The start of a new season always brings anticipation, but it probably feels even bigger at the FCS college football teams that will kick off the 2023 campaign with a new head coach and staff.
A whopping 27 programs, or more than 20 percent across the FCS, have undergone a change at the top of their program.
Here’s who each first-year FCS head coach will debut against in his respective team’s 2023 season opener:
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC) – Alonzo Hampton (Sept. 2 at Tulsa)
Bethune-Cookman (SWAC) – Raymond Woodie Jr. (Sept. 2 at Memphis)
Cal Poly (Big Sky) – Paul Wulff (Sept. 2 vs. San Diego)
Central Connecticut State (Northeast) – Adam Lechtenberg (Sept. 2 vs. American International)
Charleston Southern (Big South) – Gabe Giardina (Aug. 31 vs. North Greenville)
Dayton (Pioneer) – Trevor Andrews (Sept. 2 at Illinois State)
Delaware State (MEAC) – Lee Hull (Sept. 2 vs. Bowie State)
Houston Christian (Southland) – Braxton Harris (Sept. 2 vs. Trinity)
Idaho State (Big Sky) – Cody Hawkins (Sept. 2 at San Diego State)
Jackson State (SWAC) – T.C. Taylor (Aug. 26 vs. South Carolina State in Atlanta)
Lamar (Southland) – Pete Rossomando (Aug. 31 vs. Idaho)
Lehigh (Patriot) – Kevin Cahill (Sept. 2 vs. Villanova)
Mississippi Valley State (SWAC) – Kendrick Wade (Sept. 2 vs. Central State in Chicago)
Missouri State (MVFC) – Ryan Beard (Aug. 31 at Kansas)
North Alabama (ASUN) – Brent Dearmon (Aug. 26 vs. Mercer in Montgomery, Alabama)
North Carolina A&T (CAA in 2023) – Vincent Brown (Aug. 31 at UAB)
Northern Colorado (Big Sky) – Ed Lamb (Aug. 31 at Abilene Christian)
Sacramento State (Big Sky) – Andy Thompson (Sept. 2 at Nicholls)
San Diego (Pioneer) – Brandon Moore (Sept. 2 at Cal Poly)
South Dakota State (MVFC) – Jimmy Rogers (Aug. 31 vs. Western Oregon)
Texas A&M-Commerce (Southland) – Clint Dolezel (Aug. 31 vs. UC Davis)
The Citadel (Southern) – Maurice Drayton (Sept. 2 at Georgia Southern)
Towson (CAA) – Pete Shinnick (Sept. 2 at Maryland)
UIW (Southland) – Clint Killough (Sept. 2 at UTEP)
VMI (Southern) – Danny Rocco (Sept. 2 vs. Davidson)
Weber State (Big Sky) – Mickey Mental (Aug. 31 vs. Central Washington)
Wofford (Southern) – Shawn Watson (Sept. 2 at Pittsburgh – was interim coach for six games in 2022)