With Ryan Silverfield now officially the head coach at Arkansas, Memphis finds itself in the most important coaching search in program history. The Tigers are 50-14 over the last six seasons, have won four bowls against Power 4 teams, and are squarely in the Group of Five CFP conversation every year. The next hire must maintain that momentum, recruit the Mid-South at an elite level, and win the American Conference in the 12-team playoff era. Here are seven serious candidates the administration should target, listed in alphabetical order.
1. Blake Baker – Defensive Coordinator, LSU Current Job: DC, LSU (2024–present)
Previous Stops: Miami DC (2022–23), Missouri DC (2020–21), Louisiana Tech DC (2019), Miami (OH) safeties (2015–18)
Accolades: Broyles Award finalist 2023 (Missouri finished No. 11 nationally in total defense), turned Miami from 104th to 18th in total defense in one year (2022→2023)
2025 LSU Defense (through Week 14): No. 12 nationally in total defense, No. 8 in scoring defense
Area of Expertise: Aggressive 4-2-5 scheme, elite recruiter (especially Texas/Louisiana/Mississippi corridors), proven program builder on the defensive side
Fit for Memphis: A Mississippi native (Gulfport) who would own the Mid-South recruiting trail. Could bring LSU-level intensity and SEC credibility while maintaining a strong defensive identity.
2. Buster Faulkner – Offensive Coordinator, Georgia Tech. Current Job: OC/QB coach, Georgia Tech (2024–present)
Previous Stops: Georgia OC (2023), Georgia Tech co-OC (2022), Southern Miss OC (2020–21), Arkansas State OC (2019)
Accolades: 2023 National Champion (Georgia staff), developed Stetson Bennett and JT Daniels
2025 Georgia Tech Offense: No. 14 nationally in total offense, No. 9 in yards per play despite losing starting QB Haynes King for three games
Area of Expertise: Pro-style concepts with RPO elements, excellent QB developer, creative play-caller
Fit for Memphis: Deep Mississippi recruiting ties (played at Valdosta State, coached at Southern Miss) would bring a modern, explosive offense that still runs the football.
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3. Tyson Helton – Head Coach, Western Kentucky, Current Job: HC, Western Kentucky (2019–present)
Record: 56-34 (.622) USA Coach of the Year, back-to-back 9-win seasons (2021, 2022), beat Auburn in 2024
2025 WKU: Currently 8-4, ranked No. 1 offense in C-USA
Area of Expertise: High-powered air-raid attack (led nation in passing 2019 & 2021), proven head-coaching success at G5 level
Fit for Memphis: Already knows the American footprint from recruiting battles, has beaten Power 4 teams, and would bring immediate offensive identity.
4. Charles Huff – Head Coach, Southern Miss
Current Job: HC, Southern Miss (2025–present) Marshall (2021-2024)
Record: 39-22 overall, 31-14 at Marshall
Accolades: 2023 Sun Belt runner-up, beat Florida State in 2022, multiple Top-25 G5 recruiting classes
2025 Southern Miss: 7-5 and bowl-bound
Area of Expertise: Elite recruiter (especially Mississippi/Alabama/Louisiana), strong culture builder, former Nick Saban/Bill O’Brien assistant
5. Jerry Mack – Head Coach, Kennesaw State
Current Job: HC, Kennesaw State (2024–present, transitioning to FBS)
Previous Stops: OC Jacksonville Jaguars (2023), RB coach Tennessee (2021–22), HC North Carolina Central (2014–17)
Accolades: Two MEAC titles and HBCU national titles at NC Central, youngest HC in college football when hired at 29
Area of Expertise: Elite recruiter (especially Georgia/Tennessee), offensive mind, NFL pedigree
Fit for Memphis: Young, energetic, and would dominate the Atlanta-to-Memphis corridor recruiting pipeline.
6. Dan Mullen – Head Coach, UNLV
Current Job: HC, UNLV (2024–present)
Record at UNLV: 11-2 in 2024, Mountain West championship game appearance, CFP at-large consideration
Previous Stops: Florida HC (2018–21), Mississippi State HC (2009–17)
Accolades: Two SEC East titles, 2019 Orange Bowl, developed Dak Prescott and Tim Tebow
2025 UNLV: Currently 10-2
Area of Expertise: Proven Power 5/G5 winner, offensive innovator, elite QB developer
Fit for Memphis: The splash hire. It would bring instant national credibility and has already shown he can win big at the G5 level.
7. Casey Woods – Offensive Coordinator, SMU
Current Job: OC, SMU (2022–present)
Previous Stops: UTEP OC (2021), Arkansas co-OC (2020), Alabama analyst (2018–19)
Accolades: Part of SMU’s 2023 & 2024 AAC championship teams, 2024 offense No. 3 nationally in total yards
2025 SMU Offense: No. 4 in FBS scoring, No. 6 in total offense
Area of Expertise: Explosive spread offense, creative play-caller, deep Texas recruiting ties
Fit for Memphis: Young, rising star who knows how to win championships in the American footprint.
Memphis has the resources (top-30 athletic budget among G5 programs), the facilities, and the recruiting base to make a home-run hire. The short list should absolutely include at least three of the names above, with Mullen as the splash, Helton/Huff as proven G5 winners, and rising coordinators like Faulkner, Baker, and Woods representing the high-upside branch. The decision will shape whether Memphis remains a consistent 9–10 win program or takes the next step into annual CFP contention.
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