BALDWIN, N.Y. — February 26, 2025 — Advancing Beyond in Sports (Advancing Beyond in Sports), where sports meets purpose beyond the game, has announced its 2025 College Football Coaches to Watch list, spotlighting leaders who are making a measurable impact on and off the field.

Headlining this year's class is Tremaine Jackson, whose leadership, program-building vision, and commitment to student-athlete development have positioned him among the nation's most influential head coaches. Jackson is one of 12 head coaches and 17 assistant coaches recognized on the fifth annual ABIS Coaches Watchlist, a respected resource for athletic administrators and executive search firms.

While ABIS has previously acknowledged NFL coaches, the organization reaffirmed its commitment to equity and accountability by centering this year's recognition on college leaders and assistant coaches seeking transparency in professional hiring practices. ABIS continues to stand with 2022 Sonny Vaccaro Champion of Change Award winner Brian Flores, whose advocacy has shined a light on systemic barriers within the NFL hiring cycle.

"ABIS stood with Brian back in 2022 during the process with the New York Giants," said ABIS Founder & CEO Gary Charles. "As a New Yorker, I was disappointed but not surprised at how performative his interview process was. He deserved better then, and he certainly deserves better now—as do all of the qualified assistant coaches who were passed over in this year's NFL hiring cycle."

According to ABIS Chief People Officer and Football Coaches Watchlist Chair Renae Myles Payne, the selection process is both rigorous and impact-driven. "Our committee begins with a long list of very deserving coaches and narrows it down to those we believe have had the greatest impact on their team's success," Payne said. "Many coaches on this list have since been promoted or elevated to new roles. Most notably, Coach Bobby Kennedy was recently named head coach at the University of Montana—a historic hire. The Watchlist simply puts these coaches on the radar of hiring authorities."

With Coach Tremaine Jackson leading the way, the 2025 ABIS Coaches to Watch list underscores the organization's mission to champion excellence, equity, and opportunity across the football landscape.

For the complete list and more information about ABIS, visit weareabis.org/watch-list.