Ranking the Conference USA's College Football Coaches for 2025

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Ranking the Conference USA's College Football Coaches for 2025

Steven Lassan · Athlon Sports

Tue, May 13, 2025 ·

8 min read

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Transition and change are the only constants for Conference USA's coaches in recent years. In addition to conference realignment taking a toll on this league, only one coach - Western Kentucky's Tyson Helton - has worked at his current school for more than three seasons. Liberty and coach Jamey Chadwell set the bar high in 2023 with a trip to a New Year's Six bowl and a 13-win campaign. Although the Flames didn't quite meet preseason expectations last year, Chadwell is still the conference's top coach entering '25, with Helton taking the No. 2 spot.

The debate for Conference USA's top coaches starts at No. 3 with Middle Tennessee's Derek Mason, Delaware's Ryan Carty, FIU's Willie Simmons, and UTEP's Scotty Walden each making a claim to that spot. New Kennesaw State coach Jerry Mack is another rising star to watch, while Missouri State's Ryan Beard aims to build off last year's eight-win season with a strong FBS debut in '25.

How did we compile the rankings for coaches by conference? For starters, it's an impossible task. However, we tried to weigh every possible factor. This is not simply a list of coaches ranked by accomplishment or wins. While those aspects are important, it doesn't provide a complete picture of how successful coaches are. Also, every program has a different amount of resources available. Hierarchy in college football also plays a vital role in how successful programs are. It's always easier for programs with more built-in advantages to contend for a national title on a more consistent basis.

The above factors, along with career biography/resume, success in developing talent and landing prospects on the recruiting trail factored into the ranking. Additionally, how well programs value staff (is the head coach better as a CEO or hands-on approach) and the facilities or program resources matter into forming an outlook of how coaches have performed at different stops throughout their career.

Again, wins and the career biography to this point are important. But our rankings also take into account a blank slate and subjectivity. If you start a program from scratch, which coach would you hire knowing what they accomplished so far and their career trajectory? Remember, you don't get the assistants - only the head coach. And head-to-head wins do not matter for this ranking.

Here are the results for Conference USA:

Ranking Conference USA's College Football Coaches for 2025

Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

1. Jamey Chadwell, Liberty

Chadwell's tenure at Liberty started fast in 2023 with a 13-1 mark and an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl. The program took a small step back with an 8-4 record last year, but Chadwell still clearly holds the top spot among Conference USA coaches. Counting previous stints at North Greenville (2009-11), Delta State (2012), Charleston Southern (2013-16), and Coastal Carolina (2017 and '20-22), Chadwell is 119-62 overall as a head coach. Also, he's regarded for his ability to build high-powered offenses at different stops. With a massive resource and talent advantage in Conference USA, Chadwell should have Liberty in contention for a spot among the top Group of 5 teams once again in '25 and beyond.

2. Tyson Helton, Western Kentucky

Navigating the transfer portal and managing a roster on a yearly basis is no easy task for coaches in the Group of 5 conferences. Count Helton and Western Kentucky in that mix, but the program continues to churn out winning seasons. The Hilltoppers are 48-32 under Helton and own a 34-13 mark in Conference USA action since '19. Helton guided the program to two appearances in the CUSA title game and has only one losing season ('20) in six years in charge.

3. Derek Mason, Middle Tennessee

Middle Tennessee head coach Derek MasonHelen Comer/The Daily News Journal/USA Today Network

Mason posted a 3-9 record in his debut with the Blue Raiders last season. However, optimism is high for improvement with 13 returning starters in '25. Middle Tennessee is familiar terrain for Mason after he went 27-55 as the head coach at Vanderbilt from 2014-20. With four new coaches in Conference USA and some overall uncertainty in the coaching ranks in this league, Mason's experience and two bowl trips with the Commodores are enough to push him into the No. 3 spot.

4. Willie Simmons, FIU

FIU is a job with plenty of challenges, but Simmons was a strong hire in the 2024-25 carousel that should help this program be more competitive on an annual basis in Conference USA. The Florida native arrives in Miami after spending '24 as the running backs coach at Duke. But prior to last year's stint in Durham, Simmons went 45-13 at Florida A&M (2018-23) and finished 21-11 at Prairie View A&M (2015-17).

5. Ryan Carty, Delaware

Carty has Delaware positioned for a strong debut at the FBS level in '25. The Blue Hens are 26-11 under Carty's watch and appeared in the FCS Playoffs in back-to-back years (2022-23). The 41-year-old coach played at Delaware from 2002-06 and was hired to Chip Kelly's staff at New Hampshire in '08 shortly after his playing career ended. Carty worked with the Wildcats until '17 when he departed to coordinate Sam Houston's offense from 2018-21.

6. Scotty Walden, UTEP

UTEP head coach Scotty Walden© GABY VELASQUEZ/ EL PASO TIMES / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Miners finished 3-9 in Walden's debut last year but suffered four losses by 10 points or less. With Walden setting a solid foundation in '24, UTEP could be a trendy pick to surprise in Conference USA in '25. Prior to arriving in El Paso, Walden went 26-14 as the head coach at Austin Peay, guiding the Governors to a FCS Playoff appearance in '23. The Texas native is also one of the nation's youngest FBS head coaches at just 35 years old.

7. Jerry Mack, Kennesaw State

Mack is only the second head coach in Kennesaw State's program history . The Tennessee native has extensive experience as an assistant in the Southeast, including stops at Memphis, South Alabama, Rice, and Tennessee. Additionally, Mack worked the '24 campaign in the NFL as a running backs coach for the Jaguars. From 2014-17, Mack went 31-15 as the head coach at North Carolina Central. Kennesaw State is still adjusting its resources to match its FBS competition, but Mack looks like the right coach to help this program move forward in Conference USA.

8. Ryan Beard, Missouri State

Missouri State's transition to the FBS level is in good shape with Beard leading the program. After going 4-7 in his debut in '23, Beard guided the Bears to an 8-4 mark last season. Prior to taking over in Springfield, Beard worked as an assistant at Western Kentucky, Louisville, and Central Michigan. He also worked as the defensive coordinator at Missouri State from 2020-22 under former coach Bobby Petrino.

9. Sonny Cumbie, Louisiana Tech

Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny CumbieJaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Cumbie enters '25 squarely on the hot seat. The former Texas Tech quarterback is 11-26 in his three years in charge in Ruston and is only 8-16 in Conference USA play. Cumbie is coming off his best season (5-8) with the Bulldogs. However, another losing mark would likely spell the end of his tenure.

10. Tony Sanchez, New Mexico State

New Mexico State is one of the nation's hardest jobs, but Sanchez certainly understands the challenges after a two-year stint as a player in 1994-95. After a successful run as Bishop Gorman High School's head coach from 2009-14, Sanchez went 20-40 as the head coach at UNLV (2015-19). Following his dismissal, Sanchez spent a year as an off-field assistant at TCU and worked for two seasons (2022-23) as an assistant under Jerry Kill at New Mexico State. Following a 3-9 debut with the Aggies last fall, Sanchez will be under pressure to show the program is headed back in the right direction.

11. Phil Longo, Sam Houston

Longo - a long-time offensive assistant - finally gets his chance to run a FBS program in '25 at Sam Houston. The New Jersey native previously worked as the Bearkats' offensive coordinator from 2014-16 and that familiarity should help him quickly adapt into this role. Prior to taking over at Sam Houston, Longo built successful offenses at Ole Miss (2017-18), North Carolina (2019-22), and Wisconsin (2023-24).

12. Charles Kelly, Jacksonville State

Kelly has big shoes to fill in replacing Rich Rodriguez. However, the Alabama native and long-time assistant is ready for his chance to run a FBS program. After a playing career at Auburn, Kelly worked as an assistant at Jacksonville State (1994-98) and later spent time at a defensive coach at Georgia Tech (2006-12), Florida State (2013-17), Tennessee ('18), Alabama (2019-22), Colorado ('23) and Auburn ('24). As a first-time head coach and navigating a major roster overhaul, Kelly will have a steep adjustment period this fall.

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