Sources tell FootballScoop Mercyhurst (FCS - PA) is preparing to name Thomas Sydeski their new head coach.
CBS Sports has reported the same.
At 31-years old, Sydeski is set to become one of the youngest head coaches in Division I football.
The 2025 season marked Sydeski's second year with the Lakers program as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Prior to Mercyhurst, he had a couple stops in FBS football at Old Dominion and FIU, with another stop working with FCS quarterbacks at Bryant (FCS - RI).
At Old Dominion, he held a support staff role as offensive quality control coordinator for quarterbacks. In addition to that, he gained experience training quarterbacks at Ron Whitcomb's quarterback school during the summer while working with the Monarchs.
That led to an opportunity at Florida International, where he also held down a quality control position for a season. That year, FIU finished with the third fewest sacks in major college football, while their passing efficiency ranked among the top 15 nationally.
In 2019 he landed his first on-field coaching opportunity at Bryant (FCS - RI), coaching the quarterbacks for four seasons. During the 2022 season, Bryant finished among the top 10 nationally at the FCS level in passing offense, third down conversions, and passing touchdowns and quarterback Zevi Eckhaus set program records for total offense in a season, passing yards in a game, and total offense in a game..
In February of 2023 Sydeski took a position on staff at University of West Georgia.
At Mercyhurst, he takes over a team coming off a 5-7 season. They started slow, losing four of their first five games, going on to win four of their next six before a two-score loss to Central Connecticut State (D-II) in the season finale.
He takes over for Ryan Riemedio, who left to take over as defensive coordinator at Youngstown State (FCS - OH). Riemedio left the school with a 13-31 record.
At 31 years old, Sydeski along with first-year Gardner Webb (FCS - NC) head coach Kris McCullough (who is 30) are believed to be the youngest head coaches in Division I football. McCullough previously guided the Falcons of UT-Permian Basin to a pair of Division II playoff appearances while in his late 20's.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest in coaching news, job opportunities, and movement from across the coaching landscape.
