Recently fired CCU Head Football Coach Tim Beck was the highest-paid employee at Coastal Carolina University (CCU), with his salary as head football coach reaching over $1.1 million in recent years.

The highly coveted job of CCU Head Football Coach at American Universities pays well, even for a Sunbelt Conference University.

Below are 5 candidates in line to be the next CCU Head Football Coach

Brian Hartline, the Offensive Coordinator for Ohio State

Hartline has spent his entire coaching career at Ohio State, yet he has been mentioned as a possible candidate for head coaching positions. I can envision a role in the Sun Belt, such as this one, being a suitable opportunity for him to be the next CCU Head Football Coach.

Since 2023, Hartline has held the position of offensive coordinator or co-offensive coordinator at Ohio State. Currently, the Buckeyes rank 10th in the country for scoring offense, averaging 37.9 points per game, and 24th in total offense with 444.7 yards per game.

He served as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2022, after holding the position of wide receivers coach from 2019 to 2021. In 2018, he acted as the interim wide receivers coach and worked as a quality control coach in 2017.

Throughout his career, he has guided some outstanding wide receivers, including Marvin Harrison Jr., Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Head Coach Ryan Beard of Missouri State

Beard has gained recognition as one of the rising head coaches in the FBS.

There’s a valid reason for this. In their inaugural season in the FBS, the Bears finished the regular season with a record of 7-5 and will be participating in a bowl game.

In December 2022, Beard was elevated to the position of head coach at Missouri State, making him the youngest individual to hold that role at the age of 34.

Before this, Beard served as the defensive coordinator for Missouri State for three years. Throughout his tenure, he guided a defense that garnered 18 all-conference selections and four All-American honors, with three players advancing to professional careers. Under Beard’s leadership, Missouri State ranked among the top defenses in the nation in multiple statistical categories.

Prior to joining Missouri State, Beard served as the special teams and safeties coach at Central Michigan in 2019. From 2017 to 2018, he worked as a quality control coach at Louisville, eventually advancing to the position of linebackers coach and co-special teams coordinator. Additionally, he held the role of defensive quality control coach at Louisville from 2014 to 2015.

In 2016, he served as the defensive backs coach at Western Kentucky, a position notable because he was a two-time All-Sun Belt defensive back during his playing career there. Additionally, he worked as a graduate assistant at WKU from 2012 to 2013.

Beard would be a good fit as the next CCU Head Football Coach

Tim Beck, the Offensive Coordinator at Vanderbilt.

Would the University consider changing CCU Head Football Coach Tim Beck for Tim Beck?

Indeed, it’s somewhat amusing how this happened by chance. However, I can envision Beck being mentioned for head coaching positions like these.

Although Beck has not held the position of Power Five coordinator for an extended period, he has achieved notable success and possesses head coaching experience, even if it is from the Division II level.

Vanderbilt is the “it” school for Football in 2025.

Beck’s offense was positioned ninth nationwide in scoring, averaging 38.9 points per game as the regular season approached its final week. He has also played a key role in elevating Diego Pavia into Heisman Trophy contention. Heading into Week 14, the quarterback ranked third in the country with an average of 325.9 total offensive yards per game.

Beck joined Vanderbilt last year after serving as the offensive coordinator at New Mexico State from 2022 to 2023 and working as an offensive analyst at TCU in 2021. He previously held the position of head coach at his alma mater, Pittsburgh State, from 2010 to 2019, where he guided the team to a national championship in 2011 and reached the postseason three additional times. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach at Pittsburgh State from 1988 to 2009.

Casey Woods, the Offensive Coordinator for SMU

SMU was the favorite to make the ACC Championship but lost this past weekend to Cal. This could impact Woods’ chances of becoming the next CCU Head Football Coach.

Woods is a successful coordinator at a current Power Four school who has experience in the Sun Belt.

In 2023, the Mustangs ranked eighth in the FBS for points per game with an average of 38.7, and they were 16th in yards per game at 454.9 during their final season in the American. Woods played a key role in SMU’s inaugural year in the ACC, leading the Mustangs to the College Football Playoff in 2024. This year, the Mustangs hold an overall record of 8-4.

During his three years at UAB after the football program’s reinstatement in 2016, he held the positions of tight ends coach, run game coordinator, and recruiting coordinator. Under his leadership, the Blazers achieved multiple school records and assembled several impressive recruiting classes.

Woods previously served as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Missouri. In 2012, he coached wide receivers and oversaw recruiting at Arkansas State, where the Red Wolves achieved a 10-3 record, secured a Sun Belt championship, and triumphed in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

Head Coach Brent Vigen of Montana State

Vigen lacks experience at an East Coast institution, yet he is considered one of the top coaches in FCS and has allegedly been a candidate for several FBS head coaching positions, including at Oregon State.

Stepping up to be the next CCU Head Football Coach would be a huge opportunity for him.

Since 2021, Vigen has served as the head coach for Montana State. In his inaugural season, he guided the Bobcats to their first national championship appearance since 1984. The following year, Montana State advanced to the national semifinals but was defeated by South Dakota State, the eventual champion.

In 2024, the Bobcats completed the regular season without any losses, which included a win against New Mexico, and made their way back to the FCS national championship.

From 2014 to 2020, Vigen served as the offensive coordinator at Wyoming, working alongside head coach Craig Bohl, where he notably coached Josh Allen, who is now a star quarterback in the NFL. Prior to that role, he was an assistant at North Dakota State.

The next CCU Head Football Coach could be none of the above, but this group makes up the top contenders. The next CCU Head Football Coach will likely come from among one on this list.