Four College Football Coaches on the Hot Seat Heading into 2024

By: John S | 06/23/2024

The upcoming 2024 college football season is a make-or-break year for several head coaches. With high expectations and demanding fan bases, these coaches need to deliver significant improvements or risk losing their jobs. Here are four coaches who find themselves on the hot seat heading into the 2024 season.

1. Billy Napier (Florida)

Billy Napier’s tenure at Florida has been underwhelming, to say the least. After a disappointing 2023 season where the Gators went 5-7, the pressure is on Napier to turn things around. Florida’s fan base is passionate and demanding, and if Napier doesn’t produce significant improvements, his time in Gainesville could be short-lived.

Cousin Shane on Billy Napier's hot seat at Florida:

"He's under more pressure than this chair I'm in right now, Paul!"

😂 pic.twitter.com/eJIBskgamp

— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) March 18, 2024

2. Neal Brown (West Virginia)

Neal Brown has struggled to build a consistent contender since taking over at West Virginia. Despite some flashes of potential, the Mountaineers have failed to break through in the Big 12. With a 2023 record of 9-4 and a win in the Duke's Mayo Bowl against North Carolina 30-10, Brown might have bought himself some more time. With an overall record at West Virginia of 31-29 another subpar season could spell the end of his tenure in Morgantown.

3. Tom Allen (Indiana)

Tom Allen brought hope to Indiana with a breakout season in 2020, but since then, it’s been a downhill slide. The Hoosiers went 3-9 in 2023, and the once-promising program has stagnated. Allen needs a big year in 2024 to prove that 2020 wasn't a fluke and that Indiana is a program on the rise.

4. Hugh Freeze (Auburn)

Hugh Freeze has generally been comfortable at Auburn, but there's always pressure on the Plains. Freeze led the Tigers to a modest 6-7 record in 2023. While that’s a decent season, Auburn fans expect more. If Freeze doesn’t approach 10 wins in 2024, the pitchforks might start coming out. The expectations are high, and the patience is limited.

Conclusion

As the 2024 college football season approaches, these four coaches find themselves under significant pressure to deliver results. Whether it's turning around a struggling program or meeting high expectations, the stakes are high, and the margin for error is thin. One thing is for sure: the upcoming season will be crucial for Billy Napier, Neal Brown, Tom Allen, and Hugh Freeze.