College Football Rankings: 5 Best Coaches in the Top 25

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Great teams and great coaching goes hand-in-hand. Whether it's a legend or an up-and-comer, coaching is especially important at the college level.

College coaches must not only be able to coach the game. They also must be able to mentor and mold their young players into talented players and great people as well.

On top of the emotional leadership, coaches must also know their schemes and strategies. They must be able to manage a coaching staff while managing a whole team.

Their job is not easy. Some do it well, and some struggle. Some can coach in the NFL but can't in college or vice versa.

Here are the five best college coaches in the Top 25:

Chris Petersen

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Chris Petersen has morphed the Boise State Broncos into a nationally unrecognized powerhouse since his arrival in 2006.

Over that span, Boise State has gone 64-5. Their bowl record is 3-2, with one major victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl in 2007. That victory set the precedent for BCS busters everywhere.

Petersen has won two Bear Bryant coaching awards since arriving in Boise. He won the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year award last season.

Coach Petersen is a great football mind. Boise runs one of the most efficient offenses in the country. Plus, they always have a few tricks up their sleeve. Ask the 2007 Sooners.

Most coaches of Petersen's caliber eventually move on to bigger and possibly better things. In this instance, Petersen should stay put.

More people need to recognize Boise and the incredible work he has done there.

Frank Beamer

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Frank Beamer has the second most wins among active coaches, behind Penn State's Joe Paterno. He is 242-118-4 in his career.

Beamer arrived in Blacksburg in 1987. Arriving with him was a whole new brand of football for Hokies' fans. Aggressive, fast and sometimes mean, the Hokies bring it every Saturday.

Beamer even has his own brand of football called "Beamer ball." This refers to the opportunistic special teams play the Hokies have become known for.

The Hokies have won four ACC championships and three Big East Championships before they changed conferences. Beamer has won several coach of the year awards, and is recognized as one of the most prestigious coaches roaming any sideline today.

Beamer is a sure-fire Hall of Fame coach.

Steve Spurrier

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Steve Spurrier was first known as an All-American quarterback. Eventually, he became known for his brilliance calling offensive plays.

Spurrier is well known for his 11 seasons roaming the sidelines for the Florida Gators from 1990-2001. Following a brief stint with the Washington Redskins, Spurrier took the head coaching job at South Carolina.

Since arriving in South Carolina in 2005, Spurrier has slowly but surely improved the Gamecocks' program.

It has been said that Spurrier is only successful when he has the talent to make it happen. What coach doesn't?

Spurrier does rub some people the wrong way. He is a straight talker and an emotional coach. However, he loves the game and his players.

He should be mentioned alongside many other great names when all is said and done.

Les Miles

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Les Miles has been an NCAA head coach since 2001. First with Oklahoma State, then, with LSU starting in 2005.

Miles or "The Mad Hatter" is known for his zany decision making. He isn't afraid to lay the game on the line if he senses the momentum is theirs for the taking. This draws criticism, bewilderment, shock and awe when it works.

He is 94-38 in his head coaching career. Six of those wins are bowl games. One of those is a national championship with LSU in 2007.

Bottom line, LSU will be competitive as long as Miles is in town. His personality is a perfect match for the SEC, and a perfect match for the Tigers.

Nick Saban

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Nick Saban is an excellent defensive mind. Some would argue, the best. The best or not, Saban is close to it.

He is 138-53-1 over his career. Six of those wins come by virtue of bowl victories. He has won two national championships. One with LSU in 2003 and one with Alabama in 2009.

LSU was fierce defensively during Saban's four year coaching tenure. Alabama has been no different since Saban's arrival in 2007.

He has a hard-nosed personality. He spikes his headset down at least once a game. He has the fire and the passion to win. His teams are no different.

That is what makes a great coach. The ability to channel your energy into your talented players.