Eight College Football Coaches Who Should Stop Using Twitter

Twitter-related stories began popping up all around college football this past season.

Mainstream media took notice of social media's increasing importance in the world of sports, and finally started incorporating it into their stories. Some writers use tweets as quotes in stories, others use Facebook as a way to break news.

Because of social media's popularity, many college football coaches have been forced to address it in one way or another. There are coaches who embrace it, and some who do not.

There were stories of Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll's follower count. There were stories about former Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach banning his players from Twitter after one of his linebackers noted the coach's tardiness to a team meeting in a tweet.

There were even stories about LSU head coach Les Miles tweeting during games.

Since mainstream media is finally catching on about social media, some college coaches might be wise to improve their usage of Twitter, or to just give it up entirely.

@bretbielema—Bret Bielema, Wisconsin

As a follower of Wisconsin Badger head coach Bret Bielema on Twitter, fans will get semi-regular updates about the players and team.

Fans will also get a front-row seat to an all-out assault on punctuation usage. It seems Bielema has an incessant use of the exclamation point.

Let it be known that no man should ever use more than three exclamation points to end a sentence, even in a tweet.

Here is an example of why he should stop using Twitter: "Today is a day off for our players but a heavy work day for our staff. Baadgers and Packers win.... Great weekend in Wisconsin!!!!"

Take it easy with the "!," @bretbielema.

@Play4brew—Tim Brewster, Minnesota

When you aren't following anyone on a social networking site, you clearly don't understand the concept of social media.

What's the point of being on Twitter when you aren't engaging with anyone and your tweet stream is a virtual wasteland of Facebook cross-postings?

Welcome to Tim Brewster's Twitter page. The Minnesota Golden Gopher's usage of Twitter is pathetic, at best.

He isn't following anyone. Most of his tweets are cross-posts from Facebook. And it's clear that he isn't the one running it.

It's time to call it quits on Twitter and start focusing a little more on coaching, @Play4brew.

@UM_CoachRod—Rich Rodriguez, Michigan

Michigan Wolverine head coach Rich Rodriguez hasn't sent a tweet since the end of September, which was right about the time Michigan started the Big Ten season.

It's possible there is a correlation between Rich Rod's sudden tweet stoppage and the sudden decline of the Wolverines last fall. Probably not, but that won't stop me from speculating.

@UM_CoachRod should do his almost 14,000 followers a favor and give up his attempt at Twitter. Maybe he can help Tate Forcier figure out a strategy for avoiding Adrian Clayborn this year.

@lane_kiffin—Lane Kiffin, USC

USC head coach Lane Kiffin could get himself in trouble while chained to a tree on a remote island in the South Pacific. Do you really think it's a good idea for him to have a Twitter account?

And is it really a good idea for him to be re-tweeting @CoachEdOrgeron messages?

He has already gotten himself in some hot water while at Tennessee for his Twitter account uses. It might be wise for @lane_kiffin to step away from the social media tools.

@UKcoachbrooks—Rich Brooks, Kentucky

Kentucky head coach Rich Brooks must be taking a few pointers from Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari when it comes to Twitter.

He has amassed a decent following on Twitter, and he's seemed to grasp how to use the Echofon Twitter application. Now we just have to get him to start using his exclamation points correctly.

Brooks has the same exclamation problem as Wiconsin's Bielema. Brooks also tweets a little too much about basketball games.

Less basketball, more football @UKcoachbrooks.

@CoachPeteBoise—Chris Petersen, Boise State

Boise State head coach Chris Petersen has been on Twitter since last April but has yet to send a tweet.

So, did he just create an account as another place online to post his picture? Or is the Internet connection in Idaho just that bad?

Either way, it's time for @CoachPeteBoise to delete his account.

@coachbriankelly—Brian Kelly, Notre Dame

When Brian Kelly decided to take the head coaching job at Notre Dame, there is a distinct possibility he decided to change his Twitter background in support of the Fighting Irish before telling his players of his departure...before their BCS bowl game.

At least we can say @coachbriankelly knows the importance of Twitter. But someone should remind him there are also ethics involved in social media, too.

@mizzoufootball—Gary Pinkel, Missouri

Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel is a semi-regular Twitter user.

He tweets regular updates about the team and players. He also sends messages to congratulate fellow coaches.

But Pinkel has a bit of a Twitter problem. It's another exclamation point problem, but this one is a bit different. He doesn't exceed the three-point maximum, but he does end every sentence in his tweets with an exclamation point.

Either @mizzoufootball is a female robot, or someone else is helping Pinkel run his Twitter account.

Which College Coach Gets Twitter Right?

@LSUCoachMiles - Les Miles, LSU

This might surprise some people that think Big Ten fans can't appreciate the SEC, but Les Miles seems to get his Twitter usage right.

While he could still use some improvement, for a college football coach he seems to have mastered the art of tweeting. He tweets with regularity, just enough to keep his followers informed. He doesn't use exclamation points excessively or inappropriately.

He is also concise and to the point, and uses his tweets to support other athletic programs within the school

And occasionally, he takes part in a Follow Friday.

More people should follow @LSUCoachMiles's example.

List of College Football Coaches on Twitter

ACC Coaches
@DavidCutcliffe
@CoachSwinney
@CoachFridge

Big East Coaches
@CoachStewart
@jimleavitt
@dougmarrone
@coachwannstedt
@kragthorpe

Big Ten Coaches
@Play4brew
@RonZook
@UM_CoachRod
@JayPaterno
@BretBielema
@coach_hope
@coachfitz51

Big 12 Coaches
@BoPelini
@mizzoufootball
@CoachSherman
@coachhawk
@bobstoops

Conference USA Coaches
@CoachFedora
@UCFFootball
@CoachCollins
@CoachSnyder

MAC Coaches
@coachbeckman
@ron_english
@TUCoachAlGolden

Mid-American
@coachbutchjones
@ron_english
@coachbeckman

Mountain West Conference Coaches
@KyleWhittingham
@Cowboysfootball
@CoachFairchild
@Coachlocks

Pac10 Coaches
@CoachSark
@PeteCarroll
@CoachWulff
@JimHarbaugh
@jefftedford

SEC Coaches
@CoachUrbanMeyer
@LSUCoachMiles
@rollwiththetide
@coachdanmullen
@MarkRicht

Sun Belt Conference Coaches
@coachdavidelson