For the first time since Chris Klieman in 2018, a head coach is making the jump from the FCS to FBS.
Deion Sanders at Colorado and Troy Taylor at Stanford might represent the start of a new wave of FCS coaching transfers, meaning this upcoming season will see more attention focused on the subdivision.
With numerous coaches with incredible resumes, let’s take a look at the five best FCS coaches you should keep an eye on this season who could land FBS jobs in the near future.
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Matt Entz: North Dakota State
Last Season: 12-3 (7-1) Lost in the FBS Championship Game
Overall Record: 49-7 (27-4)
It’s hard to argue with the resume of a coach who has two national titles in his first four years on campus. Matt Entz has been a key part of North Dakota State’s winning culture ever since he became Defensive Coordinator in 2014. And, just like his predecessor Chris Klieman, he’s sure to have FBS schools breathing down his neck sooner rather than later.
But, he might not even have to leave Fargo to move to the FBS. NDSU have been rumored to join the Mountain West for years now, and it might be coming soon with the amount of conference realignment going on.
T.C. Taylor: Jackson State
Last Season: First Year Head Coach
Overall Record: N/A
It’s hard to think of bigger shoes to fill than one of the greatest cornerbacks in football history, but that’s exactly what T.C. Taylor will have to do at Jackson State. As offensive coordinator under Deion Sanders last season, he led the Tigers to a top-15 scoring offense nationally and a SWAC Championship.
Now, with all but one of Jackson State’s All-SWAC players gone, many of them joining Sanders in Colorado, Taylor will be faced with the monumental task of keeping Jackson State at the top of the conference. He’ll have plenty of exciting transfers to work with, namely Esaias Guthrie a freshman All-American safety in 2021, and All-SoCon Second Team RB Irvin Mulligan from Wofford, but Taylor could have plenty of FBS eyeballs on him if he can replicate even 75% of Sanders success.
Willie Simmons: Florida A&M
Last Season: 9-2 (7-1)
Overall Record: 54-23 (43-11)
One of the most consistently slept-on coaches at the FCS level, Willie Simmons has worked wonders at both Prairie View A&M and Florida A&M. An offensive guru whose 2015 Prairie View A&M team led the nation in scoring at over 44 points per game, Simmons has had a winning record in each of his seven seasons as an FCS head coach, including three straight nine-win seasons with the Florida A&M Rattlers.
He might be currently dealing with turmoil over a rap video filmed in the Rattler locker room, but Simmons is still a stellar head coach who should get a shot at the FBS level sooner rather than later.
Brent Vigen: Montana State
Last Season: 12-2 (8-0) Lost in FBS Semifinal
Overall Record: 24-5 (15-1)
Brent Vigen took over from Jeff Choate at Montana State following the 2019 season and didn’t miss a beat. With only five losses over his first two seasons, including an appearance in the 2021 FCS Championship game, Vigen clearly knows how to lead a winning program.
And those aren’t the only bright spots on his resume. He was the OC for North Dakota State’s trio of national championships from 2011-2013, and, even more impressively to FBS schools, was the offensive coordinator at Wyoming who helped develop NFL superstar Josh Allen.
Bob Chesney: Holy Cross
Last Season: 9-2 (7-1)
Overall Record: 104-42 (77-18)
Bob Chesney has been the definition of consistency over his 13 years as a head coach.
The only head coach to win a conference championship at the DI, D2, and D3 levels, Chesney has worked his way up the coaching ladder and consistently improved at each stop. Now, at Holy Cross, he’s led the Crusaders to four consecutive Patriot League conference titles and a quarterfinal appearance in the 2022 FCS playoffs.
But, with a restructured contract that runs through 2027, it looks like Chesney might stay in Worcester a little while longer.
Plenty of Top Coaches
Each year, the FCS harbors plenty of football coaches who could successfully run an FBS program, and 2023 is no exception. With 2022 being a major year for FCS to FBS coaching transfers, the success of this first crop will be key in deciding whether this pipeline will remain open.
But no matter what happens, this is a talented group of coaches, and more likely than not, one of them will be lifting a national title next January.
