It is no secret that Division 1 college football is lacking in minority head coaches, both historically and in today’s modern era. Notre Dame hiring Marcus Freeman following Brian Kelly’s departure to LSU was a true rarity in the sport for Black men in the profession, and hopefully it is a sign of more opportunities coming in the future.
ESPN took a look around the current world of college football coaches to compile a list of 45 minority coaches under the age of 45 that could one day be a Division 1 head coach. A former assistant to James Franklin ranked at the top of the list, but another former Penn State player also received a mention from ESPN.
Josh Gattis, a former Penn State assistant under Franklin, continues to be the hottest name among coordinators, and not just among Black coaches either. It will not be much longer before Gattis gets his first crack at running a college football program of his own, and it will be deserved. Gattis joined Franklin’s staff at Vanderbilt in 2012 as a wide receivers coach and offensive recruiting coordinator. He continues in those roles once Franklin moved to Penn State and brought Gattis and a number of other assistants with him to Happy Valley.
Gattis added the role of passing game coordinator to his duties at Penn State in 2014 and was a part of the Penn State staff for four seasons before accepting an opportunity to be the co-offensive coordinator for Alabama and Nick Saban in 2018. After one season with the Crimson Tide, Gattis returned to the Big Ten to be the offensive coordinator for Michigan. Gattis was with Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines for three seasons and was named the 2021 Broyles Award winner as the nation’s top assistant coach.
Gattis joined the Miami Hurricanes this year under new head coach Mario Cristobal, who left Oregon to return to Florida with the Hurricanes. Cristobal replaced Manny Diaz, who is now Penn State’s defensive coordinator. Gattis should be in his final coordinator role before getting a good opportunity to be a head coach.
While Gattis is one of the biggest names on the coaching radar, another person with Penn Statie ties is flying a bit more under the radar and may need a little more experience before getting his opportunity. ESPN included Elijah Robinson in its list of Black coaches under 45.
Robinson had his playing career at Penn State cut short due to a neck injury in 2006 under former head coach Joe Paterno. But it was Bill O’Brien and former defensive…