Florida Football: Top Coaches in School History

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The University of Florida has had some outstanding football coaches in its history.  Some are obvious, and some have been overshadowed by recent accomplishment and risk being lost to history.

This list would have certainly been different if written just a few short years ago, but things in college football can change quickly.  

Feel free to share any thoughts or comments (good or bad), and let me know if you feel anyone was left off the list or is out of place.  Enjoy!

5. Bob Woodruff (1950-1959)

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Coach Bob Woodruff can be credited for building the first period of real stability in the Florida football program.  

His 10-year career in Gainesville wasn't very flashy, and he only has one trophy (1952 Gator Bowl), but Woodruff gave Florida football stability and a little national notoriety during his tenure. 

Stats at Florida:

10 Seasons, 53-42-6 overall, 29-32-4 SEC, 1-1 in bowls

Titles/Awards:

University of Florida Athletics Hall of Fame

4. Doug Dickey (1970-1978)

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Doug Dickey was never able to match his success at Tennessee once he took over at his alma mater but still belongs among the greatest coaches in Florida history. 

In his nine seasons in Gainesville, Dickey kept the Gators stable and won a lot of football games.  His career is void of any tangible hardware, but under his command the Florida program held steady.  

Stats at Florida:

Nine seasons, 58-43-2 Overall, 28-28-1 SEC, 0-4 in bowls

Titles/Awards:

University of Florida Athletics Hall of Fame

College Football Hall of Fame—2003

3. Ray Graves (1960-1969)

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There is almost always a coach that is responsible for laying the groundwork at an institution that is later overshadowed by his predecessors.  In Gainesville, that coach is Ray Graves.  

Though his career is without any national or conference titles, Graves was the first coach in Gators' history to consistently have his teams in the polls and in major bowl games.  Graves built the foundation for what Gator Nation is today. 

Stats at Florida:

10 seasons, 70-31-4 Overall, 38-19-3 SEC, 4-1 in bowls

Titles/Awards:

SEC Coach of the Year—1960

Florida Sports Hall of Fame—1970

University of Florida Athletics Hall of Fame

Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame

College Football Hall of Fame—1990

2. Steve Spurrier (1990-2001)

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The “Old Ball Coach” is legendary enough to come up in a Google search with just a general nickname.  This isn’t by accident.  Before Nick Saban came on the scene, Steve Spurrier had been, perhaps, the best thing going in the SEC.  Like Saban shortly after him, Spurrier left the Gators for the NFL.  Otherwise, it is very possible the former Gator Heisman winner may still be the coach in Gainesville. 

His career at Florida alone qualifies him as a hall of fame coach.  Spurrier is an offensive innovator, former Heisman Trophy winner and one of the most entertaining characters in college sports.  Though he now only coaches in Gainesville every other year on the visiting sidelines, the Gators owe a lot to this man. 

Stats at Florida:

12 seasons, 122-27-1 Overall, 87-12 SEC, 6-5 in bowls

Titles/Awards:

National Championship—1996

SEC Championships—1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000

SEC East Championships—1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000

SEC Coach of the Year—1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996

Florida Sports Hall of Fame—1970

Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame

Florida Gators Ring of Honor

University of Florida Athletics Hall of Fame

College Football Hall of Fame—1986

1. Urban Meyer (2005-2010)

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Urban Meyer showed up on the SEC’s doorstep and kicked down the door.  He won and won until he decided to walk away.  He quickly rebuilt the Florida Gators into one of the premier programs in college football. 

Coach Meyer won two crystal footballs, recruited and coached a Heisman Trophy winner and put the Gators back on the map—all in only six short seasons.  I'm sure there are a few hard feelings in Gator Nation, but time heals all wounds.  Meyer belongs at the top of this list.  

Stats at Florida:

Six seasons, 65-15 Overall, 36-12 SEC, 5-1 in bowls

Titles/Awards:

National Championships—2006, 2008

SEC Championships—2006, 2008

SEC East Championships—2006, 2008, 2009

The Sporting News Coach of the Decade—2009

Sports Illustrated Coach of the Decade—2009