Belichick's North Carolina Bounces Back With B Grade In Second Year

College football fans saw a quiet shift in the coaching world this fall after a slow hiring cycle last year. Only five Power Four head coaching positions changed hands during the 2024 cycle. That hesitation left several major programs without new leaders until now. The results from this group of second-year coaches show a mixed bag of progress and struggle. Some programs found new life, while others remain in the basement of their conferences.

Bill Belichick moved from the NFL to the college ranks last year. His first season at North Carolina ended with a 4-8 record. The staff missed the pace of the transfer portal in that first window. That mistake left the roster thin. The Tar Heels have since adjusted their approach. They are now 4-3 on the season. Their two losses in the ACC came by a combined margin of nine points. Despite off-field issues involving defensive coordinator Steve Belichick and general manager Michael Lombardi, the team remains competitive. Belichick earned a B for his second year.

Jake Dickert has emerged as the standout hire of the cycle at Wake Forest. He took over a program with limited resources in the Power Four. He has guided the Demon Deacons to a 15-5 start over two seasons. The team currently sits at No. 14 in the AP Top 25. Their only loss came in a close game against Miami. They have won their last three contests by an average of 37.3 points. A visit to No. 19 SMU on Nov. 14 could determine their spot in the ACC title game. Dickert received an A+ grade.

Scott Frost at UCF is seeing results after a slow start. He told CBS Sports that the Knights are better everywhere in 2026. They upset No. 2 BYU last week. The team has kept the ball alive against Big 12 rivals, including scoring against No. 20 Houston and No. 18 Oklahoma State. Frost earned a B. Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia is showing offensive progress. The Mountaineers have the best rushing attack in the Power Four. They average more than 261 yards per game on the ground and have scored 26 rushing touchdowns. Rodriguez also received a B.

Barry Odom at Purdue is fighting to gain traction. The Boilermakers forced a double-overtime loss at Wake Forest and kept UCLA within 14 points on the road. Odom earned a C+. In the Group of Six, Jason Eck at New Mexico leads the pack. He is 15-5 over two seasons and has one of the best defenses in the country. Eck earned an A+. Charles Kelly at Jacksonville State and Jerry Mack at Kennesaw State also earned A grades. Kelly has his team 10-1 in Conference USA play. Mack led Kennesaw State to a conference title.

Not every second-year coach found success. Tim Albin at Charlotte has a 2-17 record in two seasons. He earned one of two F grades on the list. Phil Longo at Sam Houston is the other. Longo became the first coach from this hiring class to be fired. He posted a 3-17 record in less than two seasons. Eddie George at Bowling Green has a 6-13 record. Tony Gibson at Marshall also earned a C grade. The gap between the top and bottom of the second-year cohort is wide.

The stakes rise for several teams in the coming weeks. Purdue faces Penn State, Maryland, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Indiana. UCF plays five unranked opponents to finish the year. West Virginia must beat Kansas to secure a bowl bid. These matchups will determine whether the mid-tier coaches can solidify their gains or remain in the middle of the pack. The data shows that consistency is the biggest hurdle for this group.

The 2024 hiring cycle produced a diverse set of outcomes. Some coaches adapted quickly to the modern pace of the sport. Others struggled to find their footing. The grades reflect the tangible results on the field this season. From the A+ at Wake Forest to the F at Sam Houston, the second-year class is already sorting itself out. The final records will provide the definitive picture of these early careers.