Charlotte has reached a deal in principle to hire Austin Peay head coach Will Healy to the same position, sources familiar to the negotiations confirm to Newschannel 5 Sports. The story was first reported by Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports.
Healy, 33, is considered one of the brightest, up and coming coaches in America after snapping the nation’s longest losing streak at Austin Peay and turning the Governors into an OVC contender. He will be the second youngest FBS coach in the country, just months older than Kent State’s Sean Lewis. He takes over a Charlotte program that just finished its fourth season in the bowl subdivision, compiling a record of just 12-36 since making the jump from FCS.
Healy led Austin Peay to one of the most storied turnarounds in college football history, taking a team that had gone 1-45, including 0-11 in his first season, to an 8-4 record and second place in the OVC in his second season. He was named the 2017 Eddie Robinson FCS National Coach of the Year for that performance.
The Governors went 5-6 in 2018, but with consecutive strong recruiting classes in place appear poised to contend in the OVC for the foreseeable future.
Charlotte initially focused its search on James Madison’s Mike Houston, but pulled back its contract offer early Friday after Houston made it clear he had interest in other jobs.
49ers athletic director Mike Hill then turned his attention to Healy, and was able to strike a deal.
