Memphis: a football coaching history

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.

2026–now

Charles Huff Short tenure

No outlier style signal this stint

7-2

2025

Reggie Howard Short tenure

No outlier style signal this stint

0-1

2020–2025

Ryan Silverfield Steady

Ryan Silverfield held Memphis at National Program II for 6 seasons.

2023 offense ranked in the 95th percentile nationally — elite

+0.9 pts over 6 seasons · bottom 44% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: J.D. Brookhart’s Akron run (2004–2009)

4th-best Memphis tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Mike Norvell (2016–2019) · succeeded by Charles Huff (2026–now).

System Shift, on arrival

System Shift, on departure

Season	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Record & result
Record	8-3	6-6	7-6	10-3	11-2	8-4
Postseason	W bowl	—	W bowl	W bowl	W bowl	—
Recruiting rank	#67	#46	#58	#60	#68	#60
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	51.6	51.7	48.0	52.9	51.9	46.7
Coordinators
OC	Kevin Johns	Kevin Johns	Tim Cramsey	Tim Cramsey	Tim Cramsey / Larry Smith	Tim Cramsey / Larry Smith
DC	Mike MacIntyre	Mike MacIntyre	Matt Barnes	Matt Barnes	Spence Nowinsky / Jordon Hankins	Jordon Hankins
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	59	51	57	95	90	69
Defense	41	41	88	46	31	37
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	45.6	50.0	45.3	48.4	49.2	42.9
Red-zone pass%	49.6	48.0	37.4	34.6	42.0	27.8
4th-down go%opp. territory	39.0	45.2	32.6	47.5	37.2	37.8

Recruiter or developer?

Outperforms his recruiting talent on offense and performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on defense.

Offense vs. talent

+20.2 pts

#40 of 208 · top quarter

Defense vs. talent

-2.7 pts

#117 of 208 · middle half

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 portal-built roster.

Portal arrivals

109

2.9★ avg rating

Portal departures

129

left via the portal

Net portal flow

-20

#35 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″, 235 lbs

across 82 of 109 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix

Size vs. position-typical

+4.4 lbs

#117 of 255 · middle half

Avg. class year

#1 of 255 · top quarter

Top states: TX (14), TN (11), GA (9), FL (8), AL (5)

Who won the portal our read

Talent added

56.4

position-weighted

Talent lost

57.7

position-weighted

Net

-1.3

arrivals minus departures

Best addition: Brendon Lewis (QB) from Nevada

Biggest loss: Markevion Quinn (QB) to the portal

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: Kevin Johns → Tim Cramsey · 2022The offense improved

2-season window either side.

1st-down pass rate: 47.8% → 46.9% (-1.0 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 75% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

DC: Mike MacIntyre → Matt Barnes · 2022The defense improved

2-season window either side.

DC: Matt Barnes → Spence Nowinsky (co) / Jordon Hankins · 2024

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

Roster size, by position

Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)

Quarterback

211 lbs

6′3″ avg · #432 of 767 · middle half

Running back

201 lbs

5′10″ avg · #612 of 791 · bottom quarter

Wide receiver

190 lbs

6′0″ avg · #513 of 791 · middle half

Tight end

245 lbs

6′4″ avg · #359 of 731 · middle half

Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters

Interior line

304 lbs

6′4″ avg · #601 of 779 · bottom quarter

D-line

275 lbs

6′3″ avg · #568 of 753 · bottom quarter

Linebacker

226 lbs

6′1″ avg · #510 of 772 · middle half

Cornerback

187 lbs

6′0″ avg · #536 of 771 · middle half

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

Buys Edge via the portal

83%

#9 of 208 stints

Buys Athlete via the portal

22%

#22 of 146 stints

Postseason detail2020: Beat Florida Atlantic 25-10 Montgomery Bowl2022: Beat Utah State 38-10 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl2023: Beat Iowa State 36-26 AutoZone Liberty Bowl2024: Beat West Virginia 42-37 Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl

5 NFL Draft picks: Kenneth Gainwell (2021), Dylan Parham (2022), Calvin Austin III (2022), Kobee Minor (2025), Travis Burke (2026)

+0.9

50-25

2016–2019

Mike Norvell Builder≈

Mike Norvell raised Memphis from Regional Program II to National Program II.

2017 offense ranked in the 97th percentile nationally — elite

+13.2 pts over 4 seasons · top 3% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Lane Kiffin’s Florida Atlantic run (2017–2019)

5th-best Memphis tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Justin Fuente (2012–2015) · succeeded by Ryan Silverfield (2020–2025).

System Shift, on arrival

System Shift, on departure

Season	2016	2017	2018	2019
Record & result
Record	8-5	10-3	8-6	12-1
Postseason	L bowl	L bowl	L bowl	—
Recruiting rank	#61	#56	#81	#67
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	49.5	51.9	40.2	44.5
Coordinators
OC	Chip Long	Darrell Dickey	Kenny Dillingham	Kevin Johns
DC	Chris Ball	Chris Ball	Chris Ball	Adam Fuller
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	77	97	90	94
Defense	28	31	39	46
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	49.6	47.7	30.8	41.9
Red-zone pass%	44.4	55.3	32.6	36.6
4th-down go%opp. territory	27.3	35.1	30.6	39.0

Recruiter or developer?

Outperforms his recruiting talent on offense and underperforms his recruiting talent on defense.

Offense vs. talent

+41.2 pts

#4 of 208 · top quarter

Defense vs. talent

-12.6 pts

#158 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: Chip Long → Darrell Dickey · 2017

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

1st-down pass rate: 49.6% → 47.7% (-1.8 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 88% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

OC: Darrell Dickey → Kenny Dillingham · 2018

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

1st-down pass rate: 47.7% → 30.8% (-17.0 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 39% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

OC: Kenny Dillingham → Kevin Johns · 2019

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

1st-down pass rate: 30.8% → 41.9% (+11.1 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 70% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

DC: Chris Ball → Adam Fuller · 2019

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

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

Postseason detail2016: Lost to Western Kentucky 31-51 Boca Raton Bowl2017: Lost to Iowa State 20-21 Bowl2018: Lost to Wake Forest 34-37 Jared Birmingham Bowl

8 NFL Draft picks: Jake Elliott (2017), Anthony Miller (2018), Genard Avery (2018), Darrell Henderson (2019), Tony Pollard (2019), Antonio Gibson (2020), Chris Claybrooks (2020), Dustin Woodard (2020)

+13.2

38-15

2012–2015

Justin Fuente Steady≈

Justin Fuente moved Memphis from Regional Program IV to Regional Program II in 4 seasons.

No outlier style signal this stint

+10.6 pts over 4 seasons · top 5% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Kevin Sumlin’s Houston run (2008–2011)

11th-best Memphis tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Larry Porter (2010–2011) · succeeded by Mike Norvell (2016–2019).

System Shift, on departure

System Shift, on arrival

Season	2012	2013	2014	2015
Record & result
Record	4-8	3-9	10-3	9-3
Postseason	—	—	W bowl	—
Recruiting rank	#92	#90	#78	#77
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	36.7	45.2	41.3	45.2
Coordinators
OC	—	—	Darrell Dickey	Brad Cornelsen / Darrell Dickey
DC	—	—	Barry Odom	Galen Scott
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	40	17	44	55
Defense	68	64	89	57
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	34.7	39.2	40.2	46.0
Red-zone pass%	26.9	30.5	28.8	35.6
4th-down go%opp. territory	45.7	38.5	13.0	14.9

Recruiter or developer?

Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on offense and outperforms his recruiting talent on defense.

Offense vs. talent

+12.8 pts

#56 of 208 · middle half

Defense vs. talent

+14.1 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.

Does the system survive a coordinator change?

OC: Darrell Dickey → Brad Cornelsen (co) / Darrell Dickey · 2015

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

1st-down pass rate: 40.2% → 46.0% (+5.8 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 77% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

DC: Barry Odom → Galen Scott · 2015

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Kicker from high school

100%

#52 of 56 stints

Grows Tight end from high school

100%

#164 of 188 stints

Postseason detail2014: Beat BYU 55-48 Miami Beach Bowl

4 NFL Draft picks: Lonnie Ballentine (2014), Bobby McCain (2015), Martin Ifedi (2015), Paxton Lynch (2016)

+10.6

26-23

2010–2011

Larry Porter Short tenure

2011 offense ranked in the 5th percentile nationally — historically bad

3-21

2001–2009

Tommy West Steady

Tommy West slid the Tigers from Regional Program I to Regional Program III in 9 seasons.

Swung 25.6 points of pass rate — #5 of 449 FBS coaching stints since 2004

−5.8 pts over 9 seasons · bottom 17% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Clay Helton’s USC run (2013 (1 game), 2015–2021)

7th-best Memphis tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Rip Scherer (1995–2000) · succeeded by Larry Porter (2010–2011).

System Shift, on departure

Season	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Record & result
Record	5-6	3-9	9-4	8-4	7-5	2-10	7-6	6-7	2-10
Postseason	—	—	W bowl	L bowl	W bowl	—	L bowl	L bowl	—
Recruiting rank	—	—	—	#64	#83	#100	#82	#65	#88
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	—	—	—	45.8	28.6	51.4	54.2	44.7	48.2
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	—	—	—	88	75	30	64	42	21
Defense	—	—	—	24	36	5	5	32	17
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	—	—	—	40.9	21.7	49.0	49.5	37.9	41.6
Red-zone pass%	—	—	—	37.0	18.6	39.1	53.1	31.2	40.8
4th-down go%opp. territory	—	—	—	15.4	23.8	29.3	32.4	30.0	10.5

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Kicker from high school

100%

#52 of 56 stints

Grows Tight end from high school

100%

#164 of 188 stints

Postseason detail2003: Beat North Texas 27-17 Bowl2004: Lost to Bowling Green 35-52 Bowl2005: Beat Akron 38-31 Bowl2007: Lost to Florida Atlantic 27-44 Bowl2008: Lost to South Florida 14-41 Bowl

7 NFL Draft picks: Wade Smith (2003), Travis Anglin (2003), Eric Taylor (2004), DeAngelo Williams (2006), Stephen Gostkowski (2006), Brandon McDonald (2007), Clinton McDonald (2009)

−5.8

49-61

1995–2000

Rip Scherer Steady

Rip Scherer slid the Tigers from National Program III to Regional Program I in 6 seasons.

−4.9 pts over 6 seasons · bottom 22% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Derek Mason’s Vanderbilt run (2014–2020)

8th-best Memphis tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Chuck Stobart (1989–1994) · succeeded by Tommy West (2001–2009).

7 NFL Draft picks: Tony Williams (1997), Richard Hogans (1997), Marvin Thomas (1997), Mike McKenzie (1999), Idrees Bashir (2001), Michael Stone (2001), Marcus Bell (2001)

−4.9

22-44

1989–1994

Chuck Stobart Steady

Chuck Stobart moved the Tigers from Regional Program II to Regional Program I in 6 seasons.

+4.3 pts over 6 seasons · top 38% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Matt Wells’s Utah State run (2013–2018)

6th-best Memphis tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Charlie Bailey (1986–1988) · succeeded by Rip Scherer (1995–2000).

9 NFL Draft picks: Charles Wilson (1990), Reginald Jones (1991), Jeff Fite (1991), Eduardo Vega (1991), Russell Copeland (1993), Isaac Bruce (1994), Tony Semple (1994), Steve Matthews (1994) + 1 more

+4.3

29-36-1

1986–1988

Charlie Bailey Steady

Charlie Bailey slid Memphis from Regional Program I to Regional Program II in 3 seasons.

−2.7 pts over 3 seasons · top 48% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Bill Doba’s Washington State run (2003–2007)

10th-best Memphis tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Rey Dempsey (1984–1985) · succeeded by Chuck Stobart (1989–1994).

2 NFL Draft picks: David Brandon (1987), Mike Nettles (1989)

−2.7

12-20-1

1984–1985

Rey Dempsey Short tenure

7-12-3

1981–1983

Rex Dockery Steady

Rex Dockery slid the Tigers from National Program III to Regional Program I in 3 seasons.

−5.1 pts over 3 seasons · bottom 36% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Brent Guy’s Utah State run (2005–2008)

9th-best Memphis tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Richard Williamson (1975–1980) · succeeded by Rey Dempsey (1984–1985).

1 NFL Draft pick: Richard Williams (1983)

−5.1

8-24-1

1975–1980

Richard Williamson Steady

Richard Williamson slid the Tigers from National Program II to National Program I in 6 seasons.

−5.2 pts over 6 seasons · bottom 20% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Phil Bennett’s SMU run (2002–2007)

2nd-best Memphis tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Fred Pancoast (1972–1974) · succeeded by Rex Dockery (1981–1983).

11 NFL Draft picks: Bob Rush (1977), Terdell Middleton (1977), Eric Harris (1977), Eary Jones (1977), Bob Jordan (1977), Keith Simpson (1978), Keith Butler (1978), Keith Wright (1978) + 3 more

−5.2

31-35

1972–1974

Fred Pancoast Steady

Fred Pancoast slid Memphis from National Program I to National Program II in 3 seasons.

−2.3 pts over 3 seasons · top 46% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Major Applewhite’s Houston run (2016–2018)

3rd-best Memphis tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Followed Billy Murphy (1960–1971) · succeeded by Richard Williamson (1975–1980).

1 NFL Draft pick: Cliff Taylor (1974)

−2.3

20-12-1

1960–1971

Billy Murphy Steady

Billy Murphy held Memphis at National Program I for 12 seasons.

1st-best Memphis tenure of 11 by the numbers.

Succeeded by Fred Pancoast (1972–1974).

Season	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969	1970	1971
Record & result
Record	8-2	8-2	8-1	9-0-1	5-4	5-5	7-2	6-3	6-4	8-2	6-4	5-6
Postseason	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	W bowl
Recruiting rank	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Defense	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Red-zone pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
4th-down go%opp. territory	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Postseason detail1971: Beat San José State 28-9 Bowl

National Program I

81-35-1