Charles Huff leaves Marshall after championship to coach Southern Miss
- Charles Huff was hired by Southern Miss as the head football coach after a successful season at Marshall.
- Southern Miss had a disappointing record of 1-11 this past season, leading to the dismissal of the previous coach, Will Hall.
- Huff aims to build a competitive program that aims for consistent bowl game participation and restore the team's former success.
On December 8, 2024, Charles Huff was named the head football coach for Southern Miss after a notable tenure at Marshall University. Huff's hiring followed a successful season where Marshall secured its first Sun Belt championship title and marked their first ten-win season since 2015, finishing with a record of 10-3. He had replaced Will Hall, who was dismissed following a poor start to the season, leading the team to a dismal 1-11 record. Huff expressed his excitement to begin the journey in Hattiesburg and emphasized the objective to restore Southern Miss football to a competitive level with consistent bowl game appearances. Huff's coaching career started at Marshall in January 2021 after serving as an associate head coach and running backs coach at Alabama, where he was part of the staff that won the national championship in 2020. His record at Marshall included significant wins, particularly against top-ranked teams, contributing to his reputation as a capable leader deserving a second chance in an institution that once had glory in college football. The Southern Miss athletic director Jeremy McClain highlighted Huff's winning track record, which they deemed critical to revitalize the Golden Eagles program that has experienced instability in recent seasons.