College football: 5 head coaches heading into spring 2023 on the hot seat

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Nov 12, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen gestures from the sideline during the first half of the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchNcaa Football Indiana Hoosiers At Ohio State Buckeyes /

Tom Allen is the definition of a journeyman, going from the high school ranks to Division II to the FCS and then became an assistant at Arkansas State, Ole Miss, and South Florida before getting hired as the defensive coordinator of the Indiana Hoosiers in 2016. He was announced as the head coach the following year.

The intense defensive-minded coach immediately brought new energy to the program and Hoosier fans quickly bought in because, well, the program had not had much success — ever.

Although he went just 5-7 in each of his first two seasons, the hope was still there. He just had a different feel to him. He responded by going 8-5 in 2019 and 6-2 in a COVID-shortened 2020 season, going to the Gator Bowl and Outback Bowl in those two seasons, respectively. Allen did lose both bowl games, but a 14-7 mark over two seasons at Indiana was unheard of.

How has Allen responded to that success? Oh, just by going 6-18 over the past two seasons with no bowl berths. Winning just 25 percent of his games following a successful two-year stretch has put him directly on the hot seat.

Allen is facing his biggest spring yet as he needs to make a bowl game this year.

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