This Week in the Coaching Carousel: Buckeyes Bring in Jim Knowles, Oklahoma Hires Brent Venables, Mario Cristobal Heads to Miami And Oregon Lands Dan Lanning

By Griffin Strom on December 12, 2021 at 12:00 pm
Dan Lanning, Mario Cristobal, Brent Venables
Joshua L. Jones, Kirby Lee, Doug Hoke/USA TODAY NETWORK
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If you've been struggling to keep up with the historically fast-moving college football coaching carousel as of late, we don't blame you.

Heads have been on a continuous swivel since the end of the regular season just two weeks ago, as high-profile coaching changes and transfer portal entries are happening at a rate more rapid than ever before in the sport. Even after the dust settled on the likes of Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly’s moves, there have been enough developments in the past week alone to warrant a rewind, and that’s exactly what we’re doing today.

Here’s a quick recap of the most noteworthy happenings across the country when it comes to coach mobility and players changing teams over the last week.

Sunday (Dec. 5)

Oklahoma hires Brent Venables

The Sooners locked down Riley’s replacement Sunday, when Oklahoma hired longtime Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables to take over the reins in Norman. Per reports, Venables was signed to a six-year deal running through Jan. 31, 2028, and he’ll make $7 million annually plus a $100,000 increase each year after the first. 

Monday (Dec. 6)

Mario Cristobal hired at Miami

It was rumored for some time, but Miami finally made things official Monday when it hired former Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal to replace Manny Diaz as the Hurricanes’ new coach. The former Hurricane player and position coach will make $8 million a year to become the second-highest paid head coach in the ACC behind only Dabo Swinney.

Michael Penix enters transfer portal

Among the preseason favorites to win Big Ten Quarterback of the Year in 2021, Michael Penix Jr. may not be playing in the conference at all next season. The Indiana passer entered the transfer portal Monday, potentially leaving behind a program that had a disastrous 2021 campaign after enjoying historic success just one year prior. Penix has been snake bit by injury time and time again, but his talent has been obvious for the Hoosiers when he’s playing at his best.

Colorado State brings in Jay Norvell

Although Buckeye running backs coach Tony Alford had long been tied to the opening, it is former Nevada head coach Jay Norvell who will be running the show at Colorado in 2022 and beyond. Norvell replaces Steve Addazio, who held the post for the past two seasons but won just four games in that timespan.

Tuesday (Dec. 7)

Ohio State names Jim Knowles new DC

Ryan Day may have said last Sunday that he wasn’t focused on any personnel decisions at the defensive coordinator position, but just two days later, he’d already made a new hire. Oklahoma State’s Jim Knowles turned around the Cowboy defense completely in four years with the program, and the Buckeyes hope he’ll be able to do so in even less time come 2022. Knowles’ three-year deal will make him one of the highest-paid assistant coaches in the country, and expectations will be high for his performance in Columbus.

RELATED Ohio State Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles Set to Make $1.9 Million Per Year

Wednesday (Dec. 8)

Pitt OC Mark Whipple heads to Lincoln

The man that helped turn Kenny Pickett into a Heisman Trophy finalist is headed to Lincoln next season, as Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Mark Whipple will try to help turn things around for Scott Frost’s Nebraska program in 2022 and beyond. The ACC champion Panthers had the No. 3 scoring offense in America this past season, while Nebraska is all the way down at No. 71 in the nation in that department.

Thursday (Dec. 9)

MSU lands Mississippi State LB Aaron Brule

Mel Tucker landed another stud out of the transfer portal Thursday as Mississippi State linebacker Aaron Brule will head to East Lansing for the 2022 season. After racking up 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks in the past two seasons, Brule could be a difference-maker on a Spartan team that finished the regular season as the No. 10 team in the nation.

Friday (Dec. 10)

Tony Elliott takes Virginia HC vacancy

Swinney lost another key piece of his coaching staff Friday, when Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott accepted the head coaching vacancy at Virginia. Elliott had been given a raise to make $2 million per year with the Tiger program this past February, but any efforts to keep him in South Carolina past the 2021 season came up short this week.

Ryan Watts enters transfer portal

After playing defensive snaps in just six games during his second season at Ohio State, 6-foot-3 cornerback Ryan Watts entered the transfer portal Friday. Watts started the season opener against Minnesota due to injuries to Cameron Brown and Sevyn Banks, but never played in more than 19 snaps in any game after. Watts intercepted two passes during his sophomore campaign, but is now the fourth Buckeye to enter the portal since the end of the regular season, joining Jack Miller, Quinn Ewers and Craig Young.

RELATED Ohio State Cornerback Ryan Watts Enters Transfer Portal

Mike Elko becomes next Duke coach

Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko will be the next Blue Devil head coach, taking over after a 14-year run with David Cutcliffe at the helm at Duke. Under Elko's coaching, the Aggies have the No. 3 scoring defense in the country in 2021.

Saturday (Dec. 11)

Penn State hires Manny Diaz as DC

Fired from Miami at the start of the week, former Hurricane head coach Manny Diaz landed at Penn State as James Franklin’s new defensive coordinator over the weekend. Diaz will take over for Brent Pry, who took a head coaching job at Virginia Tech at the end of November.

Dan Lanning named Oregon HC

The Ducks didn’t go a full week without a head coach, as Oregon hired Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning to replace Cristobal in Eugene on Saturday. Lanning’s Bulldog defense may be the most vaunted in college football in 2021, and Georgia ranks No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense and No. 2 in total defense with a CFP run still to come.

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