Ranking the Mountain West football head coaches entering the 2026 season

The Mountain West football landscape for the 2026 season features three new head coaches on joining programs, while seven returning teams retain their leadership, according to columnist Chris Murray. UNLV’s Dan Mullen holds the top ranking following a 10-win debut season, leading a field that begins play Aug. 29.

Who are the top-ranked coaches in the Mountain West?

Dan Mullen ranks first entering the 2026 season, according to Chris Murray. Mullen led UNLV to its second 10-win season in 40 years during his debut, bringing a career record of 113-65 and a 63.5 winning percentage.

Troy Calhoun of Air Force ranks second. He holds the second-longest active tenure in the FBS behind Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz, with 139 total wins and a 19-season history at Air Force.

Jason Eck of New Mexico holds the No. 3 spot. Eck shared the Mountain West regular-season title in 2025 with a 9-4 record, jumping from ninth place in the previous year’s rankings.

Did You Know? Troy Calhoun has led Air Force to 13 bowl games over his 19 seasons, and his 139 victories rank sixth among all active head coaches.

How do the mid-tier and lower-ranked coaches compare?

Ken Niumatalolo of San Jose State ranks fourth with 119 career wins, the ninth-most among active FBS coaches. However, Murray notes Niumatalolo is coming off a three-win season, tied for the lowest of his 18-year career.

Dan Mullen on College Football's New Era, the Bowl System & Building UNLV | Any Given Season

Timmy Chang ranks fifth at Hawaii. After a slow build, Chang led the Rainbow Warriors to a 9-4 record in his fourth season, improving from initial marks of 3-10, 5-8, and 5-7.

Tim Polasek ranks sixth as he leads North Dakota State into the FBS. Polasek is 26-3 overall with a 2024 national championship and a 15-1 conference record.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that the realignment of the Mountain West, including the loss of five schools to the Pac-12, has shifted the competitive stakes and influenced the current ranking trajectory for coaches like Jason Eck.

What are the challenges for the bottom-ranked coaches?

Jeff Choate of Nevada ranks seventh with a 6-19 overall record and a 2-13 mark in the Mountain West. Jay Sawvel of Wyoming ranks eighth, having gone 7-17 overall with an offense averaging 17.7 points per game.

Scotty Walden of UTEP ranks ninth. Walden is 5-19 overall and 4-12 in Conference USA, with Murray citing struggles in both offense and defense.

Rob Harley ranks tenth at Northern Illinois. The former Ohio State safety was promoted to interim head coach in February after Thomas Hammock joined the NFL’s Seahawks. Under Harley, NIU’s scoring defense ranked 64th in the FBS last season, a drop from 14th the previous year.

Harley may use the upcoming season to prove he deserves the long-term head-coaching position at NIU.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the 2026 Mountain West football season begin?
The season begins Aug. 29, with three teams playing in Week 0.

Which coach has the most overall wins among the ranked group?
Troy Calhoun of Air Force has the most with 139 overall victories.

How many teams are retaining their head coaches from last season?
Seven returning programs will be led by the same coaches who were with the programs last season.

Which of these coaching trajectories do you think will be most impacted by the conference realignment?