In such a weird season ACC football is nearing the end of their regular season while the Big 10 and Pac 12 are just getting started. I highly doubt that we see any coaching dismissals with the financial constraints brought on by COVID-19. That doesn’t mean the frustration of fans will be any less, or that 2021 will become any less critical for them.
Which ACC Coaches need a strong finish or at least show significant improvement to restore their fans faith in them. We won’t even mention injuries, or the chaotic schedule. Everyone is dealing with it – some better than others.
Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech
Fuente holds the distinction of being one of two ACC coaches, that appeared on one of the earlier ACC COY candidate lists, and now this one. The laundry list of coaching errors at the end of the Liberty game was finally too much for many Virginia Tech fans. Virginia Tech blog TechLunchPail the defining disaster of the Fuente era. At now 4-3, Fuente enters a season defining stretch. With Miami, Pitt, Clemson, and UVa left, the Hokies could lose all 4 games, or go 3-1. Back to back losses to Virginia, might be unforgivable. Frankly, if there are ACC hotseat rankings Fuente might be on the top of the list. 5 years at Virginia Tech, and the Hokies appear to have made zero progress. A winning record is a must at minimum.
Dave Doeren, NC State
Dave Doeren also appeared on our earlier coach of the year list, and blowing 10 point 4th quarter lead to Miami Friday night had NC State fans irate. Doeren has been at NC State since 2013, and we’re still wondering what his signature win is. Even his 9 win 2018 was a considerable disappointment. He is currently 13 games under .500 in ACC play. Yes Clemson is there in the Atlantic Division, but since FSU declined, the division was open for another team to take over as a 2nd place team. Doeren has a more manageable finish than Fuente with FSU, Liberty, and Syracuse, Georgia Tech. NC State has every opportunity to win 3 or 4 of those games. Doeren goes 2-2 or worse to that schedule and NC State might finally write Doeren off. NC State fans are already calling for a change.
Geoff Collins, Georgia Tech
There’s a slowly simmering frustration growing with Collins at Georgia Tech. Yellow Jacket fans recognized the rebuild process would take time, and didn’t realistically expect more than 4 or 5 wins. They did expect improvement as the season progress, and it doesn’t appear to be happening. Georgia Tech has not been competitive in a game since early October losing their last 3 games by a whopping combined score of 152 – 47. QB Jeff Sims hasn’t progressed since game one, and the team clearly is getting worse. That said the schedule opens up in the 2nd half, and that’s where Collins needs to show something. Pitt, Miami, Duke, and NC State finish the season and there needs to be a win in there somehwere, and maybe two. If Collins loses all four, his cheerleading will start to fall on deaf ears. By the way Collins is perfectly safe in his job until at least year 4 in his tenure, but signs of improvement are a must over the next 18 months.
Pat Narduzzi, Pitt
This was supposed to be Pitt’s year. A returning starting QB, and stout defense should have led Pitt to a top 25 season. This is year 6 of the Narduzzi era, and sitting at 4-4 is not where Pitt fans expected to be. Narduzzi is staring at a losing season right in the face. Beating FSU was a start in the right direction, and with Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Clemson left Narduzzi needs at least two of those. Narduzzi has never won more than 8 games in a season, and has lost at least 5 games every season he’s been at Pitt. There’s common theme among Fuente, Doeren, and Narduzzi. They’ve been at their respective schools at least 5 years, and overall progress seems limited. They just aren’t moving their programs forward.
