College Football’s Seven Most Overrated Coaches

In today’s college football landscape, college coaches are making more money than their NFL brethren.  Nick Saban’s contract calls for him to make $3.75 million this year, and he isn’t even the highest paid coach in college football.    

Two other recent national champions, Pete Carroll and Les Miles, make nearly $4 million annually, while Charlie Weis is scheduled to make a cool $4.2 million. 

I believe that the bowl season is a coach’s best opportunity to shine; it’s when elite coaches separate themselves from good coaches. 

Coaches preparing for a major bowl game have nearly a month (longer if you don’t have a conference championship game) to dissect their opponents and give their players the best opportunity to make plays and win.  During this month before major bowls, players have to juggle exams and a practice schedule. 

They must also battle rustiness from the lack of live action while nursing tired, worn bodies.  Elite coaches know how to keep their players sharp during December and ready for January.

Another quality that I look for when evaluating coaches is their conference record.  I don’t expect elite coaches to go undefeated or only lose one conference game every year, but I do expect that they are always competing for the conference crown and take advantage of a down year within the conference.  When traditional conferences powers are down, elite coaches pounce like a lioness on its prey.

The list I have compiled consists of coaches young and old.  They are all in charge of teams in power conferences and/or programs with long, established traditions.  In my estimation, they have lived off of their reputations for too long.

1) Bob Stoops

Bob Stoops took over Oklahoma University’s football program in 1999 and has amassed a 97-22 record in nine seasons.  He led the Sooners to an undefeated record and the 2000 National Championship, culminating in an Orange Bowl victory over defending champion, Florida State. 

Recently, Big Game Bob is 1-4 in bowl games.  Those four losses are all in BCS games, including two national championship games and a shocking loss to non-BCS Boise State.

It’s not like Stoops hasn’t brought in talent, either.  Since 2003, the Sooners have had 13 All-Americans, including Jason White, Adrian Peterson, Jammal Brown, Tommie Harris, and Mark Clayton.  Stoops’ teams have been out-coached and ill-prepared in big games against Pete Carroll (USC), Chris Peterson (Boise State) and Bill Stewart (West Virginia).

2) Charlie Weis

Perhaps no coach has lived more off his accomplishments outside the college ranks than Notre Dame's head man. 

Charlie Weis won three Super Bowl rings as offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots.  He was credited for much of Tom Brady’s success.  Granted, the Patriots haven’t won the Super Bowl since, but Tom Brady’s game doesn’t seem to have suffered one bit. 

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