On November 15, Michigan associate head coach Biff Poggi was named the 49ers' third head coach of the modern era.[1]Maryland co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Mike Miller was reported to be taking the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coaching position on November 29.[2][3] On December 2 Saint Frances Academy defensive line coach Wayne Dorsey took the same position for the 49ers.[4] On November 30 it was reported that Auburn's quarterbacks coach Mike Hartline would become the 49ers wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator.[5][6] On December 3 it was revealed that Buffalo defensive backs coach Rod Ojong would be accepting the same position at Charlotte.[7][8] On December 21 Colorado offensive line coach Kyle DeVan accepted the same position on the 49ers staff in addition to being named associate head coach and run game coordinator.[9] On the same date LSU graduate assistant and former Notre Dame team captain Greer Martini was named linebackers coach.[10] On January 5 Michigan Offensive Analyst John Morookian was named tight ends and offensive tackles coach.[11] On the same day Illinois special teams analyst Greg Froelich was named running backs coach and special teams coordinator.[12] On January 11 Texas Southern defensive backs coach Justin Sanders was named safeties coach.[13] On January 16 longtime Poggi friend and business associate Jonathon Jacobson was named assistant head coach and senior advisor.[14] On January 24 Baltimore Ravens defensive assistant Ryan Osborn was named the defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach, completing the 2023 football staff.[15]
The following recruits and transfers have signed letters of intent or verbally committed to the Charlotte 49ers football program for the 2023 recruiting year.
Charlotte 49ers home games and conference road games are broadcast through the American Athletics Conference's television partners ESPN, and ABC Sports.[31][32][33][34]
Radio
Radio coverage for all games are broadcast by IMG College through the Charlotte 49ers Radio Network flagship station WZGVESPN Radio 730 AM The Game, and the TuneIn Charlotte 49ers IMG Sports Network app. The radio announcers are "Voice of the 49ers" Matt Swierad with play-by-play alongside NFL veteran Al Wallace providing color commentary and Bobby Rosinski and Walker Mehl providing sideline reports.[35]
Preseason poll
The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at AAC Media Day on July 25, 2023.[36]
Arlis BOARDINGHAM 6 Yd pass from Graham MERTZ (Trey SMACK Kick)
UF 7-0
1
4:12
UF
Trey SMACK 27 Yd Field Goal
UF 10-0
2
12:50
UF
Trey SMACK 23 Yd Field Goal
UF 13-0
2
8:21
UF
Trey SMACK 54 Yd Field Goal
UF 16-0
2
2:30
CHAR
Jalon JONES 7 Yd Run (Kyle CUNANAN Kick)
UF 16-7
3
7:27
UF
Trey SMACK 36 Yd Field Goal
UF 19-7
4
2:28
UF
Trey SMACK 23 Yd Field Goal
UF 22-7
Game notes:
1st meeting between these two programs.
Charlotte AD Mike Hill was a long term member of the Gators athletics department joining in 1993 as a marketing coordinator and rising through various offices up to executive associate AD for external affairs before accepting the top job at Charlotte in 2018.
Punter Grant Gonya earned AAC Special Teams Player of the week honors with 6 punts in the game, including both a 60 yard and a 58 yard punt.[23]
Gonya becomes the first 49er to earn an AAC Player of the Week honor since the 49ers joined the AAC.
Shane CALHOUN 10 Yd pass from Alex FLINN (Andrew CONRAD Kick)
CHAR 10–7
Game notes:
1st meeting between these two programs.
Mike Houston had been offered and accepted in principle to become the 49ers' head coach in late November 2018.[78][79] The offer was withdrawn on November 30 after it became public that Houston was still considering other options.[80][81] He subsequently became the Pirates' head coach on December 3.[82] The 49ers went on to hire Will Healy on December 5.
Poggi's first win over an FBS team, and his and the program's first win over an AAC opponent.
Senior Linebacker Demetrius Knight II earned AAC Defensive Player of the Week honors with nine tackles, five solo tackles, two tackles for loss and two pass play breakups.[24]
Knight led an overall defensive team effort to set a new program record for fewest yards allowed with the Pirates only gaining 127 yards in the game.[24]
Senior outside lineman Jasper Parks was named PFF's offensive left tackle of the week on their team of the week for week 9.[26]
Following the game, Coach Poggi suspended an undisclosed number of players for the next game due to their behavior on the field and on the side-lines in this game.[89]
Anthony WATKINS 1 Yd Run (Two-Point Run Conversion Failed)
TULSA 23-18
4
0:59
CHAR
Jack HESTERA 18 Yd pass from Trexler IVEY (Trexler IVEY Pass to Colin WEBER for Two-Point Conversion)
CHAR 26-23
4
0:05
TULSA
Chase MEYER 27 Yd Field Goal
TIED 26-26
OT
0:00
CHAR
Trexler IVEY 1 Yd Run (Kyle CUNANAN Kick)
CHAR 33-26
Game notes:
1st meeting between these two programs.
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green was named AAC Defensive Player of the Week. Hill-Green matched his season high 11 tackles with 2 tackles-for-loss, a forced fumble and a pass break-up.[25]