Image courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications
By Bennett Conlin
Curt Cignetti’s reported departure for Indiana leaves JMU in need of a new head football coach for the 2024 season. The program’s last few hires (Withers, Houston, and Cignetti) have all found success immediately, going a combined 37-7 in their first seasons at JMU.
Can JMU quickly find a Cignetti replacement to keep its momentum going? Here are a few possible candidates for the Dukes’ vacant head coaching position.
Internal hires
Athletic Director Jeff Bourne suggested in a recent press conference that an internal hire is highly unlikely.
Mike Shanahan – JMU’s offensive coordinator, Shanahan is a budding star in the coaching ranks. The Dukes have had unbelievable offensive consistency over the last few seasons, and Shanahan deserves ample credit for that success. He’s young at just 33 years old, but he has potential to be a good head coach.
Bryant Haines – JMU’s defensive coordinator, Haines has been stellar since arriving in Harrisonburg. The Dukes are consistently disruptive on defense, and Haines’ background suggests he’d be a capable head coach. An internal hire could also help keep the recruiting class together.
Tino Sunseri – The Dukes’ quarterbacks coach, Sunseri is viewed as a special young coach. But is he ready to go from leading a position group to an entire program with College Football Playoff aspirations? That might be a stretch.
Editor’s note: Thanks to Three Notch’d Brewing for their advertising support this season.
Home-run hire potential
Bob Chesney, Holy Cross – A Power Five head coaching candidate, Chesney would be a home-run hire. He’s led Holy Cross to a 44-21 record over six seasons, including a 28-4 mark in league play. He also won big at the Division II and Division III levels. He’s going to coach a Power Five team one day. Might he stop by the Group of Five first?
Joe Harasymiak, Rutgers – Now the defensive coordinator for the Scarlet Knights, Harasymiak was Maine’s head coach from 2016-18. He led the Black Bears to a 10-win season in 2018 and then left to be an assistant with Minnesota. He’s a rising star in coaching and would likely thrive if given JMU’s resources.
Other names to monitor
Reggie Barlow, XFL – Barlow, the reigning XFL Coach of the Year, has a 83-58 record as a college head coach across stints at Alabama State and Virginia State. He’s a Super Bowl winning wide receiver familiar with recruiting Virginia, and he’s expressed interest in the opening.
Willie Simmons, Florida A&M – Simmons can flat out coach. He’s 64-24 as the head coach of Prairie View A&M and Florida A&M. The Rattlers are an impressive 10-1 this season, and they’ve won at least nine games in four consecutive seasons.
Drew Mehringer, Oregon – Mehringer has been floated as an option as JMU’s head coach in previous hiring cycles. The former JMU offensive coordinator (2014) currently works as Oregon’s tight ends coach and has worked at Ohio State and Texas previously. He’s an out-of-the-box hire given his youth and lack of head coaching experience, but with the right staff, Mehringer could be a good leader.
Jerry Mack, Tennessee – The running backs coach at Tennessee, Mack went 31-15 over four seasons as North Carolina Central’s head coach from 2014-17. He has head coaching experience, and he works with an elite Tennessee offense.
Jay Hill, BYU – Now the defensive coordinator at BYU, Hill went 68-39 (50-19 in league games) leading Weber State. Would he want to coach JMU after spending his entire coaching career in Utah? Recruiting Virginia (and really the East Coast) would be a new challenge for Hill, but he’s a damn good head coach.
Bryan Stinespring, Roanoke College – The longtime assistant has recently accepted the head job at Roanoke College, which is just starting a football program. I don’t think he has a realistic chance of earning the head coaching gig at JMU, but former players love to float him as a name. Someone will almost certainly bring him up!
Brandon Staley, Los Angeles Chargers – This is a joke. Mostly. Stay tuned for Monday.
Editor’s note: Who would you like to lead the Dukes? Drop your pick in the comments.
