We last looked at the ACC Football Coaches Hot Seat rankings back in November. Since then we’ve had rivalry games, and bowls, and even some coaching changes.
We go from the coldest to the hottest.
0 – Ice Cold
1 – Still cool
2 – There’s smoke
3 – Getting Warm
4 – On Fire
5 – Start working on the resume
Manny Diaz, Duke – 0
Manny Diaz is back in the ACC. Mike Elko is off to Texas A&M. Now we will see if Diaz can continue the momentum Elko started.
Fran Brown, Syracuse = 0
Fran Brown takes over for Dino Babers, and he’s already off to a hot start in hitting recruiting and in the transfer portal.
Mike Norvell, Florida State = 0
As far as I’m concerned, Mike Norvell had FSU playoff caliber, and we know what happened. The Georgia loss meant nothing, Norvell is in great shape at FSU.
Brent Key, Georgia Tech = 0
Brent Key just guided Georgia Tech to their first season with a bowl win since 2016. The finished 7-6 and there is more optimism around the program than there has been in years.
Brent Pry, Virginia Tech – 0
Brent Pry and Brent Key are on parallel paths. Pry and Virginia Tech won their bowl game and finished the year 7-6. Optimism abounds in Blacksburg as well as Atlanta.
Jeff Brohm, Louisville = 0.1
Jeff Brohm and Louisville exceeded expectations winning 10 games, but losing their final 3 games does leave a smidge of question going into next year.
Dabo Swinney, Clemson = 0.5
Clemson finished the year 9-4 after a 4-4 start, that included a bowl win. Dabo Swinney is still one of the best in business, but his program has slipped ever so slightly.
Dave Clawson, Wake Forest = 0.5
Wake Forest finished as the ACC’s worst team. Clawson has done too much good work to be on the hot-seat, but has Wake Forest peaked under him?
Dave Doeren, NC State = 1
Dave Doeren did a fantastic job of coaching in the 2nd half of the year, but again NC State couldn’t reach that elusive 10-win season with the bowl loss to Kansas State.
Jeff Hafley, Boston College = 1.5
Winning the bowl game was big for Jeff Hafley. That gave BC their first winning season since 2018.
Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh = 1.5
Pat Narduzzi has done so much good the last few years, that a nightmare 2023 will be overlooked. Don’t repeat it next year.
Tony Elliot, Virginia = 3
Virginia is probably better than their 3-9 (2-6), but the record is the record. Getting blasted by arch-rival Virginia Tech in the final game of the season was not a good look either.
Mack Brown, UNC = 3.5
North Carolina suffered another 2nd half of the season collapse and their 4th straight bowl loss. Is North Carolina much better than most of the Larry Fedora era? They went 8-5 losing 5 of their last 7 games.
Mario Cristobol, Miami = 4
Mario Christobal’s 2nd season was marked by multiple coaching blunders and another bowl loss. The Canes have been lapped by rival Florida State. Year 3 is a critical year for Cristobol or I don’t think there will be a year 4.
