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Ranking ACC Football's Coaches

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Senior Analyst Written on May 31, 2009

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TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 6: Coach Frank Beamer of the Virginia Tech Hokies takes the winner's trophy from ACC commissioner John Swofford after play against the Boston College Eagles in the 2008 ACC Football Championship game at Raymond James Stadium on Decemb

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Who is the best football coach in the ACC? I took a look at all sorts of statistics, such as overall record, school record, ACC record, championships won, recruiting rankings, and recent record history, to come up with my list.

Note: Dabo Swinney and Frank Spaziani are not included in the rankings because they have not coached a full season.

No. 10: David Cutcliffe, Duke

DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 18: Head coach David Cutcliffe of the Duke Blue Devils watches the action during the game against the Miami Hurricanes at Wallace Wade Stadium on October 18, 2008 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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4-8 record at Duke
1-7 in the ACC
51% winning percentage over last four seasons coaching

The second-year Duke coach had a better season than most have had in Durham, but the program still fell to the bottom in the ACC. A bright spot is Duke's improved recruiting in the last few years and Cutcliffe's successful run at Ole Miss.

No. 9: Randy Shannon, Miami

DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 18: Head coach Randy Shannon of the Miami Hurricanes talk to his players during the game against the Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium on October 18, 2008 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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48% winning percentage in two seasons
38% ACC winning percentage
Top-ranked ACC recruiting class in two of his first three classes

If Al Groh is No. 1 on the ACC hot seat, then Shannon is No. 2. The former Miami LB has brought in some stellar recruiting classes thus far, but that talent has yet to perform to that high level on the field.

No. 8: Al Groh, Virginia

CORAL GABLES, FL - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Al Groh of the Virginia Cavaliers watches his team take on the Miami Hurricanes at the Orange Bowl November 10, 2007 in Coral Gables, Florida. The Hurricanes played their last game in the Orange Bowl as Virginia

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56% winning percentage at Virginia
53% ACC winning percentage
53% winning percentage over last four seasons

Groh is probably the coach with the hottest seat in the ACC due to his inability to get UVA over the hump. When all categories are ranked evenly, Groh is near the bottom. But record-wise he has done better than average when compared to his recruiting classes.

No. 7: Butch Davis, North Carolina

CHAPEL HILL, NC - NOVEMBER 22: Head coach Butch Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels talks to his players during their game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Kenan Stadium on November 22, 2008 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Street

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66% overall college record
Top-ranked ACC recruiting class in 2009
44% ACC winning percentage

Many will say Butch Davis built the 2001 National Championship team at Miami, and you would be right. But sadly, Butch left for the Cleveland Browns before that season.

The more you count in the Miami years, the higher Davis ranks, but he has yet to break out in Chapel Hill. Could this be the year?

No. 6: Ralph Friedgen, Maryland

COLLEGE PARK, MD - SEPTEMBER 13: Head coach Ralph Friedgen of the Maryland Terrapins watches player warm-ups prior to the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers on September 13, 2007 at Byrd Stadium in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Jamie Squire

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One ACC title
64% overall winning percentage
56% winning percentage over last four seasons

The Maryland coach ranks middle of the pack across most of the statistics when compared to his ACC brethren. But Ralph has something that only three other coaches in this league have—an ACC title.

No. 5: Tom O'Brien, NC State

CHESTNUT HILL - SEPTEMBER 8: Coach Tom O'Brien of the North Carolina Wolfpack leaves the field at half time during a game with the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium September 8, 2007 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Image

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59% winning percentage over last four seasons
59% overall record
Winning percentage has outpaced recruiting rankings over last four years

The Navy graduate jumped ship from Boston College to NC State two years ago and is rebuilding the Pack into an ACC contender.

O'Brien scores middle of the pack in most of the statistics, but has done fairly well record-wise compared to his recruiting rankings at Boston College and NC State.

No. 4: Bobby Bowden, Florida State

1 Jan 1996: Head coach Bobby Bowden of the Florida State Seminoles is carried triumphantly off the field by nose guard Andre Wadsworth #8 and tackle Orpheus Roy after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida 31-26. Ma

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Two national titles
12 ACC titles
84% ACC winning percentage
60% winning percentage over last four seasons

Despite recent troubles, Bowden deserves to be near the top of the list because of his outstanding accomplishments in the ACC—12 ACC titles and two national titles.

"Recent troubles" is relative because he can still coach and recruit a little with a recent record that ranks fourth in this set.

No. 3: Jim Grobe, Wake Forest

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - JANUARY 30: Head football coach Jim Grobe of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons accepts the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship trophy at halftime during the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on January 30, 2007 at Lawrence J

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One ACC title
55% winning percentage at Wake Forest
63% winning percentage over last four seasons
Consistently ranked worst recruiting classes in the ACC

If you look at what Grobe has done with the recruiting classes he has brought in, it is astonishing. Grobe ranks last in the recruiting rankings over the last four years but has the third best record during that time—and an ACC title to boot.

No. 2: Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech

CHESTNUT HILL, MA - SEPTEMBER 6: Head Coach Paul Johnson of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets reacts near the sideline during their game against the Boston College Eagles on September 6, 2008 at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The Yellow Ja

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Two national titles (Div. I-AA)
73% overall winning percentage
69% winning percentage over last four seasons coaching

Only one year in the ACC, but it was a pretty good one at 9-4. Johnson also has won two national titles in his coaching history and fared very well recently with a 69 percent winning percentage over his last four seasons coaching.

No. 1: Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech

LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 28: Head Coach Frank Beamer of the Virginia Tech Hokies looks on against the University of Southern California Trojans during the Black Coaches Association Football Classic on August 28, 2004 at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. U

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Three ACC titles
79% ACC winning percentage
78% winning percentage over last four seasons

Beamer's 79 percent ACC winning percentage ranks second only to Bowden's. Beamer also has three ACC championships.

Where Beamer surpasses everyone is with a 78 percent winning percentage over the last four seasons, doing it with recruiting classes ranked lower than FSU's.

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Ranking ACC Football's Coaches

ACC SEC Blog

No. 10: David Cutcliffe, Duke

No. 9: Randy Shannon, Miami

No. 8: Al Groh, Virginia

No. 7: Butch Davis, North Carolina

No. 6: Ralph Friedgen, Maryland

No. 5: Tom O'Brien, NC State

No. 4: Bobby Bowden, Florida State

No. 3: Jim Grobe, Wake Forest

No. 2: Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech

No. 1: Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech

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