The Top 50 Coaching Jobs In College Football
I'm sure at every coach's introductory press conference you hear them say things like, "this is a great job", "this is one of the best jobs in the country", "I wouldn't of left my previous job for any other job but this one", or "this is a dream job".
Those in the coaching profession know which head coaching jobs are a bit more plush than others. Factors usually consist of money, location, recruiting pull and proximity, tradition, conference, money, fan support, mediaย attention, money, history, facilities, resources,ย administrativeย support and more money among others.
There aresย someย top jobs out there for different reasons. We'll give you the top 50 right now.ย
50. Rutgers
1 of 50
Yes Rutgers. If you really think about it, Rutgers is a sleeping giant so to speak. It sits right next to New York, which is New York. It's located in New Jersey, which is an underrated football state that breeds tough, hard nosed players.
There is solid media attentionย sinceย it is the only FBS college program in the NYC area, the fans support the school and theย facilitiesย are solid. The program boasts some solid alumni and the school plays in a BCS conference.
49. Syracuse
2 of 50
Doug Marrone left the New Orleans Saints to come back to his alma mater and for good reason. The Cuse is a solid jobย aroundย the coaching ranks, and theย programย has seen some pretty solid success over the years of its existence.
Sure, the football squad is in the shadow of the men's hoops team, but from playing in a BCS conference, having solid tradition, alumni, and fan support, thisย isย one a nice job to land.
48. Louisville
3 of 50
I honestly think Bobby Petrino turned this job into being cool to have. He brought his offense to the Blue Grass State and lit up scoreboards with solid QB play from the likes of Dave Ragone, Brian Brohm, Stefan Lefors and so forth.
Nowย Charlieย Strong is at the helm and is doing a solid job. Solid alumni value, BCS conference and located in the Southern U.S. which is the hot bed for recruiting talent. Youย canย win atย Louisville.
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47. Kentucky
4 of 50
Now comes Kentucky, which based on conference alignment alone, could easily be moved way up. Yet Joker Phillips job sits here with me as the shadow of the hoops team is actually a draw back for me.
You're in the south, there is solid fan support, very good resources and the Wildcats have had some mild success on the gridiron. They just need a breakout season to push forward.
46. Texas Tech
5 of 50
There was a reason why Tommy Tuberville's head popped when the Red Raiders fired Mike Leach. First of all, any FBS levelย coachingย job in Texas is always desirable for many coaches because Texas football has such a distinct feel to it.
Second, the job is in the Big 12 a BCS conference, solidย facilities, fan support and it has had some recent success. Though it is behind other local gigs like Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M, I think the Red Raider gig is a plus level job.
45. Fresno State
6 of 50
I know, I know the Bulldogs are not in a BCS conference, but hear me out. First of all, the fan support in the central California located program is amazing. Hours from LA to the south and the Bay Area north, the fans have nothing but Fresno State sports to go see for the most part.
They rally behind the football team everyย Saturdayย and even travel well to road games. Second, Fresno State does a solid job in recruiting, as they pluck solid talent from LA and theย Bayย area well and along the west coast.
44. Virginia
7 of 50
Virginia is and has been oneย ofย the better jobs in college football. Al Groh proved that youย canย recruit there, as the state breeds very good football players.
Plus you are not far from the plush talent hot bed of the south nor the Mid-Atlantic region. You're in a BCS conference and if you get a couple solid recruiting classes under your belt, you can challenge for the conference title in time.
43. Utah
8 of 50
Urban Meyer really revved up this job's profile, but Kyle Whittingham taken it to the next level. First, the fan support is very good, there are a ton Ute fans all over the region and you're in a solid TV market.
Next there is a solid talent in Utah as far as a recruiting, you are not far from California or any other talent producing West Coast/Mid-West state. And now finally, you're in a BCS conference form now on.
42. NC State
9 of 50
There are many people in the coachign profession that scratch their heads as to why NC State has not been more successful than it has. The Wolkpack's sports complex is very, very solid in the faciltities department.
North Carolina and South Carolina and of course near by Georgia andย Floridaย have a wealth fo talent to recruit. Youย canย win at NC State. Big time.
41. TCU
10 of 50
Yes. TCU. The school sits in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metro area and has committed to upgrading itsย facilitiesย for the sakeย ofย the football team. The fan support is alive and well and there is a little bit of history in the program from Sammy Baugh to LaDanian Tomlinson.
Gary Pattersonย hasย turned what Dennis Franchione felt was a stepping stone job, into a solid and desirable gig. You're in Texas to recruit all around the state and areย movingย to a BCS conference next year, that you can easily win and compete in every year.ย
I should move TCU up.
40. Missouri
11 of 50
Gary Pinkel was talked to be Washington's main target a few years ago, but opted to spurn the Huskies to stay in theย Showย me state. Missouri sits plushly in the middle of the country where you can reach to all four corners to recruit.
The program has had some success over the years, especially recently. You're in a BCS conference where you have routinely competed with the powers. Solid job.
39. Arizona State
12 of 50
Well, Sun Devils please don't take this the wrong way, but rumors have your school's academic requirements and standards are not completely up to par with Stanford's. There I said it.
Look, ASU is a very good job. You're in the Pac-12, a skip away from Phoenix and can recruit Los Angeles, Northern California and west Texas very, very effectively. Aย solidย fan base, good stadium and TV market are all other great factors that make this as desirable job.
38. FIU
13 of 50
I'm going with the Panther program here and listen as to why. First, you take the gig and really thereย isย no overwhelming pressure on you to win a national title,because the program is still fairly new.
Second, you're in Miami. From a personal standpoint, that's cool spot to live in. From a professional standpoint, that's a plush recruiting spot to be in.
You can steal a couple kids that The U, Florida and FSUย shouldย get and take on a few others that have a chip on their shoulder for not getting offers form the Big Three and then go rule the Sun Belt conference.ย
37. BYU
14 of 50
The BYU job has fallen back a bit as far national prestige, but it still oneย ofย the top overall jobs in college football. You have a great historyย andย tradition to follow, the school has great personal, faithful and moral principles and the fan base is extremely passionate.
You play in a solid TV market, the national powers seem toย likeย scheduling you and you have solid recruiting resources. Plus now you're an Independent and you have no other schools to share your money with.
36. Boise State
15 of 50
As far as program status goes, yes, Boise State is oneย ofย the top 10 programs in the country, no doubt. Chris Petersenย hasย won over 60 games sinceย beingย named head man.
However,ย recruitingย wise, you're notย goingย to attract top talent to Ida. That's just the lay of the land folks. The fan base is very passionate, but not overly big and you are making essentially a lateral conference move to from the WAC to the MWC.
35. Boston College
16 of 50
BC has just aboutย everythingย you want in my opinion. You're in a great city like Boston, there is history and tradition within the program and it boasts solid past players.
You're on the East can recruit up and down Atlantic region and the school has very good resources. Alsoย recruitingย wise, you can sell to a player their families they academic prowess of a BC degree.
34. Georgia Tech
17 of 50
Paul Johnson has a plush gig in my opinion. First he's at a school that has won five national titles in it's historyย andย competes for the ACC title year inย andย year out. Next, he's a plush recruiting state in Georgia that isย oneย the elite hot beds for recruiting.
Next, Johnson's program sits around the Atlanta area, which some say is the capital of the south. You can recruit allย aroundย the state, reach outย aroundย the south and win the ACC multiple times.
33. Colorado
18 of 50
The x-factor with Colorado the notion of the campus scenery. Talk has the Buff's campus as one the better sights to see in the country. Add that to a solid fan base, history of dominant success and good resources and there you have it: a pretty sold gig.
You're also moving away formย theย Big 12 that routinely puts you behind Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska among other programs to the Pac-12 that has Oregon as top dog and a USC program that is battling sanctions.
32. South Florida
19 of 50
I really should USF higher on this list. I really should. What's not to like about this job. You sit in Florida, around the Tampa area and have the resources and pull to compete with the Big Three.
You play in conference that is weak in football compared to the other BCS leagues, and the program is still relatively young, so its notย as much pressure on you...yet.
31. Pittsburgh
20 of 50
Pittsburgh football is a part of the culture in Western Pennsylvania. The people are hard working, blue collar types who love the grind on the gridiron.
Youย have solid resources, kids grow up loving the game for you to recruit from and there is solidย historyย andย tradition form the past years of the program. Youย canย win atย Pitt, as they also are in a winnable Big East.ย
30. Miami
21 of 50
There was once a time when the Miami job was in the upwards ofย beingย the No.1 gig in college football. Today, the job is not what it used to be.
Miami'sย campusย is cool, but it's on campus scenery is not what you'd think when you think of Miami.ย Thenย the facilities need to be revamped and upgraded all around the football and sports complex.
Next, many players don't respect the U on the helmet as they did in the 1980s and 1990s. But in all, thisย isย still Miami, and someone enthusiastic and aggressive like Al Golden could easily pull theย programย and profile ofย thisย job back into theย eliteย tier in college football.ย
29. Iowa
22 of 50
Some say Iowa is content atย beingย aย programย that is alwaysย aroundย the middle pack of the Big Ten, and only every few years seriously challenge for the conference title. Some coaches may look at this asย a plus asย they can come in, win nine games every year and that would deemed a fineย season.
But the Hawkeyes also have solid tradition, are known for giving their coaches stability, and the fan base is pretty passionate about the program.
28. Ole Miss
23 of 50
As Iowa may be the job for the content coach, Ole Miss is the job for the competitive coach. There areย someย things stacked against you at this job: their names are Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Arkansas for the most part.
If you want to battle every week and really see if you and your staffย canย hang with the big boys, you take this job and go full tilt. You lie in a solidย recruitingย state, can go get players all around the south and have historyย andย tradition within the program.
27. South Carolina
24 of 50
This gig is pretty similar to the Ole Miss gig. But boy, I'm sorry you just can't pass up on any gig in the SEC. It's the conference in college football.ย
South Carolina has a greatย recruitingย proximity in the Carolina and all around the south. Williams-Brice/The Cockpit is a brutal place to play for opposing squads and the fan base is oneย ofย the more passionate species in the country. Great gig.
26. Oklahoma State
25 of 50
Oklahoma State is not as well known, per se,ย aroundย the nation as big brother (per se) Oklahoma, but theย Cowboysย do have a solidย programย and the head job is a solid gig.
The OSU job has a solid fan base, you pluck prime players form in-state, Texas, the south and all around the mid-west, and youย canย compete for Big 12 titles on the norm in Stillwater. I think you cna win a lot of games here and the fans will always be behind you.ย
25. Michigan State
26 of 50
Here's a school that youย canย go to and have head coach status and celebrity acclaim but still not be the most scrutinized head coach at the school. Tom Izzoย isย top dog in Sparta and always will be folks, just how it is.
But you take this job, and youย canย win Big Ten titles at MSU. The fanbaseย isย very supportive and solid, you can recruit tough players formย aroundย the state and upper-Midwest and go get it done.ย
Just like Mark Dantonio has.
24. North Carolina
27 of 50
I'll admit, before Butch Davis came to Chapel Hill, I didn't think the UNC job was much. Iย meanย you're at a well known hoops school, plus the soccer program is also one of the very elite programs overall in college sports.
However, Davis proved that with a TLC the job is a fixer-upper that has now turned into a solid gig in college football. Davis has shown that youย canย recruitย aroundย the Carolina region, dip into the south, head up the Atlantic coast and pluck talent to come be Tar Heels.ย
The school also has solidย facilitiesย and resources to help youย continueย building a winner.
23. Arkansas
28 of 50
The Hogs may be the Iowa of the SEC, always solid but they haven't truly moved into consistent elite status of Alabama, LSU Florida, etc yet. But the gig is solid job and youย canย win as the Boss Hog.
The state has some solid prospects each, but you will have really cover the south to ensure elite talent comes in every year. The fan base rallies around the program at every turn and the stadium is oneย ofย theย wondersย of college football.
Bobby Petrino is displaying this and has the Hogs ready to make a SEC title run in 2011.
22. Washington
29 of 50
Although they've been down over the recent years, Washington is oneย ofย the great jobs in the country. The Huskies once were a dominant, national level power and have much tradition and history around their allure.
Located in Seattle, theย schoolย is in a solidย sizedย city, great market, has an extremely loud and passionate fan base and plays in a BCS conference. There's many pluses about this job.
21. West Virginia
30 of 50
Many around the region will argue WVU is the top job in the Big East conference, as the fan base really is sell of the job. The fans treat the head coach like he's the governor of the state and the players are living legends to the fans.
The stadium is a very solid sight to see and comes alive during Mountaineer games, due to again the passionate fan base and enthusiasm surrounding the program. The conference is winnable and there seems to be a solidย pipelineย into Florida as far recruiting goes.ย
20. Wisconsin
31 of 50
You take the Wisconsin job and automatically youย knowย that you are in the shadow if Barry Alverez. Yet, Alverez is your boss and will anything to support and help you win.ย
You also take theย Wisconsinย job and know that you are to recruit tough players who go full tilt each snap. You find these players in your backyard around the upper Mid-west and you go win Big Ten titles with these recruits.
The fan base will support you and there is solid tradition too.
19. Clemson
32 of 50
I don't know about you, but I think Clemson is a sleeping giant. That's just me. There's a wealth of pluses at this program and surrounding this job. It starts with the fan base. They're crazy for the Tigers. Period. And seriously.
Thenย facilitiesย are very good at Clemson, plus you can go get great talent from the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia and across the south. The program has tradition, an insane stadium, sits in a great college town and has has solid success in the ACC.
18. Virginia Tech
33 of 50
Frank Beamer has turned this job into one of the prime gigs in the country. He's built a solid andย consistentย winner of a program that I liken to the San Antonio Spurs.
Theย Hokiesย are always competitive, win the right way and look to play fundamentally sound football every Saturday. You may not sign many 5-star prospects, but you pluck the Virginia and Mid-Atlantic area talent, coach 'em up, and send them out on the field in front of a crazed fan base.
17. UCLA
34 of 50
UCLA right now is not a premier program. I know that. And I don't think the 2011 season will bring much good will to the Boys in Westwood, but I'll say this: this has the potential to be one of the prime overall jobs in the nation.
You sit in the midst of talent hotbed Los Angeles and can pluck almost an entireย recruitingย class form the city year in and year out if you do it right. Your campus is on theย West sideย of the city, right next to the beach and looks gorgeous. You play at an all-time historic stadium, there's tradition and history in theย programย and you are in a BCS conference.
Great job.
16. Penn State
35 of 50
For me,ย thisย job is really sold on tradition and college football affection. Penn State is oneย ofย the pure flagship "college" football programs if you get my drift. They embody everything the college game is about.
The uniforms are just about the same as they were in yester-years, the fanbase is crazy about the Nittany lions and the state has solid players for recruiting. You can compete with Syracuse, Rutgers and BC around the region for players and theย facilitiesย are solid.
Plus you know the administration doesn't like changing coaches every few years.
15. Auburn
36 of 50
Auburn is oneย ofย the premier jobs in the country, bar none. The Tigers' BCS title in 2010 only raises the profile and prestige of the gig. This job has almost everything you want in a good gig.
Great, Iย mean, great fan base. Lovely stadium. Fine resources, solidย facilities, very good tradition and history and in a great state forย talentย to recruit from. Under Armour is behind you throughย andย through.
This job's profile will only grow even more over the next few years.ย
14. Georgia
37 of 50
The question surrounding UGA it seems is can you put a fence aroudn the state and keep other elite SEC and national programs from plucking your flowers in your backyard. The Georgia job likely should be more wanted than it is, true, but it still is a prime time gig.
There is a great traditionย aroundย the allureย ofย the program and it has a great fan base. You play in the lead conference of the sport and the resources are there for you to succeed not only in the SEC but nationally as well.ย
13. Nebraska
38 of 50
The Big Red is another elite one. Five national titles, 43 conference rings, Heismans, All-Americans and legendary coaches. This is a great gig to obtain for a coach.
You go to Lincoln, set up shop and get after it. The fans will treat you like a king, pull adn support your program in droves and you are moving to conference in Big Ten where you're newcomer looking to knock the Bullies off.ย
This is one of the top jobs in the country for sure.
12. Michigan
39 of 50
Les Miles quietly told close friends in the Winter that the reason he stayed at LSU, was that the Michigan job wasn't as truly the job it was once before back in the day. While true, yet thisย isย still Michigan folks. Big Blue's program is an elite program and job in sports.
There is a beavy of historic tradition, legendary players, coaches, the stadium, the helmets, the fight song, resources, facilities, appeal and allure all over the program. You can recruit nationally and yes, you can still win in Ann Arbor.
11. Tennessee
40 of 50
Lane Kiffin stated that the Vol gig was a top 10 gig in theย countryย andย he's pretty much right. Coaching atย Tennesseeย has its share of solid pluses to it.
The facilities are excellent, the stadium rocks, the fans a re loud. Youย canย a boat to the game. The tradition is some of the coolestย customsย in the country, including seeing your players run through T every Saturday and you play in the SEC.
Whileย you need to recruit mainly outside the state, you do have serious pull on the trailย aroundย the south in recruiting.ย
10. Ohio State
41 of 50
Sorry Buckeye fans, but I wanted to raise the ranking on the prospects of your lead job, but soon enough Ohio State may be facing USC like sanctions, so the gig takes a slight drop.
But in the end, it's still Ohio State. Your program is very similar to Michigan's in the sense of there is a slew of mystiqueย aroundย the program, legendary players, coaches, titles, games, bowls, alumni and more.
You get paid well. The fans love you up. What else do you want?
9. Florida State
42 of 50
A comparison for Florida State is to say they're VaTech on steroids in a way. Both schools were meddling after thoughts before a good coach and built them up to be college football powers.
The only thing is, Bobby Bowden got more talent as he plucked prime players fromย Floridaย mostly and they won him national titles. Today, FSU is one of the landmark programs on the sport, has an amazing fan base and excellentย facilities.
This is one the prime jobs in college football.
8. Notre Dame
43 of 50
While they say the Notre Dame football job, along with manager of the New Yorkย Yankeesย may be the two best jobs in sports, I differ slightly in regards to Notre Dame. It really is among the most popular jobs in sports.
Right now Notre Dame is not what it once was. Most of us know that, but there are still an array of Irish who fail to see times have clearly changed. But really the only draw back of the gig really is the location. South Bend isย necessarilyย South Beach folks.
Everything else checks out in the elite category as in ability to attract talent, resources, facilities, tradition, appeal, fan base and so on.ย
7. Oregon
44 of 50
The Duck gig has been raised as far as its profile goes. You really have everything you need to win a national title here. I mean everything.
First you play in a BCS conference, and your progrma usually is one fo the lead schools to win in it. You're located in a great college style town. Your cmapus is gorgeous and you probably have the best lookign facilities in the country.
NIKE has your back and pumps money into the sports program on the norm, the fan base is loud every Saturday and there is actually a little bit more tradition at the school than many think. You should win here. A lot.
6. Oklahoma
45 of 50
The Sooners have been a staple program in college football since nearly theย beginning. Sevenย nationalย titles belong the Norman Boys and an eight may be on the way this season.
Bob Stoops semi-blew new life into the program in the late 1990sย andย early 2000s and today Oklahoma is a major, elite national power. Tradition, prestige,ย recruitingย pull on the trail, resources and more make this oneย ofย the very elite gigs in the industry, hands down.
5. LSU
46 of 50
Les Miles stayed at LSU pretty much because this job is better than theย Michiganย job right now. You may argue Miles has just steered the ship Nick Saban built, but you still know Miles holds oneย ofย the top five overall gigs in the sport.
Bear Bryant, oneย ofย the pillar coaches in your profession's history, stated your home stadium is the worst place to play for anย opposingย team. Your fans are over the top passionate. Your game day atmosphere is electric. You see a real tiger on the sidelines.
You're in a prime state for recruiting. You're one of the elite programs in the lead conference of the sport. Lovely job in my opinion.
4. USC
47 of 50
Yes, USC is under stiff sanctions. I know. But really this is the last year of notย beingย bowlย eligibleย and in two years, I think we see USC start make a climb back to their prime place in college football.
Thisย isย truly oneย ofย the best and elite jobs in the country. Tradition. History. Legends. Los Angeles. The facilities are being upgraded. Historic stadium to play in. TV market. Fan base. Media coverage. No NFL team. Serious recruiting reach to everywhere in the United States.
This gig has it all and then some.
3. Florida
48 of 50
When theย Floridaย opened up, I'm sure that even the most stable coaches in the country kind of wondered "what if" forย at leastย a second. They had to. The job is that good and that desirable in the profession.
You have just about everything here. SEC conference. Heismans. Legends. Solid tradition, and a recruiting proximity that pumps elite talent into yourย lifebloodย every February. Resources are here, facilities are excellent and your fan base is among the most passionate all of sports.
There's a reason Urban Meyer spurned his beloved Notre Dame for this gig.
2. Alabama
49 of 50
Nick Saban has built the Crimson Tideย programย into perhaps the staple program in the game today. He runs the Tide like a NFL team in a sense and the program has overall reputation for being very business-like.
You take this job and you see that you are the midst of a talentย rightย state, have a rabid fan base that is uber-passionate, outstanding facilities that are among the best in sports, and your tradition and customs are very cool too.
This an elite gig for anybody.
1. Texas
50 of 50
I went with Texas at No.1 becaue I'm sure if you take this gig, then chances are you can also runย andย win governor of the Lone Star State too. There's nothing to dislike aboutย thisย job at all in any sense.
Austin is a great place, so location is excellent. You're the dominant program in Texas. Enough said. Players in the state grow up as kids dreaming of playing for your program. You don't have to leave your state really to have a top five recruiting class every year.
There are great resources, top notch facilties, awesome fan base, excellent pay, historic tradition, national titles, mystique and much more. Top job...for now.ย
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