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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; Hattiesburg, MS, USA; Southern Miss Golden Eagles running back Jalen Richard (30) runs while defended by UTSA Roadrunners safety Duke Wheeler (4) in the second half at M.M. Roberts Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Hattiesburg, MS, USA; Southern Miss Golden Eagles running back Jalen Richard (30) runs while defended by UTSA Roadrunners safety Duke Wheeler (4) in the second half at M.M. Roberts Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

Conference-USA:

Seth Littrell – North Texas (1-11 overall, 1-7 C-USA in 2015)

Career Head Coaching Record: 0-0
Last Stop: Asst. Head Coach – UNC
Prediction: 2-10, 1-7 C-USA

This will be a nice proving ground for Littrell, who played a big part in the rebirth of Tar Heels football. Unfortunately he doesn’t have a lot to work with right now, and Conference-USA has some up-and-coming teams.

The Mean Green will get a win over Bethune-Cookman, and will eek out a surprise victory over one of their C-USA opponents (probably UTEP or Rice) but the rest of the schedule is going to be tough sledding.

Jay Hopson – Southern Miss (9-5 overall, 7-1 C-USA in 2015)

Career Head Coaching Record: 32-16
Last Stop: Head Coach – Alcorn State
Prediction: 9-5, 5-3 C-USA

It’s not often that a team who wins a division replaces their head coach, but the NFL called former head coach Todd Monken, so the Golden Eagles were forced into finding a new coach.

Monken really got the Southern Miss program turned around out of its lowly losing streak, and had them playing some of the most effective offense in the conference. Hopson will have his hands full trying to keep that momentum going.

The Golden Eagles are returning a pretty good team, and have what looks to be a favorable conference schedule, but games against Kentucky and LSU will be tough to win. Southern Miss probably doesn’t slide too far back, but it’s hard to imagine them moving forward.

Frank Wilson – UTSA (3-9 overall, 3-5 C-USA in 2015)

Career Head Coaching Record: 0-0
Last Stop: Asst. Head Coach – LSU
Prediction: 6-6, 5-3 C-USA

Wilson may be yet another first-timer to the head coaching game, but he knows how to win and he’s helped plan and coach against some of the best teams in the nation while at LSU.

UTSA is a program that could really make a move in this conference under Wilson, and outside of a pretty rough out-of-conference schedule, there aren’t a lot of landmines this season. Progress will be made, and will continue if Wilson stays on.

Next: Independent

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