MOBILE, Ala. — The Sun Belt Conference is undergoing significant change this offseason, with new head coaches at several member schools and continued Sun Belt realignment, as South Alabama looks ahead after its first season as a full Football Bowl Subdivision program.
Sideline Turnover Across the League
Two of the Sun Belt’s head coaches have departed since the end of the regular season. Gus Malzahn has left Arkansas State, and Willie Taggart is no longer at Western Kentucky.
Western Kentucky has hired Bobby Petrino as Taggart’s replacement. Reports are circulating that Texas offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin has been hired to succeed Malzahn at Arkansas State.
Dennis Franchione will also join the league’s coaching ranks as Texas State moves into the conference.
Player Changes
Arkansas State quarterback Ryan Aplin, a two-time Sun Belt Player of the Year, has completed his eligibility. Louisiana-Monroe quarterback Kolton Browning is set to return next season.
Realignment Continues
North Texas and Florida International will leave the Sun Belt for Conference USA next summer. Commissioner Karl Benson previously added Georgia State and Texas State to the league, along with Texas-Arlington, which does not sponsor football.
The conference has since been hit by another round of departures, as Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee accepted invitations to join Conference USA. The Sun Belt has not announced any additional new members. Georgia Southern, Appalachian State and New Mexico State have been mentioned in speculation as possible additions.
South Alabama’s First FBS Season
South Alabama finished its first season of full Sun Belt Conference football play with a 2-11 overall record and a 1-7 mark in league games.
The Jaguars faced 12 FBS opponents in a 13-game schedule and played seven games on the road.
The program, led by head coach Joey Jones since it began play in 2009, will have additional experienced players available next season. All but one member of South Alabama’s 2012 signing class redshirted this year, and several fifth-year players are in line to compete for starting jobs.
Troy Also Looks to Rebound
Troy missed a bowl game for the second consecutive season. The Trojans went 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the Sun Belt in 2012, an improvement from a 3-9 record and 2-6 league mark in 2011.
