Florida Gators' Top 10 Coaches of All Time

There is a mixture of opinion when it comes to Urban Meyer's early retirement. On one side, you have the fans who understand and sympathize with Urban's desire to be close to his family and away from the stress that is college football. On the other side, you have guys like Jacksonville Jaguars running back, Maurice Jones-Drew, who have used Urban Meyer's early retirement as the basis for an insult hurled at Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. 

"hey I think the urban meyer rule is in effect now, when the going gets tough.... QUIT." (via Twitter) 

No matter what you feel about Urban Meyer and his early retirement, the one common truth is that the man won football games. Soon Will Muschamp will understand that at Florida, winning is what matters most. 

10. Ron Zook

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Florida Gators head coach Ron Zook on the sideline during the Outback Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2003 in Tampa, Florida. The Wolverines defeated the Gators 38-30. (Photo by Matt Stro

Ron Zook is a fantastic recruiter. Steve Spurrier even admitted that the team Zook inherited for his first season was scrapped of high star talent. Zook got to work right away recruiting in top 10 classes and defeating teams like the 2002 Georgia Bulldogs and the 2003 LSU Tigers (the Tigers won the BCS National Championship later that year). However, Zook could not achieve the same type of wins on the field as he did off the field in recruiting. 

9. Charlie Bachman

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: The mascot of the Florida Gators directs the play of the band against the Penn State Nittany Lions January 1, 2010 in the 25th Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Bachman was the coach who began to put the Florida Gators on the map. In 1928, he led the Gators to an 8-1 record with the only loss coming to Tennessee by a score of 12-13. In 1929, he led the team to another eight-win season and a victory over Oregon in the first football game played at Madison Square Garden. 

8. James Van Fleet

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GAINESVILLE, FL - APRIL 18: Cornerback Joe Haden #5 of the University of Florida poses with two Gator mascots after the spring football orange and blue game April 18, 2009 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Ge

The upset over the 1923 Alabama Crimson Tide was one for the ages. Van Fleet set the tone for coaches to come. 

7. Charley Pell

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Wide receiver Omarius Hines #82 of the Florida Gators celebrates a touchdown catch with center Mike Pouncey #55 against the Penn State Nittany Lions January 1, 2010 in the 25th Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florid

Pell's first season was his only bad one. No coach ever wants to begin their reign with an 0-10-1 season, but that is where Pell found himself in 1980. Pell would bounce back quickly with an 8-3 season and overall record of 33-15 after the miserable first year. However, in 1984 his time would end as the NCAA charged him with 107 major infractions. Yes, 107. 

6. Bob Woodruff

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Quarterback Trey Burton #8 of the Florida Gators rushes upfield against the Penn State Nittany Lions January 1, 2010 in the 25th Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

In his time with the Gators, he compiled a 53-42-6 overall record. Woodruff brought a great defense and motivation to his players. 

5. Doug Dickey

From Gator quarterback to head coach, Doug Dickey enjoyed a decent amount of success during his time at the helm. Dickey is most remembered for the "Gator Flop." Roll the video! 

The relationship between the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Gators was forever changed. 

4. Galen Hall

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IRVING, TX - OCTOBER 27: Running back Emmitt Smith celebrates after breaking the all time NFL rushing record against the Seattle Seahawks at Texas Stadium on October 27, 2002 in Irving, Texas. The Seahawks defeated the Cowboys 17-14. (Photo by Ronald Mar

Galen Hall had an overall record of 40-18. Most importantly, he gave the fans the joy of watching then Florida Gator running back, Emmitt Smith. Emmitt Smith alone secures Hall's spot in the top five.

3. Ray Graves

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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 16: A bottle of Gatorade sit on the boards prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on October 16, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Im

The Ray Graves era may best be remembered for bringing Gatorade to the sidelines, but Graves also happens to be the second winningest coach in Gator history. His 1966-1967 team led by quarterback Steve Spurrier was a great team. Graves retired with a 70-31-4 record. 

2. Urban Meyer

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Coach Urban Meyer of the Florida Gators hugs his wife, Shelley, after play against the Penn State Nittany Lions January 1, 2011 in the 25th Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty

The amount of success Urban Meyer achieved in six seasons most coaches will never reach in their entire career. Two BCS national championships, 5-1 bowl game record and two SEC championships. 

The reason Urban Meyer is not No. 1 is because of his early exit. If he were able to build another great team post-Tebow, then people would remember him as a truly great coach, not just great in Florida history but great in college football history. However, the danger of walking away so early is history could remember the Urban Meyer years as the Tim Tebow years. It's like Florida's basketball coach Billy Donovan because he has not been able to equal the success of the two national championships he gained with Joakim Noah and Al Horford, history will remember those championships as being more Noah's doing than Donovan's coaching. 

Urban Meyer is a great coach, a 65-15 record at Florida and his time at Utah speak for themselves, but to move into the No. 1 spot, he needed to stay longer. 

1. Steve Spurrier

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GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 30: Former Florida Gators head coach Steve Spurrier is honored prior to a game against theAlabama Crimson Tide at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field September 30, 2006 in Gainsville, Florida. Spurrier who now coaches

The 'Ol Ball Coach won, and won often at Florida. His overall record was an astounding 122-27-1. Put it in perspective, Meyer would have to win 58 of his next 70 games to surpass Spurrier's mark. Spurrier led his team to an undefeated season in 1995, but a brutal loss to Nebraska in what was termed the "Fiasco Bowl." However, he won a national title in 1996 and won six (nearly seven) SEC championships. 

Will Muschamp has big shoes to fill. Time will tell where he will fit into this slideshow.