CAA Race Begins as New Coaches Eye Opportunity

A new era is unfolding across the Colonial Athletic Association.

Rhode Island enters 2026 as the unanimous preseason favorite after back-to-back championships. But across the CAA, a wave of new head coaches and recent realignment have made the race for the conference title feel more open than it has in years.

Several programs will be led by first-year head coaches this fall. Sean Goldrich takes over at New Hampshire, Tom Perkovich begins his time at UAlbany, Jeff Gallo steps into the top role at Monmouth after years as offensive coordinator, and Van Malone looks to turn around Hampton. Add in Sacred Heart’s arrival as a full CAA member, and the conference landscape looks noticeably different from recent seasons.

While Rhode Island returns a loaded roster and sits atop the preseason poll, several other programs enter the season with legitimate championship aspirations.

Rhode Island (144 votes & 12 First-place votes) Remains the team to beat. The Rams return 15 starters from a back-to-back championship squad, including Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Devin Farrell and All-American wide receiver Marquis Buchanan. With experience and production on both sides of the ball, Rhode Island enters 2026 as the clear favorite to three-peat. Head coach Jim Fleming acknowledged the high expectations while emphasizing the work still ahead,” This team is different team, we’ve got a lot to earn. We’ll take the rank and try to hold onto it, but we’ve got to go out and play really good football ... I think we’ve had a really good offseason, good summer workouts, and have high expectations of ourselves.”

Monmouth (119 votes) Presents one of the most intriguing storylines in the league. New head coach Jeff Gallo inherits one of the most explosive offenses in the FCS after serving as the program’s offensive coordinator. The Hawks return key pieces on both sides of the ball and will look to prove they can sustain success under new leadership. Head Coach Jeff Gallo pointed to leadership as a key factor for the season ahead,” When your best players are your best leaders, you really have a great shot to build something special.”

Elon (115 votes) Continues to be one of the most consistent programs in the CAA. After finishing .500 or better in conference play for five straight seasons, the Phoenix return a strong core, including standout linebacker Brodie Carroll and running back Jimmyll Williams. Stability and experience could make them a dangerous contender once again. Head coach Tony Trisciani highlighted the returning talent and energy within the program. “We return a good mix of veteran leadership and proven CAA performers ...These guys (Brodie & Jimmy) can be difference makers in our league ... I expect us to be highly competitive; we’ve got a lot of juice and energy in our building” - Head Coach Tony Trisciani

New Hampshire (106 Votes) Also sits near the top of the preseason poll under first-year head coach Sean Goldrich. The former Wildcats quarterback returns to Durham with a talented roster and a clear connection to the program’s culture. New Hampshire has the pieces to compete at a high level, and Goldrich’s familiarity with the program adds an intriguing layer to their outlook. Goldrich was impressed by the group’s mentality early in his tenure, “They’re relentless, they show up every day, they wanna work.”

Beyond the top tier, several other programs enter 2026 with something to prove and the potential to climb

the standings.

Towson and Maine both sit in the middle of the preseason poll and return enough talent to make noise.

Towson continues building under Pete Shinnick, a coach with a strong track record of developing competitive programs. When asked what it will take to push past recent six-win seasons, Shinnick pointed to the details. “Consistency ... We’ve been in most games, had tight games. We gotta be better in the fourth quarter and be more disciplined.” Maine, under Jordan Stevens, will look to take another step forward after showing it can compete with the top of the league on any given Saturday. Stevens said the focus this offseason has been on finishing, “We’ve addressed a lot of those areas of finishing and having the competitive stamina throughout the entire season. It’s something we’ve focused on as an entire team.”

Both programs have the potential to push for a stronger finish than their preseason ranking suggests.

Further down the poll, Campbell, Bryant, and newcomer Sacred Heart will be looking to establish themselves. Sacred Heart’s first season as a full CAA member stands out as one of the more intriguing storylines in the league. After years as an independent, the Pioneers now face a full conference slate and a significant step up in competition.

Head coach Mark Nofri said the opportunity to compete for something meaningful is what excites him most, “Being able to play for something.” Cornerback Kenny Selby echoed that sentiment. “It’s like a breath of fresh air. The last few years we were playing as an independent, so coming into the CAA, a top conference in the FCS, is definitely a great opportunity for us.” Campbell and Bryant, meanwhile, will try to generate momentum and consistency under their current leadership.

At the bottom of the preseason rankings, UAlbany, North Carolina A&T, and Hampton all enter the year with new or relatively new voices at the top. Tom Perkovich expands on his first season at UAlbany tasked with changing the culture and direction of the program, “This was the right fit for me, personally, personality-wise, I thought we had all the pieces in place to be successful. That means a lot to me, I wanna be in a place where we can win and be competitive... I thought U Albany checked all those boxes.“

Shawn Gibbs continues building at North Carolina A&T after returning to a program with a proud history. “We’ve made a lot of progress in a number of ways starting with Talent. We’ve brought in a lot more talent, the guys that we had last year have developed and become better players, so we’re excited about where we’re going.”

Van Malone, with his strong Power-4 and NFL background, looks to spark a turnaround at Hampton. Malone expands on what he looks for in his team, “When you go into a program and you’re trying to build a culture, trying to change the direction of a football team, you look for the willingness to work... one of the things I was really impressed with across the board is these young people’s willingness to work. If you can start with that, then I think it’ll go a long way, that’s one of our keys to success.”

For these programs, early progress and culture-building may matter just as much as the final standings. In a conference full of new coaches and shifting dynamics, the teams that buy in quickest could be the ones that rise fastest. With a mix of established contenders, first-year head coaches, and a new conference member, the 2026 CAA season has the potential to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. Rhode Island remains the team to beat, but the path to the conference title is wide open.

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