Marshall’s head coach Charles Huff has accepted a position as the head coach for Southern Miss, just a day after leading the Thundering Herd to victory in the Sun Belt championship game. Huff’s new role comes after Southern Miss concluded a disappointing season, finishing with just one win, contrasting sharply with Marshall’s impressive performance.

Huff, who steps into the Southern Miss program, replaces Will Hall, who was dismissed mid-season following a challenging start that saw the team at 1-6. The Golden Eagles struggled throughout their campaign, ultimately ending the season with a 1-11 record. In stark contrast, Marshall capped off their season with a solid 10-3 record, achieving their first 10-win season since 2015 after a convincing 31-3 triumph over Louisiana-Lafayette in the title match.

In a statement regarding the coaching search, Southern Miss athletic director Jeremy McClain emphasized the desire for a leader capable of revitalizing the program. He mentioned, “As we started this search, we were focused on finding a dynamic leader who could get our program back to competing for championships. Charles Huff has proven that he is a winner who can build a championship culture within the Sun Belt.”

Huff’s tenure at Marshall concluded with a career record of 32-20, during which the team qualified for a bowl game in every season. His highlights include a memorable upset victory against No. 8 ranked Notre Dame last year, marking just the second time the program defeated a top-10 opponent. Following that success, the team had a record of 9-4 in 2022 and a 6-7 finish in 2023.

Taking the reins at Marshall in January 2021, Huff quickly made an impact, notably contributing to Alabama’s national championship win as an associate head coach and running backs coach prior to his time at Marshall. His coaching journey has included roles at Mississippi State and Penn State, as well as a season in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills. Notably, he was the first Black head football coach in Marshall’s history and is an alumnus of Hampton, where he graduated in 2005.

Will Hall’s dismissal came after a series of disappointing seasons at Southern Miss, where he recorded a 14-30 overall record during his time. The team’s only victory this past season was against Southeastern Louisiana, a member of the lower-tier Football Championship Subdivision.

Following Huff’s hiring, Marshall promptly appointed Tony Gibson, who served as the defensive coordinator at North Carolina State, as Huff’s successor.