College Football 2011: Gene Chizik and the Top 5 Coaches in the Nation
With less than 90 days until football kickoff, fans around the nation await an exciting college football season full of twists, turns and NCAA allegations.
The closer we get to August, the more fans hope their coach leads them to the promise land. A coach is not only an authority leader over players, but he is the cornerstone and face of a University.
This slideshow will present the best college football coaches in the nation.
5. Mack Brown (Texas)
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OK, we will give Mack Brown a pass this time. With a bowl-less season in 2010 going 5-7, Brown looks to regain his luster. After reaching the 2009 national title game, things fell apart quickly in 2010 following a 22-point loss at home to UCLA.
The Texas defense during the 2010 season allowed an abysmal 23.7 ppg—seven points higher than the 2009 average.
Sure he continues to bring in notable recruiting classes, but will Mack be exposed without the services of co-ordinators Will Muschamp and Greg Davis?
Enter former Mississippi State defensive co-ordinator Manny Diaz, who looks to continue his assault on opposing offenses. With the addition of Diaz, expect for great defensive effort helping the Longhorns obtain a decent shot to win a Big 12 championship.
Now with the assistance of a 300 million dollar Longhorn Network, anticipate an unfair recruiting advantage by Texas helping Brown nab some of the top talent in the nation.
Though Texas will improve, expect no more than 10 wins out of the Longhorns this year.
2010 Record: 5-7
2010 Salary: $5,161,500
Monte’s 2011 Pre-Season ranking: 24
4. Gene Chizik (Auburn)
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Yeah, yeah Gene Chizik is on this list, but he still has a lot to prove in terms of running a consistent program. Heading for disaster at Iowa State going 2-10 in 2008, Chizik ran into a goldmine at Auburn University—a program with a passionate fanbase and great facilities.
Before his head coaching job at Auburn, Chizik went undefeated as a defensive co-ordinator in Austin (2005) and Auburn(2004). Oddly enough, his defense was not up to par allowing 24.1 ppg and 368 yards per contest in 2010.
Even after winning a national championship, Chizik has a lot to prove during the 2011 season. With an undersized roster and the departure of Cam Newton, Chizik must continue to deliver with high expectations. If he does not, the man across the state will continue to dominate him.
Chizik's next weapon is to run Gus Malzahn's system is five-star Kiehl Frazier.
2010 Record: 14-0
2010 Salary: $4,500,000 including incentives
Monte’s 2011 Pre-Season Ranking: 23
3. Gary Patterson (TCU)
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Gary Patterson looks to improve his program’s overall prestige after a monumental win over Wisconsin.
The 2010 Rose Bowl was a great indication of what Patterson is beginning to build and now he has a better opportunity for growth inside of the Big East conference.
It first started when Patterson obtained a win in Oklahoma Memorial stadium shocking the Sooners in 2005. Since, Patterson has obtained several coach of the year honors including the Walter Camp Coach of the Year, Eddie Robinson, Associated Press, George Munger and Woody Hayes.
The job Patterson has done in terms of developing mediocre players has been phenomenal. According to Phil Steele’s 2011 Preview, over 75 percent of players can bench at least 400 pounds.
Now, with a bigger television market playing in the Big East, he will now recruit more players along the caliber of Texas and Oklahoma.
2010 Record: 13-0
2010 Salary: $1,600,000
Monte’s 2011 Pre-Season Ranking: 20
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2. Bob Stoops (Oklahoma)
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Though many in the Midwest give the go-ahead to Mack Brown, one must consider this—Bob Stoops owns the series lead against Texas coaching a school that has less resources and money.
The former Iowa Hawkeye learned his head coaching skills under Steve Spurrier helping the Gators to a national title in 1996 as their defensive co-ordinator.
Once he took the job at OU in 1999, things have gone uphill since. The 2000 Sooners led by Stoops obtained the national title and started over 10-years of excellence.
Though his assistants continue to leave for head coaching positions, Stoops still produces offensive juggernauts and Big 12 championships.
Only knock on Stoops is that he must bring the “Big Game Bob” nickname back. After multiple BCS losses in a row, he looks to change that with Landry Jones at the helm in 2011.
With lofty expectations this fall, expect for the moniker to come back if the Sooners can win the National Championship.
2010 Record: 12-2
2010 Salary: $4,375,000
Monte’s 2011 Pre-Season Ranking: 1
1. Nick Saban (Alabama)
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After a fourth place finish the SEC West, expect the Napoleon complex to rear its ugly head in 2011.
Since arriving in Tuscaloosa, Saban has given life and hope to a once proud Crimson Tide program obtaining a national title in 2009. Even with the unveiling of his own statue, Tide fans expect more out Saban to continue the winning tradition.
Nick Saban had this to say about the disappointing season in 2010, “I think we have a lot prove from what we did last year—hopefully everybody else feels the same way.”
Known for his defensive genius, Saban has brought a complex scheme into Tuscaloosa many kids around the country want to play for. In fact, Saban continues to dominate the state in recruiting, luring not one, but two recruits from Auburn on National Signing Day.
Saban is currently one of the highest paid coaches in college football. If he continues to unleash his defensive assault on the SEC and win another SEC Championship, expect for another salary increase.
2010 Record: 10-3
2010 Salary: $5,997,349
Monte’s 2011 Pre-Season Ranking: 2
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