The University of Memphis has selected Charles Huff as the next head coach of its football program, marking the start of a new chapter for the Tigers as they look to return to conference championship contention.
Athletic Director Ed Scott announced the hire following a multi-week search that evaluated candidates from across the college football landscape. Huff, who brings extensive experience at both the Power Five and Group of Five levels, was the first candidate Scott interviewed during the process.
A Track Record Built Under College Football’s Top Coaches
Huff’s career includes stops under some of the sport’s most respected leaders. He has coached alongside:
- Nick Saban at Alabama, where he served as associate head coach and contributed to one of the nation’s strongest recruiting operations.
- James Franklin, now at Virginia Tech, during Franklin’s previous coaching tenures.
- P.J. Fleck at Minnesota, adding experience in program-building and player development.
Huff is widely regarded for his recruiting ability. He previously earned National Recruiter of the Year honors and played a key role in major commitments, including current NFL standout Saquon Barkley’s decision to flip to Penn State during his recruitment. Barkley has publicly praised Huff’s mentorship, telling The Athletic he is “forever thankful” for Huff’s impact on his career.
Head Coaching Experience and Championship Success
In addition to his assistant coaching pedigree, Huff has been a head coach at two programs:
- Marshall University, where he guided the Thundering Herd to a conference championship.
- Southern Miss, where he led the program during the 2024 season.
His championship experience aligns with Memphis’ broader goal of returning to the top of the American Athletic Conference. The Tigers last won a conference title in 2019 under then-head coach Mike Norvell.
Memphis’ Search Process
Scott evaluated multiple candidates during the hiring process. Among those considered:
- Buster Faulkner, offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, who withdrew from consideration after being offered the same role at Florida.
- Jerry Mack, a Memphis native and head coach at Kennesaw State, with whom Scott met after the program’s appearance in the Conference USA Championship Game.
Ultimately, Huff’s combination of experience, recruiting success, and head-coaching results positioned him at the top of the candidate pool.
Building on a History of Successful Hires
The Tigers have previously found long-term success by hiring rising coaching talent. Justin Fuente, hired from TCU in 2012, led the program to a conference title and a Miami Beach Bowl victory before departing for Virginia Tech. Mike Norvell followed with three straight conference championship appearances and a 2019 AAC title before taking the head coaching job at Florida State.
Memphis leadership hopes Huff will bring similar momentum in the coming seasons.
What’s Next for the Tigers
Huff’s immediate focus will be recruiting, solidifying his staff, and preparing for his first season at the helm. With conference realignment shifting the landscape of college football, Memphis aims to position itself for both championship contention and expanded postseason opportunities.
The University will introduce Huff formally in the coming days, with additional details expected during his opening press conference.
