Top five offseason college football coaching hires

Paul Myerberg

USA TODAY Sports

There were 20 head coaching changes at the FBS level in the offseason. Some showed a shrewdness on the part of the hiring committee. Some worked out better than anyone could have predicted. And some bear watching to see which way a school's fortunes will turn.

The top five moves, with honorable mention to UAB (Garrick McGee to Bill Clark), Wyoming (Dave Christensen to Craig Bohl) and UMass (Charley Molnar to Mark Whipple).

1. CHRIS PETERSEN, Washington.

Chris Petersen inherits a strong foundation at Washington.

Petersen took the major-conference leap after eight wildly successful seasons at Boise State. He inherits a bit of a muddled quarterback situation, but he has the foundation upon which to build a run to the Rose Bowl.

2. JAMES FRANKLIN, Penn State.

New Penn State head coach James Franklin walks onto the field with daughters Shola Franklin (left) and Addison Franklin (right).

His impact on Penn State's overall energy has, as expected, been immense. Franklin has also done wonders on the recruiting trail, bolstering the Nittany Lions' overall talent level, and he has worked to continue last year's strides on offense.

3. BRYAN HARSIN, Boise State.

Boise State football head football coach Bryan Harsin cheers on his team during the first day of practice on the new DeChevrieux Field on the Campus of BSU.

Boise State's pick as Petersen's successor was a no-brainer: Harsin wasn't merely familiar with Boise State — he was a longtime Petersen assistant — but experienced as a head coach, thanks to last year's turn at Arkansas State.

4. DINO BABERS, Bowling Green.

Eastern Illinois Panthers head coach Dino Babers coaches his team during the second quarter against the Towson Tigers at O'Brien Field.

The former Art Briles assistant brings a Baylor-like offensive style into the Mid-American Conference. This should work tremendously: Bowling Green has the personnel to hit the ground running in Babers' first season, painting the Falcons as the team to beat in the MAC.

5. BOBBY PETRINO, Louisville

Louisville football coach Bobby Petrino gestures as he explains his early thoughts his NCAA college football team during a media day news conference in Louisville, Ky.

Petrino returns to Louisville after stints with the Atlanta Falcons, Arkansas and Western Kentucky. He brings along some baggage, true, but also one of the finest résumés of any coach in college football. Petrino will quickly make Louisville's passing game into one of the nation's best.

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