
304Michael Hutchings · California2%Settled
305Marcus Woodson co-coordinator · Ole Miss2%Settled
306Chris Marve · Colorado2%Settled
307Elijah Robinson co-coordinator · Texas A&M2%Settled
308Matthew Gregg co-coordinator · Texas State2%Settled
309Marcus Patton · Sacramento State2%Settled
311Kevin Kane · Purdue2%Settled
313Travis Johansen · Rutgers2%Settled
314Kris Richard · Stanford2%Settled
316Kelvin Sigler co-coordinator · UTEP2%Settled
317Tim Banks co-coordinator · Auburn2%Settled
318Charlton Warren co-coordinator · NC State2%Settled
319Cortney Braswell co-coordinator · Cincinnati2%Settled
320Mark Ivey co-coordinator · Louisville1%Settled
320Steve Ellis co-coordinator · Louisville1%Settled
322Max Bullough co-coordinator · Michigan State1%Settled
323Kenny McClendon co-coordinator · Colorado State1%Settled
324Aazaar Abdul-Rahim co-coordinator · Maryland1%Settled
326Deron Wilson co-coordinator · Arkansas1%Settled
327John Scott Jr. co-coordinator · Syracuse1%Settled
328Da'Von Brown co-coordinator · California1%Settled
329Josh Brown co-coordinator · Sacramento State1%Settled
How good is this number? It ranks a coordinator who moves up ahead of one who stays 71 to 73% of the time, and its average matches the share who actually move. What it can’t do

Tested on every FBS coordinator from 2018 through 2025, each season scored by a model fit only on the seasons before it: from three games on, given one coordinator who moved up and one who didn’t, it ranked the one who moved ahead 71 to 73% of the time, and its average chance came within a tenth of a point of the share who actually moved.

  • Counting a coordinator who follows his hired-away head coach as moving up was decided after the model’s first results were seen.
  • Much of the signal comes through his head coach: coordinators often move because their boss is hired away. This site’s number for head coaches is now live, on each head coach’s page, but this number doesn’t use it.
  • Moves to NFL coordinator jobs are undercounted in the history it learned from; they were found mainly for coordinators with Wikipedia pages.
  • On its own it is weak at picking which coordinator lands a head-coaching job (about 60% on the same test). The number is about moving up by any route.
  • It is frozen: it learns nothing from 2026 until a deliberate refit.
The Coordinators’ ClimbSee every OC/DC who ran two or more programs, drawn as a career arc through unit strength — who climbed, and who fell.→