Ranking every Big Ten coaching staff entering 2025 football season
Six Big Ten teams made the top 25: Ohio State (No. 2), Penn State (No. 3), Oregon (No. 7), Illinois (No. 12), Michigan (No. 14) and Indiana (No. 19). Five others received votes: USC, Iowa, Washington, Nebraska and Minnesota.
The conference still has plenty of intrigue past that top group. Wisconsin, Michigan State and UCLA are each looking for resurgent seasons after missing bowl games in 2024, while several bowl-eligible teams in the 'receiving votes' category, including Minnesota and Washington, are in search of a further breakthrough.
For a specific breakdown of every position unit that will define that conference race, our full rankings are linked below.
Position Previews: Overall Offenses -- Quarterbacks -- Running Backs -- Wide Receivers -- Tight Ends -- Offensive Lines -- Overall Defenses -- Defensive Lines -- Pass-Rushers -- Inside Linebackers -- Cornerbacks -- Safeties -- Secondaries -- Special Teams Units
Coaching Staff Previews: Head Coaches -- Offensive Coordinators -- Defensive Coordinators
We concluded that preview series by ranking each of the Big Ten's head coaches and lead coordinators individually. But when those hierarchies are combined, which program has the best overall coaching staff? Here are those results.
(Note: Each coach was awarded a point based on his conference ranking, with one point for 18th place, two for 17th, three for 16th, and so on. Head coach points were doubled to properly weight the rankings)
18. Northwestern Wildcats
Head coach (ranking): David Braun (No. 17)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Zach Lujan (No. 18)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): Tim McGarigle (No. 17)
Northwestern's coaching staff has a much different outlook entering 2025 than it did entering 2024. The team's 4-8 record last season, headlined by a No. 16 finish in scoring defense (26.3 points allowed per game), leads to that outlook. Braun and his coordinators need to reestablish the Wildcats' baseline, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
17. Purdue Boilermakers
Head coach (ranking): Barry Odom (No. 16)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Josh Henson (No. 16)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): Michael Sherer (No. 16)
Purdue's coaching staff faces a tough task in 2025 after it turned over the entire roster in just one offseason. Odom and his assistants have each succeeded elsewhere. This season will be about the trio reestablishing the program and building momentum for 2026.
16. Maryland Terrapins
Head coach (ranking): Mike Locksley (No. 18)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Pep Hamilton (No. 14)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): Ted Monachino (No. 12)
Locksley hired two veteran coordinators this offseason as he works to return Maryland to bowl eligibility. Both Hamilton and Monachino have a ton of experience at the NFL level and should be a net positive. This ranking has more to do with the temperature of Locksley's seat entering the year.
15. UCLA Bruins
Head coach (ranking): DeShaun Foster (No. 15)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Tino Sunseri (No. 10)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): Ikaika Malloe (No. 14)
UCLA could be a program on the rise entering 2025. Foster's biggest coaching staff move this offseason was Sunseri's hire from the Indiana staff. The performance of Sunseri's offense, including the development of top transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava, will be critical to the team's chances.
Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions on UCLA Wire
14. Michigan State Spartans
Head coach (ranking): Jonathan Smith (No. 14)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Brian Lindgren (No. 12)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): Joe Rossi (No. 7)
2025 is a prove-it year for Smith and his Michigan State program. Each coach boasts significant recent success -- Smith and Lindgren together at Oregon State from 2018-23. A 5-7 debut season in 2024 halted the hype surrounding their arrival in East Lansing. A strong 2025 season is necessary to rebuild momentum.
Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis and opinions on Spartans Wire
13. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Head coach (ranking): P.J. Fleck (No. 9)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Greg Harbaugh Jr. and Matt Simon (No. 13)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): Danny Collins (No. 15)
Fleck could rise close to the Big Ten's top tier of coaches if he leads Minnesota to a breakthrough season and a College Football Playoff appearance. The staff's big question is Collins, who takes over the defense after top DC Corey Hetherman left for Miami.
12. Washington Huskies
Head coach (ranking): Jedd Fisch (No. 11)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Jimmie Dougherty (No. 15)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): Ryan Walters (No. 8)
Fisch and the Huskies appear to be in for a big season in 2025. Dougherty's offense has a promising underclassman in Demond Williams set to start under center. If he pans out, the offense could be among the Big Ten's best. Walters' arrival is worth watching after his disastrous tenure at Purdue. It wasn't too long ago, at Illinois in 2022, that he was one of the top rising defensive coordinators in the sport.
Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire
11. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Head coach (ranking): Greg Schiano (No. 13)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Kirk Ciarrocca (No. 9)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): Robb Smith and Zach Sparber (No. 9)
Schiano's staff embodies Rutgers' current high-floor, low-ceiling place. Middle-of-the-pack units on both sides of the football could lead the team to its third straight bowl appearance. If so, Schiano should rise within the top 10.
10. Wisconsin Badgers
Head coach (ranking): Luke Fickell (No. 12)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Jeff Grimes (No. 7)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): Mike Tressel (No. 9)
Wisconsin's coaching staff is a major question mark after the program's 5-7 finish in 2024 and its subsequent offseason of changes. Grimes takes over the Badgers' offense after a poor two years under Phil Longo. His performance is critical for Fickell's future with the program.
9. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Head coach (ranking): Matt Rhule (No. 8)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Dana Holgorsen (No. 5)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): John Butler (No. 18)
Rhule and the Cornhuskers are expected to break out in 2025. If so, it will be because Holgorsen's offense shows real improvement after a full offseason of fine-tuning. Butler's defense is a bit of a question after Tony White's departure to Florida State. Still, with the storylines surrounding both coordinators, 2025 will be a reflection of where Rhule has the program. Can he eliminate the start fast, fade faster arc of every Nebraska season over the last half-decade?
Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire
8. USC Trojans
Head coach (ranking): Lincoln Riley (No. 7)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Luke Huard (No. 17)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): D'Anton Lynn (No. 5)
Riley's USC staff would rise quickly if the team fares better in its second year in the Big Ten. Lynn helped the defense improve in his first year after moving over from UCLA, although that improvement wasn't enough to lead the Trojans past a 6-6 regular-season record. 2025 will fall on Riley's shoulders. He's expected to have the Trojans in national contention, not battling to make bowl games.
Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire
7. Michigan Wolverines
Head coach (ranking): Sherrone Moore (No. 10)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Chip Lindsey (No. 11)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): Wink Martindale (No. 3)
Michigan's staff is one of many set for a significant rise if all goes well in 2025. Much of that falls on the shoulders of five-star freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, who is set to take the reins of a passing offense that finished near the bottom of the sport in 2024. Lindsey and Underwood might be the two most important figures in the grand scheme of Michigan's season.
Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire
6. Illinois Fighting Illini
Head coach (ranking): Bret Bielema (No. 4)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Barry Lunney Jr. (No. 6)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): Aaron Henry (No. 13)
Bielema has established the Fighting Illini staff as one of the best in the Big Ten. The assistant to watch is Henry, who enters his third season leading the defense. While Illinois is winning at a program-best clip, he has yet to elevate the defense to the level it sustained under Walters.
5. Indiana Hoosiers
Head coach (ranking): Curt Cignetti (No. 6)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Mike Shanahan (No. 4)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): Bryant Haines (No. 6)
Cignetti's Indiana program emerged out of nowhere last season. His two coordinators are no exception. Now with a year of dominance at the Big Ten level under their belts, expect Shanahan and Haines to both become hot names on the head coaching circuit. The Hoosiers finishing with nine or 10 wins in 2025 would accomplish that.
4. Iowa Hawkeyes
Head coach (ranking): Kirk Ferentz (No. 5)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Tim Lester (No. 8)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): Phil Parker (No. 1)
Iowa's consistent success under Ferentz is nothing short of remarkable. Parker deserves major credit for that year-in, year-out performance. He's a perfect assistant for Ferentz, as he's arguably the best in the sport at his job, yet has no desire to leave for another position. The output of Lester's offense will be key in 2025 as the Hawkeyes look to return to double-digit wins for the second time in three years.
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
3. Ohio State Buckeyes
Head coach (ranking): Ryan Day (No. 1)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Brian Hartline (No. 3)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): Matt Patricia (No. 11)
Ohio State lost two of the top coordinators in college football after last season, as DC Jim Knowles left for Penn State and OC Chip Kelly left for the Las Vegas Raiders. Day is the top coach in the Big Ten after the national title run, though his assistants, specifically Patricia, are a bit more of a question.
Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire
2. Penn State Nittany Lions
Head coach (ranking): James Franklin (No. 3)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Andy Kotelnicki (No. 2)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): Jim Knowles (No. 2)
Penn State's coaching staff elevated to elite with Knowles' addition. It now boasts two of the top coordinators in the sport, who are set to lead arguably the Big Ten's most talented roster. The Nittany Lions have a legitimate shot at a national title this season.
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire
1. Oregon Ducks
Head coach (ranking): Dan Lanning (No. 2)
Offensive coordinator (ranking): Will Stein (No. 1)
Defensive coordinator (ranking): Tosh Lupoi (No. 4)
The top team on this list shouldn't be a surprise. Lanning is one of the top young coaches in college football. He's surrounded by two ace coordinators in Stein and Lupoi. While Oregon lost significant talent off its 2024 team, expect another top-tier finish from this group one year from now.
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire
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