Some took over national powers, others faced rebuilding projects. The midseason results vary for first-year head coaches in FCS football.
Nearly one-fifth of FCS football programs are competing under a first-year head coach during the 2025 season, and some have been thriving from the start.
Four of the 24 coaches had their teams ranked in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll at midseason. Three other coaches had their teams in the rankings earlier this season.
Following is a snapshot of how first-year FCS coaches are faring this season.
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Dan Jackson, No. 2 South Dakota State
2025 Record: 6-0, 2-0 MVFC; Notable Win: 30-24 in two OTs at Montana State; Program’s 2024 Record: 12-3, 7-1
And Then There’s This: The Jackrabbits are one of just three teams to have three Top 25 wins this season (Sacramento State, Montana State and Youngstown State).
Thomas Ford Jr., No. 11 Idaho
2025 Record: 2-4, 0-2 Big Sky; Notable Win: 20-6 over Utah Tech; Program’s 2024 Record: 10-4, 6-2
And Then There’s This: The Vandals have extended the program’s streak in the Top 25 to 43 straight appearances.
Eric Schmidt, No. 13 North Dakota
2025 Record: 4-2, 2-0 MVFC; Notable Win: 35-17 over Youngstown State; Program’s 2024 Record: 5-7, 2-6
And Then There’s This: The Fighting Hawks are 3-0 at home this season, giving them 33 wins in their last 38 games inside the Alerus Center.
Travis Johansen, No. 23 South Dakota
2025 Record: 4-3, 2-1 MVFC; Notable Win: 24-17 in OT over Northern Colorado; Program’s 2024 Record: 11-3, 7-1
And Then There’s This: The Coyotes’ 31 consecutive appearances in the Top 25 since 2023 have nearly matched the combined total of their first 15 seasons on the Division I level (36 from 2008-22).
Pictured: Delaware State coach DeSean Jackson (DSU Athletics)Other First-Year Coaches
Sam Shade, Alabama A&M
2025 Record: 4-3, 1-2 SWAC; Notable Win: 23-21 at Tennessee State; Program’s 2024 Record: 6-6, 4-4
Jared Ambrose (Interim), UAlbany
2025 Record: 1-5, 0-2 CAA; Notable Win: 13-10 over Cornell; Program’s 2024 Record: 4-8, 2-6
Kevin Lynch, Butler
2025 Record: 4-3, 2-1 Pioneer; Notable Win: 21-14 in OT at St. Thomas; Program’s 2024 Record: 9-3, 5-3
Curt Fitzpatrick, Colgate
2025 Record: 2-4, 1-1 Patriot; Notable Win: 44-21 over Fordham; Program’s 2024 Record: 2-10, 1-5
Saj Thakkar, Davidson
2025 Record: 1-5, 0-2 Pioneer; Notable Win: 48-0 over Greensboro College; Program’s 2024 Record: 6-5, 4-4
DeSean Jackson, Delaware State
2025 Record: 4-3, 0-0 MEAC; Notable Win: 37-32 over UAlbany; Program’s 2024 Record: 1-11, 0-5
Joe Woodley, Drake
2025 Record: 3-2, 2-0 Pioneer; Notable Win: 19-16 at San Diego; Program’s 2024 Record: 8-3, 7-1
Will Healy, ETSU
2025 Record: 3-4, 1-2 SoCon; Notable Win: 26-16 over Elon; Program’s 2024 Record: 7-5, 5-3
Matt Viator, McNeese
2025 Record: 1-5, 0-2 Southland; Notable Win: 54-9 over Louisiana Tech; Program’s 2024 Record: 6-6, 3-4
Terrell Buckley, Mississippi Valley State
2025 Record: 0-5, 0-2 SWAC; Notable Win: None; Program’s 2024 Record: 1-11, 1-7
Mark Powell (Interim), New Haven
2025 Record: 4-3, transitioning NEC member; Notable Win: 24-17 over UAlbany; Program’s 2024 Record: 8-3 Division II
Tommy Rybacki, Nicholls
2025 Record: 1-5, 1-1 Southland; Notable Win: 20-6 over UIW; Program’s 2024 Record: 4-8, 2-5
Michael Vick, Norfolk State
2025 Record: 1-6, 0-1 MEAC; Notable Win: 34-31 in OT over Virginia State; Program’s 2024 Record: 4-8, 2-3
Shawn Gibbs, North Carolina A&T
2025 Record: 1-6, 1-2 CAA; Notable Win: 33-30 in OT over Hampton; Program’s 2024 Record: 1-11, 0-8
Todd Stepsis, Northern Iowa
2025 Record: 2-4, 0-2 MVFC; Notable Win: 17-14 over Eastern Washington; Program’s 2024 Record: 3-9, 1-7
Tremaine Jackson, Prairie View A&M
2025 Record: 4-2, 3-0 SWAC; Notable Win: 28-13 over Grambling State; Program’s 2024 Record: 5-7, 3-5
Brennan Marion, Sacramento State
2025 Record Entering Oct. 11 Game: 2-3, 0-1 Big Sky; Notable Win: 45-16 over Central Arkansas; Program’s 2024 Record: 3-9, 1-7
Mike Jasper, Stetson
2025 Record: 3-4, 2-1 Pioneer; Notable Win: 21-14 over Morehead State; Program’s 2024 Record: 2-9, 0-7
Reggie Barlow, Tennessee State
2025 Record: 1-5, 0-3 OVC-Big South; Notable Win: 24-21 over North Carolina A&T; Program’s 2024 Record: 9-4, 6-2
Andy Waddle, Valparaiso
2025 Record: 1-5, 0-2 Pioneer; Notable Win: 67-10 over Virginia-Lynchburg; Program’s 2024 Record: 4-7, 2-5
Top photo, from left, coaches Michael Vick of Norfolk State (NSU Athletics), Dan Jackson of South Dakota State (Dave Eggen/Inertia) and ETSU’s Will Healy (ETSU Athletics).
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