What happened to Marshall coach Charles Huff? Why the coach left Thundering Herd
Marshall football suffered a hard fall from grace after its 31-3 win over Louisiana in the Sun Belt Conference championship game.
The Thundering Herd (10-3) won double-digit games for the first time since 2015; however, following the victory over the Ragin' Cajuns, Marshall saw head coach Charles Huff depart for conference rival Southern Miss.
Subsequently, the team had many players enter the transfer portal, causing it to opt out of its bowl game and be replaced by Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl on Saturday against Army.
Here's what you need to know about why Huff left Marshall and a look at his coaching record:
REQUIRED READING: Marshall football opts out of Independence Bowl vs Army due to mass exodus to transfer portal
Why did Charles Huff leave Marshall?
Despite a 31-3 win over Louisiana in the Sun Belt championship game and a 10-3 record for the Thundering Herd, Marshall and Huff could not agree on a contract extension. Huff made $755,000 annually with Marshall.
“There was a process put in place by the administration, and they went through that process thoroughly,” Huff said at his introductory press conference with Southern Miss. “At the end of it, they felt going in another direction was the right decision. That decision was probably made before we won the championship, if that makes sense. It was a mutual decision. It wasn't a knock down, drag out.”
Following Huff's departure, 36 players entered the transfer portal at Marshall, including 29 scholarship players, with starter Braylon Braxton, the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year, among the players. As a result, on Dec. 14, the Thundering Herd notified bowl officials that they could not participate in the bowl game.
Former NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson was hired as the new coach for the Thundering Herd.
Where will Charles Huff coach in 2025?
Following the failed negotiations on an extension for Huff and Marshall, Huff departed on Dec. 8 for the coaching role with fellow Sun Belt Conference member Southern Miss. Huff was hired one day following the conference championship game and opted against coaching in the bowl game.
Huff signed a four-year contract worth $950,000 annually with the Golden Eagles.
Southern Miss went 1-11 and did not beat an FBS opponent during the season. Will Hall, who was in his fourth year as the coach, was fired midseason on Oct. 20 after the team's 1-6 start.
Charles Huff head coaching record
Before his coaching job with Marshall, following a stint working as an assistant coach and running backs coach with Alabama under Nick Saban.
Here's a look at Huff's coaching record with Marshall.
Conference records in parentheses
2021: 7-6 (5-3 Conference USA)
2022: 9-4 (5-3 Sun Belt Conference)
2023: 6-7 (3-5 Sun Belt Conference)
2024: 10-3 (7-1 Sun Belt Conference)
Career record: 32-20
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Charles Huff left Marshall football to coach Southern Miss
