College Football

Who are the longest-tenured college football coaches?

Who are the longest-tenured college football coaches?

Life as a college football coach seems pretty great, but one of the biggest downsides is the lack of job security. When a team fails to meet expectations, the coach is usually the first one to go.

Some programs become a revolving door of head coaches, with new hires every few years. Other schools are more patient and give their leaders time to build a culture. Then, there are certain instances where a coach experiences so much success that they become virtually untouchable and the only way they’re leaving is on their own terms.

Today, let’s take a look at the longest-tenured Division I FBS head coaches in college football, with a focus on the individuals who have held their job for at least a decade.

15. Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh, 9 years

After serving as a defensive coordinator at Michigan State, Cincinnati, Miami (OH) and Rhode Island, Narduzzi was hired as Pittsburgh’s head coach on Dec. 23, 2014. After nearly a decade with the Panthers, he has the second-most wins in program history, and he led the school to the ACC championship in 2021. In 2022, his contract was extended through 2030. It’s worth noting that Jim Harbaugh has also been with Michigan for nine years, but Narduzzi started at Pittsburgh seven days before Harbaugh was hired, so his tenure is slightly longer.

14. Chuck Martin, Miami (OH), 10 years

Martin was the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame prior to taking the RedHawks’ head coaching job on Dec. 3, 2013. He’s had a lot of success at Miami University, upsetting Central Michigan in the 2019 MAC championship and Toledo in the 2023 MAC championship.

13. Chris Creighton, Eastern Michigan, 10 years

After head coaching stints at Ottawa University, Wabash College and Drake, Creighton joined Eastern Michigan on Dec. 11, 2013. While he’s rumored to have received interest from other schools (such as Temple and Rutgers) in recent years, he remains with the Eagles. Creighton’s current contract runs through the 2025 season.

12. Jeff Monken, Army, 10 years

Monken became Army’s 37th head coach on Dec. 30, 2013. He became the first coach in school history to lead the team to three straight bowl games. In 2018, Army won a school record 11 games under Monken, earning him the Vince Lombardi College Football Coach of the Year award. In 2021, he was named ECAC Division I FBS Football Coach of the Year.

11. K.C. Keeler, Sam Houston State, 10 years

Keeler is the all-time winningest coach in FCS playoff history, and he led Sam Houston State to…

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