Firing a coach mid-season is always tough; the aftermath effects the current team, coaching staff and future recruits. It’s usually is a highly public event that is mentioned in every College Football media outlet during the week. On the plus side, however, it gives the administration an extended look at either promoting within or searching for a new head coach with minimal damage to recruiting. The following are three coaches who could end up being fired at mid-season.
Justin Fuente Virginia Tech
In 2016 Fuente was hired at Virginia Tech after turning around a doormat Memphis program lead by a high tempo, spread attack that put up points in a hurry. In the four years with Fuente at the helm, the Tigers won the AAC in 2014, went to back to back bowls and had a first-round pick at quarterback (Paxton Lynch). At the time of the hire, Virginia Tech was offensively challenged. The hire seemed like a home run at the time. Things looked very promising in Fuente’s first year with a debut ten-win season and a spot in the ACC Championship game. From that first year, the program has gone downhill. The Hokies win totals went from 10 to 9 to 6 and 2 and 2 following an embarrassing 45 to 10 loss at home to Duke on National Television. With road games against Miami and Norte Dame coming up in the next month Fuente may not make it to Thanksgiving.
Kalani Sitake BYU
Following a really good coach is tough, Bronco Mendenhall set the bar really high at BYU winning ninety-nine games in eleven years and going bowling every year. What marked Mendenhall’s tenure was being consistent. He won seven to ten games ten out of the eleven years at BYU. Sitake started off well winning nine games in his first year and winning the Poinsettia bowl. Since then, however, it has been up and down with a four-win season in 2017 than seven last year. BYU does not have National Championship aspirations but seven to eight wins is the benchmark. Hit those win totals and your fine; don’t hit the win totals and you’re in trouble. Sitake may hit the magic number for win totals with South Florida, Liberty, Idaho State and UMass left on the schedule.
Charlie Strong South Florida
I have mentioned Strong in previous articles concerning his tenure at South Florida inheriting a solid Group of Five program and steadily losing more and more games. South Florida still has games against Navy, Temple, Cincinnati, Memphis and UCF making Strong’s job security is very thin. Unless Strong can pull out some victories this season his tenure at South Florida is over. More about Strong’s tenure can be found here.
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