The Memphis Tigers officially announced their head coaching vacancy on Monday, Dec. 8, just eight days after officially launching a search.
Charles Huff will serve as the program’s 26th full-time head coach,
leading the program for the 2026 season. Huff arrives with a 39-25 record as an FBS head coach after stints at Marshall (2021-24) and Southern Miss (2025). Huff notably led Marshall to a 9-4 season with a Myrtle Beach Bowl victory in 2022, and in 2024, he captured the Thundering Herd’s first-ever Sun Belt title, handling Louisiana 31-3 on the road for a 10-3 finish.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Charles Huff as the next head football coach at the University of Memphis,” Memphis athletic director Ed Scott said in a statement. “Early in our search process, Coach Huff quickly rose to the top of our list as a dynamic leader with a proven track record of building strong, competitive programs. He brings a championship mindset, tremendous drive, and more than 20 years of experience working alongside some of the top coaches in college football. We are eager to get him to Memphis and begin this next chapter for our football program.”
Huff’s contract in Huntington, WV expired at the conclusion of the 2024 campaign. Despite winning the Sun Belt, Marshall and Huff failed to negotiate an extension, causing the free agent head coach to depart for Southern Miss. At another Sun Belt program, Huff spearheaded one of the greatest turnarounds in the FBS this year. The Golden Eagles flipped from 1-11 to 7-5, remaining in play for the Sun Belt Championship Game until a Week 14 defeat to Troy. Southern Miss will be without Huff for its Dec. 23 New Orleans Bowl vs. WKU, promoting offensive coordinator Blake Anderson to interim head coach for the game.
Huff replaces Ryan Silverfield, who graced Memphis’ campus the past six years and posted a 50-25 record. Silverfield exited for Arkansas on Sunday, Nov. 30, ending a reign which featured four bowl victories and a 23-4 non-conference record.
The former Southern Miss and Marshall head coach negotiated a 5-year contract with Memphis, and he strolls into the American Conference with lofty expectations. The Tigers own the longest bowl streak in the conference and one of the longest in the FBS, operating at .500 or above in 12-straight seasons from 2014 through 2025. During this successful stretch — which featured head coaches Justin Fuente, Mike Norvell, and Ryan Silverfield — the Tigers have one shared conference title, one outright conference title, a New Year’s Six appearance, four ranked finishes, and five 10+ win seasons. Under Mack, Memphis will aim to log its first conference championship appearance since 2019.
Memphis’ 2025 campaign isn’t over yet, as the 8-4 Tigers await their Friday, Dec. 19 Gasparilla Bowl vs. NC State, with hopes of a fifth-straight bowl victory. Leading the charge will be defensive backs coach Reggie Howard, a former Memphis defensive back who holds interim duties while Huff onboards in his new role.
