Posted by: Chris Vannini on January 15, 2013

Every coaching staff wants continuity.

But for a variety of reasons, it can be very tough. Sometimes coaches take promotions in other places, sometimes they are replaced to turn around a position, sometimes they retire.

There are only five FBS programs that have a chance to keep the same nine assistant coaches for at least three years in a row if there are no changes for the remainder of this offseason. They include:

Michigan: Al Borges (offensive coordinator / quarterbacks), Greg Mattison (defensive coordinator), Fred Jackson (running backs), Jeff Hecklinski (wide receivers), Dan Ferrigno (tight ends / special teams coordinator), Darrell Funk (offensive line), Jerry Montgomery (defensive line), Mark Smith (linebackers), Curt Mallory (defensive backs)

Michigan State: Dan Roushar (offensive coordinator), Pat Narduzzi (defensive coordinator), Dave Warner (quarterbacks), Brad Salem (running backs), Terrance Samuel (wide receivers), Mark Staten (offensive line), Ted Gill (defensive line), Mike Tressel (linebackers / special teams coordinator), Harlon Barnett (defensive backs)

Minnesota: Matt Limegrover (offensive coordinator / offensive line), Tracy Claeys (defensive coordinator), Jim Zebrowski (quarterbacks), Brian Anderson (running backs), Pat Poore (wide receivers), Rob Reeves (H-backs / tight ends), Jeff Phelps (defensive line), Bill Miller (linebackers / assistant head coach), Jay Sawvel (defensive backs)

Northwestern: Mick McCall (offensive coordinator / quarterbacks), Mike Hankwitz (defensive coordinator), Matt MacPherson (running backs), Bob Heffner (superbacks), Dennis Springer (wide receivers), Adam Cushing (offensive line), Marty Long (defensive line), Randy Bates (linebackers), Jerry Brown (defensive backs / assistant head coach)

Oregon: Mark Helfrich (offensive coordinator / quarterbacks), Nick Aliotti (defensive coordinator), Gary Campbell (running backs), Scott Frost (wide receivers), Tom Osborne (tight ends / special teams coordinator), Steve Greatwood (offensive line), Jerry Azzinaro (defensive line), Don Pellum (linebackers), John Neal (defensive backs)

Oregon is actually going for five straight years with the same nine assistants.

There are 37 schools that are currently set to go into 2013 with the same assistants from 2012. The above five schools, plus Air Force, Akron, Baylor, Boise State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Duke, Fresno State, Indiana, Kansas, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Memphis, Ole Miss, Navy, Nebraska, New Mexico, Notre Dame, Ohio, Ohio State, Oklahoma,, Oregon State, Rice, Rutgers, SMU, South Carolina, Stanford, Toledo, Tulane, Tulsa and Vanderbilt.

The coaching carousel is far from over, so don't be surprised if this list shortens. Make sure you follow the Coaching Search Ticker for all the latest.

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Chris Vannini is the lead writer for CoachingSearch.com and has covered Michigan State sports for The State News, The Oakland Press and MLive.com. He writes a weekly column for the Detroit Free Press on behalf of SB Nation. Vannini lives in Big Ten country, so his foot speed is far from SEC caliber, but his pulse on coaches is hard to match. Be sure to follow @CoachingBuzz on twitter and send your feedback to chris@coachingsearch.com