Memphis football is at another pivotal crossroads - and if history is any guide, the Tigers are poised to make a strong move. From Justin Fuente to Mike Norvell to Ryan Silverfield, Memphis has quietly built one of the most consistently successful programs in college football over the past decade. The Tigers haven’t posted a losing season since 2013, and each of those three head coaches got their first shot at the top job here.
But this time around, the search could lean toward experience. With multiple vacancies open across the college football landscape - including Tulane, USF, and most recently Kentucky - Memphis finds itself in a competitive coaching market. And there’s no shortage of intriguing candidates, including some with deep ties to the city and program.
Tyson Helton: A Familiar Name with a Proven Track Record
Western Kentucky’s Tyson Helton is a name that keeps surfacing - and for good reason. The 48-year-old has built a winning culture with the Hilltoppers, posting a 56-36 record and notching five straight seasons with at least eight wins. That kind of consistency stands out, especially in a Group of Five setting.
Helton isn’t a stranger to Memphis, either. He spent three seasons on the Tigers’ staff under Tommy West in the early 2000s.
That local connection, combined with his recent success - including a narrow three-point loss at LSU this season - makes him a serious contender. He’s shown he can build and sustain a program, and now he might be ready for the next step.
Charles Huff: Rebuilding Specialist with SEC Pedigree
Then there’s Charles Huff, who’s quietly engineered one of the better turnarounds in college football this season. Southern Miss was a program in freefall before Huff took over - just four wins in the two years prior. Fast forward to now, and the Golden Eagles are 7-5.
Before landing at Southern Miss, Huff made noise at Marshall, going 10-3 and winning the Sun Belt title. He’s also got serious SEC credentials, having coached under Nick Saban at Alabama and James Franklin at Penn State and Vanderbilt. His Tennessee ties - including a stint at Tennessee State and time in Nashville - only strengthen his fit in Memphis.
Jerry Mack: A Hometown Candidate on the Rise
If Memphis wants to bring it back home, Jerry Mack might be the guy. The 45-year-old Memphis native is currently leading a remarkable turnaround at Kennesaw State. The Owls were 2-10 a year ago - now they’re 9-3 and playing in the Conference USA title game.
Mack’s resume includes a head coaching stint at North Carolina Central, where he went 31-15, and coordinator experience at Rice. He also served as Tennessee’s running backs coach during Josh Heupel’s early years, helping lay the groundwork for the Vols’ resurgence. His Memphis roots and track record of building programs from the ground up make him a compelling option.
Tim Cramsey: The In-House Option with Continuity
If Memphis decides to promote from within, offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey offers stability and familiarity. Cramsey, 50, has been a key part of Silverfield’s staff, helping develop quarterback Seth Henigan into one of the program’s most productive passers. This season, he guided sixth-year senior Brendon Lewis to the best campaign of his college career.
The Tigers ranked sixth nationally in red zone offense and eighth in red zone touchdown percentage - a testament to Cramsey’s play-calling and game management. Promoting him would maintain continuity and keep the offensive identity intact.
Dennis Simmons and Anthony Jones Jr.: USC Assistants with Memphis Ties
Lincoln Riley’s USC staff includes two assistants with strong Memphis roots. Dennis Simmons, a Memphis native, is USC’s assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.
He’s been a longtime right-hand man to both Mike Leach and Riley, and his track record developing elite wideouts is unmatched - five first-rounders and two Biletnikoff winners in Michael Crabtree and CeeDee Lamb. His latest project, Makai Lemon, is already turning heads.
Anthony Jones Jr., USC’s running backs coach, also has a Memphis connection. He coached high school ball in Tennessee and spent four years on the Tigers’ staff as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. He’s helped develop a string of future NFL backs and handled a banged-up Trojans backfield impressively this year.
Will Stein: Rising Star from the Pacific Northwest
Don’t overlook Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein. At just 36, Stein has quickly built a reputation as one of the top play-callers in the country. Since taking over at Oregon three years ago, he’s helped craft one of the most explosive offenses in the nation.
Stein’s coaching roots run deep in Texas - he was a high school coach there before moving up to UTSA - and he has some regional ties that could make Memphis an appealing landing spot. While he’s also reportedly in the mix for the Kentucky job, Memphis could offer a quicker path to head coaching success in a familiar recruiting footprint.
Memphis has options - and good ones. Whether the Tigers go with a proven head coach, a rising coordinator, or a hometown name with upside, the program is positioned to keep its winning ways alive. The next hire won’t just be about maintaining momentum - it’s about building on a decade of success and taking the next step.