San Diego State announced Monday that head football coach Brady Hoke will retire at the end of the 2023 football season. Here’s what you need to know:
- The 65-year-old Hoke, who was the head coach at Michigan from 2011-14, is in his second stint as San Diego State’s coach.
- The Aztecs are 3-7 through 10 games and will finish with a losing record for the first time since 2009, the first season in Hoke’s first tenure.
- Hoke went 13-12 with the Aztecs in 2009-10 and is 26-19 since returning in 2020, headlined by a 12-2 campaign in 2021.
- SDSU is the second open job in the Mountain West after Boise State fired Andy Avalos.
Head Coach Brady Hoke has announced he will retire at the end of the season.
Thank you, Coach, for everything you have done leading our program!
🔗: https://t.co/qDcrVkgII6 pic.twitter.com/HG2LhsE3Fg
— San Diego State Football (@AztecFB) November 13, 2023
Was this a surprise?
San Diego State has long had a struggling offense, but it was usually propped up by an elite defense. Though the Aztecs went 12-2 under Hoke in 2021, he is 14-17 in the other three seasons in his second stint. The wheels fell off this season, with SDSU 3-7 after consecutive losses to Nevada (by a 6-0 score), Utah State and Colorado State. The Aztecs have fallen from their perch, right after missing out on a Power 5 invitation as the Pac-12 collapsed.
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SDSU hasn’t finished in the top 75 nationally in scoring offense since 2017. The Aztecs are 115th this year. With a new stadium in place, the program needs to draw up more excitement.
Hoke’s buyout was more than $4 million, which is costly for a school like SDSU. It would’ve been largely offset by Hoke getting another coaching job, but he was not required to seek employment, and some industry sources wondered if the 65-year-old Hoke would just retire upon firing and collect the buyout. It’s not clear what the separation agreement is in this situation, but it allows Hoke to wrap up his tenure and career with celebration.
After all, he’s one of just two coaches since 1996 to win at least 11 games at three different schools (Ball State, Michigan, SDSU), along with Urban Meyer. That’s a pretty good run.
Who could fill the job?
This will be a highly sought-after job, according to industry sources, because of its location, resources and facilities. Some names to watch include Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, Missouri offensive coordinator Kirby Moore, UCLA defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, USC analyst Kliff Kingsbury, USC defensive backs coach Donte Williams, Oregon State offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren and Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White.
GO DEEPER
Feldman's San Diego State candidates to replace Brady Hoke
(Photo: Tom Hauck / Getty Images)
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