Two of the 12 FBS coaches in Texas lost their jobs after the 2022 season when North Texas parted ways with Seth Littrell and Texas State moved on from Jake Spavital. Yearly turnover is the norm with that many programs, and the number grows to 13 in 2023 as Sam Houston moves up from the FCS ranks. 

Where do things stand heading into 2023? 

HOT SEAT 

Dana Holgorsen – Houston 

Wanting to play big-boy college football requires big-boy expectations. Holgorsen was hired after the 2018 season when Major Applewhite’s eight-win campaign wasn’t up to snuff. Holgorsen has only won more than eight games once in his four seasons in charge. On one hand, he led the team to a 12-win season in 2021 and is 20-7 over the last two years. On the other, a mass of offensive linemen left the program since the end of 2021, the star running back just entered the transfer portal, and the defense is waiting for key pieces to arrive in the transfer portal. A sub .500 finish in 2023 could spell doom. 

Mike Bloomgren – Rice 

Fair or not, Rice expects to be in bowl contention regularly and Bloomgren is only batting 20 percent in terms of achieving that goal. His Owls have reached one bowl game in his five seasons in charge, and that was last year with a 5-7 regular season record. He inherited a program in the basement and has increased its win total by one in each of his five seasons. Reaching six wins in 2023 earns more time, but the competition steps up in the AAC. Rice is arguably the toughest FBS job in the Lone Star State and Bloomgren’s reestablished the program in his tenure. 

WARM

Jimbo Fisher – Texas A&M

A large buy out kept Fisher off the plank after a five-win 2022 season. The Aggie faithful won’t extend more patience with another sub .500 record in 2023. An eight-win season feels like the minimum required to keep Fisher in College Station. He’s yet to win 10 games as the head coach of Texas A&M. The Aggies have lost at least three SEC games in four of his five seasons. 

Dave Aranda – Baylor 

Talk about a roller coaster tenure. Aranda’s Bears fit in the program’s best season in 2021, but that was sandwiched by two losing seasons. A new-look Big 12 and an expanded playoff in 2024 provides every team in the conference an opportunity at national glory. Baylor won’t want to be left behind as TCU comes off a title appearance and momentum increases at Texas Tech. The heat will raise in Waco if the Bears suffer their third losing season in four years. 

ROOM TEMP 

Steve Sarkisian – Texas 

The seat is never exactly cold in Austin. Expectations are rising on the 40 Acres and that means Sark must deliver in year three as head coach of the Longhorns. On paper, Texas is the favorite to win the Big 12. That means anything less than that could result in drastic action. Sark is 13-12 in two seasons at Texas and has never won a conference title in nine seasons as a head coach in college football. An impending move to the SEC means the stakes are only rising. 

Dana Dimel – UTEP 

If Rice isn’t the hardest job in Texas, UTEP is. The Miners are in a completely different geological footprint than the top prospects in Texas. Hell, El Paso is in a different time zone than the rest of the Lone Star State. Dimel took over a Miner program that was in the ground and restored it to bowl eligibility in 2021. Last year was a disappointment, so his UTEP squad must respond with a solid showing in the new-look Conference USA or the fan base will get restless. 

COLD 

Sonny Dykes – TCU 

A 12-0 regular season and a win in the Fiesta Bowl over Michigan earns a coach at least one season of grace. 

Jeff Traylor – UTSA

Traylor has led the Roadrunners to consecutive conference titles and is the unofficial Mayor of San Antonio.  

Joey McGuire – Texas Tech 

Texas Tech finished above .500 in Big 12 play for the first time since 2009 in McGuire’s first year as a college head coach. The momentum is real in Lubbock as the Red Raiders seemingly announce a new construction project on a weekly basis. 

Rhett Lashlee – SMU 

The Mustangs are poised for a real run at a conference title in 2023 thanks to a favorable schedule and excellent use of the portal. 

KC Keeler – Sam Houston 

Keeler leads his Bearkats into new territory in 2023 as Sam Houston joins the FBS ranks. Keeler, a career FCS coach, led the program to a title two years ago and is a made man in Huntsville. 

NEW 

Eric Morris – North Texas 

First year head coach are offered time to get a program on the tracks, but the Mean Green weren’t exactly dumpster dwellers under Seth Littrell. Morris is expected to have his team flirting with contention in the AAC quickly. 

G.J. Kinne – Texas State 

Kinne will get time to develop a new roster in San Marcos. Increased support by administration will help his cause, but also add to the expectations.