An industry usually changes slowly over time.
There are hints along the way, little moments that stack up over time, that something is approaching. Personalised, these moments might be fleeting. But all together, they have the power to alter everything.
These are the little moments in business that get bigger. They ultimately turn into a trend, and that trend finally becomes the standard. College football as a business is suddenly seeing a number of developments, but none are more intriguing than the unexpected exodus of coaches in search of better offers.
That may seem odd given the significance of the transfer portal and how NIL has quickly introduced free agency to the sport. The best people to know this, though, are the coaches working in this universe, and many of them are opting to quit when given the chance.
The sport is now run without direction. Rules are, at best, vague. First and foremost, chequebooks and booster support are being used to build rosters. The terrain is uncharted territory, and creating winners will need more effort than before.
There has never been a more lucrative time to be a head coach or a valued assistant at a major programme than it is now, no doubt about it. The coaching industry has taken off thanks to a combination of factors including growing interest, television contracts, and the need to win at all costs.
Today, the top college football coordinators can make over $2 million a year. The most successful coaches—or even those with influence—can make up to five times as much.
Numerous aspects of life are positive.
College football coaches are bidding adieu, even with all the amazing benefits that accompany this career. And while it would be incorrect to assume that these choices are directly related to how the sport is doing, the exodus does provide an intriguing glimpse into what lies ahead.
Nick Saban is heading to the golf course, while Jim Harbaugh is heading to the NFL. Has it all gotten to be too much for the top coaches in the sport, or have they left?
To be honest, Harbaugh was considering his exit long before his firm did. Furthermore, Saban, 72, might have just had enough. The timing is, well, puzzling.
If those were the only two changes, as meaningful as they are, the conversation might be different. This is ultimately not the case.
The head coach of a school in a Power Five conference recently left for a coordinator job in the NFL. That coach was Jeff Hafley, formerly of Boston College. After leading his program to a bowl game last season, Hafley will spend next fall as the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers.
The architect of one of college football’s greatest offenses will do the same. Ryan Grubb, who served as Washington’s offensive coordinator this past season, followed former Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama when he was named the head coach.
That decision ultimately lasted a handful of weeks. Grubb was then named the offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks, and his tenure with the Crimson Tide ended before it could ever truly begin.
Liam Coen and Kliff Kingsbury, two well respected offensive minds, followed a similar path. Both assistants exited for jobs in the NFL when they were presented.
These decisions make up an insignificant amount of the total number of jobs currently held at major schools. The reality of these decisions, however, paints a picture of some growing discontent within the profession.
The job has always demanded an unfathomable amount. The hours are intense, the time spent on the road is relentless and the pressure to win is constant. Recruiting, even before NIL, was a daunting assignment.
It is, in summary, a lot. It’s not surprising that some people have had enough, considering the NCAA’s lack of direction and the Wild West attitude the sport seems to have adopted.
Sure, it pays incredibly well, but then so does NFL coaching. Furthermore, at the next level, an assistant doesn’t have to travel for a significant portion of the year, leaving their family behind. One would wonder how much commitment a 4-star lineman is expecting from them.
The rules are considerably clearer at the professional levels. Coaches are more aware of the expectations.
