Movement Patterns of Mid Major Head Coaches Before and During the Name, Image, and Likeness Era

Abstract

Recent National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) reports highlight increased athlete mobility due to the implementation of the transfer portal in 2018 and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in 2021. While some coaches have argued Mid Major programs serve as steppingstones for athletes transferring to Power Four conferences, less attention has been given to Mid Major coaches, who are able to move freely. Thus, this study examined Mid Major football and men’s and women’s basketball head coach movement from the 2017-2018 to 2024-2025 seasons. Using publicly available rosters, we mapped coach trends, analyzing the direction of job movements. Chi-squared and ANOVA tests revealed that football coaches were more likely to move, get fired, or transition up to a Power Four or professional team. Men’s basketball coaches were more likely to move laterally within Mid Major conferences, while women’s basketball coaches were more likely to hold the longest tenures. Study findings highlight the importance of understanding coach mobility, providing insights into career trajectories, sport-specific dynamics, and managerial investment strategies, particularly in the evolving NIL era. Lastly, these insights extend beyond college athletics, as coaching pipelines, managerial guidance, and system and policy shifts occur across all levels of sport.