College Football: 14 Active Coaches with the Cleanest Track Records

Whether we are talking about appearance or the use of  PEDs and recreational pharmaceuticals, staying "clean" is a positive thing.

Some college football coaches apparently have not caught on to this fact.

These guys, however, are the antithesis of the corruption and debauchery we see plaguing college coaches these days.

Every one of them leads a program, most of them are successful, and they are all, every one of them-clean.

14. Mike Sherman: Texas A&M

There was one minor NCAA violation Sherman was involved with.

He owned up, and moved on.

That's right, he didn't lie about it, at least we don't think he did.

This season, the Aggies have a very good squad that could challenge for the conference crown.

While you can believe what you want about the state of college football, and whether it's possible to win without cheating, Sherman is another that demonstrates it can be done.

13. Bill Snyder: Kansas State

Ok, so the Wildcats are not exactly a college football powerhouse, but Snyder has at least restrained himself from cheating to make it better.

Snyder took the program once known as "Futility U" and turned it around, taking the Wildcats to a bowl game every year from 1993-2003.

He once exercised disciplinary action on some of his players for breaking team rules the night before the 2004 Fiesta Bowl.

Snyder and the 'Cats appear to be on the way back up, returning to a bowl game again last year in his second season back at KSU, and he will keep them headed that wayh, without improper benefits for players.

12. Pat Hill: Fresno State

According to the NCAA's Acedemic Progress Rate, Fresno is one of the top teams in the country in educating their football players.

You can be sure that Pat Hill probably has something to do with that.

Since 1997, Hill has built a reputation for the Bulldogs of playing tough non-conference foes, and being willing to take on anyone, anywhere.

Fresno State has been very successful in his time as coach, making bowl appearances in eleven of hill's fourteen seasons.

Another example of a good, honest coach.

11. Paul Wulff: Washington State

Yeah, he's not that great at what he does, but at least he is honest.

The Cougars will probably improve slightly over last season's miserable performance, but it may not be enough to save coach Wulff.

At least he has his principles...

10. Chris Ault: Nevada

Ault coached the Wolf Pak from 1976-1995, and started his current stint at Nevada in 2004.

The program has excelled in the time since his return, and made six bowl appearances in the seven seasons since he came back.

Ault seems to command the repect of those around him, and he is innovative with his offenses.

But nowhere will you find mention of an NCAA infraction under his watch.  

9. Pat Fitzgerald: Northwestern

Of course, it is Northwestern.

Still Pat Fitzgerald ahs the Wildcats trending upward, and he has done it the right way.

No oversigning or pay-for-play here, just good, old-fashioned work.

While the Wildcats have lost a bowl game in each of the last three seasons, it's only a matter of time before they break through, and you better believe coach Fitzgerald will keep his nose clean in the process.

8. Tom O'Brien: N.C. State

He may have sent Russell Wilson packing into the waiting arms of the Wisconsin Badgers, but Tom O'Brien deserves a mention here.

He has taken his team to ten bowl games in the last twelve years, and turned around a  defunct Boston College program.

He seems to be duplicating his feat at N.C. State, as the Wolfpack finished ranked in the final polls.

His legacy is one of good coaching, coupled with solid recruiting, and never will you find a hint of a violation.

7. Mark Dantonio: Michigan State

Mark Dantonio is a brave man.

He is a fighter.

After all of his health issues last season, he managed a return to the field, and led the Spartans to the title of "Big Ten Champions."

There have been no allegations, accusation or violations even remotely tied to his name.

The man seems to exude character from every pore.

And all this is coming from a Badger fan...

6. Lane Kiffin: USC Trojans

Just kidding...

6. Will Muschamp: Florida

The only coach of a legitimate SEC program that could go on this list.

Of course, he is starting his first year as head coach, so that's hardly fair, but it's tough to find an SEC coach who belongs here.

I jest—Joker Phillips of Kentucky is a stand-up guy, and in the SEC there's also...wait, I got nothin'.

5. Bronco Mendenhall: BYU

Ok, this may have something to do with coaching at BYU, wherer a player was kicked off the basketball team for breaking the school's honor code.

We can probably assume that the cpoaches have a pretty sstrict code they must adhere to as well.

Either way, Mendenhall has built up a tremendous program, that should be ont he radar this season in their first as an independent.

He has never been involved in anything smacking of inappropriate recruiting activity, or anything similar.

And besides, "Bronco" has got to be one of the coolest football names ever.

4. Bret Bielema: Wisconsin

The Badgers are on the verge of taking over the Big Ten.

Head coach Bret Bielema has been a huge part of their emergence.

The program prides itself on bringing in recruits that are not five-star, and developing them into great football players.

Bielema has, thus far escaped public and NCAA scrutiny, and been able to field a winning team.

3. Gary Patterson: TCU

Gary Patterson is a great football coach.

He has developed a team with fewer resources than many schools, into a national title contender.

While the Frogs are going to take a step back this season due to all the departing talent, Patterson seems to have no problem recruiting young men to shore up his perennially stellar defense.

His name has never been linked to any sort of NCAA scandal, and his love for the game is clear to anyone watching him coach.

2. Paul Johnson: Georgia Tech

In five years at I-AA school Georgia Southern as head coach, Johnson won two national championships and was runner-up for another.

At Navy, he went 11-1 in the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy competition, his only loss against another service academy coming against Air Force in his first season.

He led Navy to a 6-0 record against Army.

In his first year at Georgia Tech, his team defied the experts and tied for first place in the ACC.

And he did it all clean...

1. Frank Beamer: Virginia Tech

Consistency.

That's the word that comes to mind when thinking about Frank Beamer and Va. Tech.

On the field and off.

Name one NCAA violation in which Beamer has been involved.

You can't, because there aren't any.

His continued success proves that you can win games without breaking the rules.