Joe Paterno and the 10 Worst College Football Coaching Exits of All Time

It's always sad to see a coach leave a program he's been with for a long time, but it has to happen at some point. It's always nice when the coach leaves on his own terms and there is no bad blood between the coach and the organization.

Then there are the coaches that are forced to leave whether it be due to a scandal that they could have prevented or lack of getting the job done. There are many reasons a coach could be forced to step down, but it's always upsetting to see great coaches tarnish their legacy that way.

Here are the top 10 worst college football exits.

Steve Spurrier Leaves Florida

Florida coach Steve Spurrier is largely responsible for building this Gators program to where it is today. His 122-27-1 record is incredible and his six SEC titles and one National Championship makes a great resume.

It's not that Spurrier left Florida that upsets Gators fans; it's that he eventually (following a stint with the Washington Redskins) left for another SEC team in the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Although it looks like the Gators have gotten the last laugh, as Spurrier has yet to regain that coaching magic and has struggled through a 51-35 record.

Brian Kelly Leaves the Bearcats

Brian Kelly was one of the hottest coaches in the country as he led the Cincinnati Bearcats to a 34-6 record and three straight bowl games. But once he heard that the Notre Dame job opened up, he left and didn't even bother to stay and coach in the Orange Bowl. 

The Bearcats football program has struggled ever since but looks to have a successful season this year.

As for Kelly, he is realizing that the grass isn't always greener, as he is struggling with the Irish and faces questions about his job security daily.

Rich Rodriguez Leaves West Virginia

Rich Rodriguez signed a contract extension with West Virginia but after losing to the Pittsburgh Panthers and removing any National Championship hopes, he left. He didn't even coach the team's game in the Fiesta Bowl before leaving for Michigan.

Rodriguez didn't last long in Ann Arbor as he finished with a 15-22 record in three years with no bowl victories.

Urban Meyer Leaves Florida

Urban Meyer left for a while, then came back and then left again for good once Tim Tebow went off to the NFL.

Meyer said he was leaving due to health reasons and he wanted to spend more time with his family which is understandable. But when you see him all over ESPN and covering college football games, that excuse is hard to believe.

Meyer left Florida with a 65-15 record and won two National Championships.

His health must be a lot better because he is now a speculated candidate to replace Joe Paterno at Penn State.

Lane Kiffin Leaves Tennessee

When Lane Kiffin arrived at Tennessee it looked like the program was going to be on the rise after disappointing seasons.

Kiffin only coached the Volunteers for one season before bolting for USC, which he referred to as his "dream job." Right, like we haven't heard a coach say that before leaving that school as well.

Kiffin later had to dodge nasty fans and death threats before leaving for sunny California.

George O'Leary and His Lies

This may be the funniest slide of them all as head coach George O'Leary lied on his resume in order to get the head coaching job at Notre Dame.

A few days after they hired him, they discovered that NYU-Stony Brook University doesn't even exist and he did not play football for the University of New Hampshire.

O'Leary was quickly fired and picked up a job as the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.

Jim Tressel Leaves Ohio State

Another coach and it's another scandal.

This time it involves former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, who knew his players broke NCAA rules but refused to open his mouth. Tressel later stepped down once the NCAA found out about it, and the Buckeyes are still suffering the punishments while Tressel has a new job with the Indianapolis Colts.

He left Ohio State with a 106-22 record and six Big Ten Championships.

Pete Carroll Leaves USC

Pete Carroll claimed his move to the Seattle Seahawks had nothing to do with the scandal that involved Reggie Bush but we all know differently.

You don't leave a program that you've built a 97-19 record and won two National Championships with if everything is going good. It's not crazy to think that Carroll knew that the NCAA was going to come down hard on the Trojans and he didn't want to have to deal with any of it.

Carroll is probably the best coach in the BCS era but unfortunately he will be forever remembered for a scandal that has set the USC program back.

Woody Hayes Punch

Okay, how stupid do you have to be to punch somebody who has his helmet on? Seriously, football players who do that must not have much upstairs.

Except this time it wasn't a player, it was Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes. This was the 1978 Gator Bowl and I guess Hayes was a little upset that his team was about to lose to Clemson. So he belts a Tigers player in the facemask and ends up getting fired after the game.

Hayes is a legendary coach that finished with a 205-61-10 record and three National Championships.

This is by far one of the worst exits in college football and a disappointing way to end a great career.

Joe Paterno

Joe Paterno is a great coach and a iconic figure in college football. 

But the scandal that is going on that involves former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky sexually abusing boys has to be No. 1 on this list. Because it's not a player breaking NCAA and accepting money or a coach leaving for a rival team. This is a grown man that allegedly used little boys for his sexual pleasure.

What makes this story even worse is the fact Paterno did not go to the police when he knew about it.

He may have the most wins all time with 409 and two National Championships, but that impressive resume means little now.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]

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