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Who should Memphis football hire? 9 options to replace Ryan Silverfield
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- Who should Memphis football hire? 9 options to replace Ryan Silverfield
Memphis football needs a new coach.
Ryan Silverfield has headed to Arkansas, and that means the Tigers will have a new coach for the first time since Silverfield took over for Mike Norvell in 2019. Memphis is positioned as one of the top programs in the Group of Five, but it did not reach an American Conference title game during Silverfield's six seasons.
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Athletic director Ed Scott is set to make his first major coaching hire since he took over at Memphis in June 2024. Here's a look at some potential candidates, in no particular order.
Jerry Mack, Kennesaw State coach
Mack checks a lot of boxes. He's a Memphis native who played high school football at Whitehaven. He was the Tigers' receivers coach in 2011 under Larry Porter, and he recruited the Memphis area during his time as Tennessee 's running backs coach. He also has NFL experience from his season as Jaguars running backs coach in 2024.
And then there's what he has done in 2025. Mack, 45, took over a Kennesaw State program that was one of the worst in the country and immediately turned the Owls into a 10-win team.
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Jason Eck, New Mexico coach
Like Silverfield, Eck is a former offensive line coach. The 48-year-old took over at New Mexico in 2025 after spending three seasons at FCS Idaho, and he has the Lobos (9-3) positioned as one of the best teams in the Mountain West.
Eck's fun-loving personality would be a hit with fans, and he has never had a losing season as a head coach (going 26-13 at Idaho).
Tim Cramsey, Memphis offensive coordinator
Cramsey, 50, is in his fourth season as the offensive coordinator and has turned down other opportunities to stay with the Tigers. He helped develop quarterback Seth Henigan into Memphis' all-time leading passer and has been at the helm of one of the best offenses in the Group of Five.
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While Cramsey does not have any head coaching experience, he has been an offensive coordinator at several schools.
Tim Banks, Tennessee defensive coordinator
Banks, who turns 54 on Dec. 16, has been Tennessee's defensive coordinator since 2021, but he has Memphis ties, too — he was an assistant with the Tigers in 2001 and 2002.
He's one of the highest-paid assistant coaches in the country, so Memphis likely would have to pay significantly more than it was paying Silverfield. Memphis' identity has been built on offense, but Banks' credentials at least have to make him part of this list.
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Brennan Marion, Sacramento State coach
Does Memphis want another Norvell-type hire? Marion, 38, is a Norvell protege who worked under the former Memphis coach at Arizona State on a staff that also included Silverfield. He drew plenty of attention for his "Go-Go" offense and had success as UNLV's offensive coordinator in 2023 and 2024.
He spent 2025 as the head coach at FCS Sacramento State and went 7-5 overall.
Charles Huff, Southern Miss coach
Huff, 42, took over at Southern Miss ahead of the 2025 season and turned a 1-11 team into one that went 7-5 and nearly made the Sun Belt title game. He has been a running backs coach in the SEC and Big Ten and was an assistant in 2012 with the Buffalo Bills .
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Will Stein, Oregon offensive coordinator
Stein, 36, is positioned as a future head coach at the power conference level. He has been the Ducks' offensive coordinator since 2023 and is considered one of the rising stars in the industry.
Tyson Helton, Western Kentucky coach
Helton, 48, is a proven winner at the Group of Five level and has been Western Kentucky's coach since 2019. He also has experience at Memphis, having been on the Tigers' staff from 2004 to 2006.
DeSean Jackson, Delaware State
Yes, that DeSean Jackson. If Scott wants to make a splashy hire, how about the former Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver? Jackson, 39, took over a 1-11 Delaware State team and won eight games this year. He likely has aspirations to coach at a higher level, and Memphis obviously would be a step up from FCS.
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Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Who should Memphis football hire? 9 options to replace Ryan Silverfield
