Life as a college football coach seems pretty great, but one of the biggest downsides is the lack of job security. When a team fails to meet expectations, the coach is usually the first one to go.
Some programs become a revolving door of head coaches, with new hires every few years. Other schools are more patient and give their leaders time to build a culture. Then, there are certain instances where a coach experiences so much success that they become virtually untouchable and the only way they're leaving is on their own terms.
With the 2026 college football season underway, let's take a look at the longest-tenured Division I FBS head coaches:
Kalani Sitake, BYU, 11 years
Sitake played fullback for BYU and graduated from the school in 2000. He then returned as a graduate assistant after a brief stint in the NFL. The Nukuʻalofa, Tonga, native earned his coaching stripes at Eastern Arizona College, Southern Utah, Utah and Oregon State before finally getting a shot as a head coach back at his alma mater. Sitake took over the BYU program on Dec. 19, 2015, going 9-4 and winning a bowl game in his first season. He led the Cougars to a 12-2 mark in 2025 en route to being named the Big 12 Coach of the Year.
Kirby Smart, Georgia, 11 years
Smart was a four-year letterman at defensive back for Georgia, earning All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998. After a long and successful stint as the defensive coordinator at Alabama, including winning the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant in 2009. Smart created his own branch on the Nick Saban tree and returned to his alma mater as head coach in December 2015. He led the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022, winning SEC Coach of the Year both seasons.
Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh, 12 years
After serving as a defensive coordinator at Michigan State, Cincinnati, Miami (OH) and Rhode Island, Narduzzi was hired as Pittsburgh's head coach on Dec. 23, 2014. After nearly a decade with the Panthers, he has the second-most wins in program history, and he led the school to the ACC championship in 2021. In 2022, his contract was extended through 2030.
Chris Creighton, Eastern Michigan, 13 years
After head coaching stints at Ottawa University, Wabash College and Drake, Creighton joined Eastern Michigan on Dec. 11, 2013. While he's rumored to have received interest from other schools (such as Temple and Rutgers) in recent years, he remains with the Eagles. Creighton's current contract runs through the 2025 season.
Chuck Martin, Miami (OH), 13 years
Martin was the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame prior to taking the RedHawks' head coaching job on Dec. 3, 2013. He's had a lot of success at Miami University, upsetting Central Michigan in the 2019 MAC championship and Toledo in the 2023 MAC championship.
Jeff Monken, Army, 13 years
Monken became Army's 37th head coach on Dec. 30, 2013. He became the first coach in school history to lead the team to three straight bowl games. In 2018, Army won a school record 11 games under Monken, earning him the Vince Lombardi College Football Coach of the Year award. In 2021, he was named ECAC Division I FBS Football Coach of the Year.
Dave Doeren, NC State, 14 years
Doeren was hired by NC State on Dec. 1, 2012. He led the school to a bowl game in his second season as head coach. The Wolfpack have had a winning record in nine of his 12 seasons. In April 2024, Doeren accepted a contract extension that will keep him in town through the 2027 season.
Dabo Swinney, Clemson, 18 years
In 2008, Swinney was named Clemson's interim head coach after Tommy Bowden resigned. This was a big opportunity for Swinney, who had no head coaching experience. Fifteen years later, he's widely regarded as one of the best coaches in college football after leading the Tigers to national championships in 2016 and 2018. Swinney is a three-time winner of the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year award (in 2015, 2016 and 2018), and he was named the ACC Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2018. Swinney is the winningest coach in Clemson's history. Swinney's current contract runs through the 2031 season.
Troy Calhoun, Air Force, 20 years
Calhoun played quarterback for Air Force from 1985 through 1988, then transitioned to a coaching role with the Falcons (starting as a graduate assistant before working his way up to recruiting coordinator and junior varsity offensive coordinator). After leaving to gain some experience at various college and NFL stops, he returned to the Air Force on Dec. 22, 2006, when they offered him their head-coaching job. The Falcons like to stick with coaches for a long time; Calhoun's predecessor, Fisher DeBerry, was Air Force's coach for 23 years before he retired. Calhoun won the Mountain West Coach of the Year award in 2007 and led the team to Mountain West division titles in 2015 and 2021.
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa, 28 years
Ferentz took over as Iowa's head coach on Dec. 2, 1998. He succeeded Hayden Fry, who had been the Hawkeyes' head coach for 20 years. When Ferentz accepted the job, Billboard's No. 1 song was "Smooth" by Santana and Rob Thomas, and the No. 1 movie was "Toy Story 2." Ferentz is the winningest head coach in Iowa's history, and he led the Hawkeyes to two Big Ten championships (in 2002 and 2004). He won the AP and Walter Camp Coach of the Year awards in 2002, and he earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 2002, 2004, 2009 and 2015. Ferentz signed a contract extension that will keep him with Iowa through the end of the 2030 season (when he'll be 75 years old).
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