Charles Huff named as USM Head Football Coach

Hattiesburg, Miss.-HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain announced Sunday afternoon the hiring of Charles Huff as the school’s 23rd head football coach.

“As we started this search, we were focused on finding a dynamic leader who could get our program back to competing for championships,” said McClain. “Charles Huff has proven that he is a winner who can build a championship culture within the Sun Belt. We look forward to supporting him in our journey To The Top!

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Huff, Jessica, and their family to Southern Miss.”

Huff comes to Southern Miss after serving as head coach at Marshall University for the past four seasons, posting a 32-20 record and culminating with a 31-3 Sun Belt Conference championship victory Saturday night in his final game leading the Thundering Herd.

Huff holds the distinction of being the only Marshall coach in the FBS era to lead the Herd to a bowl game in each of their first four seasons at the helm. During his tenure there, Huff enjoyed victories over No. 8 Notre Dame (2022) and Virginia Tech (2023). The 26-21 win over Notre Dame was part of a 9-4 season and was Marshall’s first win over a Top 10 team since 2003.

In Huff’s inaugural season in Huntington, Marshall finished 7-6 while going to its 17th bowl appearance since moving up to FBS in 1997. Huff also navigated the Herd to a five-game winning streak at the end of 2022, which was one of the nation’s longest heading into the 2023 season. The 2022 season culminated with a 28-14 win over UConn in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

The Herd finished 6-6 during the regular season in 2023 before dropping a 35-17 decision to UTSA in the Frisco Bowl. This season, Marshall registered its first league championship since capturing the 2014 Conference USA crown, while also recording the school’s first 10-win season since 2015.

Described as an elite recruiter and developer of talent, Huff’s proven history bolstered head coach Nick Saban’s staff for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. In his inaugural season in Tuscaloosa, Huff helped Najee Harris rush for a career-best 1,224 yards on 209 carries with 13 rushing touchdowns while catching 27 passes for 304 yards and seven more scores. In 2020, Harris was a consensus All-American who led the nation in total touchdowns (30), rushing touchdowns (26) and points (180). He also ranked third nationally in rushing yards (1,466) and holds the school record for total touchdowns (57), rushing touchdowns (46) and rushing yards (3,843).

Huff arrived in Tuscaloosa after one season (2018) as the assistant head coach, run-game coordinator and running backs coach at Mississippi State.

He boasts 19 years of coaching experience on both the NFL and college levels with stops at Penn State (2014-17), Western Michigan (2013), the Buffalo Bills (2012), Vanderbilt (2011), Hampton (2010), Maryland (2009) and Tennessee State (2006-08).

His one season in Starkville produced an effective rushing attack that averaged 223.6 yards per game to rank second in the SEC and 20th nationally.

Huff spent four seasons (2014-17) as Penn State’s running backs coach and special teams coordinator. He recruited and developed one of the game’s most electrifying players in running back Saquon Barkley, who was drafted by the New York Giants as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft. Numerous records fell at the running back position and on special teams under Huff’s guidance at Penn State. Barkley, a 2017 consensus All-American, became the first Big Ten running back in history to win Offensive Player of the Year honors twice. A Walter Camp National Player of the Year finalist, Barkley ranked second nationally in all-purpose yards in 2017 (2,329). He broke four school career records,  including rushing touchdowns (43), total touchdowns (53), all-purpose yards (5,538) and consecutive games with a touchdown (15) in just three seasons.

Huff spent the 2013 season at Western Michigan as the running backs coach and helped the unit nearly double its rushing yards from 2012. The Broncos ran for 1,394 yards in 2013 after running for just 735 yards the year before.
During the 2012 season, Huff worked in the NFL as the assistant running backs coach for the Buffalo Bills. He helped C.J. Spiller with his first career 1,000-yard rushing campaign and a Pro Bowl invitation.

In 2011, Huff was on James Franklin’s 2011 staff at Vanderbilt as the offensive quality control coach. Huff and Franklin also worked together at Maryland in 2009, when Huff was the assistant offensive line coach. Huff also mentored NFL first-round pick Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as the tight ends and special teams coach at Tennessee State from 2007-08. Huff graduated in 2005 from Hampton University where he served as a team captain, starting 12 games at center as a senior in 2005. He also played guard, fullback and tight end in his career.

“My family and I could not be any happier to begin our journey in Hattiesburg as we look to continue the rich and storied history of Southern Miss football. Our goal will be to build a program that can compete at the highest level and have our fan base enjoy the ability to return to bowl games on a consistent basis. I have to thank Southern Miss President Dr. Joe Paul, along with Athletics Director Jeremy McClain, in showing their faith in me and this staff with this tremendous opportunity and I can’t wait to hit the ground running in making this program something that we can all be proud.”

A native of Denton, Maryland, Huff and his wife, Jessica, have three boys: B.J., Beau and Blaze.