Ranking each Big Ten football head coach entering 2024 season
18. DeShaun Foster, UCLA
Foster may be best remembered for his time on the field at UCLA and his stint as an NFL running back with the Panthers, but he has also been an assistant coach at his alma mater since 2013 outside of one season spent at Texas Tech. While Foster seemingly has upside as a first-time head coach, his inexperience and unproven ability ultimately put him at the bottom of this list for now as he takes over for Chip Kelly.
17. Ryan Walters, Purdue
Walters being in this spot might ultimately speak to the depth of head coaches in the conference, but the 38-year-old remains an unproven commodity at this level. Walters was a defensive coordinator at Missouri and Illinois before being hired at Purdue and went just 4-8 in his first season in 2023. Brighter days are likely ahead for Walters and the Boilermakers, but the lack of success and relative inexperience keeps him among the lower tier.
16. David Braun, Northwestern
Considering the circumstances, Braun did a terrific job at Northwestern last season as the team鈥檚 interim coach before being named the program鈥檚 official head coach late in the campaign. Taking over for longtime coach Pat Fitzgerald after he was dismissed for his alleged role in the program鈥檚 hazing scandal, Braun led the Wildcats to an unexpected 8-5 season. His defensive background could ultimately keep the Wildcats competing near the levels that they were late in the Fitzgerald era.
15. Mike Locksley, Maryland
Locksley has quietly led Maryland to three consecutive winning seasons, each ending with a bowl win. The Terrapins鈥� head coach is probably underrated overall, but he will have a new challenge this year as Maryland begins life without veteran signal caller Taulia Tagovailoa. Locksley, who has coached collegiately for over three decades and spent time on Nick Saban鈥檚 Alabama staff before arriving in College Park, is an overall strong leader who has done a nice job establishing an identity at Maryland.
