Here is a list of college football coaches set to begin their third season at their respective schools. The third year of a coaching regime is often pointed to as a year for big gains. Obviously at established programs such as Auburn and Oregon, the third year is irrelevant. But at lesser schools that had bottomed out, the first two years can be used to stockpile talent and gain experience -- assuming the coach knows what he is doing. Returning starters is another angle to look at. A coach in his third season should have a fair amount of returning starters assuming his first two recruiting classes have developed. Wyoming and Toledo fit the bill of teams that on paper should improve. Dave Christensen's Cowboys showed signs of being halfway competent at times last season and will two full season to implement his system and 17 returning starters, they are poised to make a jump. Toledo's Tim Beckman went from 5-7 to 8-5 and with 17 returning starters back, has a good shot at competing for a MAC title.
| NCAA Football coaches set to start their third season |
School | Coach | R. Starters Off/Def | 2010 Record | 2010 ATS Record | Auburn | Gene Chizik | 3/4 | 14-0 | 10-4 | Mississippi State | Dan Mullen | 8/7 | 9-4 | 7-6 | Purdue | Danny Hope | 7/9 | 4-8 | 5-7 | Iowa State | Paul Rhoads | 5/7 | 5-7 | 5-7 | Boston College | Frank Spaziani | 8/7 | 7-6 | 6-7 | Oregon | Chip Kelly | 6/5 | 12-1 | 7-5-1 | Washington | Steve Sarkisian | 6/7 | 7-6 | 6-6-1 | Syracuse | Doug Marrone | 7/5 | 8-5 | 8-5 | Wyoming | Dave Christensen | 8/9 | 3-9 | 5-7 | New Mexico | Mike Locksley | 7/9 | 1-11 | 4-8 | Utah State | Gary Andersen | 8/5 | 4-8 | 5-7 | New Mexico State | DeWayne Walker | 7/7 | 2-10 | 4-8 | Army | Rich Ellerson | 6/4 | 7-6 | 6-7 | Bowling Green | Dave Clawson | 6/7 | 2-10 | 5-7 | Toledo | Tim Beckman | 9/8 | 8-5 | 7-5-1 | Eastern Michigan | Ron English | 6/7 | 2-10 | 5-7 |
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