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With our first coaching change today, it's time to fire up the coaching changes list. I'll add some more details as we go along
LAST UPDATE 2/27 4:00 PM CST
27 jobs changing hands (2 in preseason), 27 filled
SAC
Mars Hill (Preseason/FILLED) - Tim Clifton retired as head coach after 32 seasons before the season started. His record with the Lions was 173-156 (110-117 SAC) and the 2011 SAC Championship. Longtime Defensive Coordinator Kevin Barnette was named Head Coach the next day.
Carson-Newman (FILLED) - Ashley Ingram was hired away fron C-N to be the new Head Coach at Virginia Militaty Institute on December 30. During his two seasons with the Eagles he went 16-6 with a playoff appearance. Two days later, Ingram's Defensive Coordinator Tyler Almond was promoted to Head Coach.
SIAC
Edward Waters (Preseason/In-Season FILLED) - Toriano Morgan left EWU to be the OC at Tennessee State in July. Brian Jenkins, who served as AHC/OC for the Tigers since 2021, was named the interim Head Coach in July, and was promoted to Head Coach after their 3-0 start. (Thanks to Finchwidget for the tip!)
Savannah State (FILLED) - Aaron Kelton resigned after three seasons at the helm, with a 16–24 overall record, including an 11–20 mark in SIAC play. SSU went 4-6 this season, 3-5 in SIAC play.
Thomas Howard was named Head Coach on December 22 after serving as Defensive Coordinator at Fayetteville State this past season.
Albany State (FILLED) - Quinn Gray has departed, and is a favorite for the open position at Florida A&M. Albany State went 24-11 during his tenure. David Bowser, who previously was on staff at Johnson C. Smith, was named head coach on December 24.
Clark Atlanta (FILLED) - Teddy Keaton departed as the Head Coach on December 16. The Panthers went 3-7 this year. Terry Sims, former Bethune-Cookman Head Coach from 2015-2022, was named Head Coach on January 16 (Thanks to Finchwidget for the tip!)
Morehouse (FILLED) - Terrance Mathis departed as the head coach at Morehouse in mid-December, and Texas Wesleyan head coach Brad Sherrod was named Head Coach on February 18.
PSAC
Millersville (In-Season/FILLED) - The Maruders relieved J.C. Morgan of his duties after an 0-5 start to the season. Morgan produced a 15-56 record since 2018, going 9-34 against the PSAC East. Former Concord HC Brian Ferguson was named Interim Head Coach. Millersville is using Parker Executive Search to assist in their search.
Drew Folmar, who was the quarterback for the Maruders from 1997-2000, was named head coach on January 14. He previously was the offensive coordinator at Bucknell. He was the head coach at Kutztown in 2013, going 4-7.
Shippensburg (Retirement Announced before season's end/FILLED) - Mark "Mac" Maciejewski announced his retirement as the head coach of the Raiders on November 10. The longest-tenured head coach in the PSAC heading into this year, he led SU football to a 85-62 record in 13 seasons. Shippensburg ended the '25 campaign 3-8. (Thanks to Chuck Bitner for the tip!)
Drew Gallardy, who served as Offensive Coordinator for the Raiders this season was named as Head coach on December 23. Alongside his time with the Raiders, he also served three years as Defensive Coordinator at both Alfred State University and Juniata College (D3). He played under Coach Mac from 2007-2010.
Edinboro (FILLED) - Matt Scott has departed the Scots after one season and a 7-4 record - The programs first winning season since 2018. He was named the Defensive Coordinator at the University of Albany on January 2. Eric Crandall was named the interim head coach for the 2026 season on the same day
GLIAC
Northern Michigan (In-Season/FILLED) - After being put on administrative leave earlier in the week, Northern Michigan relieved Shane Richardson of his duties on November 7. Wildcats were 1-8 before the firing. Never good when the AD says "We are committed to achieving standards consistent with our focus on the success of each of our student athletes,". Billy Lundquist served as interim for the rest of the season.
Matt Janus from D3 UW-La Crosse, who went 45-14 in six seasons with five straight D3 playoff appearances, was hired on January 5.
Saginaw Valley State (FILLED) - "Winning seasons are no longer the standard of excellence for SVSU football. While our teams finished 7-4 in 2024 and 6-5 in 2025, the Cardinals failed to meet our expectation of participating in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, and in my judgment, the program was not moving in that direction." SVSU AD John Lewandorski in his press release today (12/3) after relieving Ryan Brady of his position at Saginaw Valley. I was a bit suprised when I saw this on the website.
Michael Engle, the Offensive Coordinator at UIndy the past four seasons, was named the head coach on January 5.
Wayne State (Mi.) (FILLED) - After a three year tenure where the Warriors went 5-28, Tyrone Wheatley resigned on February 10. He was replaced the same day by Terrance Isaac Sr., who was set to be the team's new offensive coordinator. Isaac was previously the head coach at NJCAA Rochester (Minn.) Community and Technical College
CIAA
Winston-Salem State University (FILLED) - After a 4-6 season, the Rams are parting ways with Robert Massey at the end of the calendar year. In six seasons, he had a record of 25-34.
WSSU confirmed the hiring of alumnus Tory Woodbury on Dec. 5. Woodbury is a WSSU and CIAA hall of fame player and an NFL veteran.
Bowie State (FILLED) - Kyle Jackson's contract was not renewed by Bowie State after a 3-7 record this year. Jackson had a 19-21 record, including a 10-16 mark in CIAA play. Former Norfolk State HC Dawson Odums was named the head coach of the Bulldogs on February 9.
GAC
Arkansas-Monticello (Announced In-Season/FILLED) - Hud Jackson has announced he is leaving his position as head football coach at the end of the season to focus on his role as Athletic Director at the school, which he has served consecutively since 2022.He's been the head coach for 15 seasons, with an overall record of 48-95 heading into this season.
Gary Goff, who served as head coach at Valdosta State from 2019-2021 and Tiffin from 2012-2019, was hired as head coach on December 11. He was previously the head coach at McNeese State.
Northwest Oklahoma (FILLED) - Ronnie Jones has been relieved of his head coaching duties. In three seasons, the Rangers went 5-28.
Former Missouri Western HC Jerry Partridge was named HC on December 10. Partridge led the Griffons from 1997-2016 compiling a 149-83 record, and led his team to two conference championships, six bowl game appearances and four NCAA playoff appearances.
Harding (FILLED) - Paul Simmons was elevated to the position of General Manager for Harding Football on January 6. To my knowledge, this is the first time that a D2 football program has a "general manager" which will oversee "fundraising, managing camps, and overseeing roster management".
Defensive Coordinator Roddy Mote will take over the head coaching position.
MEC
West Liberty (Retirement Announced before season's end/FILLED) - Roger Waialae announced his retirement at West Liberty on the November 10, after his 21st season. With an overall record of 101-123, he went out a winner with a 68-67 shootout win over rival Wheeling (yes, that's the football score). West Liberty went 3-8 this season. (Thanks to Chuck Bitner for the tip!)
Chad Salisbury, who served as Offensive Coordinator at California University of Pennsylvania for the past nine seasons, was named head coach on December 16.
Glenville State (FILLED) - The school announced that Mike Kellar will not return next season. He had a 6-5 record this year, and an overall record of 36-32 in his seven seasons.
Jake Casteel, who served as a Defensive Assistant Coach at West Virginia University this year.
West Virginia Wesleyan (FILLED) - After a winless 2025 campaign, WVW let go of Dwayne Martin.
They stayed in conference to pick up Mike Kellar from Glenville State.
NSIC
Concordia St. Paul (Announced 11/17/FILLED) - The Golden Bears have parted ways with Shannon Currier after 14 seasons and an overall record of 56-87. The Golden Bears went 2-9 this season.
Joshua Schumacher, who spent the past season as associate head coach at Saginaw Valley State and was head coach at NAIA Concordia-Ann Arbor for eight years before the university dropped their athletic programs, was named head coach on January 5.
GSC
Delta State (FILLED) - Todd Cooley resigned from his position with the Statesmen on January 22, and will be the Director of High School Relations/Special Assistant to the Head Coach at Ole Miss.
The Statesmen announced that David Dean will be the next head coach on February 6. Dean won two national titles at Valdosta State (2007, 2012) and has a 127-47 record between his time at Valdosta and West Georgia
GMAC
Findlay (FILLED) - Kory Allen left Findlay after 20 years on staff and a 33-12 record in his 4 seasons as head coach. Allen was named Associate Head Coach/Tight Ends Coach as part of Mike Jacobs (Lenoir-Rhyne HC 2020-23 / Notre Dame (Ohio) HC 2016-19 RIP FALCONS!) new staff.
Tyler Johns, previously Gardner-Webb's Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line coach and former Findlay player, was named Head Coach on December 19.
Tiffin (FILLED) - Brett Ekkens resigned on February 17 for an Offensive Quality Control position for the Arizona Cardinals. Six days later, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Zack Blair was named head coach.
LSC
Eastern New Mexico (FILLED) - After letting go of Kelley Lee and his 11-22 record in three seasons, probably the splashiest hire of the D2 coaching carousel was made with former Baylor head coach Art Briles landing the head coaching position. Pretty good writeup from Chuck can be found here. (Personal Note: I have ESPN's Pete Thamel on tweet notifications because of any Nebraska news that he might break. Pete Thamel was the first to inform me. Sidenote: Did Pete Thamel ask "where the f*** is Portales" after tweeting out the Art Briles news? Inquiring maybe not so sober minds need to know!)
UT Permian Basin (FILLED) - Kris McCullough is leaving the Falcons after three seasons and a 28-10 record. He is taking the head coaching position at Gardner-Webb University. He's the second coach to jump to the D1 ranks from the Lone Star Conference this offseason.
High School coach Chris Softley was named head coach on December 31.
Central Washington (FILLED) - Chris Fisk has left CWU for a D1 job at Portland State. Fisk went 10-2 this season, and the Wolves were in the D2 playoffs.
Scott Power, former DC for the Wildcats in the 2016 and 2017 seasons, and former Defensive Coordinator at Texas A&M Commerce, Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana Tech, and Western Michigan, was named the Head Coach on December 30.
LAST UPDATE 2/27 4:00 PM CST
27 jobs changing hands (2 in preseason), 27 filled
SAC
Mars Hill (Preseason/FILLED) - Tim Clifton retired as head coach after 32 seasons before the season started. His record with the Lions was 173-156 (110-117 SAC) and the 2011 SAC Championship. Longtime Defensive Coordinator Kevin Barnette was named Head Coach the next day.
Carson-Newman (FILLED) - Ashley Ingram was hired away fron C-N to be the new Head Coach at Virginia Militaty Institute on December 30. During his two seasons with the Eagles he went 16-6 with a playoff appearance. Two days later, Ingram's Defensive Coordinator Tyler Almond was promoted to Head Coach.
SIAC
Edward Waters (Preseason/In-Season FILLED) - Toriano Morgan left EWU to be the OC at Tennessee State in July. Brian Jenkins, who served as AHC/OC for the Tigers since 2021, was named the interim Head Coach in July, and was promoted to Head Coach after their 3-0 start. (Thanks to Finchwidget for the tip!)
Savannah State (FILLED) - Aaron Kelton resigned after three seasons at the helm, with a 16–24 overall record, including an 11–20 mark in SIAC play. SSU went 4-6 this season, 3-5 in SIAC play.
Thomas Howard was named Head Coach on December 22 after serving as Defensive Coordinator at Fayetteville State this past season.
Albany State (FILLED) - Quinn Gray has departed, and is a favorite for the open position at Florida A&M. Albany State went 24-11 during his tenure. David Bowser, who previously was on staff at Johnson C. Smith, was named head coach on December 24.
Clark Atlanta (FILLED) - Teddy Keaton departed as the Head Coach on December 16. The Panthers went 3-7 this year. Terry Sims, former Bethune-Cookman Head Coach from 2015-2022, was named Head Coach on January 16 (Thanks to Finchwidget for the tip!)
Morehouse (FILLED) - Terrance Mathis departed as the head coach at Morehouse in mid-December, and Texas Wesleyan head coach Brad Sherrod was named Head Coach on February 18.
PSAC
Millersville (In-Season/FILLED) - The Maruders relieved J.C. Morgan of his duties after an 0-5 start to the season. Morgan produced a 15-56 record since 2018, going 9-34 against the PSAC East. Former Concord HC Brian Ferguson was named Interim Head Coach. Millersville is using Parker Executive Search to assist in their search.
Drew Folmar, who was the quarterback for the Maruders from 1997-2000, was named head coach on January 14. He previously was the offensive coordinator at Bucknell. He was the head coach at Kutztown in 2013, going 4-7.
Shippensburg (Retirement Announced before season's end/FILLED) - Mark "Mac" Maciejewski announced his retirement as the head coach of the Raiders on November 10. The longest-tenured head coach in the PSAC heading into this year, he led SU football to a 85-62 record in 13 seasons. Shippensburg ended the '25 campaign 3-8. (Thanks to Chuck Bitner for the tip!)
Drew Gallardy, who served as Offensive Coordinator for the Raiders this season was named as Head coach on December 23. Alongside his time with the Raiders, he also served three years as Defensive Coordinator at both Alfred State University and Juniata College (D3). He played under Coach Mac from 2007-2010.
Edinboro (FILLED) - Matt Scott has departed the Scots after one season and a 7-4 record - The programs first winning season since 2018. He was named the Defensive Coordinator at the University of Albany on January 2. Eric Crandall was named the interim head coach for the 2026 season on the same day
GLIAC
Northern Michigan (In-Season/FILLED) - After being put on administrative leave earlier in the week, Northern Michigan relieved Shane Richardson of his duties on November 7. Wildcats were 1-8 before the firing. Never good when the AD says "We are committed to achieving standards consistent with our focus on the success of each of our student athletes,". Billy Lundquist served as interim for the rest of the season.
Matt Janus from D3 UW-La Crosse, who went 45-14 in six seasons with five straight D3 playoff appearances, was hired on January 5.
Saginaw Valley State (FILLED) - "Winning seasons are no longer the standard of excellence for SVSU football. While our teams finished 7-4 in 2024 and 6-5 in 2025, the Cardinals failed to meet our expectation of participating in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, and in my judgment, the program was not moving in that direction." SVSU AD John Lewandorski in his press release today (12/3) after relieving Ryan Brady of his position at Saginaw Valley. I was a bit suprised when I saw this on the website.
Michael Engle, the Offensive Coordinator at UIndy the past four seasons, was named the head coach on January 5.
Wayne State (Mi.) (FILLED) - After a three year tenure where the Warriors went 5-28, Tyrone Wheatley resigned on February 10. He was replaced the same day by Terrance Isaac Sr., who was set to be the team's new offensive coordinator. Isaac was previously the head coach at NJCAA Rochester (Minn.) Community and Technical College
CIAA
Winston-Salem State University (FILLED) - After a 4-6 season, the Rams are parting ways with Robert Massey at the end of the calendar year. In six seasons, he had a record of 25-34.
WSSU confirmed the hiring of alumnus Tory Woodbury on Dec. 5. Woodbury is a WSSU and CIAA hall of fame player and an NFL veteran.
Bowie State (FILLED) - Kyle Jackson's contract was not renewed by Bowie State after a 3-7 record this year. Jackson had a 19-21 record, including a 10-16 mark in CIAA play. Former Norfolk State HC Dawson Odums was named the head coach of the Bulldogs on February 9.
GAC
Arkansas-Monticello (Announced In-Season/FILLED) - Hud Jackson has announced he is leaving his position as head football coach at the end of the season to focus on his role as Athletic Director at the school, which he has served consecutively since 2022.He's been the head coach for 15 seasons, with an overall record of 48-95 heading into this season.
Gary Goff, who served as head coach at Valdosta State from 2019-2021 and Tiffin from 2012-2019, was hired as head coach on December 11. He was previously the head coach at McNeese State.
Northwest Oklahoma (FILLED) - Ronnie Jones has been relieved of his head coaching duties. In three seasons, the Rangers went 5-28.
Former Missouri Western HC Jerry Partridge was named HC on December 10. Partridge led the Griffons from 1997-2016 compiling a 149-83 record, and led his team to two conference championships, six bowl game appearances and four NCAA playoff appearances.
Harding (FILLED) - Paul Simmons was elevated to the position of General Manager for Harding Football on January 6. To my knowledge, this is the first time that a D2 football program has a "general manager" which will oversee "fundraising, managing camps, and overseeing roster management".
Defensive Coordinator Roddy Mote will take over the head coaching position.
MEC
West Liberty (Retirement Announced before season's end/FILLED) - Roger Waialae announced his retirement at West Liberty on the November 10, after his 21st season. With an overall record of 101-123, he went out a winner with a 68-67 shootout win over rival Wheeling (yes, that's the football score). West Liberty went 3-8 this season. (Thanks to Chuck Bitner for the tip!)
Chad Salisbury, who served as Offensive Coordinator at California University of Pennsylvania for the past nine seasons, was named head coach on December 16.
Glenville State (FILLED) - The school announced that Mike Kellar will not return next season. He had a 6-5 record this year, and an overall record of 36-32 in his seven seasons.
Jake Casteel, who served as a Defensive Assistant Coach at West Virginia University this year.
West Virginia Wesleyan (FILLED) - After a winless 2025 campaign, WVW let go of Dwayne Martin.
They stayed in conference to pick up Mike Kellar from Glenville State.
NSIC
Concordia St. Paul (Announced 11/17/FILLED) - The Golden Bears have parted ways with Shannon Currier after 14 seasons and an overall record of 56-87. The Golden Bears went 2-9 this season.
Joshua Schumacher, who spent the past season as associate head coach at Saginaw Valley State and was head coach at NAIA Concordia-Ann Arbor for eight years before the university dropped their athletic programs, was named head coach on January 5.
GSC
Delta State (FILLED) - Todd Cooley resigned from his position with the Statesmen on January 22, and will be the Director of High School Relations/Special Assistant to the Head Coach at Ole Miss.
The Statesmen announced that David Dean will be the next head coach on February 6. Dean won two national titles at Valdosta State (2007, 2012) and has a 127-47 record between his time at Valdosta and West Georgia
GMAC
Findlay (FILLED) - Kory Allen left Findlay after 20 years on staff and a 33-12 record in his 4 seasons as head coach. Allen was named Associate Head Coach/Tight Ends Coach as part of Mike Jacobs (Lenoir-Rhyne HC 2020-23 / Notre Dame (Ohio) HC 2016-19 RIP FALCONS!) new staff.
Tyler Johns, previously Gardner-Webb's Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line coach and former Findlay player, was named Head Coach on December 19.
Tiffin (FILLED) - Brett Ekkens resigned on February 17 for an Offensive Quality Control position for the Arizona Cardinals. Six days later, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Zack Blair was named head coach.
LSC
Eastern New Mexico (FILLED) - After letting go of Kelley Lee and his 11-22 record in three seasons, probably the splashiest hire of the D2 coaching carousel was made with former Baylor head coach Art Briles landing the head coaching position. Pretty good writeup from Chuck can be found here. (Personal Note: I have ESPN's Pete Thamel on tweet notifications because of any Nebraska news that he might break. Pete Thamel was the first to inform me. Sidenote: Did Pete Thamel ask "where the f*** is Portales" after tweeting out the Art Briles news? Inquiring maybe not so sober minds need to know!)
UT Permian Basin (FILLED) - Kris McCullough is leaving the Falcons after three seasons and a 28-10 record. He is taking the head coaching position at Gardner-Webb University. He's the second coach to jump to the D1 ranks from the Lone Star Conference this offseason.
High School coach Chris Softley was named head coach on December 31.
Central Washington (FILLED) - Chris Fisk has left CWU for a D1 job at Portland State. Fisk went 10-2 this season, and the Wolves were in the D2 playoffs.
Scott Power, former DC for the Wildcats in the 2016 and 2017 seasons, and former Defensive Coordinator at Texas A&M Commerce, Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana Tech, and Western Michigan, was named the Head Coach on December 30.
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