14. Scott Shafer – Syracuse – 0-0 .000
Shafer was an in-house appointment this off-season having spent four years as the Cuse’s defensive coordinator of prior to his promotion. Shafer was fired as defensive coordinator of Michigan in 2008 and will do well to live up to the high standard set by the departed Doug Marrone.
13. Randy Edsall – Maryland – 6-18 .333
Edsall took over as Maryland’s head coach in 2011 and during his first season 24 players transferred out, including All-ACC quarterback Danny O’Brien. Edsall may not last long enough to see the Terapins’ transition to the Big Ten.
12. Steve Addazio – Boston College – 0-0 .000
In his two years at Temple, Addazio was 13-11 despite a 4-7 second season – a record that offers reason for encouragement but little inspiration. With Boston College’s tough schedule, fans will have to be patient.
11. Mike London – Virginia – 16-21 .432
The Cavaliers took a step backwards in 2012 after a promising 8-4 record in 2011. London showed he can do it at FCS level when winning a championship with Richmond and now needs to cement his philosophes at the next level to remain in a job.
10. Jim Grobe – Wake Forest - 73-74 .497
Posting a 28-12 record from 2006-2008, including a trip to the Orange Bowl, goes a long way to securing the long term future of any Wake Forest head coach. However, four losing seasons on the bounce mean Grobe enters the campaign under pressure.
9. Paul Chryst – Pittsburgh – 6-7 .461
When Chryst took the role at Pittsburgh a year ago, he was their fourth head coach in as many years. A 6-7 record didn’t blow anybody out the water, although his record as a coordinator suggest he could prosper in a leading role.
8. Dave Doeren – North Carolina State – 0-0 .000
A 23-4 record as head coach of Northern Illinois is encouraging for someone who has swiftly risen through the ranks. Fans of NC State will need to be patient with Doeren as he adjusts to his new role with a team in a big conference.
7. Paul Johnson – Georgia Tech – 41-26 .612
Johnson’s Yellow Jackets have stuttered in seasons of late, putting a fair amount of pressure on the triple-option guru. A 21-19 record since winning the conference title in 2009 just will not do; a big season lies ahead for Georgia Tech.
6. David Cutcliffe – Duke – 21-40 .344
The 2012 season saw the Blue Devils reach their first bowl game in 19 years, instantly making Cutcliffe a cult hero. With Duke competitive once again, they may struggle to hang onto their head coach.
5. Al Golden – Miami – 13-11 .542
The Miami Hurricanes last reached a BCS bowl in 2004, a statistic that is not acceptable for a once-great program. Al Golden’s men have shown signs of promise during his two-year tenure, and I fully expect his fledglings to build on last season’s 7-5 record.
4. Larry Fedora – North Carolina – 8-4 .667
Larry Fedora’s mettle will be tested in 2013 as he coaches a squad depleted by NFL defects. After leading the Tar Heels to a division-best record in 2012, optimism is high. A 2011 season at Southern Mississippi that resulted in a 12-2 finish should be enough reason to believe in Fedora.
3. Dabo Swinney – Clemson – 40-21 .656
The expectation on Swinney and his Tigers went through the roof after an 11-2 campaign. If Swinney is who we think he is, a top-six ranking should be in the offing. Being a solid recruiter is key to being a good head coach and Swinney is just that, evident by Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins leading his highly potent offense.
2. Jimbo Fisher – Florida State – 31-10 .756
Jimbo Fisher has been tasked with taking Florida State back to the glory days of nineties and, with three bowl wins in as many seasons, including an Orange Bowl victory, is off to a flying start. The loss of EJ Manuel, now in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, will hurt yet Fisher is capable of rallying his troops to further success.
1. Frank Beamer – Virginia Tech – 216-104-2 .671
Virginia Tech’s first sub-10-win season since 2003 does little damage to Frank Beamer’s image as a top-tier head coach. As the longest-tenured leading man in the FBS, few would bet against Beamer atoning for last year’s relative disappointment and leading the Hokies to double-digit victories once more.