Brady Hoke: His 5 Best Wins As a Head Coach

This season will be Brady Hoke's ninth as a head coach, prior to accepting the Michigan job, he made a six-year stop at Ball State and a two-year stop at San Diego State.  These two teams may not be very prestigious, but he still did a great job with both of them and led each team to many great wins. 

In Brady Hoke's last year as head coach at Ball State, he had a 12-1 record; the year after Hoke left, Ball State went 1-11.  This just shows how much Hoke meant to that program.  Brady Hoke did not just turn both teams around, he made the teams better than ever. 

Based on Hoke's past, there is no doubt that he will be able to turn this team around and lead them to many great wins.  This is what David Brandon saw in Brady Hoke when he decided to hire him as the next head football coach of the University of Michigan.

August 28, 2003: Ball State Defeats Indiana State

In Brady Hoke's first game as a head coach, he defeated Indiana State by a score of 31-7. 

The year before Hoke got to Ball State, Ball State only beat Indiana State by two. 

Although it was not an upset, it is still a big milestone in Brady Hoke's career.

November 4, 2006: Michigan Defeats Ball State

Although the Ball State Cardinals did not win in this one, it was a win in my mind for Brady Hoke. 

Brady Hoke put a competitive team on the field and only lost by eight.  Having been at this game in person, you could tell Wolverine fans were pretty impressed by this well-coached Cardinals team.

October 16, 2010: San Diego State Defeats No. 23 Air Force

Although Hoke had posted good records in the past, he had never beaten a good team. 

This win against Air Force helped solidify his legitimacy, as it was his first win against a ranked opponent.  I realize that Air Force may have been a little overrated at the time, but it was still huge for Brady to get that one out of the way.

November 13, 2007: Ball State Defeats Toledo

At first glance, this win may not seem like a big one, but it was huge for Brady Hoke's career. 

At this point, Brady Hoke's head coaching career was not going so well.  It was his fifth season at Ball State, and he still had not gone to a bowl game.  Ball State's victory over Toledo secured a spot for Ball State in a bowl game and secured Hoke's spot as head coach.  Without this victory, Hoke might not have been able to return for the next year in which he posted a 12-1 record. 

Without that 12-1 season, he would not have been offered the San Diego State job, and most likely, would not be in the position he is today, as the head coach at Michigan.

December 23, 2010: San Diego State Beats Navy in Poinsettia Bowl

This win ended a 12-year bowl game drought for San Diego State and capped off a great season for the Aztecs. 

The Aztecs finished the season 9-4 and showed that they could compete with the best.  San Diego State lost to No. 3 TCU and No. 23 Utah by a combined nine points, which is a pretty slim margin if you ask me. 

This win gave him the legitimacy to be hired as the head coach of the University of Michigan.

What Games Will Be Added to This List in the Near Future?

Brady Hoke has the opportunity to win some big games in his first year as Michigan's head coach. 

The two wins I believe he will get that will be worthy of the list will be a win against San Diego State and rival Notre Dame.  We may have to wait until 2012 to get the big wins against Michigan State and Ohio State, and possibly, even Alabama. 

What wins do you think Michigan will get this year that will be worthy of this list?