With Jim Tressel's Departure, Who Are the 10 Best Coaches in College Football?
Whether you liked Tressel or not, there was no denying he was a great coach. Though some would contend that he couldn't win the big game (which seemed foolish with a BCS Title under his belt), he led the Buckeyes to a Big Ten Title seven of the 10 years he was in Columbus. That's impressive, no matter how you feel about him personally.
With his resignation, a void has been created among the group of coaches considered the elite in college football. Really, with Urban Meyer's (second) departure, there are two spots open at the top. With that in mind, here's a list of arguably the top 10 coaches active in college football.
Honorable Mention
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Gene Chizik may be fresh off the dream season, but he's 27-24 for his career. I'd like to see sustained growth before he cracks the top 10.
Mike Gundy seems to have the Cowboys moving in the right direction. Oklahoma State's been improving every year. If the success of a year ago continues (11-2) and the high expectations of 2011 are met, he could make the list in 2012.
Bo Pelini has had great success in his first three seasons, going 30-12 with consecutive appearances in the Big 12 Championship game. If he could find a dependable offense, 2011 could be his breakout season, and Nebraska could be restored to a national power.
Brian Kelly just missed the cut. He had tremendous success with Cincinnati, taking them to consecutive BCS bowls in 08-09. But he had a mediocre first season in South Bend. If he builds off that thrashing of Miami, the Irish could have a great season, and he could be amongst the elite. He succeeded in the Big East, but making it at Notre Dame is much different. Once he has a good season with the Irish, he'll be amongst the elite.
Jimbo Fisher is less honorable mention and more future prospect. With Florida State receiving such high praise and likely garnering a top 10 preseason ranking, and Fisher bringing in star-studded recruiting classes, it's hard to imagine Florida State not returning to glory and Fisher's career ascending with them.
Gary Pinkel has led Missouri to four straight 10-plus win seasons, but no BCS bowls and no Big 12 Titles to show for it. He's building a good program and developing good players, but needs to bring home the hardware.
Bobby Petrino had one great year with Louisville (beating Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl) before he bolted for the NFL. Then he ditched the Falcons, came to Arkansas and struggled mightily before finding success with a Sugar Bowl berth last season. It remains to be seen if he can build a program, as he's left only destruction in his wake.
T-10. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa Hawkeyes
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Ferentz has had good but not great success at Iowa. It always seems like the Hawkeyes are on the brink of taking the next step, but never do. After a program boosting 2010 Orange Bowl victory, with Ferentz finally bringing the Hawkeyes back to the BCS, Iowa had a somewhat disappointing 8-5 season.
In 12 seasons, Ferentz is 89-60. He has had four 10-plus win seasons, three of them coming consecutively from 2002-2004. He's lead the Hawkeyes to two shared Big Ten titles, but none since 2004.
Though Ferentz has had good overall success, the Hawkeyes have been trending downward, with only two nine win seasons in the last six years. In order to maintain his status as an elite coach, he's going to have to regain consistent success and growth in his program.
T-10. Mark Richt, Georgia Bulldogs
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Though he certainly seems to be trending in the wrong direction, I'm banking on 2011 to be the revival of Mark Richt's career. Even with two poor seasons, I think Richt's overall success keeps him in the conversation.
As Florida State offensive coordinator, he oversaw a unit which was in the top five in scoring offense five times. He led a potent offense that shredded ACC defenses and helped bring home a national championship in the midst of the unparalleled Seminole dynasty.
After a mediocre 8-4 debut, Richt led the Bulldogs to four straight 10-plus win seasons and top 10 finishes that included two SEC titles. After a disappointing 9-4 2006 season, he led Georgia to an 11-2 2007 campaign that concluded with a dismantling of Hawaii.
Though many consider Richt on the hot seat after going 14-12 the last two years, I think he will regain the confidence of Bulldog fans this season. With a more experienced Aaron Murray, the Bulldogs will be the surprise team of the SEC in 2011 and enliven Richt's once bright career.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
T-10. Joe Paterno, Penn State Nittany Lions
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If this were an all-time ranking, Joe Pa would be higher. But at this point in his career (and his life), it's debatable how much of the Penn State program he still controls. If major college football coaching is too stressful for the young and spry Urban Meyer, it's hard to imagine that Joe Paterno is still holding the reins by himself at age 84.
I don't much feel the need to run off Paterno's coaching credentials, as anyone who doesn't know he's a brilliant and accomplished coach shouldn't be allowed to read college football articles. But as far as recent success, he has that too. The Nittany Lions have won 58 games in the last six seasons, including two conference titles and subsequent BCS bowl berths.
To what degree to attribute that success to Paterno is questionable, but he's the head of the program, and when the program succeeds, he deserves credit. If nothing else, his notoriety still brings in great players, and he built Penn State football from the ground up, no question.
He's one of the top three coaches of all time, and he will be sorely missed when he exits Beaver Stadium for the final time.
9. Bret Bielema, Wisconsin Badgers
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Wisconsin has hit their stride under Bielema, and that will likely only continue. Coming off his first Big Ten Title (shared), Wisconsin has high expectations for 2011 as well.
Under Bielema, Wisconsin has gone 49-16. Even more impressive is the 21-5 record of the past two seasons. After a great debut, 12-1 in 2006, Bielema has had Wisconsin consistently good. Five straight winning seasons, five straight bowl games. Last season, he returned the Badgers to their first BCS bowl in a decade.
Coming of the Rose Bowl berth, he should be looking to take Wisconsin to the next level as a consistent BCS Title contender. There's nothing to suggest he won't do just that.
8. Gary Patterson, TCU Horned Frogs
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Talk about a meteoric rise. Guiding the Horned Frogs through three conferences, Patterson has built an elite program at TCU. He has a great record (98-28), and his team has shown consistent improvement over the years.
The Horned Frogs are 36-3 the last three seasons. 36-3. Two consecutive BCS bowls and a win over Big Ten Champion Wisconsin can only boost the program. Despite a lot of losses from the 2010 roster, namely Andy Dalton, TCU has high expectations again in 2011. After all, good programs reload with more good players.
Patterson, the 2009 AP Coach of the Year, has orchestrated an impressive renovation of TCU football. He is the reason the Horned Frogs were made attractive to the Big East, and he will be an excellent guide along another conference transition for TCU.
7. Chip Kelly, Oregon Ducks
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Charles in charge, indeed. Kelly, the 2010 Associated Press Coach of the Year, is fresh off almost the best season a coach could have. He came up three points, and subsequently, a National Championship, short.
Kelly has a very short head coaching resume, but it's impeccable. In two seasons, he's 22-4, 17-1 in the Pac 10. In his previous position as the Ducks offensive coordinator, he installed the spread offense, which led the Pac 10 in scoring and total offense both his seasons as OC and has been making the rest of the conference dizzy for four years now.
Kelly looks like he could provide a bright future for Oregon. He has had phenomenal success in his first few seasons. But it's hard to tell how much of the success has been built by Kelly's acumen or the work of previous coach Mike Bellotti. Anyone remember Larry Coker?...
At this point, Kelly looks like an elite coach, and he has the record to back it. But he's still in the first act of his career, and coaching is a tough gig. He'll have a chance to climb up the rankings in the next few years. But with the recruiting success, and access to Phil Knight's ever-expansive purse strings, one would think that Kelly's achievements will continue.
6. Chris Petersen, Boise State Broncos
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What can you say? After five years as the Broncos offensive coordinator, he took the torch from predecessor Dan Hawkins (who probably regrets leaving for Colorado; who saw that coming?) and built Boise State into a national power.
In five seasons under Petersen, the Broncos are 63-5 with two BCS bowl victories. In his worst season thus far, Petersen's team was 10-3. Any coach would love to have that as his off-year.
Boise State will likely enter the season ranked in the top 10 again. Petersen has built a great team around quarterback Kellen Moore, but will have to contend with some big losses, namely receivers Titus Young and Austin Pettis.
Though he has done so thus far, replacing guys like Jared Zabransky without a hitch, it's going to be very difficult for Petersen to have continued success at Boise State in the long term. The increased name recognition for Boise State has yet to produce a significant boost in recruiting.
Though Bronco fans may hate to hear it, I wouldn't be surprised to see Petersen jump ship for a better job if it comes calling. For now, Boise State has a fantastic coach.
T-4. Les Miles, Louisiana State Tigers
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Though Miles has shown questionable decision making and game management several times throughout his career, once again, you can't argue with results.
After average success with Oklahoma State (28-21, 16-16 in the Big 12), Miles replaced the irreplaceable Nick Saban. And he did so successfully. In six years, he's had four seasons with 11 or more wins, and of course, the BCS Championship in 2007.
After a bit of a drop-off following the national title, Miles returned the Tigers to the upper echelon last season with a top 10 finish, LSU's fourth under "the Mad Hatter."
LSU will open 2011 in the top five, and Miles continues to get top 10 recruiting classes year after year. There's no reason to believe that Miles decorated career won't continue, despite his often seemingly in-game coaching.
T-4. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech Hokies
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Frank Beamer is the man responsible for Virginia Tech football being relevant, plain and simple. Though Michael Vick (deservedly) gets credit for putting the Hokies on the map, he was still in high school when Beamer was leading the Hokies past Texas in the 1995 Sugar Bowl and hanging with a Nebraska team fresh off a dynasty in the Orange Bowl a year later.
Beamer took a program that was nothing, with a non-existent fanbase, and built it into the Hokie Nation. He arrived at a school that had three conference championships and five bowls in their entire football history, and since then, has led them to three Big East Titles, four ACC Titles and a National Championship appearance.
Beamer has shown Bobby Cox-like consistency leading his team. The Hokies have won 10 games each of the last seven seasons, a feat unmatched by any other team in FBS. Tech has won three ACC Titles in the last four years and shows no signs of fading.
Beamer is a somewhat unheralded master of recruiting. He knows what kinds of players fit his system, and he and his coaches go and get them. Though he pulls in the occasional Kevin Jones or Marcus Vick, he has built a top 10 program mostly without top 10 or sometimes even top 20 recruiting classes, which is to be commended.
3. Mack Brown, Texas Longhorns
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One year does not a coach make. Though 2010 was certainly an off year for Mack and the Longhorns, there is no reason to believe he won't bring them soaring back soon.
Though he struggled when he first arrived at North Carolina, Brown quickly built a team that was regularly in the top 20. After starting out 2-20, he led the Tar Heels to eight straight winning seasons, culminating with two top-10 finishes his last two seasons in Chapel Hill.
With Texas, his record is even better. In 13 years, he's only had one season where the Longhorns won less than nine games, and that was last season. He led them to the Rose Bowl in 2004 and to a BCS Title in the same venue a year later.
Though some would argue he's slipping, and last year the Longhorns were inexplicably bad, we're just two seasons removed from his last trip to a BCS Title game. College football, like all sports, is a world of demanded instant gratification, and as such, a bad year is never brushed off.
Texas continues to recruit well, and Brown is undoubtedly a great and proven coach. The 2005 and 2009 Big 12 Coach of the Year will have them back on track soon enough, likely this season. I could see Texas following the path of 2004 Auburn this season, redeeming a season of dire disappointment with a return to excellence.
2. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma Sooners
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Coach Stoops, the Michael Corleone of the Stoops coaching family, has had phenomenal success with the Sooners. After helping Bill Snyder (as defensive coordinator) with the still-unbelievable turnaround of Kansas State from doormat to Big 12 Title contender and national power, he had a few brief seasons as Florida DC before taking over in Norman.
In 12 seasons leading the Sooners, Stoops has only had three seasons where his team won less than 11 games. Seven Big 12 Titles, a BCS Championship in 2000 and three more National Championship appearances speak for themselves.
Stoops is undeniably a great coach, and there's absolutely nothing to suggest his success won't continue. He continues to recruit well and put guys like Sam Bradford into the NFL, and his team will likely enter the 2011 campaign ranked No. 1 in the nation.
1. Nick Saban, Alabama Crimson Tide
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You can't argue with results. Following a Lou Holtz-like coaching path, he's been all over and won all over. He arrived at Michigan State with a program reeling from NCAA sanctions and stuck in a four year run of losing seasons. He oversaw steady improvement, with the Spartans playing in bowl games each of his three first seasons, culminating in a 9-2 record his final year.
With LSU, he worked quicker. In his second season, he led them to their first SEC Title since 1988, and two years later, he brought home their first National Championship in 45 years.
Of course, after unceremoniously leaving the Miami Dolphins, he arrived in his current home in Tuscaloosa, where it's safe to say he's had success. After a mediocre first season, he led them to the Sugar Bowl, and the next year, brought home his second BCS Championship. After a pounding of his old host Sparty in the Capital One Bowl, and continuous phenomenal success in recruiting, it's safe to say he'll be on top for the near future (or until he jumps ship to go elsewhere again).
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
