Navy is expected to name Brian Newberry as its next head football coach, a source familiar with the hiring process confirmed to The Athletic on Monday. ESPN’s Pete Thamel first reported the news. Here’s what you need to know:

Newberry has been Navy’s defensive coordinator since 2019, making dramatic improvements to the unit since his arrival from Kennesaw State.

Following Navy’s loss to Army earlier this month, the program announced longtime coach Ken Niumatalolo would not return for the 2023 season and named Newberry interim head coach.

The program has gone 11-23 over the last three seasons and has had one winning season over the last five years.

Backstory

Niumatalolo, who took over the head coaching role at Navy in 2008, was the winningest coach in the school’s history, departing with a record of 109-83.

In the Naval Academy’s first two seasons in the American Athletic Conference, Niumatalolo led the team to a share of the AAC West Division title in 2015 and the outright AAC West title in 2016. The program split the West Division title again in 2019.