College Football 2011: The 10 Most Underrated Assistant Coaches

What do Bryan Harsin, Dana Holgorsen and Paul Chryst all have in common?

Wait a minute—who are these guys? Is there a reason that we are supposed to know the answer to this question?

No, there really isn't. What they have in common is the fact that they are all underrated assistant coaches in college football today.

We have all heard about the great coaching names in college football, but truth be told, the head coaches don't do it all. In fact, a number of the top college football programs in the country would not be where they are today if it wasn't for the mastermind offensive and defensive coordinators running the show.

Let's break this down and take an inside look at the 10 most underrated assistant coaches in college football.

10. Ken Wilson, Nevada Associate Head Coach

Talk about a guy that is loyal to his school.

Ken Wilson has served as an assistant coach at Nevada for 17 years now. He primarily works with defensive players, as he has served as the linebackers, defensive front and secondary coach during his time in Reno.

Chris Ault is Nevada football and has been the coach there for 26 seasons, but with his time likely winding down, all signs point to Wilson being next in line to take over that head coaching position at Nevada. If that is indeed the case, Wilson certainly has the resume to let Nevada fans know that their program will be in good hands.

9. Mark Helfrich, Oregon Offensive Coordinator

When you think of offense in college football, the first team that has to come to mind is the Oregon Ducks.

Mark Helfrich is the man in charge of that unit and deserves plenty of credit for conducting one of the most explosive offenses we have ever seen in college football. This past season, Helfrich's offense ranked No. 1 in the country in both yards per game (530) and point per game (46.8) on their way to an undefeated record and a spot in the National Championship game.

With those types of numbers, it will be of no surprise if Helfrich is offered a head coaching position somewhere down the road. But if it were up to Chip Kelly and Oregon, he would stay in Eugene for as long as possible.

8. Paul Chryst, Wisconsin Offensive Coordinator

Here is a stat line to look at when thinking about why Chryst makes the cut for this list:

In the last five seasons under Chryst's guidance, Wisconsin's offense has averaged 30.5 points and 399.0 yards per game. The Badgers have compiled a 59-18 record during his time as the team's offensive coordinator.

You really can't get much better or more consistent than that.

In fact, in honor of his success, Chryst was named as a finalist for the Frank Broyles Award this past year, which is given to the nation's top college football assistant coach.

With a dominant rushing attack returning next year, chances are that Chryst and the Badgers will be right up there again next season in the nation's top offensive ranks.

7. Jim Heacock, Ohio State Defensive Coordinator

When you think of the best hard-nosed college football defenses over the past decade, Ohio State has to be amongst the top of that list.

The leading man who does not get enough credit for running that consistently dominant defense is Ohio State's Jim Heacock. This top-notch defensive mastermind is in his 15th year as a member of the Ohio State football staff and his eighth serving as the team's defensive coordinator.

The Buckeyes had the third-ranked defense in the nation this past year, allowing only 13 points per game and 250 yards per game. Those are too good of numbers to deny the man who runs that defense some much deserved credit here.

6. Jeremy Rowell, Troy Defensive Coordinator

If we're talking about the most underrated assistant coaches in college football, then it would be a darn shame to leave Troy defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell off this list. This is a guy that defines the term "underrated."

Rowell will enter his 14th season on the Troy University football staff and sixth as the defensive coordinator. During his time running the defense, the Trojans have ranked in the top 30 in the country in several categories, including pass defense, total defense and scoring defense. Keep in mind that this is one of the smaller schools in Division One that plays in the Sun Belt Conference.

Rowell has all the makings to be a head coach in the near future. The only question now is: How soon?

5. Bud Foster, Virginia Tech Defensive Coordinator

This list just wouldn't be complete without including one of college football's true defensive geniuses—Bud Foster.

Foster enters his 25th season with the Hokies and won the Broyles Award in 2006 as the nation's top assistant coach. He was a finalist for the award in 1999, 2001 and 2005. This just goes to show how good of a coach this guy is, but the fact that he has not accepted any type of head coaching position is surprising to some.

Virgina Tech has been amongst the top defenses in the country throughout the past decade and 2010 was no different. The Hokies ranked in the top 20 in points allowed and yards per game yet again this past season. Credit Foster for that—he obviously knows what he's doing down in Blacksburg.

4. Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia Offensive Coordinator

To understand how good of an offensive mastermind Dana Holgorsen is, we must take a look at the upward spiral he has gone through in the past couple of years.

Just two years ago, Holgorsen was calling the shots for Houston where he produced the No. 1 offense in the country in 2009. He then went on to take the offensive coordinator job at Oklahoma State, where he had one of the most impressive assistant jobs in recent memory.

When Holgorsen was hired at Oklahoma State, the team's offense was ranked No. 61 nationally in total offense. In his first season, they led the nation in total offense (averaging 537.6 yards per game), was No. 2 in passing offense (averaging 354.7 yards per game) and No. 3 in scoring offense (averaging 44.9 points per game).

He did such an impressive job that West Virginia made the move to steal Holgorsen from Oklahoma State by tagging him as their offensive coordinator for 2011 and announcing that he will become the Mountaineers head coach in 2012.

Talk about a good past couple of years. And the thing is, it's only going to get better for this guy.

3. Gus Malzahn, Auburn Offensive Coordinator

What type of list would this be if we didn't include this year's Frank Broyles award winner?

Before arriving at Auburn, Malzahn had a reputation as a high-school coaching legend in the state of Arkansas. He took the job of offensive coordinator with the Razorbacks in 2006 and then moved on to run Tulsa's offense from 2007-08. He's now in charge of the Tigers.

This past year under Malzahn's guidance, Auburn had arguably the top offensive unit in the country. The Tigers ranked in the top 10 nationally in both points per game and yards per game.

A number of schools—including Vanderbilt—made a serious push at hiring Malzahn as their head coach, but he made the decision to stay with Auburn.

2. Bryan Harsin, Texas Offensive Coordinator

Ever wonder who was in charge of running Boise State's dominant offense over the past couple of years?

That would be Bryan Harsin.

He did such an incredible job over at Boise State that he was hired on to the same position at Texas.

One of the top young offensive coordinators in college football, Harsin has hit the scene hard in the past couple of years while at Boise State. The Broncos have ranked amongst the top offenses in the nation throughout the past decade. In fact, Boise State ranked second in the country this past season in total offense, producing over 46 points and 520 yards per game.

Not only is Harsin's offense ranked second in the country, but his work as quarterbacks coach has helped develop Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore into one of the nation's top passers.

Harsin is still young, and if I were a betting man, I would put some serious money down that Harsin will be a college football head coach sooner rather than later.

1. Dick Bumpas, TCU Defensive Coordinator

This wasn't an easy choice by any means—considering how many good, quality assistant coaches there are in college football today.

But when you title this list "most underrated coaches," TCU Defensive Coordinator Dick Bumpas had to top the list.

Add in the fact that Bumpas has been nominated for the Frank Broyles Award four times in his seven years serving as the Horned Frog's defensive mastermind, and this really was a simple choice.

Bumpas has had a defense ranked near the top of the nation in nearly every year he has been with TCU. In fact, this past season, Bumpas' defensive unit ranked No. 1 in the country in total defense. The Horned Frogs were the only team in the nation that allowed under 12 points per game.

Perhaps the even more eye-popping number is that this defense allowed 215 yards per game in 2010, and the second-best defense surrendered over 250 yards per game.

Bumpas and Gary Patterson have spent nearly their entire careers coaching together, which has worked just fine for this defensive genius. Chances are that head coaching offers will continue to come his way. But when you coach the top-rated defense in the country on a team that went undefeated and won the Rose Bowl—hey, there really isn't much reason to go anywhere.