Longest-Tenured College Football Coaches

Miami (Ohio) head coach Chuck Martin in the first half of the Arizona Bowl NCAA college football game against Colorado State, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz.
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

College football is a sport that runs on haves and have-nots. Inequality is baked into the system. That’s why there’s always such a robust market for the coaching carousel and general college football hot seat discussion.

Because of this, it’s rare to find a coach that stays with one program for 15 or 20 years; in fact, it’s increasingly difficult to find coaches who last more than a mere five years at one job. 

Here’s a list of the longest-tenured college football coaches at the FBS level, along with their overall records after the 2025 regular season.

Longest-Tenured College Football Coaches

First SeasonHead CoachSchoolW/L Record At School (Win Percentage)
1999Kirk Ferentz Iowa212-128 (.624)
2007Troy CalhounAir Force139-97 (.589)
2009Dabo SwinneyClemson186-52 (.782)
2013Dave DoerenNC State94-70 (.573)
2014Jeff MonkenArmy88-63 (.583)
2014Chris CreightonEastern Michigan61-83 (.424)
2014Chuck MartinMiami (OH)72-73 (.497)
2015Pat NarduzziPittsburgh80-60 (.571)
2016Kalani SitakeBYU 83-45 (.648)
2016Kirby SmartGeorgia117-20 (.854)
2017P.J. FleckMinnesota65-44 (.596)
2019Mike LocksleyMaryland37-49 (.430)
2019Ryan DayOhio State82-11 (.882)
2019Tyson HeltonWestern Kentucky57-35 (.620)
2019Thomas HammockNorthern Illinois35-47 (.427)
2020Jeff TraylorUTSA52-26 (.667)
2020Mike NorvellFlorida State38-34 (.528)
2020Dave ArandaBaylor36-37 (.493)
2020Greg SchianoRutgers99-108 (.478)
2020Eli DrinkwitzMissouri46-28 (.622)
2020Ricky RahneOld Dominion29-33 (.468)

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About the Author Read More @chaseakiddy

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.