College Football 2011: Ranking Nick Saban and Today's Best Head Coaches

There is quite the abundance of exceptional coaches currently in the NCAA, battling each other day-in and day-out throughout calendar football year.

What makes a good football coach?

Leadership capability, strategy, dedication and a solid staff.

But what makes a great coach?

Someone that knows that they're in the position to impact a young man's life; to possibly be a needed father figure, to provide guidance, stability and wisdom, to implement the meaning of hard work and devotion for not just the football field, but for all of life's unyielding obstacles.

A great coach will bring out the positives in even the most negative situations, but also isn't afraid to lay down constructive criticism and discipline.

A great coach is extremely organized and knows the right answer to every question, even if he's wrong. If the players respect him, they will listen—and believe me, a great coach is respected.

Numbers and statistics aren't everything in this situation (although they help). Winning is a goal, but to a great coach, it's not everything—if the team grows, matures and become better men in general, a whole new definition of winning is created.

This list could continue, but I think I've achieved the concept between the difference of a good coach and a great one.

With this being said, I've put together a list of extraordinary coaches from today's era. Don't let this be confused with those in the past—it is directed in particular for those who are active and have had plenty of recent success.

10. Brian Kelly, Notre Dame

Could it get any better for Brian Kelly?

Prosperity has followed B.K. throughout his career; from Grand Valley State, to Central Michigan, to Cincinnati, and now, most recently, Notre Dame. He has climbed the coaching totem pole and is currently living his dream with the Fighting Irish.

Kelly led the D-II Grand Valley State Lakers to six playoff appearances in 13 years, winning the NCAA D-II Championship in his final two seasons, compiling an overall 118-35-2 record.

He then spent three years turning the Central Michigan football program around, in which he won nine games with the Chippewas in 2006—their best season since 1994 (9-3).

And then there was Cincinnati.

Kelly reconstructed the Bearcats into a feared team in the Big East, winning 34-of-40 overall games and making back-to-back BCS bowl appearances in 2008-09.

He controversially left Cincinnati for the demanding job to replace Charlie Weiss and revive Notre Dame football.

So far, so good, as the Irish won eight games in '10—their best season since the Brady Quinn era.

Kelly has won numerous awards since his first year as a head coach in 1991. This includes the American Football Coaches Association Division II Coach of the Year (2002-03), the Home Depot National Coach of the Year ('09) and the Big East Coach of the Year ('07-09). He was inducted into Grand Valley State's Hall of Fame in 2009.

Brian Kelly has a career record of 179-62-2 (73.7 percent).

9. Joe Paterno, Penn State

My heart just wouldn't sit right if I didn't include Joe Paterno in this list.

"JoPa" has been the coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions since 1966—before the Vietnam War's Operation Cedar Falls began—and doesn't see retirement as an option any time soon.

Paterno has been to a bowl 36 times in his 44 years at Penn State, winning his two national championships in 1982 and 1986.

And if you think the old man isn't relevant anymore, think again. The Nittany Lions are a combined 58-19 dating back to 2005, winning two Big Ten conference titles and wrapping up four bowl wins in six tries.

I can't even begin to count how many awards JoPa has received throughout his lengthy career, but one worth sharing is the Paul Bryant Award, which he won in 1986.

Paterno will be 86 years old in December. He is the all-time winningest football coach in D-IA history with a record of 401 wins, 134 losses and three ties (74.5 percent).

8. Gary Patterson, Texas Christian

The Texas Christian Horned Frogs have been to 10 bowls during Gary Patterson's 11-year stay as coach and have made a BCS bowl in back-to-back seasons.

This includes a Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin in 2010.

Since becoming TCU's head coach in 2000, Patterson is 98-28 (61-18 MWC) and is 6-4 in postseason play. He is the first coach in school history to have six 10-win seasons.

In 2009, Patterson was nominated the Mountain West Coach of the Year, the Walter Camp Coach of the Year, the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year, and plenty, plenty more.

It's safe to say that he knows what he's doing, as he's turned a non-BCS school into a powerhouse squad on the move.

7. Chip Kelly, Oregon

In Chip Kelly's two years as the coach of Oregon, the Ducks have achieved some phenomenal heights.

They have defeated seven Top 25 teams, including USC twice. Oregon has won the Pac-10 (now the Pac-12) both years and is 17-1 in conference play.

Although Kelly has not won a bowl yet, his teams have played in the Rose Bowl and the BCS National Championship—and it doesn't get much better than that.

With Darron Thomas at quarterback and Doak Walker Award winner LaMichael James at running back, the Ducks averaged 49.3 points and 537.5 yards per game in last year's undefeated regular season.

They're back for more in what should be yet another dynamic season for Kelly's Ducks.

Chip Kelly is 22-4 (84.6 percent) in his young career. These numbers should be consistent for years to come.

6. Chris Petersen, Boise State

Like Gary Patterson, Chris Petersen took the helm of a mid-major school and turned it into a powerhouse.

Well-known for his Fiesta Bowl win over the heavily-favored Oklahoma Sooners in 2006 (or better yet, the Statue of Liberty play), Petersen has tore through his WAC schedule year-in and year-out, winning 38 of his 40 conference games.

The Broncos will be facing new competition starting in 2011, as they move into the Mountain West. This will involve the TCU Horned Frogs.

Petersen has won the Paul Bryant Award twice (2006, '09) and the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award in 2010. He owns a career record of 61-5 (92.4 percent) and is 3-2 in bowl games.

Oh, and he has quarterback Kellen Moore returning.

5. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech

The Hokies have seven straight 10-win seasons and have been invited to a bowl 18 consecutive years. All thanks are given to one man; Frank Beamer.

Beamer started his coaching career with Murray State in 1981, going 42-23-2 with a D-IAA playoff appearance in his final season ('86).

He was then enrolled as the leader of the Virginia Tech Hokies' football squad. However, D-IA wasn't kind to him at the start. Beamer's first six years at the helm consisted of four losing seasons and zero bowl bids.

Since 1993, his Hokies are 174-55 and have made five BCS bowls (BCS started in 1998).

Beamer has accepted stacks of awards in his time, but most recently, the Joseph V. Paterno Coach of the Year Award in 2010.

The 65-year-old has an overall record of 240-118-4 (66.3 percent), and although he has no national titles, he's won the ACC seven times.

4. Mack Brown, Texas

Mack Brown is the all-time winningest football coach in the University of Texas' history with 134 victories. He never had a losing season with the Longhorns until 2010 (5-7).

Brown has been credited for revitalizing the North Carolina and Texas football programs. He went from a 1-10 record in 1988 to 10-1 in 1997 (his final season) with the Tar Heels, compiling a 69 wins to 46 losses and six bowl invitations in that span.

From 2001-09, Texas won at least 10 games for the first time in school history. This included four conference division titles and a national championship.

Before 2010, Brown had 20 consecutive winning seasons and 18-straight bowl debuts.

He has won two Big 12 Coach of the Year Awards (2005, '09), the Paul Bryant Award (2005) and the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award (2008).

Mack Brown has a career record of 219-108-1 (66.8 percent) and looks to improve from his worst coaching year since 1989 (1-10).

3. Les Miles, Louisiana State

Not too many people realize that Les Miles began his noteworthy career as a head coach with the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

After going 28-21 from 2001-04, he was awarded the same job with the Louisiana State Tigers, replacing Nick Saban.

In Miles' first season as coach, LSU won the 2005 SEC Western Division title with a 10-1 regular season record. It had wins over No. 15 Arizona State, No. 11 Florida, No. 16 Auburn and No. 4 Alabama.

Miles has won 62 games since taking the helm, including an upset victory against Ohio State in the 2007 BCS National Championship.

He currently possesses a 90-38 overall record (32-15 SEC) and is 6-3 in bowl games.

2. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma

Bob Stoops was named Oklahoma's football coach in 1999.

And he immediately went to work.

Stoops quickly turned the program around, winning seven games and leading the Sooners to their first bowl game in four years.

The very next year, Oklahoma went 12-0 in the regular season and beat Florida State 13-2 to win the national title.

Since then, Stoops has had eight seasons of at least 11 wins and has found himself in seven BCS bowls.

He is 72-2 when playing at home (Oklahoma Memorial Stadium) and is 78-18 in conference play.

And better yet, he is 7-4 against arch-rival Texas.

Stoops has won 129 games to just 31 losses while at Oklahoma (80.1 percent). His Sooners' squad is expected to be 2011's best team in the NCAA.

1. Nick Saban, Alabama

There's no doubt that he knows how to win.

Nick Saban's latest coaching stint is with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He was formerly with the Toledo Rockets, the Michigan State Spartans and the LSU Tigers. He also tried on the Miami Dolphins, but apparently, they didn't have the right size.

In one year (1990) with Toledo, Saban won nine games, and the Rockets won the Mid-American Conference. This was his first time as a head football coach.

He then spent the next four years as the Cleveland Browns' defensive coordinator under Bill Belichick.

From 1995-99, Saban served as the MSU Spartans' head coach. He took what was a 5-6 team and won 34 games in this span, being invited to play in four bowls.

From there, he accepted the role as LSU's leader. He found a lot of success in Baton Rouge, winning three conference division titles and a national championship in just five seasons.

In 2005, Saban became the coach of the NFL's Miami Dolphins. Hey, maybe the NFL just wasn't his thing, because he went 15-17 in two years, which included his first losing season as a head coach. He quickly decided that pro-ball wasn't his thing and headed back to the SEC for the same position at Alabama.

And it ended up being a pretty good choice.

The Crimson Tide is 43-11 under Saban, including a 14-0 record in 2009 when Alabama defeated Texas to win the BCS National Championship. He is 25-7 in what is considered the toughest conference in all of college football.

Saban has won two AP National Coach of the Year Awards (2003, '09) amongst many others. He has an overall record of 134-53-1 (71.3 percent) and is 6-5 in bowl games.

And 'Bama is expected to make some noise for the national title once again in 2011.