College football assistant coaches to watch: Garrett Riley leads Bruce Feldman’s top 30

The hot seat claimed more coaches in 2022 than anticipated. Wisconsin’s Paul Chryst was the most surprising ouster, while others like Scott Frost, Bryan Harsin and Karl Dorrell were hardly shocking.

This fall, West Virginia’s Neal Brown, Syracuse’s Dino Babers, Indiana’s Tom Allen and Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher are among those who could use big 2023 seasons to tamp down the heat. As we assess the coaching carousel landscape, there are a lot of candidates among the assistant pool primed to make big moves up, both to the head coaching ranks and to bigger Power 5 coordinator jobs. Here’s this year’s hot list of the college football assistant coaches you need to keep an on eye in 2023.

1. Garrett Riley, Clemson OC

Lincoln Riley’s 33-year-old brother had a fantastic season at TCU in 2022, helping the Horned Frogs vault from No. 65 in scoring to No. 9 en route to the national title game. Quarterback Max Duggan, who began the season as the backup, finished as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. Riley, an Air Raid disciple, has his own wrinkles, including in the run game, some stemming from his time with a prolific App State attack in 2019.

Dabo Swinney and Clemson fans are hoping he will pump much-needed life into what had become a stale Tigers offense. Riley should do wonders for quarterback Cade Klubnik and running back Will Shipley.

2. Matt House, LSU DC

Brian Kelly has found and employed a lot of excellent coaching candidates at defensive coordinator in recent years, including Mike Elko, Clark Lea and Marcus Freeman. The 45-year-old House is the next one. Last year, despite having seven new starters and missing his most talented D-lineman in Maason Smith, House sparked an improvement in which the Tigers rose from 10th in the SEC in scoring defense to fifth. They also jumped from No. 13 in to No. 3 in red zone touchdown percentage.

A protege of Steve Spagnuolo from his NFL days with the Rams more than a dozen years ago, House did an excellent job as Mark Stoops’ DC at Kentucky. In his debut at LSU, House showcased freshman linebacker Harold Perkins by taking what he does best and cutting him loose without putting the young speedster into situations that would bog him down. This fall, the Tigers have legit national title hopes, and House’s defense should be one of the best in the country with Smith and Perkins ready to take their games to another level and a new batch of gifted transfers led by safety Andre’ Sam.

3. Phil Longo, Wisconsin OC

The Air Raid has come to Madison. The 55-year-old Jersey guy helped developed Sam Howell and Drake Maye in Chapel Hill and had some prolific offenses there and just about everywhere he’s coached. The Badgers were No. 76 in scoring and No. 63 in yards per play last year after ranking No. 81 in yards per play in 2021. They desperately needed a spark and a shake-up. But don’t think just because Longo comes from the Air Raid tree that the Badgers won’t still have a potent run game.

In 2021, Longo’s offense was second in the ACC in yards per carry, and it led the conference in 2020. It also ranked in the top 10 nationally in each of those years while finishing in the top two in the ACC in rushing yards per game. With SMU transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai stepping in and running back Braelon Allen in the best shape of his life, Wisconsin will be a handful in the Big Ten.

4. Sherrone Moore, Michigan OC

The 37-year-old Moore has produced back-to-back winners of the Joe Moore Award, which honors the nation’s top offensive line. Moore’s group has been integral in Michigan winning the past two Big Ten titles and making it to the College Football Playoff. In 2021, the former Oklahoma O-lineman became co-OC. He’s had a big influence on the play calling for the Wolverines offense that ranked No. 17 in yards per play, No. 5 in rushing and No. 6 in scoring last season.

Moore is the lead OC now, and with almost everyone back on offense, this team represents Jim Harbaugh’s best shot to win the national title. Moore will be suspended for the opener against ECU for his role in NCAA violations committed by Michigan and will serve as the team’s acting head coach in Week 3 against Bowling Green.

5. Alex Atkins, FSU OC

The Noles were awful up front toward the end of the Jimbo Fisher era, and Atkins deserves a ton of credit for getting that fixed. In his debut season in Tallahassee in 2020, the Noles averaged 200 rushing yards per game, the program’s best since 2016. Last year, they led the ACC in rushing at 214 yards per game and were No. 8 in the nation at 5.47 yards per rush. They also led the ACC in yards per play.

They should be even better this year with the additions of some big, dynamic transfer receivers in Keon Coleman and Jaheim Bell.

6. Ryan Grubb, Washington OC

Grubb is a longtime protege of Kalen DeBoer dating back to their days at NAIA Sioux Falls, and they had a spectacular first season at Washington, taking an offense that had ranked No. 113 and turning it into one that finished No. 10 in yards per play and No. 1 in passing. Nick Saban wanted to hire Grubb as his new OC at Alabama this offseason, but the Iowa native opted to stick with the Huskies, who should be every bit as dangerous in 2023 with Michael Penix Jr. back for another year in their system.

7. Brian Hartline, Ohio State OC

The former Buckeyes star got promoted to offensive coordinator and will call a lot of the plays this fall. Hartline has done a remarkable job stocking and developing elite wideouts in Columbus. The latest superstar is Marvin Harrison Jr., but Emeka Egbuka is also really special. The freshman crop led by Carnell Tate might end up every bit as good too. The 36-year-old Canton, Ohio, native could be an intriguing option if the West Virginia head coaching job comes open.

8. Joe Rossi, Minnesota DC

One of the best-kept secrets in college football, the Pittsburgh native has produced back-to-back top-10 defenses for the Gophers. The 44-year-old deserves a lot more credit for the work he’s done there. They ranked No. 86 in the country in yards per play allowed in 2018, the year before he became the full-time defensive coordinator.

The Red Raiders improved from No. 50 in scoring to No. 27 last year and should take another step forward as Kliff Kingsbury’s old student intern and former GA turns Tyler Shough loose on the Big 12. The core of Kittley’s system is Air Raid stuff, but he has a lot of cool wrinkles to what he does with different motions, getting into 12 personnel and having a true vertical passing game. Kittley helped WKU improve from No. 114 in scoring to No. 2 in 2021 as his protege Bailey Zappe transferred up from FCS Houston Baptist to the Hilltoppers.

10. Adam Fuller, Florida State DC

Mike Norvell has done an impressive job finding excellent assistants, and both of his coordinators are superb. The former Sacred Heart linebacker was with Norvell at Memphis and produced the ACC’s top defense in 2022. Fuller’s group is really good against the pass and also nasty getting after the QB. Jared Verse, the transfer from FCS Albany, broke out in 2022 in the Noles’ system, and Fuller has more promising newcomers teed up for 2023.

11. Liam Coen, Kentucky OC

Coen was outstanding in 2021 for Kentucky, where Penn State transfer Will Levis flourished in his system, taking the Wildcats from No. 12 in the SEC in yards per play to No. 5. Kentucky really missed Coen last year after he returned to the NFL. Rich Scangarello came in from the pros, but the offense fizzled for a variety of reasons. UK, rival coaches say, had no identity on offense and fell back to the bottom of the league in yards per play. Now the 37-year-old Coen is back, and he has a terrific transfer QB in Devin Leary from NC State. Expect more fireworks in Lexington.

12. Ja’Juan Seider, Penn State co-OC/RBs

Inside the coaching world, Seider has been known as one of the country’s best position coaches and recruiters. His running backs room is loaded this year with young studs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. The 46-year-old South Florida native has been in the mix for a few Group of 5 head coaching jobs and probably will get a long look from WVU if that job comes open. Seider spent a half-dozen seasons in Morgantown as an assistant in two stints. In between, Seider was Marshall’s running backs coach. He would be a strong candidate there if Charles Huff leaves for a bigger job.

13. Tony Gibson, NC State DC

Another coach who would be a solid candidate at WVU if that job comes open, the 50-year-old Gibson keeps cranking out salty defenses in Raleigh, with the Wolfpack ranking in the top four in the ACC in yards per play allowed in each of the past three seasons. At WVU, Gibson gave the Mountaineers a defensive identity and made them formidable when Dana Holgorsen was lighting up scoreboards.

14. D’Anton Lynn, UCLA DC

The former Penn State DB spent the past decade in the NFL rising up the coaching ranks before Chip Kelly hired him to take over the Bruins defense. The 33-year-old Lynn, son of former Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn, has impressed Kelly and his colleagues with his ability to teach and connect with players. UCLA fans are hoping that’ll enable a program that has made a steady rise back into the Top 25 to take another big step up. The talent Lynn has to work with, especially in the front seven, is better than it’s been around Westwood since Kelly arrived.

15. Aaron Roderick, BYU OC

In the past two seasons, Roderick has led the No. 8 and No. 15 offenses in the country in yards per play after helping call the No. 1 offense in the nation in 2020 when he teamed with Jeff Grimes. This year, the Cougars make the big move to the Big 12. It’ll be fascinating to see what he does with former USC/Pitt QB Kedon Slovis and if the Cougars can continue to put up big numbers after going 29-9 the past three seasons.

16. Aaron Henry, Illinois, DC

The former All-Big Ten Wisconsin DB is rising fast. A Florida native, Henry did an awesome job the past couple of seasons developing stud defensive backs, as three of them — Devon Witherspoon, Jartavius Martin and Sydney Brown — went in the first 66 picks of the 2023 NFL Draft. Last year, he helped DC Ryan Walters (now the head coach at Purdue) lead the nation’s No. 2 defense.

The 34-year-old learned about fronts from Bret Bielema and big-picture defenses from his time with Walters and Gibson and has a great connection with his players. He’s ready to follow in Walters’ footsteps.

“He’s got that swag too,” said standout D-lineman Keith Randolph. “He brings that juice every single day. He’s got some stuff to him.”

While Henry’s secondary probably won’t be as strong as it was in 2022, his defensive front — led by Randolph and Jer’Zhan Newton — will be even more ferocious.

17. Slade Nagle, Tulane OC

Even though he had the title of tight ends coach, Nagle was actually the play caller of a creative system that helped the Green Wave have a magical season that culminated in a Cotton Bowl win over USC. Tulane, which changed to more 12 personnel sets and used lots of play-action and more gap and inside zone schemes, as detailed in this Mike Kuchar story for The Athletic last winter, improved from No. 76 in yards per play to No. 19 last year. With stud QB Michael Pratt back, the Wave should be ready to light up the AAC again.

18. Jesse Minter, Michigan DC

He had an outstanding first season in Ann Arbor replacing his buddy Mike Macdonald, who went back to the NFL. The 40-year-old son of longtime college coach Rick Minter had the nation’s No. 7 defense, and it’s a group that will be strong again. Minter will get an opportunity to serve as head coach for the Wolverines’ opener against ECU on Saturday amid Jim Harbaugh’s suspension.

19. Brennan Marion, UNLV OC

The Go-Go Offense has come to Vegas. Marion, a former NFL wideout who helped Jordan Addison break out and win the Biletnikoff Award at Pitt, moved on to Texas last year. He was then hired as UNLV’s offensive coordinator by Barry Odom after Bobby Petrino jumped to Texas A&M and inherits a gifted dual-threat QB in Doug Brumfield.

In 2019, Marion made a big splash at the FCS level as the OC and QB coach at William & Mary, relying on a cast of true freshmen. Before that at Howard, Marion’s Go-Go Offense sparked the Bison to a 7-4 record in 2017, a huge improvement for a program that had won just three games over the previous two years.

20. Sean Lewis, Colorado OC

Lewis left Kent State after a solid run as head coach at one of the tougher MAC jobs to work for Deion Sanders in Boulder. A Dino Babers protege, Lewis is a creative offensive mind who will have some impressive skill talent to work with at CU. It’s an offense that can only go up after a 1-11 season in which the Buffs ranked No. 125 in yards per game.

21. Tony White, Nebraska DC

This was an excellent hire by Matt Rhule. At Syracuse, the 44-year-old White produced the ACC’s No. 2 defense in 2022 after it was No. 4 in 2021. The Rocky Long protege has an aggressive 3-3-5 system in which defenders play fast and make a lot of plays, as well chronicled by colleague Mitch Sherman. It’ll be fascinating to see how much White and Rhule can improve things in 2023 at a place that ranked No. 10 in defense in the Big Ten last year.

22. Joe Sloan, LSU QBs

The former Louisiana Tech OC worked wonders with Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels, settling him down and getting him to operate as one of the more dangerous quarterbacks in the country despite transitioning to the SEC. I’ve heard Daniels is poised to make another leap forward as a passer, now seeing things much clearer and with a deeper understanding of the offense, which figures to help a lot as the Tigers try to make a run at another national title.

23. Manny Diaz, Penn State DC

He coordinated a lot of stellar defenses before his time as Miami’s head coach, and he did an excellent job in his first season in Happy Valley, leading the nation’s No. 5 defense (up from No. 9 a year earlier). Diaz has a whole bunch of Freaks List selections, led by Chop Robinson, and this group should be really fun to watch in 2023.

24. Ben Arbuckle, Washington State OC

He is only 27 but has generated a lot of buzz inside the coaching world the past couple of seasons. Arbuckle got his start as an unpaid volunteer assistant at Houston Baptist and moonlighted as a driver for Uber Eats. In 2021, as Kittley’s wingman at Western Kentucky in an offensive quality control role, he helped an attack that led the nation in passing (433.7 yards per game) and finished second in total offense and scoring. Last year, with Kittley at Texas Tech, Arbuckle’s offense — with a new QB in Austin Reed — finished seventh in total offense and 15th in scoring and tied Georgia for the most explosive plays of 20 yards or more with 98. Reed led the nation in passing yards (4,744).

To cap it off, WKU put up 677 yards in a New Orleans Bowl romp over South Alabama, which had a top-20 defense. In Pullman, Arbuckle inherits a talented QB in Cameron Ward, who gets overshadowed by all the other terrific quarterbacks in the Pac-12. Don’t be shocked if the Cougars put up some massive numbers in 2023.

25. Travis Williams, Arkansas DC

The former Auburn linebacker is very well thought of by his peers and did a good job with UCF before returning to his SEC roots. The 40-year-old has a great chance to make a big improvement with the Hogs, who ranked No. 120 last year in yards per play allowed.

26. Alex Mortensen, UAB OC

As I wrote this past spring, the longtime Saban assistant was highly regarded by his colleagues and the players inside the Alabama program. The 37-year-old son of longtime NFL reporter Chris Mortensen was the Tide’s “man behind the curtain on the offensive side of the ball,” according to Bama coaches. Now, he gets to run his own offense as his new boss Trent Dilfer transitions to college football.

“His football acumen is off the charts and his people skills are off the charts,” Dilfer said. “He’s really good with conflict, a really good listener and very good teacher. A lot of coaches are either experts in their offense or they’re experts in defense. Alex could coach defense tomorrow at any level.”

27. Jeff Grimes, Baylor OC

The former longtime O-line coach was excellent running the BYU offense, which led the nation in yards per play in 2020. Grimes came home to Texas and gave the Bears offense an identity in 2021, when Dave Aranda’s team won the Big 12. They took a step back last fall with an inexperienced team, but Grimes is a strong leader and has a more seasoned Blake Shapen running the offense after a rocky 2022. If Baylor can bounce back, Grimes’ stock as a head coaching candidate will surge.

28. Justin Frye, Ohio State OL

A former UCLA OC who returned to his Big Ten roots last year, Frye helped produce two NFL Draft picks at tackle in Dawand Jones and All-American Paris Johnson. Despite a bunch of injuries to their running backs, the Buckeyes still improved in 2022 in rushing from the previous season. They also led the Big Ten in fewest sacks allowed with just 12 in 13 games. It’s not hard to see the 39-year-old former Indiana offensive lineman as a future head coach, and it could happen soon later if Tom Allen doesn’t get things headed in the right direction in Bloomington.

29. Deland McCullough, Notre Dame RBs

Several running backs coaches have gotten head coaching jobs in recent years, including Marshall’s Charles Huff and Kent State’s Kenni Burns among them. The 50-year-old McCullough, who helped the Chiefs win a Super Bowl before coming back to college football, has been in the mix for some head coaching jobs before. He’s one of the best position coaches in the country regardless of role and has also shown a good eye for talent. He’s re-stocked the Notre Dame running backs room and is likely to be a strong candidate for some openings this winter if the Irish keep ascending.

30. Collin Klein, Kansas State OC

The lone 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist who hasn’t had a Netflix documentary made about him, Klein has blossomed into an outstanding assistant coach. In 2022, his offense put up 422 yards per game — Kansas State’s most since 2014 despite juggling two starting QBs. Will Howard, who finished the season as the starter, is back and should have an outstanding season, especially with the entire O-line returning. Howard was 4-1 as a starter last year, which included a win against No. 3 TCU for the Big 12 championship.

Kansas State also added a terrific transfer RB in Treshaun Ward, an excellent all-around back from Florida State, to help replace the great Deuce Vaughn. Bruiser DJ Giddens returns to help Ward shoulder the run game in what looks like a pretty talented running back room. Seeing Iowa transfer wide receiver Keagan Johnson, injured for most of last season, break out as a big-play man this fall would go a long way toward this offense becoming even more potent in 2023.

(Top photos of Sherrone Moore, Garrett Riley and Zach Kittley: Ken Ruinard and Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today; John E. Moore III / Getty Images)