The biggest challenge: Finding coaching stability
When looking at the Cincinnati program, their biggest challenges are not blatant. While they don’t dominate on the recruiting trail, the program has historically recruited at a quality level for a Group of Five program, especially under Luke Fickell. Scott Satterfield at Louisville did recruit slightly under expectation compared to the level that the program recruited to previously, but recruiting isn’t likely to be the program’s biggest challenge.
Their biggest challenge, however, might very well be finding coaching stability.
The Bearcats program since 2005, when they joined the Big East, has now had six different head coaches. The average tenure for the Bearcats previous five head coaches, not counting Scott Satterfield, has been just under four years.
| HEAD COACH | TENURE | RECORD | REASON FOR LEAVING |
| Luke Fickell | 2017 – 2022 | 57-18 | Hired by Wisconsin |
| Tommy Tuberville | 2013 – 2016 | 29-22 | Resigned as head coach |
| Butch Jones | 2010 – 2013 | 23-14 | Hired by Tennessee |
| Brian Kelly | 2006 – 2009 | 34-6 | Hired by Notre Dame |
| Mark Dantonio | 2004 – 2006 | 18-17 | Hired by Michigan State |
While many Group of Five programs has found themselves in the same spot, stopping the cycle of being a stepping-stone program is going to be a key for Cincinnati in finding success in the Big 12. Being able to carry success from coach to coach in a Group of Five setting isn’t uncommon; it’s much tougher to do at the Power Five level.
While Scott Satterfield may not be the flashiest hire for Cincinnati, it’s possible that he could help answer those coaching stability issues for the Bearcats. Satterfield’s respective ceiling on paper wasn’t likely as high as other coaches. However, he has proven to be quite a high-quality head coach; before Louisville, he was 47-16 over five years at Appalachian State.
Barring a run at Cincinnati that rivals that of Luke Fickell and Brian Kelly, it’s reasonable to think that Satterfield could be a long-term answer for the Bearcats. It’s hard to see Satterfield doing well enough to take another step in the coaching ranks. Still, the program should also be consistently strong enough to be competitive in the Big 12, keeping his job relatively safe.
Some will point to his struggles at Louisville, and while he did have a very poor 2020 season with the Cardinals, the program did show promise over the last two years, including being ranked at one point last season in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Notably, Satterfield was Appalachian State’s head coach when the Mountaineers transitioned from FCS to FBS. What usually is a very tough transition was rather flawless for the program both on and off the field. Cincinnati will hope that experience will help the 50-year-old head coach lead the Bearcats into their new era of football in the Big 12.
Next, we lay out reasonable expectations