NCAA lifts restrictions on football analysts, removes limits to coaching staffs

This is a massive story with huge implications for USC and other college football programs.

Coaching staff limits are gone. The analyst role in college football — at least to the extent we have known it — is gone. Pete Nakos of On3 Sports wrote about a huge story which broke on Tuesday: The NCAA Division I Council voted to approve the removal of limits on coaching staff sizes. Coaches who previously could not provide hands-on instruction to players during games will now be allowed to do so. Head coaches can now hire more assistants to fill out more positions and nich roles.

Which universities, such as Texas, Oregon, Georgia, and Ohio State, will capitalize on the new rule by being proactive and forward-thinking to maximize their competitive edge? Will USC be among them?

Excerpts from Nakos’s article:

“Sources have indicated to On3 that quarterback, middle linebacker and special teams are key positions to watch where programs will look to leverage the rule.”

“The new policy will keep the number of off-campus recruits to 11, including head coaches. FCS would be able to have 13 assistants recruit off-campus. At the FBS level, head coaches could designate any 10 staffers as countable coaches who can recruit off-campus.

“Industry sources believe the unlimited coaching staffs could lead to top Group of 5 assistants taking analyst or assistant roles with major programs. College football staffs will have similar titles to their NFL counterparts.

“The future role of graduate assistants is unknown, too. More staff members assisting with day-to-day operations change the impact of graduate assistants, however, the new policy allows younger assistants to start coaching earlier.”

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