The 10 Most Underrated College Football Coaches In Divison 1

Now that the college football season is over, now is a good time to give some credit to those Division 1 football coaches that don't always get the credit they deserve.

Many of them don't get the credit they deserve because they coach in non-AQ conference. Still, others are just modest coaches adverse to self-promotion while others never have the luxury of ESPN GameDay coming their way.

Who are these guys?

Here we go.

1. Al Golden: University Of Miami

The newly hired Miami football head coach has accomplished something most people thought was an impossible job—making Temple football a competitive football squad.

Golden's 2009 season of 9-4 was the best record for Temple football since 1990 and took the Owls to their first bowl game since 1979. For the 2010 season, the Owls finished 8-4 but were denied a chance for a repeat bowl appearance,

Before becoming head coach at Temple in 2005, Golden served as the defensive coordinator with University of Virginia. Under his leadership, in three years, the Cavaliers went from being 108th to 18th in total defense.

Needless to say, most in the country (and many Miami fans) may be scratching their heads as to why Miami hired this "unknown."

Soon they will see why this was one of the best 2010 hires in college football.

2. Kyle Whittingham: Utah Utes

After Urban Meyer left for Florida in 2005, Whittingham took over as the University of Utah head coach—the Utes have not looked back since.

Whittingham has an impressive 58-20 record, but that is not to mention matching Urban Meyer with an undefeated season in 2008 and a win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

Chris Peterson at Boise State and Gary Patterson with TCU may get much more media exposure as BCS giant-killers, but Whittingham's Utes keep on truckin'.

3. Jim Leavitt

Jim Leavitt is the only one on this list who currently is not employed as a head coach.

However, it is rumored that Jim Harbaugh, the new San Fransisco 49ers head coach may hire Leavitt to be his new linebackers coach.

Leavitt makes this list as he literally built a football program from scratch at the University of South Florida when the Bulls started playing football in 1997.

Before being fired (for reasons that are still involved with a lawsuit with the university), Leavitt led the Bulls to a 94-57 all-time win/loss record, five bowl games and a No. 2 national ranking in the 2007 polls.

Within an eight-year period, Leavitt took a Division 1-AA program to the heights of a BCS conference.

Any universities looking to rebuild their football program would be foolish to overlook Jim Leavitt for a head coaching position.

4. Brady Hoke: Michigan

The newly hired Michigan head coach may not have been Michigan's first choice, but Hoke is no joke.

Under his tenure, Ball State had their most wins in school history, first AP Top 25 ranking and their first win over a BCS school.

When hired by San Diego State in 2008, Hoke got the Aztecs to the most wins in one season since 1971 and their first bowl game since 1998.

Great hire Michigan.

5. June Jones: SMU

June Jones may be a disciple of the antiquated Run N' Shoot, but it is undeniable he knows his stuff.

As he head coach of the University of Hawaii for eight years, Jones coached the Rainbows/Warriors to a 76-41 record—culminating with their undefeated 2007 season and Sugar Bowl appearance. 

Furthermore, June Jones produced five All-Americans and helped send eight players to the NFL draft. Former Hawaii quarterback Timmy Chang holds several NCAA records under June Jones.

Since becoming the head coach of Southern Methodist University, Jones has already led the Mustangs to its most wins since 1984.

6. Larry Blakeney: Troy University

Blakeney has been coaching Troy for over 20 years. When he started, Troy was known as Troy State and playing Division II football.

Since 1991, Blakeney has amassed a 161-82-1 record, and helped lead the school to its first victory over a BCS conference school, defeating Mississippi State in 2001. Since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2004, Troy has beaten No. 17 ranked Missouri (2004) and Oklahoma State.

Troy University has won the Sun Belt Conference twice and been co-champions three times.

A former Auburn QB for Shug Jordan and Auburn assistant coach for 14 years before coming to Troy, it is safe to say, Blakeney is a 'Bama boy.

So don't look for Blakeney to be sending out his resume any time soon.

7. Ken Niumatalolo: Navy

As Paul Johnson's offensive coordinator at Navy from 2002-2007, Niumatalolo had some big shoes to fill. 

When Johnson was promoted to head coach at Georgia Tech, Niumatalolo was promoted to Navy's head coach. Could he continue the winning streak Johnson had the program on? Yes, Niumatalolo could.

With four bowl games under his belt, Niumatalolo has maintained the winning streak over Army (nine years and counting) and a signature win over a Top 25 opponent, the first one in 23 years (over No. 16 Wake Forrest in 2008). Niumatalolo deserves more credit then he gets.

Considering the academic, height and weight restrictions that the service academies face every year, any head coach who can average nine wins and a bowl game a year deserves some respect.

8. Randy Esdall: Maryland

New Maryland football coach Randy Edsall deserves alot of credit for getting the UConn Huskies to their first BCS Bowl.

Little less then a decade ago, Husky football offices were makeshift and their facilities were below the level of some private high schools in Connecticut. Since joining the Big East in 2004, Edsall's Huskies had only one losing season, while making four bowl appearances.

Not bad considering you're coaching at a school where both men's and women's basketball take precedence over football.

9. Mike Stoops: Arizona

Rebuilding a program is hard work—which is of course why Stoops always stays on those "Hot Seat" lists for coaches.

After struggling for four years with sub-.500 seasons, Stoops finally seems to have found his rhythm.

Over the past three years, Stoops has managed winning seasons for the Wildcats, including a second-place Pac-10 finish in 2009.

In 2008, Stoops got Arizona to their first bowl game since 1998 when they defeated BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl. Those who only look at his 40-45 record are only looking at half the picture.

10. Bill Stewart: West Virginia

Stewart should deserve credit for keeping the West Virginia ship afloat after the departure of Rich Rodriguez in 2007, as recruiting has not slipped.

Stewart is both 2-1 in bowl games and the Backyard Brawl and 28-12 in three years as head coach. But Stewart has been made a lame duck coach for the 2011 season as new offensive coordinator, Dana Holgorsen waits in the wings to take over the program in 2012.

I guess its true what they say: There is no pleasing some people, especially in Morgantown, WV.