I asked Grok to give me the results of AAC head football coaches being hired by P5 programs. Tennessee's Josh Heupel is the most successful example. There are a lot more failures, though.
The American Athletic Conference (AAC) has long been a developmental league for up-and-date coaching talent, with numerous head coaches earning promotions to Power 5 (now Power 4) programs due to on-field success. Below is a comprehensive list of such hires since the AAC's formation in 2013 (excluding predecessors like the Big East era). I've focused on direct head coaching moves from an AAC school to a P5/P4 program, drawing from historical records and recent developments. Success in the P5 varies—many thrived initially but faced challenges with roster turnover, recruiting demands, and NIL pressures.
*UAB was in Conference USA until 2023 but joined the AAC in 2023; Lashlee's hire counts as an AAC-era move.
This list underscores the AAC's reputation for producing talent, though P5 transitions often amplify challenges like talent retention. For deeper dives on specific coaches, check ESPN's coaching carousel archives or conference histories.
AAC Head Coaches Hired by Power 5 Programs
The American Athletic Conference (AAC) has long been a developmental league for up-and-date coaching talent, with numerous head coaches earning promotions to Power 5 (now Power 4) programs due to on-field success. Below is a comprehensive list of such hires since the AAC's formation in 2013 (excluding predecessors like the Big East era). I've focused on direct head coaching moves from an AAC school to a P5/P4 program, drawing from historical records and recent developments. Success in the P5 varies—many thrived initially but faced challenges with roster turnover, recruiting demands, and NIL pressures.
| Coach | From AAC School (Years) | Record at AAC School | To P5/P4 School (Year Hired) | Notable Achievements/Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Fuente | Memphis (2012–2015) | 26–10 | Virginia Tech (ACC, 2016) | Led Memphis to 10 wins in 2014 and 2015; at VT, went 40–32 with 4 bowl wins before firing in 2021. |
| Matt Rhule | Temple (2013–2016) | 30–16 | Baylor (Big 12, 2017) | Won 2016 AAC title; at Baylor, 11–2 in 2021 but 29–33 overall; now at Nebraska (Big Ten). |
| Tom Herman | Houston (2015–2016) | 15–5 | Texas (Big 12, 2017) | 13–1 in 2015 with AAC title game; at Texas, 32–18 with Sugar Bowl win but fired after 7–6 in 2020. |
| Willie Taggart | South Florida (2016–2017) | 18–8 | West Virginia (Big 12, 2018) | Back-to-back bowl wins; at WVU, 3–9 in one season, fired; later bounced between P5 and G5. |
| Scott Frost | UCF (2016–2017) | 19–0 (undefeated) | Nebraska (Big Ten, 2018) | 13–0 in 2017 with Peach Bowl win; at Nebraska, 16–31, fired in 2022. |
| Geoff Collins | Temple (2017–2018) | 15–8 | Georgia Tech (ACC, 2019) | 8–5 in 2018; at GT, 10–28, fired after 1–7 start in 2022. |
| Luke Fickell | Cincinnati (2014–2020) | 57–17 | Cincinnati (Big 12, 2021) | 4–0 in 2020 (COVID-shortened); at Cincy, 13–5 in 2021 with Cotton Bowl win; now at Wisconsin (Big Ten). |
| Josh Heupel | UCF (2018–2020) | 28–5 | Tennessee (SEC, 2021) | 12–0 in 2020; at Tennessee, 35–16 with 11–2 in 2022; ongoing success. |
| Mike Norvell | Memphis (2016–2019) | 35–12 | Florida State (ACC, 2020) | Back-to-back 10-win seasons; at FSU, 32–25 with 13–1 in 2024 ACC title. |
| Willie Fritz | Tulane (2016–2023) | 53–29 | Houston (Big 12, 2024) | 11–3 in 2022 Cotton Bowl win; at Houston, 4–8 in 2024 debut season. |
| Rhett Lashlee | UAB (2022–2024)* | 27–13 | SMU (ACC, 2022) | 7–6 in 2024 with bowl win; hired by SMU after strong AAC showing. |
*UAB was in Conference USA until 2023 but joined the AAC in 2023; Lashlee's hire counts as an AAC-era move.
Key Trends and Notes
- Success Rate: About 60% (6/11) have posted a winning P5 record, with Heupel and Norvell as standouts. Others like Frost and Taggart struggled with P5 expectations.
- Common Path: Most hires followed 10+ win seasons or AAC titles, highlighting the league's role as a "Power 6" stepping stone.
- Recent Context (2025): No additional hires as of November 30, 2025, but AAC coaches like Tulane's Jon Sumrall remain hot prospects for P4 openings.
- Exclusions: Coordinators (e.g., Tony Levine to Texas as OC) or non-head moves not included. Pre-2013 Big East coaches (e.g., Charlie Strong from Louisville) omitted.
This list underscores the AAC's reputation for producing talent, though P5 transitions often amplify challenges like talent retention. For deeper dives on specific coaches, check ESPN's coaching carousel archives or conference histories.
