Florida Atlantic: a football coaching history
See Florida Atlantic’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →← all coaches
Stature and coaches, 2005–2026
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
DynastyBlue BloodPower ProgramNational ProgramRegional Program
Run↔pass identity, by season
Every coach
Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.
2025–now
Zach Kittley Short tenure
Averaged a 58% pass rate — among the most pass-heavy stretches in FBS since 2004
9-11
2020–2022
Willie Taggart Steady
Willie Taggart slid Florida Atlantic from Regional Program I to Regional Program II in 3 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
−3.5 pts over 3 seasons · bottom 45% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Ron Dickerson’s Temple run (1993–1997)
2nd-best Florida Atlantic tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Followed Lane Kiffin (2017–2019) · succeeded by Tom Herman (2023–2024).
System Shift, on arrival
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 5-4 | 5-7 | 5-7 | |
| Postseason | L bowl | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #73 | #82 | #120 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 39.2 | 46.2 | 43.4 | |
| Coordinators | ||||
| OC | Clint Trickett / Drew Mehringer | Mike Johnson | Brent Dearmon | |
| DC | Jim Leavitt | Mike Stoops | Todd Orlando | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 26 | 27 | 61 | |
| Defense | 73 | 66 | 49 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 33.9 | 42.3 | 36.3 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 34.4 | 44.2 | 36.5 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 50.0 | 33.3 | 38.2 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on offense and outperforms his recruiting talent on defense.
Offense vs. talent
-10.2 pts
#150 of 208 · middle half
Defense vs. talent
+14.0 pts
#51 of 208 · top quarter
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Roster construction · portal era
A typical amount of portal roster-building.
Portal arrivals
19
3.1★ avg rating
Portal departures
21
left via the portal
Net portal flow
-2
#131 of 187 FBS stints
Who they bring in
Typical size for position, once adjusted for position mix.
Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.
Avg. size (raw)
6′2″, 246 lbs
across 12 of 19 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix
Size vs. position-typical
+2.1 lbs
#189 of 255 · middle half
Avg. class year
Jr
#20 of 255 · top quarter
Top states: FL (6), GA (4), SC (1), OH (1)
Who won the portal our read
Talent added
47.5
position-weighted
Talent lost
46.0
position-weighted
Net
+1.5
arrivals minus departures
Best addition: N'Kosi Perry (QB) from Miami
Biggest loss: Chris Robison (QB) to Professional
Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Clint Trickett (co) / Drew Mehringer (co) → Mike Johnson (co) · 2021
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 33.9% → 42.3% (+8.4 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 92% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Mike Johnson (co) → Brent Dearmon · 2022
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 42.3% → 36.3% (-6.0 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 82% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
DC: Jim Leavitt → Mike Stoops · 2021
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
DC: Mike Stoops → Todd Orlando · 2022
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
Roster size, by position
Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)
Running back
202 lbs
5′10″ avg · #584 of 791 · middle half
Wide receiver
193 lbs
6′1″ avg · #403 of 791 · middle half
Tight end
237 lbs
6′3″ avg · #633 of 731 · bottom quarter
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
304 lbs
6′4″ avg · #582 of 779 · middle half
D-line
292 lbs
6′3″ avg · #210 of 753 · middle half
Linebacker
222 lbs
6′2″ avg · #667 of 772 · bottom quarter
Cornerback
174 lbs
5′11″ avg · #772 of 771 · bottom quarter
Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows D-line from high school
78%
#183 of 239 stints
Grows Cornerback from high school
71%
#190 of 236 stints
Postseason detail2020: Lost to Memphis 10-25 Montgomery Bowl
−3.5
15-18
2017–2019
Lane Kiffin Builder≈
Lane Kiffin raised the Owls from Regional Program IV to Regional Program I.
2017 offense ranked in the 99th percentile nationally — elite
+13.4 pts over 3 seasons · top 3% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Mike Norvell’s Memphis run (2016–2019)
1st-best Florida Atlantic tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Followed Charlie Partridge (2014–2016) · succeeded by Willie Taggart (2020–2022).
System Shift, on departure
System Shift, on arrival
| Season | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 11-3 | 5-7 | 10-3 | |
| Postseason | W bowl | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #60 | #75 | #60 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 35.2 | 39.1 | 47.7 | |
| Coordinators | ||||
| OC | Kendal Briles | Charlie Weis Jr. | Charlie Weis Jr. | |
| DC | Chris Kiffin | Tony Pecoraro | Glenn Spencer | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 99 | 64 | 81 | |
| Defense | 63 | 65 | 81 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 36.8 | 36.4 | 48.9 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 29.8 | 27.8 | 41.4 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 51.1 | 52.5 | 33.3 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Outperforms his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
Offense vs. talent
+33.0 pts
#10 of 208 · top quarter
Defense vs. talent
+21.1 pts
#30 of 208 · top quarter
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Kendal Briles → Charlie Weis Jr. · 2018
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 36.8% → 36.4% (-0.4 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 49% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
DC: Chris Kiffin → Tony Pecoraro · 2018
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
DC: Tony Pecoraro → Glenn Spencer · 2019
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
Grows Running back from high school
100%
#196 of 208 stints
Postseason detail2017: Beat Akron 50-3 Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl
3 NFL Draft picks: Devin Singletary (2019), Kerrith Whyte Jr. (2019), Harrison Bryant (2020)
+13.4
26-13
2014–2016
Charlie Partridge Steady
Charlie Partridge held Florida Atlantic at Regional Program IV for 3 seasons.
2016 defense ranked in the 0th percentile nationally — historically bad
+0.3 pts over 3 seasons · top 33% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Jake Spavital’s Texas State run (2019–2022)
4th-best Florida Atlantic tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Followed Carl Pelini (2012–2013) · succeeded by Lane Kiffin (2017–2019).
System Shift, on departure
System Shift, on arrival
| Season | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 3-9 | 3-9 | 3-9 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #94 | #79 | #89 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 45.2 | 44.0 | 43.7 | |
| Coordinators | ||||
| OC | Brian Wright | Brian Wright | Travis Trickett | |
| DC | Roc Bellantoni | Roc Bellantoni | Roc Bellantoni | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 34 | 13 | 45 | |
| Defense | 21 | 64 | 0 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 44.8 | 43.7 | 40.8 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 31.1 | 44.4 | 28.9 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 25.0 | 41.1 | 22.9 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Underperforms his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
Offense vs. talent
-14.8 pts
#162 of 208 · bottom quarter
Defense vs. talent
-12.4 pts
#157 of 208 · bottom quarter
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Brian Wright → Travis Trickett · 2016
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 43.7% → 40.8% (-2.9 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 42% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
2 NFL Draft picks: D'Joun Smith (2015), Trey Hendrickson (2017)
+0.3
9-27
2013
Brian Wright Short tenure
2013 defense ranked in the 96th percentile nationally — elite
4-0
2012–2013
Carl Pelini Short tenure
2013 defense ranked in the 96th percentile nationally — elite
5-15
2004–2011
Howard Schnellenberger Steady
Howard Schnellenberger held Florida Atlantic at Regional Program IV for 7 seasons.
2009 defense ranked in the 2th percentile nationally — historically bad
3rd-best Florida Atlantic tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Succeeded by Carl Pelini (2012–2013).
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||
| Record | 9-3 | 2-9 | 5-7 | 8-5 | 7-6 | 5-7 | 4-8 | 1-11 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | W bowl | W bowl | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #117 | #114 | #118 | — | — | — | #118 | #103 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||
| Pass rate | 45.1 | 41.2 | 43.8 | 51.9 | 52.3 | 50.6 | 46.1 | 47.6 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||
| Offense | — | 15 | 28 | 51 | 76 | 84 | 5 | 6 | |
| Defense | — | 65 | 60 | 52 | 40 | 2 | 43 | 20 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | 37.7 | 52.4 | 46.9 | 47.6 | 47.9 | 43.2 | 44.0 | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | 42.3 | 49.6 | 47.1 | 38.2 | 50.0 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | 26.7 | 28.6 | 31.4 | 34.8 | 31.8 | |
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
Grows Running back from high school
100%
#196 of 208 stints
Postseason detail2007: Beat Memphis 44-27 Bowl2008: Beat Central Michigan 24-21 Bowl
3 NFL Draft picks: Rusty Smith (2010), Robert Housler (2011), Alfred Morris (2012)
Regional Program IV
41-56