CBS Sports has released its Year 2 coaching grades for the 2024 college football hiring cycle, evaluating 25 second-year head coaches across Power Four and Group of Six conferences. Only five Power Four jobs changed hands in the cycle, with Wake Forest's Jake Dickert emerging as the hire of the cycle after a 15-5 start and a No. 14 AP Top 25 ranking, earning an A+. North Carolina's Bill Belichick received a B after a 4-8 first season but a 4-3 start in Year 2 with a young roster. UCF's Scott Frost earned a B following an upset of No. 2 BYU, while Purdue's Barry Odom got a C+ and West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez a B with the nation's top rushing offense.
Group of Six and Conference USA
In the American Athletic Conference, Charlotte's Tim Albin received an F with a 2-17 record, while FAU's Zach Kittley earned a B at 4-2. Rice's Scott Abell and Temple's K.C. Keeler each got a C+, and Tulsa's Tre Lamb a B+. Conference USA saw FIU's Willie Simmons (B+), Jacksonville State's Charles Kelly (A), Kennesaw State's Jerry Mack (A), and Sam Houston's Phil Longo (F) after a 3-17 record that led to his firing as the first coach dismissed from the 2024 cycle.
MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12, and Sun Belt
MAC grades included Ball State's Mike Uremovich (C), Bowling Green's Eddie George (C), Central Michigan's Matt Drinkall (B), Kent State's Mark Carney (A), and UMass's Joe Harasymiak (B+). In the Mountain West, New Mexico's Jason Eck earned an A+ at 15-5 with a top defense, while UNLV's Dan Mullen got a B. Pac-12 grades went to Fresno State's Matt Entz (B+) and Utah State's Bronco Mendenhall (C). Sun Belt marks: Appalachian State's Dowell Loggains (B) and Marshall's Tony Gibson (C).
