Mark Whipple is out as Head Football Coach at Massachusetts

The University of Massachusetts and head football coach Mark Whipple have agreed to part ways as head football coach.  Here is a look at the UMass football program starting with the two seasons under Charley Molnar and the entire tenure of Mark Whipple.  As you can see from the figure below, UMass only had one above average season (2017) in terms of production, although this season's offense was above average, but not the defense or the team overall.

Mark Whipple [2014-2018]

2014
At the conclusion of Whipple’s second first season (he was the head football coach at UMass from 1998 to 2003) as the head football coach of the Massachusetts Minutemen, they finished the regular season at 4-8 and bowl ineligible.  The Minutemen played against a “Much Easier” strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the “league” as a whole, meaning that the Minutemen's end of season SOS was greater than two standard deviations greater than the “league” average SOS.  Massachusetts' best game that season was a victory over #80 ranked Ball State (24-10) and their worst loss was to #116 ranked Colorado by a score of (38-41).  Massachusetts finished the season as the #95 ranked team overall, with the #80 ranked offense and the #101 ranked defense using the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model from the data provided from www.cfbstats.com.

2015

At the conclusion of the second season as head football coach, the Minutemen took a step backwards and were 3-9 and bowl ineligible.  The Minutemen played against an “average” strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the “league” as a whole, meaning that the Minutemen's end of season SOS was plus or minus one standard deviation of the “league” average SOS.  Massachusetts best game that season was a victory over #91 ranked Buffalo (31-26) and their worst loss was to #112 ranked Miami (OH) by a score of (13-20).  Massachusetts finished the season as the #98 ranked team overall, with the #96 ranked offense and the #86 ranked defense using the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model from the data provided from www.cfbstats.com.

2016

The Minutemen again took a step backwards, with Massachusetts finishing at (2-10).  That still meant they were bowl ineligible, but this season they played against an “average” strength of schedule.  Massachusetts best game was their victory against #115 ranked Florida International (21-13) and their worst loss was to #91 ranked South Carolina (28-34).  The Minutemen finished the season as the #114 ranked team overall, with the #111 ranked offense and the #105 ranked defense using the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model from the data provided from www.cfbstats.com.

2017

In terms of wins and losses (and production), Massachusetts took a step forwards, with the Minutemen finishing at (4-8); bowl ineligible; playing an “easier” strength of schedule.  The Minutemen's only victory was against #14 ranked Appalachian State (30-27) and their worst loss was to #113 ranked Tennessee by a score of (13-17).  Massachusetts finished as the #43 ranked team overall, with the #51 ranked offense and the #50 ranked defense using the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model from the data provided from www.cfbstats.com.

2018

In what ended up being head coach Whipple’s last season at Massachusetts, as of week #12, the Minutemen were (4-8), playing again against an “average” strength of schedule (SOS).  The 49ers best win was against currently ranked #92 Charlotte (49-31) and their worst loss to currently ranked #109 Coastal Carolina (13-24).  Currently, Massachusetts is the #115 ranked team overall, #38 ranked offense and #129 ranked defense using the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model from the data provided from www.cfbstats.com.

2018 NCAA FBS Head Coaching Changes
Mike Jinks at Bowling Green
DJ Durkin at Maryland
Bobby Petrino and Louisville
Mike MacIntyre and Colorado
Everett Withers and Texas State

Brad Lambert and Charlotte