Memphis football coach Charles Huff begins building 2026 staff, adding personnel with longstanding Memphis ties
Memphis moves quickly from head-coach hire to staff construction
The University of Memphis has begun assembling its football staff under new head coach Charles Huff, a transition that accelerated in early December after the program changed leadership. Huff was hired to replace Ryan Silverfield, who departed for Arkansas on Nov. 30, 2025.
Huff arrived after a one-season stint as Southern Miss head coach, where he guided a year-to-year turnaround from a 1–11 season in 2024 to a 7–5 record in 2025. Memphis finished the 2025 regular season 8–4, after reaching as high as No. 22 in the rankings earlier in the year, and entered bowl preparations under interim coach Reggie Howard.
Early staff signals: continuity from prior stops and local familiarity
In the days following Huff’s hiring, multiple members of his Southern Miss operation were reported as part of the early wave of additions to Memphis’ support and defensive structure, reflecting a common approach in coaching transitions: import systems familiarity to speed installation and recruiting organization.
- Defensive coordinator Jason Semore
- Running backs coach Telly Lockette
- Defensive backs coach Dominique Bowman
- Chief of staff Sharrod Everett
- General manager Reed Grable
At least some of those moves also reflected a longer professional association with Huff. Semore previously made a similar transition with Huff from Marshall to Southern Miss before the reported move to Memphis, an example of the continuity staffs often prioritize when changing programs and schemes.
Official 2026 staff announcement outlines key on-field leadership roles
Memphis later issued an official staff announcement for the 2026 season, including the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks position. Kevin Decker was named offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach after three seasons at Old Dominion, where the Monarchs posted a 10–3 record in 2025 and were among national leaders in several efficiency categories, including passing yards per completion and rushing offense.
For Memphis, that hire establishes a defined offensive lead early in the tenure, while the broader staff buildout continues to take shape around recruiting operations, player development and position coaching.
How the hires frame Memphis’ next competitive phase
Memphis’ coaching changes occurred against a backdrop of program stability in bowl appearances and sustained competitiveness in recent seasons. The near-term on-field timeline included postseason preparation in December 2025, followed by an offseason in which the program’s roster management, recruiting strategy and schematic identity will be set by Huff and his staff.
Memphis’ early moves emphasize staff continuity from Huff’s previous stops while establishing new on-field leadership for the 2026 offense.
The next public markers of the transition are expected to include finalized position coaching assignments, recruiting outcomes through the winter cycle, and spring practice, when personnel usage and scheme direction become clearer.