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College Football: Predicting the records of every 2016 first-year coach

By Michael Collins

CORAL GABLES, FL - DECEMBER 04: New University of Miami Hurricanes head coach Mark Richt makes the 'U' sign after he was introduced at a press conference at the school on December 4, 2015 in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Joe Skipper/Getty Images)
CORAL GABLES, FL - DECEMBER 04: New University of Miami Hurricanes head coach Mark Richt makes the 'U' sign after he was introduced at a press conference at the school on December 4, 2015 in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Joe Skipper/Getty Images) /
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Oct 17, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya (15) drops back to pass during the second half against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Sun Life Stadium. Miami won 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya (15) drops back to pass during the second half against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Sun Life Stadium. Miami won 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlantic Coast Conference:

Mark Richt – Miami (Fl) (8-5 overall, 5-3 ACC in 2015)

Career Head Coaching Record: 145-51
Last Stop: Head Coach – Georgia
Prediction: 10-2, 7-1 ACC

At long last, Miami fans will get to test the theory that Al Golden had plenty of talent on the field, he just wasn’t a good enough coach and game manager.

Richt comes home to Miami with six SEC east titles, two conference championships and a slew of “woulda-coulda-shoulda” moments from Georgia. The two-time SEC coach of the year has his work cut out for him, but his coaching style and ability to rally teams around him will be a huge improvement over the milquetoast personality of Golden.

Big year for the Canes, with the only regular season losses coming to FSU and Notre Dame.

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Dino Babers – Syracuse (4-8 overall, 2-6 ACC in 2015)

Career Head Coaching Record: 37-16
Last Stop: Head Coach – Bowling Green
Prediction: 3-9, 1-7 ACC

Simply put, Dino Babers would have been better off remaining at Bowling Green and continuing to turn that program into a formidable name.

Syracuse simply doesn’t have the personnel to do what Babers will want, and things will start to unravel early in the conference portion of the season with the Orange facing one of the toughest ACC schedules there is. Maybe after a couple of years with his own recruits, things will improve. but the Orange will struggle mightily in 2016.

Bronco Mendenhall – Virginia (4-8 overall, 3-5 ACC in 2015)

Career Head Coaching Record: 99-43
Last Stop: Head Coach – BYU
Prediction: 4-8, 2-6 ACC

Mendenhall walks into a Virginia program who can and wants to be good, but can’t seem to get out of it’s own way in attempting to do so. He’ll bring a toughness and attitude to the Cavs that hasn’t been seen since the early 1990s, which is a good thing.

UVA’s schedule isn’t terrible, but it does have some potential pitfalls for a first-year coach. Finale against Virginia Tech will be an interesting battle, but still have to give the edge to the Hokies.

Nov 28, 2015; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Frank Beamer salutes Hokies fans in the stands while leaving the field with the game ball after the Hokies
Nov 28, 2015; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Frank Beamer salutes Hokies fans in the stands while leaving the field with the game ball after the Hokies /

Justin Fuente – Virginia Tech (7-6 overall, 4-4 ACC in 2015)

Career Head Coaching Record: 26-23
Last Stop: Head Coach – Memphis
Prediction: 6-6, 4-4 ACC

There’s nothing worse than following a retiring legend as a head coach, except maybe doing so when you’re simply a babe in the wood in terms of head coach status.

Fuente showed some impressive work during his four seasons at Memphis, but to think he’s ready to take the reins of a program like Virginia Tech is really giving more credit than deserved to his overall body of work.

Look for a down year, but not a complete implosion by the Hokies, although the bowl streak will likely come to an end.

Next: Big 12

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