It’s about time to start one of the least favorite but most interesting times of the year: The coaching carousel. As a Group of 5 conference, the Mountain West head and assistant coaches get offers and leave each season for more prestigious and higher-paying new jobs. It’s just how it is in the college football landscape.
Normally, this is the time of year when we devote a post to the chances each of the 12 Mountain West coaches will return next season. Here is last year’s post for reference. However,
instead, this year we will pivot to focus on Mountain West Coach of the Year candidates.
It’s a season where quite a few names have emerged and although only one will win, each one deserves to have their resume looked at. Here are six MW coaches who should be considered.
Matt Entz (Fresno State)
The case for:
Coach Entz has the Bulldogs playing meaningful games in November, clinching a bowl game, and chasing a Mountain West championship spot. They have gotten better as the season has gone on and have quickly established an identity as a physical team on both sides of the ball.
The case against:
Fresno State has been a steady team, but they aren’t necessarily lighting the conference on fire. They struggled mightily against the top team in the conference, and unfortunately lost to one of the bottom teams in the MW as well. It seems like the team hasn’t quite arrived yet, despite experiencing success this season.
Timmy Chang (Hawaii)
The case for:
Coach Chang has the famed run-and-shoot offense firing on all cylinders during the 2025 football season. He has overseen Micah Alejado blossoming into a star, and has helped develop some all-conference wide receivers as well. Conventional wisdom was hopeful that Hawaii would make a bowl game, but they are now competing at the top of the Mountain West, with an impressive win over San Diego State.
The case against:
An argument can be made that Hawaii’s success can mainly be attributed to Alejado, and that isn’t necessarily connected to coaching. Also, it should not be forgotten that Coach Chang’s seat was a bit warm coming into the season, meaning he has been a bit inconsistent.
Jason Eck (New Mexico)
The case for:
Coach Eck has found a way to rebuild the Lobo roster quickly and turn them into a competitive team, despite roster-building limitations. He has led them to their first bowl game in a decade and has done so by excelling in scouting and game preparation.
The case against:
They have already lost three games, two of them in conference play. Also, New Mexico isn’t competing for a conference championship, despite its strong play. They haven’t necessarily stood out in any one way or fully developed their identity at this point.
Sean Lewis (San Diego State)
The case for:
Coach Lewis has San Diego State sitting at the top of the Mountain West Conference standings, full of some statement wins on the season. The defense has been elite in 2025, and he’s guided a number of returning players to all-conference-level seasons with strong play.
The case against:
Despite the continued winning of the Aztecs, they are a bit of an inconsistent team, with some close calls mixed in with the losses. Also, the team is led by the strength of their defense, while Coach Lewis’ calling card is offense, and he’s been unable to get his system off the ground for the past two seasons.
Dan Mullen (UNLV)
The case for:
Coach Mullen has kept the good times going for the Rebels, mostly picking up where they left off the last two seasons. They are near the top of the conference, competing for a chance to play in the Mountain West championship, and their offense is dynamic, which clearly has his personal touch on it.
The case against:
UNLV hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire this season. They have almost lost a number of games, most notably the season-opener against an FCS team. While their offense is great, the defense is a mess and one that neither Coach Mullen nor his defensive coordinator and good friend has been able to solve this season. Despite the success, it’s hard to see him as a front-runner.
Bronco Mendenhall (Utah State)
The case for:
As he did the year prior with New Mexico, Coach Mendenhall instantly turned a Utah State team gutted by the transfer portal into a competitive team during his first season at the helm. Once again, he’s been able to build an offense around his personnel, especially a dynamic quarterback.
The case against:
They have been a pretty good team, but not great, hovering around .500 for most of the season. The defense has been poor and inconsistent all season, which is two years in a row for Coach Mendenhall, and was his calling card at BYU and Virginia. The Aggies are competing for a bowl game, not the conference championship, which knocks him down a peg in consideration.
Coaching Carousel Thoughts
- Coach Eck is sure to have some calls about offers this offseason, but he likely stays in New Mexico at least through next year.
- Coach Choate definitely helped his job status with the huge win over San Jose State last weekend. That, coupled with the thought that the Nevada athletic department doesn’t have a ton of excess cash, gives him more time to turn some things around.
- Coach Sawvel probably gets another year to improve, but he is sure to have the hottest seat entering next season.
- With back-to-back poor seasons in a row, does Coach Cahoun think about moving on? It’s weird to think about the head coach being anywhere but Air Force, a position he’s held since 2007, but perhaps this gets him thinking. Or maybe he decides to double down on his efforts to get the Falcons back to a bowl game in 2026.
