Memphis wasted no time finding its next leader. Just days after former head coach Ryan Silverfield departed for Arkansas, the Tigers have turned to one of college football’s most respected program rebuilders. Southern Miss head coach Charles Huff is set to become the next Memphis head coach, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, with a five-year deal expected to be finalized.
The hire signals Memphis’s intent to remain among the AAC’s top programs and to continue pushing toward the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
Charles Huff: A Proven Program Builder
Huff, 42, arrives with a résumé built on quick turnarounds and sustainable growth. In his first season at Southern Miss, he guided a program that went winless in conference play the year before to a 7–5 record, including a 5–3 conference record in 2025. Transforming a one-win roster into a bowl-eligible team in just one year showcased Huff’s ability to stabilize a program quickly, a trait Memphis prioritized during an era defined by transfer portal volatility.
Before Southern Miss, Huff spent four years as head coach at Marshall, where he capped his tenure with a 10–3 season and a Sun Belt championship in 2024. His track record of winning immediately and elevating talent made him one of the most sought-after Group of Five coaches on the market.
Coaching Background
Huff’s coaching pedigree is among the strongest in the nation. He has worked under:
- Nick Saban (Alabama)
- James Franklin (Penn State, Vanderbilt)
- Dan Mullen (Mississippi State)
- P.J. Fleck (Western Michigan)
That wide-ranging experience; spanning elite recruiting landscapes, offensive innovation, and developmental programs, has shaped Huff into a versatile, modern head coach who understands both roster building and player retention.
His reputation as a dynamic recruiter and player developer could be a major advantage as Memphis navigates the current transfer portal cycle and continues elevating its roster to AAC-title contention levels. With many players expecting to be on the move with the coaching change, Memphis fans should expect Huff to get to work on the roster personnel right away.
Replacing Silverfield: Big Shoes, Bigger Opportunity
Ryan Silverfield leaves Memphis after leading the Tigers to six straight bowl appearances, setting a standard of consistency the program didn’t want to lose. While filling that void is no small task, Huff appears ready for the challenge.
Memphis views his arrival as an opportunity not simply to maintain success, but to raise its long-term ceiling. With the 12-team playoff era and talks about expansion, the AAC champion has a realistic path to the postseason every year. Hiring a proven rebuilder who can recruit at a Power Four level positions Memphis to stay at the top tier of the conference.
Memphis Betting Big on Its Future
By choosing Huff, Memphis is securing a coach whose profile has been rising rapidly and who may soon be on the radar of Power Four programs. His ability to flip Southern Miss from one win to seven in a single season cemented him as one of the country’s most capable turnarounds specialists.
Now, he’ll take on a new test: sustaining Memphis’s bowl streak while pushing the Tigers toward playoff contention. If his previous stops are any indication, Huff may be the next breakout star of the coaching carousel. But first, he has an even more important job, proving that Memphis made the right move.