College Football 2011: Top 25 College Football Coaches
Having the right coach makes all the difference in a school's success. That's why these coaches are getting such lucrative contracts loaded with incentives.
They're all coaching for that crystal football, and to get that ring on their finger. Can a coach be successful in this era of college football playing by the rules? That's a question I wish I could answer.
Honorable Mentions
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Rich Ellerson: Army
Ellerson was a semifinalist in the 2010 Coach of the Year award. He’s taken the Black Knights to a bowl game, and he’s close to taking them to the next step.
Tommy Tuberville: Texas Tech
After a surprising firing from Auburn, Tuberville has taken over for a team with an even more bizarre coach firing. Watch for Tuberville to be competing for Big 12 Championships soon.
Brian Kelly: Notre Dame
Coach Kelly had a relatively successful first season running the Fighting Irish. Another good year and he could be climbing this poll quickly.
Dan Mullen: Mississippi State
Last year's drop off of the Florida Gators has to be partially attributed to the departure of then-offensive coordinator Dan Mullen. He led Mississippi State to a 9-4 record, and has been a success so far.
Tom O’Brien: North Carolina State
O’Brien was a very successful head coach of the Boston College Eagles, and he’s brought his talent to the N.C. State Wolfpack. O’Brien was also a nominee for the 2010 Coach of the Year award.
25. Doug Marrone: Syracuse
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It’s been a long time since the once-proud Syracuse football program had any glimmer of hope.
Marrone led the Orange to an 8-5 record and a trip to a bowl game for the first time since 2004.
Syracuse’s improvement from 4-8 in 2009 to last season was one of the best improvements in the FBS.
Marrone could be an impact coach for a long time.
24. Pat Hill: Fresno State
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This Hall of Fame coach has been with the Bulldogs in what seems like a century.
In reality, he’s been there since 1997, and he’s had a heck of a career.
He has a conference record of 73-30, and he’s brought Fresno State into the top-10 multiple times in his career.
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23. Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State
4 of 26Mike Gundy. He’s a man. He’s 40.
How tired do you think he is of hearing that?
Gundy has been a fantastic coach in his time returning to his alma mater.
He guided the Cowboys to an 11-2 record in 2010, and the Cowboys look primed to make another big run in 2011.
22. Kirk Ferentz: Iowa
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Ferentz has an 89-60 record with Iowa and has won six of his nine bowl attempts, including a win in the 2009 Orange Bowl.
While some fans considered last season a disappointment, finishing fourth in the Big 10, the team still managed an 8-5 season with a big win in the Insight Bowl.
21. Mike Sherman: Texas A&M
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The former Green Bay Packers head coach saw glimpses last season of what the Aggies can become.
Likely to be ranked in the top-10 next season, A&M can start loosening the stranglehold Texas has had on the rivalry.
Sherman will have a lot to prove in 2011.
20. Mark Dantonio: Michigan State
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Dantonio has gotten the Spartans into a bowl game each of his four seasons in East Lansing.
Last year was a great year, finishing 11-2 and tied for first in the Big-10.
However, Dantonio will need to keep up the success if he wants to keep himself on this list.
19. Randy Edsall: Maryland
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This man is probably not very popular in the state of Connecticut right now.
After a 74-70 record with the Huskies, and a berth in a BCS game last season, fans were more than content with Edsall as their head coach.
But Edsall has now taken his talents to College Park.
18. Kyle Whittingham: Utah
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Whittingham now has what he’s been waiting for, a coaching spot in a BCS conference.
The move from the Mountain West to the Pac-12 will give Whittingham resources to skyrocket up this list if the Utes can compete in their new conference.
The opportunity is there.
17. Bobby Petrino: Arkansas
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What is there to say about Bobby Petrino?
His parting from Louisville to the NFL was somewhat to be expected, but his very early departure from the Atlanta Falcons has sketchy written all over it.
But the man can coach college football.
Arkansas was just a turnover away from a Sugar Bowl victory over Ohio State last season.
Petrino is good. Period.
16. Bret Bielema: Wisconsin
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There might not have been a scarier team heading into bowl season than the Wisconsin Badgers.
But success in the regular season doesn’t always mean success in the bowl game.
The Badgers can look to repeat as Big 10 champions next season, and Bielema can work his way into a top 10 spot with continued success.
15. Joe Paterno: Penn State
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There’s no questioning that Joe Paterno is going to be one of the top coaches ever to coach the game of college football.
But the man’s old. Gradually, he’s had more authority go over to his assistants, and it’s only a matter of time that Joe Pa steps down.
But so what if he's 8,000 years old; the man is a legend.
14. Jimbo Fisher: Florida State
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It’s fitting that Fisher is next on our list.
He replaced one of the other greats, Bobby Bowden.
Fisher has proven he can recruit, bringing in the top recruiting class this offseason.
Many analysts have the Seminoles in the top 5 for next season, and good things are sure to come.
13. Bo Pelini: Nebraska
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Yes he has a temper, but the guy has been a thorn in Big 12 coach’s sides.
I’m sure they are glad to see him go, even if it may be bad for the overall strength of the conference.
This defensive guru has had nothing success since leaving LSU.
12. Mike Riley: Oregon State
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Don’t let last year's bad season discourage you from believing in this man.
He doesn’t bring in five-star talent like the other top programs, but for the past decade Oregon State's been the second most successful team in the Pac-10 behind USC.
Beaver Nation will be back winning sooner rather than later, and the credit can go to coach Riley.
11. Frank Beamer: Virginia Tech
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Here’s another Hall of Famer on this list.
He even has his own style of play, Beamer Ball.
Beamer is known for his aggressive defense, skilled athletic quarterbacks, and incredibly dominant special teams.
10. Steve Spurrier: South Carolina
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Spurrier can coach anywhere that’s not in the NFL.
After leading the Gamecocks to an appearance in the SEC Title game against Auburn last season, the Gamecocks are in great position to fight for an SEC Title again.
There's a reason he got his nickname, "The Ole Ball Coach."
The guy can flat-out coach.
9. Jim Tressell: Ohio State
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Tressell would undoubtedly be higher on this list a month ago, but not anymore.
He’s won Rose Bowls. He’s won national championships.
But he needs to play by NCAA rules.
If and when the whole suspension drama blows over, Tressell will be back in the top five.
8. Gary Patterson: TCU
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TCU, like Utah, has to be incredibly happy at the moment.
They’ve made it into a BCS conference, and they’re primed to be a dominant force for the next decade.
If TCU can play like their undefeated team of last season in 2011, Patterson will keep his high rank.
7. Les Miles: LSU
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Why is Miles so hated by LSU fans?
I mean, cut the guy some slack.
Yeah, he has worse clock management than a rookie quarterback, and I still watch the video of him instructing his quarterback to spike the ball with one-second left to get a chuckle.
But Miles has won a national championship and been constantly in the top 10 his entire career with the Tigers.
6. Chip Kelly: Oregon
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In two seasons, Kelly has had appearances in the Rose Bowl and national championship game.
That’s pretty darn impressive.
Kelly has proven he can recruit as well, with Oregon having back-to-back loaded recruiting classes.
Kelly can work his way into the top 5 very soon if he keeps with this success.
5. Gene Chizik: Auburn
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All those who doubted have been proven wrong.
$cam Newton can do that for you.
After a poor couple of years with Iowa State, Chizik worked himself into the head coaching job with Auburn after the firing of Tommy Tuberville.
Now with a national championship ring on his finger, recruiting should continue to go nicely for the Tigers and Chizik.
4. Chris Petersen: Boise State
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No one is better at getting wins with as little pure talent.
Petersen has been loyal and kept with the Broncos after leaving the Ducks as an assistant.
There’s no doubt that he’s had offers from elite programs, but the man has stayed true to Smurf Nation.
3. Mack Brown: Texas
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Yeah, Texas had a bad season in 2010, but that won’t continue for long.
After an overhaul of the assistants at Texas, they will be working with almost entirely new systems in 2011.
Mack Brown is a Hall of Fame coach, and he’s still one of the best recruiting head coaches in the country.
2. Bob Stoops: Oklahoma
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The best of the Stoops coaches, Bob Stoops has had a heck of a run with the Sooners.
Oklahoma has had the privilege of great recruiting and great coaching for a long time, a deadly combo.
Watch for the Sooners to compete for the national championship in 2011.
1. Nick Saban: Alabama
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National titles with two different schools must help when recruiting, not that Alabama has ever had trouble getting five-star players.
Saban is the top coach in all of college football, and that should stay the same as long as Saban doesn’t leave for the NFL again.
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