2022 NCAAF Bowl Coaching changes

2022 NCAAF Bowl Coaching changes

One of the most important factors in handicapping bowl games is following the coach and his past success. Unfortunately, there were many coaching changes during and after the regular season that has an effect on the bowl games. So, you’ll have some games where an interim coach has taken over. Here are the most recent changes for bowl teams and we’ll name the interim coach of each team. Also, several bowl teams have lost their coordinators to other schools.

2022

Coastal Carolina:

Out: Jamey Chadwell

In: Tim Beck

Interim: Chad Staggs

Chadwell left Coastal Carolina for Liberty. This led the Chants to back-to-back 11-win seasons in 2020 and 2021. Tim Beck struggled as an offensive coordinator at NC State and at Texas. Chad Staggs, the current CCU defensive coordinator, will coach the Chanticleers in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 27.

Cincinnati

Out: Luke Fickell

In: Scott Satterfield

Satterfield went 25-24 at Louisville in four seasons so this was a strange hire. But he might be better suited for this program after dominating at Appalachian State from 2013-18. Cincinnati will transition to the Big 12 so it will no longer be the darling of the Group of Five.

Liberty:

Out: Hugh Freeze

In: Jamey Chadwell

Interim: Josh Aldridge

Freeze moves to Auburn and did a great job at Liberty. Chadwell was a solid choice to replace him. At the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 20, Josh Aldridge will take over as interim head coach for the Flames. He’s the co-defensive coordinator.

Louisville:

Out: Scott Satterfield

In: Jeff Brohm

Interim: Deion Branch

Here is one of the stranger moves as Scott Satterfield left for Cincinnati, who needed a coach after Luke Fickell left for Wisconsin. That means Brohm, the former Purdue coach who went 36-34 in six seasons, will coach against Satterfield in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl on Dec. 17 when Louisville faces Cincinnati. Former NFL wide receiver Deion Branch, who was the team’s director of player development, will coach the Cardinals in the bowl game.

Mississippi State

Interim: Zach Arnett

Head coach Mike Leach tragically passed away on Monday night from a heart condition. That means that defensive coordinator Zach Arnett will take over at least for the bowl game.

North Texas

Out: Seth Littrell

In: n/a

Interim: Phil Bennett

Littrell did a good job at North Texas and took them to the C-USA Championship in 2022, but finished 44-44 and struggled three of the last four seasons. He’s out and Phil Bennett, the DC and safety coach will be the interim head coach for their Frisco Bowl game on Dec. 17.

Purdue

Out: Jeff Brohm

In: Ryan Walters

Interim: Brian Brohm

Brohm left to home in Louisville, so it wasn’t a huge surprise. Purdue doesn’t play until Jan. 2 in the Citrus Bowl. They should have a head coach by then. However, to continue making things awkward, offensive coordinator Brian Brohm will coach the Boilermakers in the Citrus Bowl. Brohm is Jeff’s younger brother, a former star QB at, of course, Louisville. Walters was just named head coach on Dec. 13. He was defensive coordinator at Illinois for two seasons.

UAB

Out: Bill Clark

In: Trent Dilfer

Interim: Bryant Vincent

Bryant Vincent did a solid job taking over as interim head coach for Bill Clark, who retired in June. He got them into the Bahamas Bowl, but the Blazers decided to turn to Trent Dilfer, who is a former NFL QB and a HS coach. Vincent will finish his duties as coach of the Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 16.


Wisconsin

Out: Paul Chryst

In: Luke Fickell

Fickell was one of the top coaches in the nation at Group of Five Cincinnati. There will be more pressure in Madison, where DC/interim head coach Jim Leonhard did a solid job. But Fickell was a home run hire. They play in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Dec. 27. Leonhard will serve as DC once again and then leave for another job after the bowl game.

(sources: https://247sports.com/Article/2022-College-Football-coaching-carousel-updates-power-five-jobs-top-candidates-rumors-194705920/ and https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-coaching-carousel-tracker-analysis-grades-on-coach-changes-2022-23-hires/ )

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Ben Hayes

Ben has been a sports writer for over 35 years, dabbling in college and pro basketball, college and pro football, baseball, college lacrosse, minor league baseball and even college gymnastics. He's also been involved in the gaming industry for nearly 30 years and has been looking to beat the books since he was 13! Ben has had great success in handicapping college football, the NFL, college basketball, the NBA and MLB for 27+ years. His Twitter handle is @BenHayesWAW