College Football Predictions: Coach of the Year Winners in Each Power Conference

Every season a handful of coaches are honored as the best coaches in their respective conferences. These coaches are valuable to their programs, and their leadership can be as important as anything to their respective programs.

Coaches in power conferences face extremely high pressure. These coaches are challenged week in and week out as their program’s success is put to the test. One loss and their BCS hopes could be dashed.

However, if their programs can run the regular-season gauntlet they could see a BCS bowl in their future.

Obviously, players play the game and ultimately decide the outcome. However, coaches are responsible for putting their talented players in the right position to succeed. Coaching strategy is capable of making or breaking a team.

Just like the players on the field some coaches have what it takes. Some do not.

Here are the coaches who will take home the hardware in the six power conferences:

ACC: Jimbo Fisher, FSU

The Florida State Seminoles have a chance to return as a powerhouse program in 2011. Jimbo Fisher will receive a lot of credit if their successful season comes to fruition.

In his first season as head coach Fisher led the Seminoles to a 10-4 record. The Seminoles managed to get back to the ACC championship for the first time since 2005, and beat South Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Fisher has the precarious position of stepping in for future Hall of Fame coach Bobby Bowden. Withstanding the pressure and expectations of that position will be half the battle for Fisher as his coaching career wears on.

The Seminoles return plenty of talent on both sides of the ball.

Offensively, E.J. Manuel will need to fulfill his potential at quarterback. He is a dual-threat and could develop into one of the ACC’s most dangerous weapons. Chris Thompson returns in the backfield, and he should lighten the pressure on Manuel’s shoulders. Last season Thompson rushed for almost 900 yards and six touchdowns.

On defense, the Seminoles have Brandon Jenkins back at defensive end. He is coming off of a 13.5 sack season. Xavier Rhodes and Greg Reid form one of the best cornerback tandems in the country. These three players, along with linebacker Nigel Bradham, will give the Seminoles a very formidable defense.

The talent on both sides of the ball has the Seminoles primed for an ACC title run and possibly even a BCS title run.  If that comes true, Fisher will have an award of his own by season’s end.

Big East: Dana Holgorsen, WVU

Dana Holgorsen has an opportunity to revolutionize another college football offense in his first year as head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers.

In his career, Holgorsen has commanded excellent offenses at Houston, Texas Tech, and last season at Oklahoma State. His spread aerial attack has proved to be very tough to stop with the right weapons on the field.

Holgorsen will, at least, have the quarterback he needs to run his offense. Geno Smith returns following a 24 touchdown performance from last season. Also returning is Tavon Austin, Smith’s top target from a year ago. These two players give Holgorsen the game-breaking talent needed to make his offense go. Under Holgorsen’s tutelage, Smith could become a dark-horse Heisman Trophy candidate.

Defensively, the Mountaineers should be solid. Defensive end Bruce Irvin should be excellent. As a third down pass-rusher last season, Irvin managed to haul the quarterback down for 14 sacks. Now as an every-down player expect Irvin to be even better this season.

Holgorsen has all of the weapons needed to keep the Mountaineers on top of the shaky Big East conference. If he can propel West Virginia to a win in the Backyard Brawl against Pittsburgh, the Mountaineers should win the conference without a problem.

If West Virginia wins the Big East, Holgorsen can be counted as the Big East Coach of the Year as well.

Big Ten: Luke Fickell, Ohio State

Ohio State’s offseason has been nothing short of traumatic. After Terelle Pryor’s dismissal, and Jim Tressel’s resignation, former Buckeyes’ player Luke Fickell will take over the helm in Columbus.

Despite the trials and tribulations of the offseason do not sleep on this Buckeyes’ squad.

Senior Joe Bauserman and freshman Braxton Miller will battle it out for the position vacated by Pryor. Bauserman would be merely a stop gap for this season, because Miller has the potential to be absolutely electric from day. A dual-threat quarterback, Miller enters Ohio State riding huge expectations.

Dan Herron returns as Ohio State’s leading rusher. He is a major threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball. His presence should take pressure off of whichever quarterback lines up behind center. However, Herron must serve a five-game suspension to begin the season.

Defensively, the Buckeyes have lost eight starters from last season’s elite unit. However, they do return experience on all levels of their defense this season. Even though the Buckeyes lost talent on defense do not expect this unit to roll over. Fickell will have this defense ready to play once conference play hits.

The obvious assumption for the Buckeyes this year points to struggle and disappointment. However, this is still Ohio State and they do still have talent. Fans and critics counting this team out will only add fuel to the fire as they look to prove the entire country wrong.

If the Buckeyes can succeed against all odds expect Fickell to see accolades of his own at the end of the season.

Big 12: Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State

Mike Gundy will attempt to lead the Oklahoma State Cowboys to a Big 12 title without his offensive coordinator, Dana Holgorsen, from a year ago.

The Cowboys do return plenty of talent.

Quarterback Brandon Weeden is coming off of a 34 touchdown performance last season. This season, once again, he will have the privilege of throwing to the best receiver in the nation. Justin Blackmon scored 20 receiving touchdowns last season, and despite Holgorsen being in the Big East, should continue to dominate the competition.

Defensively, the Cowboys were beat up by electric Big 12 offenses last season. This season the Cowboys will not be elite but they should be improved. Markelle Martin is the unquestioned leader on defense. He is a dangerous threat in the secondary. The secondary as a whole should be the Cowboys' strongest defensive unit.

Gundy will certainly face stiff competition in the Big 12 this season. He also will face stiff competition for coach of the year if Mike Sherman can put the Texas A&M Aggies in a position to win.

Expect the Cowboys to contend in the Big 12, and for Gundy to make a name for himself around the nation.

Pac-12: Kyle Whittingham, Utah

Before their migration from the Mountain West conference to the Pac-12, the Utah Utes were always thrown into the "BCS buster" category. However, joining a power conference should change that perspective in a hurry.

Utes' head coach Kyle Whittingham will only benefit from this major conference move. He may not bring in the blue-chip recruits other schools in the Pac-12 do, but he knows what to do with the talent he does land. Whittingham is a smart coach, and has become used to getting the most out of every one of his players.

Offensively, Whittingham will benefit from Norm Chow's new offense. Chow is a legendary offensive mind sure to help the Utes gain traction in the competitive Pac-12.

Running the offense will be Jordan Wynn. Wynn missed spring practice after having surgery on his shoulder. Last season, Wynn threw for over 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has a ton of talent with both his arm and with his legs, now he just needs to put it all together.

His main target will be Devonte Christopher. Christopher give Chow a dynamic weapon to use in the pass game.

Defensively, the front seven will be very important. Joe Kruger has a chance to anchor the defensive line in his sophomore season. He has the power and explosiveness to have a breakout year. Brian Blechen has moved to linebacker after having an excellent year in the secondary last season. Chaz Walker gives the Utes a consistent middle linebacker. Both are stout in pass coverage and run support.

The Utes definitely have question marks. However, look for the Utes to rise to the occasion in their first year in the Pac-12. Largely in part to their intense coach Kyle Whittingham.

SEC: Steve Spurrier, South Carolina

Steve Spurrier has the South Carolina Gamecocks primed to spoil someone's party in the SEC.

Spurrier has the offensive weapons he needs to light up score boards in 2011. Stephen Garcia, physically, has what it takes to lead this Gamecocks' team. However, Garcia can not seem to get things together off of the field. Last year in 14 games he threw 20 touchdowns but had 14 interceptions.

Running back Marcus Lattimore and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery are two of the best skill players in the country. Lattimore lived up to the hype last season, rushing for 17 touchdowns. Jeffery exploded for over 1,500 yards and nine touchdowns.These two give Garcia great options for big plays. Lattimore allows Garcia to take a secondary role in the offense, and that may help Garcia.

Defensively, the Gamecocks have one of the best corners in the nation in Stephon Gilmore. He is the returning tackles leader from last season, and he also plays solid pass coverage. Gilmore is a very dangerous hitter in run support because of his aggressive style.

With Florida still reeling after last season, and Georgia still down, look for the Gamecocks to win the SEC East.

If this team continues to improve do not rule out an SEC championship, and a coach of the year award for the ol' ball coach.