The 2020 coaching cycle feels like it took place decades ago.
So much has happened in this year's carousel -- from Lincoln Riley to Brian Kelly to Mario Cristobal -- that it's easy to forget that 17 college programs hired coaches heading into the 2021 season. Despite the coronavirus pandemic and its financial impact on universities, a larger-than-expected number of schools made coaching changes.
Now it's time to evaluate them.
Here are my evaluations for every first-year coach in 2021. Not everyone is graded on the same criteria, as some coaches inherited turnkey situations, while others stepped into complete teardowns. This isn't about only first-year record but what each coach did overall to improve his program's trajectory or let it slip.
To add a layer of accountability, I'm including my grades of each coaching hire at the time they occurred.
POWER 5
Arizona Wildcats
Coach: Jedd Fisch
Team record in 2020: 0-5
Hiring grade: C+
2021 record: 1-11
First-year grade: D+
Fisch won the offseason, from the Rob Gronkowski spectacle to improved recruiting to a more positive vibe around a program that had bottomed out under the previous regime. Although Arizona's hire raised some eyebrows around the industry -- and still does, truth be told -- Fisch brought a fresh and welcome approach to Tucson. Reality set in during the season, though, as Arizona dropped its first eight games, including a home loss to FCS Northern Arizona. The Wildcats showed improvement on defense under veteran coordinator Don Brown, but Fisch's offense struggled to produce, although injuries certainly didn't help.
Arizona's lone win under Fisch this season came against a Cal team playing without seven starters, including quarterback Chase Garbers, due to COVID-19 issues. The Wildcats were more competitive in losses to Washington, USC, Utah and others, but were outscored 294-157 in Pac-12 play. The best news is Fisch continues to make gains in recruiting. He took over an absolute mess in Tucson and deserves time to get things right.
Auburn Tigers
Coach: Bryan Harsin
Team record in 2020: 6-5
Hiring grade: B
2021 record: 6-6
First-year grade: C
The question with Harsin always was going to be whether an undeniably successful coach could succeed in a largely unfamiliar region, and in the nation's toughest division (SEC West). Year 1 didn't provide a definitive answer. Harsin's team started slowly, put together a strong midseason stretch of wins, then lost its final four games, including a 24-22 overtime defeat to Alabama in an Iron Bowl that the Tigers controlled throughout. Auburn fans saw a better Bo Nix at times, but the overall unit battled inconsistency down the stretch and Harsin replaced coordinator Mike Bobo after the regular season. On Sunday night, Nix announced he will be transferring.
Auburn had a very challenging schedule, and Harsin's arrival represented a significant change in both scheme and approach from predecessor Gus Malzahn. But there are already rumblings on the Plains about whether Harsin will be a good fit in the long run. Auburn can be especially tough on coaches, and if Harsin doesn't show progress in Year 2, the heat will rise.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Coach: Bret Bielema
Team record in 2020: 2-6
Hiring grade: B+
2021 record: 5-7
First-year grade: A-
Bielema's knowledge of the Big Ten landscape and program-building showed in his first year. Illinois formed a true identity, built around principles Bielema has always valued, and recorded notable wins over Penn State, Minnesota and Nebraska. The Illini improved significantly on defense and built a solid run game around sophomore Chase Brown. Five of Illinois' seven losses came by 10 points or less.
The roster still has a way to go, as Bielema noted in some much-publicized midseason comments. The gap between Illinois' departing senior class and the younger classes is significant. Some regression in 2022 is possible. But Bielema has provided a clear direction for a program that never really had one under Lovie Smith. Illinois has significantly improved its recruiting presence within the state. The team also showed real fight under Bielema, winning road games at Penn State and Minnesota, and competing almost every Saturday.
Kansas Jayhawks
Coach: Lance Leipold
Team record in 2020: 0-8
Hiring grade: A-
2021 record: 2-10
First-year grade: B+
I debated between B+ and A- for Leipold, ultimately deciding that a two-win season cannot merit an A-grade. But Leipold did good work under extremely challenging circumstances, taking over at Kansas only in late April, after almost all of spring practice had been completed. He inherited an incredibly challenging roster situation and a team that failed to win a game in 2020, and had won just nine over the previous six seasons.
Kansas prevailed only twice under Leipold but began to form an identity, especially on offense, his specialty. A 31-point underdog at Texas, the Jayhawks outlasted the Longhorns in overtime to end their 56-game Big 12 road losing streak. They also outplayed Oklahoma for most of a 35-23 loss, and ended the season with single-digit defeats to TCU and West Virginia. Leipold has won everywhere he has been, and while Kansas' challenges aren't going away, more victories likely are on the way in Year 2.
South Carolina Gamecocks
Coach: Shane Beamer
Team record in 2020: 2-8
Hiring grade: B-
2021 record: 6-6
First-year grade: A-
I had my reservations about the hire, especially combined with a challenging roster situation. South Carolina had to start a graduate assistant coach at quarterback in Beamer's head-coaching debut. But Beamer handled that situation and other obstacles well, showing that while he might not have been a top candidate for many Power 5 jobs, he landed the right one at South Carolina, a place he has always considered a dream destination.
The Gamecocks overcame a 1-4 start to SEC play to win their final two league games over Florida and Auburn, the latter of which got them bowl eligible. South Carolina had some clear limitations on offense but still found ways to compete and win. Beamer's positive approach immediately connected with players and others around the program. The son of Hall of Famer Frank Beamer has been around great coaches his whole life. Shane has picked up elements from them while forming his own approach, which clicked right away in Columbia.
He's quickly building momentum at South Carolina, adding Oklahoma quarterback transfer Spencer Rattler as a potential centerpiece for the 2022 season.
Tennessee Volunteers
Coach: Josh Heupel
Team record in 2020: 3-7
Hiring grade: C
2021 record: 7-5
First-year grade: A-
Tennessee had several coaches pass on the job before turning to Heupel, who came in with a strong record (28-8) but came off a down year at UCF. He also had only two years of SEC coordinator experience, and took over only in late January. But Heupel energized Tennessee's downtrodden offense and produced a team that has Vols fans genuinely excited about the future again. Tennessee had the SEC's No. 3 scoring offense and No. 4 total offense, winning three conference games by 24 points or more.
Despite a tough schedule featuring Alabama and Ole Miss in crossovers, Tennessee won three of its final four games. Quarterback Hendon Hooker blossomed under Heupel and offensive coordinator Alex Golesh, completing 69% of his passes with 26 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Recruiting remains an area to watch, but Heupel has delivered offense and a new sense of excitement to Knoxville, despite taking over under some difficult conditions.
Texas Longhorns
Coach: Steve Sarkisian
Team record in 2020: 7-3
Hiring grade: A-
2021 record: 5-7
First-year grade: D
Texas fired Tom Herman (32-18) in hopes of upgrading its quarterback play and moving closer to national championship contention. Instead, the team went the other direction in Sarkisian's first season. Texas' best win came in Sarkisian's debut against Louisiana, a team that hasn't lost since. The Longhorns were blown out by former Southwest Conference rival Arkansas, and later dropped six consecutive games, their worst slide since 1956 (eight games). Texas blew leads against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, became the first Big 12 team since 2008 to lose at home against Kansas, and failed to get bowl eligible for the first time since 2016.
The program's problems clearly preceded Sarkisian and will take time to fix. But Sarkisian struggled to establish a new culture and direction, adding significant pressure for his second season. Although Sarkisian did outstanding work as Alabama's offensive coordinator, his head-coaching profile -- 51-42 overall, only one season of more than eight wins -- leaves much to be desired. He's making some recruiting gains, including Sunday's addition of transfer quarterback Quinn Ewers. Texas returns running back Bijan Robinson and other talented pieces on both sides of the ball. But Sarkisian has to start making genuine strides, especially with a looming departure to a tougher conference (SEC).
Vanderbilt Commodores
Coach: Clark Lea
Team record in 2020: 0-9
Hiring grade: A-
2021 record: 2-10
First-year grade: D+
I still like Lea for the job. He recognizes the challenges around the Vanderbilt program and also has the personal connection/drive to improve things. After a winless season in 2020, Vanderbilt would not be a quick fix, and the challenges there seem only more pronounced with every year. But there weren't many positives in Lea's debut season, as Vanderbilt's only wins came against teams that fired their coaches (Colorado State, UConn). The Commodores lost by 20 to East Tennessee State and by 18 to a bad Stanford team.
SEC play proved to be particularly ugly, as Vanderbilt twice was shut out and eclipsed 20 points just twice, while never scoring more than 28. Only two of the Commodores' eight league losses came by less than 10 points. Lea is the type of coach who will learn from a disappointing first season, work on developing the holdover players and supplement the roster in other ways. The key is closing the gap in the SEC East, which must start happening in 2022.
GROUP OF 5
Arkansas State Red Wolves
Coach: Butch Jones
Team record in 2020: 4-7
Hiring grade: A
2021 record: 2-10
First-year grade: D-
Jones came to Jonesboro with an excellent profile as a Group of 5 coach, boasting a 50-27 record with four total conference titles at Central Michigan and Cincinnati. Arkansas State had started to slip in 2020, and when star quarterback Logan Bonner followed Blake Anderson to Utah State, the challenge for Jones became tough. But Arkansas State hadn't tumbled to two wins since 2001. The Red Wolves beat only one FBS opponent (Louisiana-Monroe) this fall. Although five of their losses came by a single score, they finished dead last in the Sun Belt, despite being in a weak division other than Louisiana. Arkansas State finished 129th out of 130 FBS teams in total defense and 124th in points allowed. Big changes are needed for Jones heading into an important second season.
Boise State Broncos
Coach: Andy Avalos
Team record in 2020: 5-2
Hiring grade: A-
2021 record: 7-5
First-year grade: C+
Avalos had some notable wins in his first season leading his alma mater, as Boise State beat eventual Mountain West champion Utah State, No. 13 BYU and Fresno State. But inconsistent play early on led to the Broncos alternating losses and wins through the first half of the season. Boise State put together a four-game win streak late but still recorded its first five-loss season since 2013. Avalos' defensive background translated well, as the Broncos finished 12th nationally in points allowed (19 points per game). But limitations in the run game held back the offense, and Boise State struggled in close games. The key for Avalos will be flipping those outcomes in Year 2, as quarterback Hank Bachmeier and several key players will be back.
Buffalo Bulls
Coach: Maurice Linguist
Team record in 2020: 6-1
Hiring grade: B+
2021 record: 4-8
First-year grade: C-
Linguist gets a bit of a break here as he took over the program in early May, after spring practice had finished and with the transfer portal already active. Buffalo was picked to finish fourth in the MAC East Division, and ended up tied for fourth with a Bowling Green team that the Bulls lost to at home. Four losses to end the season prevented Buffalo from a fourth consecutive bowl appearance, and resulted in the team's first losing season since 2016. Buffalo maintained a strong run game in the transition from Lance Leipold to Linguist, but the pass game was shaky. Linguist's influence on Buffalo's defense should start to show up more in Year 2, when we should get a better sense of the program's overall trajectory under his leadership.
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks
Coach: Terry Bowden
Team record in 2020: 0-10
Hiring grade: C
2021 record: 4-8
First-year grade: B+
I had concerns about the hire and the process that went into selecting Bowden, who had spent two seasons as a Clemson graduate assistant after Akron fired him. But Bowden showed he still can effectively lead at 65, even at a job with many inherent obstacles. He made a strong hire with offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez and coached ULM to impressive wins over Liberty and South Alabama. Five losses to end the season put a damper on Bowden's first year with the Warhawks, but the team still competed hard, especially on defense. It will be interesting to see if Bowden can build on the season and get Louisiana-Monroe to a bowl game for the first time since 2012.
Marshall Thundering Herd
Coach: Charles Huff
Team record in 2020: 7-3
Hiring grade: B
2021 record: 7-5
First-year grade: B-
Huff inherited a pretty good team at Marshall, which started 7-0 in 2020 behind the nation's top scoring defense before fading down the stretch. After winning the first two games under Huff, the Thundering Herd dropped three straight by a total of 11 points before winning four straight. Marshall wasn't quite as stout on defense but made improvement on offense under Huff, averaging 471.1 yards and 34 points per game. Ultimately, Huff's teams couldn't win enough close games. He will return a good nucleus of contributors in 2022 and, with the right supplementary pieces, should have the team in the mix for the Conference USA title.
South Alabama Jaguars
Coach: Kane Wommack
Team record in 2020: 4-7
Hiring grade: A-
2021 record: 5-7
First-year grade: B-
South Alabama made the obvious choice in Wommack, a dynamic young coordinator who had spent two seasons there and was eager to return to Mobile. Wommack started off well, winning his first three games and five of the first eight. But South Alabama dropped its final four games, including two by a single score. Wommack made a positive impact on the defense, which tied for eighth nationally in takeaways with 25. The offense needs to make strides, though, as the Jaguars averaged only 3 yards per carry and now must replace star wideout Jalen Tolbert. Wommack should continue to grow as a head coach, and his enthusiasm for recruiting and working the transfer portal should put South Alabama in bowl contention in 2022.
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Coach: Will Hall
Team record in 2020: 3-7
Hiring grade: A-
2021 record: 3-9
First-year grade: D+
Hall probably thinks D+ is too kind, as he was hard on himself from the get-go. The coach provided many memorable quotes in his first year but only three wins. Southern Miss ended on a good note, beating Louisiana Tech and Florida International to end the season, but it was a very rough ride for Hall's team. The Golden Eagles were shut out against UAB and failed to score at least 20 points against an FBS opponent until the Louisiana Tech game. During an eight-game losing streak, Southern Miss dropped seven by 10 points or more. Hall is very well-connected in his home state, and Southern Miss' 2022 recruiting class is not surprisingly Mississippi-heavy. If he upgrades the offense, Southern Miss should be in the bowl mix next fall.
UCF Knights
Coach: Gus Malzahn
Team record in 2020: 6-4
Hiring grade: A-
2021 record: 8-4
First-year grade: B-
UCF improved by two wins in Malzahn's first season, played mostly strong defense and had only one really bad loss (Navy). But the Knights also never really challenged in the AAC, getting blown out by both Cincinnati and SMU. Malzahn's offense was decent in most categories, especially with the run game (188.7 yards per game), but averaged only 25.4 points in conference play. Standout quarterback Dillon Gabriel broke his clavicle in the third game and ended up transferring, and Malzahn did some good things in developing freshman Mikey Keene. The key for Malzahn will be building on UCF's natural advantages in recruiting and closing the gap with Cincinnati before both teams depart for the Big 12.
Utah State Aggies
Coach: Blake Anderson
Team record in 2020: 1-5
Hiring grade: B
2021 record: 10-3
First-year grade: A
The best first-year coaching performance came from a guy who made a somewhat surprising move in the first place. Unable to land a Power 5 job despite a steady run at Arkansas State, Anderson instead took another Group of 5 job in a region where he had not previously worked (New Mexico was his closest stop). Utah State was coming off a miserable season, and Anderson stepped into a locker room that needed mending. He went on to lead Utah State to a championship in the Mountain West, the best Group of 5 conference this season. Logan Bonner followed Anderson to Logan, Utah, and passed for 3,560 and 35 touchdowns, while Deven Thompkins set a team single-season record with 1,589 receiving yards. The Aggies beat Washington State and Air Force to start 3-0, then won six of their final seven games to reach the league championship, where they clobbered No. 19 San Diego State 46-13. Anderson led one of the more remarkable stories in college football this year.