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jimotis4heisman
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weve got a pretty good idea. he was the #1 canidate for the job when tressel got it. too bad he didnt know when the michigan game was...OregonBuckeye said:
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jimotis4heisman
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and while im at it, for greenies. what other college sport has bellotti coached and for what school?
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OregonBuckeye
Semper Fi Buckeyes
Hmm, never knew that. I knew he was a wide recievers coach there but didn't know he also coached baseball.
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CFBnews.com has a piece on who should be hired if you had a head coach opening today. Seems like JT's a few spots too low. On the other hand, it's OK to see Lllloyd and Phat Phil outside the top-25.
01 - Pete Carroll
02 - Bob Stoops
03 - Mark Richt
04 - Kirk Ferentz
05 - Charlie Weis
06 - Urban Meyer
07 - Jim Tressel
Other Big Ten:
26 - Lllloyd Carr
28 - Joe Tiller
31 - Glen Mason
32 - Randy Walker
cfbnews
Hire Education ... 1-25[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=+1]
Ranking the Head Coaches You'd Want for the Next Few Years[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial,
sans serif]
By Richard Cirminiello
[/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]Close your eyes, prop up your feet and picture this: You’ve switched careers, leaving behind the mundane world of 9-to-5, and you’re now the athletic director of a major university with a I-A football program. Your first order of business? Hire a head coach to fill the vacancy that currently exists—not just for one year, but for the foreseeable future. Not long after you’ve settled into your new office that overlooks the stadium, 119 applications arrive on your desk—one from each of the head coaches currently running I-A programs. Whether you sink or swim in this dream job depends heavily on this one decision. Hey, you’re an accountant, lawyer, school teacher…so first impressions are critical. Nail it, and you’re the big man on campus. Fail it, and it’s back to a job that inspires you about as much as a 9 AM conference call on last quarter’s results. Who do you offer first, and if he declines, how do you rank the applicants?
[/FONT]
50. Jim Grobe, Wake Forest – Coaching at Wake and Ohio is never going to get Grobe the recognition or winning percentage that’s commensurate with his sideline skills, but don’t be fooled by his record. He can coach. In fact, he’s done a solid job in Winston-Salem, consistently delivering a physical, grind-it-out team that, despite an obvious shortage of blue-chippers, has given fits to every ACC team not named Miami.
Five-Year Record at Wake Forest: 26-32 (1-0 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 20-36 (1-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 59-65-1 (1-0 in bowl games)
49. Greg Schiano, Rutgers – Earning a bowl bid in 2005 was a Herculean accomplishment for Rutgers, but let’s all exercise a little bit of caution as it pertains to Schiano. Yes, progress is being made, however, the coach has exactly two wins in five years over teams that finished above .500 and never would have gotten that Insight invite if Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College were still in the Big East. That said, he is young, very well-liked by his kids and amassing a diverse resume that includes stops with Miami, Penn State and the Chicago Bears.
Five-Year Record: 19-39 (0-1 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 11-44 (0-0 in bowl games)
48. Dennis Franchione, Texas A&M – Just three years ago, Franchione was knocking on the top 10 door, and why not? He’d steadily climbed each rung of the coaching ladder, earning the label of a turnaround specialist after successful stints at New Mexico, TCU and Alabama. After three bad years in College Station, however, he’s being viewed in an entirely different light, and is one more rocky season from extinction. Franchione hasn’t gotten this far with smoke and mirrors, but if A&M continues to slip in the Big 12 South pecking order, his future will surely go up in a puff of smoke.
Three-Year Record at A&M: 16-19 (0-1 in bowl games)
Three-Year Record Before He Arrived: 21-15 (1-1 in bowl games)
Career Record: 104-82 (3-2 in bowl games)
47. Mark Mangino, Kansas – From last December’s first bowl win in a decade to the new $31 million football facility that’s scheduled to open in 2007, there’s something positive happening in Lawrence. And Mangino, the former Oklahoma assistant, has been the catalyst, helping make football relevant at a traditional basketball power. Last year’s historical shellacking of Nebraska sent notice that the Jayhawks are about the turn the corner with Mangino at the wheel.
Four-Year Record: 19-29 (1-1 in bowl games)
Four-Year Record Before He Arrived: 16-29 (0-0 in bowl games)
46. Dan McCarney, Iowa State – It’s a good thing for patience, or else Iowa State might have fired one of its best ever coaches before he could ever hit his stride. McCarney was a dismal 13-42 after his first five years, but has won 39 games since, while leading the Cyclones to five bowl games, or one more than the school had played in the century before he arrived. He’s won four of his last six against rival Iowa, closing the divide on the in-state recruiting wars and reversing a series trend that had been one-sided for a generation.
11-Year Record: 52-77 (2-3 in bowl games)
11-Year Record Before He Arrived: 41-75-5 (0-0 in bowl games)
45. Randy Edsall, UConn – The Huskies are doing their best to keep Edsall from straying, but one of the game’s hottest young coaches may out grow Storrs someday soon. Skip Holtz really got things going at UConn in the 1990s, but it’s Edsall who has taken the baton and carried the program to new heights in its history. Under his watch, the Huskies have played in and won their first bowl game and developed a pair of prominent draft choices, and as a full-fledged member of the Big East, even better days lie ahead for Edsall & Co.
Seven-Year Record: 37-43 (1-0 in bowl games)
Seven-Year Record Before He Arrived: 45-34 (0-0 in bowl games)
44. Mike Shula, Alabama – Shula experienced a breakthrough year in 2005, unexpectedly leading the Tide to a 10-win season and their first January bowl game since 1999. In order to stay relevant to this discussion, he has to continue that momentum without long-time starting quarterback Brodie Croyle and a few of his best defensive players. Shula’s got plenty of room for growth as a head coach, but at just 41, also has plenty of time to hone his coaching craft provided he can keep himself away from the hot seat.
Three-Year Record: 20-17 (1-1 in bowl games)
Three-Year Record Before He Arrived: 20-16 (1-0 in bowl games)
43. Chuck Amato, North Carolina State – For a time, it looked as if the Pack would make a bee line to the top of the ACC. That hasn’t happened, and now Amato is in danger of becoming one of the nation’s most over hyped head coaches. He can bring an instant identity and player upgrade to any middling program, but his teams in Raleigh make too many mental mistakes and haven’t produced enough wins to match the talent on the field. The Pack had three players taken in the first round, and six overall, in April’s draft, but could only manage a 7-5 mark last year.
Six-Year Record: 46-28 (4-1 in bowl games)
Six-Year Record Before He Arrived: 34-35 (1-1 in bowl games)
42. Tyrone Willingham, Washington – It’s become fashionable these days to dog this Husky, who may never win a BCS bowl game, but embodies all that is good in college athletics. If you a want a coach of impeccable character, class and integrity, Willingham belongs on your short list. He is a great fit for the program that puts a priority on education and the development of young men, however, if you want to get to the college football’s Promised Land, there are about three dozen current head coaches that make more sense.
One-Year Record at Washington: 2-9 (0-0 in bowl games)
One-Year Record Before He Arrived: 1-10 (0-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 67-60-1 (1-4 in bowl games)
41. Houston Nutt, Arkansas – Nutt’s gotten a little tougher to handicap the last two years. The Hogs have won just nine games, and the coach that was on a lot of AD’s short lists not long ago is suddenly in a must-win situation in 2006. From 1998 to 2003, Nutt earned a reputation for coaching up teams and pulling upsets, and was a front-runner to land the Nebraska job and a hefty pay raise two years ago. He’s a homegrown talent, who’s tailor-made for the Hogs, but might not be as successful away from Arkansas.
Eight-Year Record at Arkansas: 57-40 (2-4 in bowl games)
Eight-Year Record Before He Arrived: 37-52-2 (0-2 in bowl games)
Career Record: 61-47 (2-4 in bowl games)
40. Dennis Erickson, Idaho – Erickson isn’t exactly in his coaching prime, but you can do a lot worse than a man that already has two national championships in the trophy case. He’s seen just about everything in a quarter of a century at the pro and college levels, and is still recognized as an innovator when his offense has the ball. Not that long ago, Erickson was the architect of Oregon State’s miraculous rise from the ashes and he still has the charisma to lure recruits. Idaho is pinching itself over luring him back to Moscow.
Career Record: 154-57-1 (5-5 in bowl games)
39. June Jones, Hawaii – With his quick strike run-and-shoot offense, Jones isn’t for everyone. He wouldn’t exactly blend in at places like Ann Arbor or Knoxville, but the guy is a winner and that unconventional offense is still one of the most exciting, must-see units in all of college football. Jones guided the Warriors to a nine-game turnaround in his first season as a college head coach, and would be a great match for the anonymous school looking to quickly get on the map.
Seven-Year Record: 53-37 (3-1 in bowl games)
Seven-Year Record Before He Arrived: 29-51-1 (1-0 in bowl games)
38. Guy Morriss, Baylor – Because his coaching stops have been at Kentucky and Baylor, Morriss is one of the better kept secrets in college coaching. No one is getting rich in Lexington or Waco, but that hasn’t kept Morriss from earning the respect of his players and peers at both stops. With a laid back approach, he pulled Kentucky out of the hole Hal Mumme dug and just led Baylor to its first five-win season in a decade. Put Morriss at, oh, Texas A&M, and he’d be a household name in under three years.
Three-Year Record at Baylor: 11-23 (0-0 in bowl games)
Three-Year Record Before He Arrived: 8-26 (0-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 20-37 (0-0 in bowl games)
37. Jim Leavitt, South Florida – Leavitt is the only head coach USF has ever had, so there’s no telling how he’d function in a completely different environment, but his head coaching debut has been nothing short of remarkable. He took a program from its infancy a decade ago, and has already guided them out of I-AA and into a BCS conference and the school’s first bowl game. Leavitt is a straight-shooter, who demands accountability from his players and the rest of his staff. He’s been wooed by a handful of schools recently, but seems content to continue bull rushing past expectations in Tampa.
Nine-Year Record: 61-39 (0-1 in bowl games)
Nine-Year Record Before He Arrived: Leavitt is the school’s first and only head coach
36. Bill Callahan, Nebraska – Slowly, Callahan is turning skeptics into believers. Now, he still has a ways to go in his extreme makeover of the Husker program, but you can see his vision beginning to take shape. Callahan is in this adventure for all the right reasons and his West Coast offense will prove to be a good fit for the college game. He’s indefatigable and passionate about the sport and the kids he’s coaching, which is probably why he’s been cleaning up in the area of recruiting ever since arriving in Lincoln.
Two-Year Record: 13-10 (1-0 in bowl games)
Two-Year Record Before He Arrived: 17-10 (1-1 in bowl games)
35. Steve Kragthorpe, Tulsa – He’s young, he’s building a solid resume and he’s quickly becoming one of the hottest second-tier coaches in America. In just three seasons, Kragthorpe has turned dust into gold in Tulsa, guiding the Hurricane to a pair of unexpected bowl games and two of the best seasons in school history. All this from a program that had won just two games in the two years before he arrived. Last year’s C-USA crown and Liberty Bowl upset of Fresno State was one of the finest coaching jobs of 2005, and brought him one giant step closer to a well-deserved promotion and bump in pay.
Three-Year Record: 21-17 (1-1 in bowl games)
Three-Year Record Before He Arrived: 7-28 (0-0 in bowl games)
34. Dirk Koetter, Arizona State – Koetter’s been a bit of a tease, alternately going up and down each season since he left Boise State for the desert. He can crank up an offense as well as any coach in college football, but that alone hasn’t been enough to elevate the Devils to that coveted spot just behind USC in the Pac-10 hierarchy. Instead, since 2001, five league teams have won more games than Arizona State and three have played in BCS bowl games. And after a disappointing 7-5 season last fall, it’s imperative that Koetter hits the high note with a team that’s good enough to win nine games in 2006.
Five-Year Record at ASU: 33-28 (2-1 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 37-22 (1-3 in bowl games)
Career Record: 59-38 (4-1 in bowl games)
33. Al Groh, Virginia – Five years after arriving in Charlottesville, it’s still hard to get a good read on Groh. On one hand, he’s proven to be a deft recruiter and a well-organized executive, which comes from his days in the NFL. On the other hand, that hasn’t been enough to elevate Virginia to the upper echelon of the ACC alongside Miami, Florida State and Virginia Tech. Instead, the Cavs have lost at least four games in each season of his tenure, making a sometimes surly Groh like a Bill Parcells without the championships.
Five-Year Record: 37-26 (3-1 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 36-23 (0-4 in bowl games)
Career Record: 63-66 (3-1 in bowl games)
32. Randy Walker, Northwestern – Very few coaches in America get more from less than Walker does at Northwestern. He is not attracting a plethora of future NFL stars to Evanston, a la Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, yet has gone a respectable 14-10 in Big Ten play over the last three years. He’s beaten every conference opponent at least once in his tenure behind a balanced offense that makes the most of the team’s talent and drives the rest of the league batty. One big knock on Walker has been the post-season, where his ‘Cats are 0-3 and have surrendered 134 points.
Seven-Year Record at Northwestern: 37-46 (0-3 in bowl games)
Seven-Year Record Before He Arrived: 35-45-1 (0-2 in bowl games)
Career Record: 96-81-5 (0-3)
31. Glen Mason, Minnesota – Mason’s been real good for Minnesota, much like he was for Kansas in the 1990s, but you have to wonder if he’s taken the Gophers about as far as he or anyone else can at this time. The last four years, Minnesota has been above .500 and has won three bowl games, but has never really broken through and challenged for its first Big Ten title since Hubert Humphrey was the veep. Mason’s a no-nonsense leader, whose teams are strong at the point of attack and prolific on the ground. Two words for those, who understate his value to Minnesota football: Jim Wacker. Two more: John Gutekunst.
Nine-Year Record at Minnesota: 58-50 (3-3 in bowl games)
Nine-Year Record Before He Arrived: 32-65-2 (0-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 117-114-1 (5-3)
30. Larry Coker, Miami – It cannot be easy being Larry Coker. All the guy has done in five years is win 85% of his games and a national championship, and yet the consensus is that he’s just a product of all that Miami talent, specifically Butch Davis’ talent when the 2001 title was won. Despite the gaudy record, only one question really matters to this discussion—is Coker your top choice when it’s time to fill an opening? Top 10? Top 20? Probably not, for a lot of the same reasons you wouldn’t have looked up Frank Solich when he left Nebraska with a 58-19 record. The ‘Canes have been vulnerable the last three seasons, losing at least one game they absolutely shouldn’t in the second half of each year.
Five-Year Record: 53-9 (3-2 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 43-15 (4-0 in bowl games)
29. George O’Leary, UCF – O’Leary’s best days may be in the rear view mirror, but the game has clearly not passed him by. He showed that in a massive way last year, turning a team that was winless in 2004 into co-champs of C-USA. The Knights capped the year with their first-ever bowl game, further validation that O’Leary was back after a bizarre three-year period following his humiliating dismissal from Notre Dame. He’s a tough disciplinarian and a solid recruiter, which is exactly what UCF needed in order to dig themselves out of the mayhem that existed at the end of Mike Kruczek’s regime.
Two-Year Record at UCF: 8-16 (0-1 in bowl games)
Two-Year Record Before He Arrived: 10-14 (0-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 60-49 (2-3)
28. Joe Tiller, Purdue – To really appreciate Tiller, you’ve got to understand what he inherited when he came on board. Back in the mid 1990s, the Boilers were mired in one of the lowest periods of their history, and had been to just one bowl game in the previous 17 years. Since Tiller headed east, Purdue has been to eight bowl games and its first Rose Bowl since 1966. He has put the program back on the map by consistently assembling one of the league’s better staffs and with a pass first offense that forced the rest of the Big Ten to revisit how they move the chains.
Nine-Year Record at Purdue: 67-43 (3-5 in bowl games)
Nine-Year Record Before He Arrived: 29-67-3 (0-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 106-73-1 (3-6)
27. Phil Fulmer, Tennessee – Fulmer’s record says top 5, but everyone else says, no thanks. He is the dean of SEC coaches and a future Hall of Famer, but he’s also going to be 56 at the start of the season and has spent the last 25 years in the same program. Starting over in a brand new town, let alone wearing a color other than orange on the sidelines, would be like asking Teddy Kennedy to adopt the Republican ideology. Plus, Fulmer hasn’t exactly been peaking the last couple of seasons. The Vols had their worst season in 17 years in 2005, and David Cutcliffe was brought back to Knoxville to instill a little discipline and structure.
14-Year Record: 128-37 (7-6 in bowl games)
14-Year Record Before He Arrived: 105-52-8 (7-4 in bowl games)
26. Lloyd Carr, Michigan – See Phil Fulmer to understand why Carr can’t be ranked any higher despite his myriad accomplishments. He’s another future Hall of Famer, who can count a national championship among his 100+ victories, but is most valuable in his current job. Away from Ann Arbor, it’s doubtful Carr would have anywhere near the success he’s had the last 11 years. And again, like Fulmer, the past couple of years have hardly been his best. The Wolverines have way too much blue-chip talent to go a decade without competing for a national title and always seems to get caught off guard and lose an early season game they shouldn’t.
11-Year Record: 102-34 (5-6 in bowl games)
11-Year Record Before He Arrived: 98-30-5 (7-4 in bowl games)
25. Gary Patterson, TCU – A strange thing happened on the way to Dennis Franchione’s coronation—Patterson, Fran’s defensive coordinator on the 2000 WAC championship team, wound up being the can’t-miss coach with the upward mobility. Since taking over the program, he’s had three 10-win seasons and won a share of two conference titles. Save for 2004, Patterson’s defenses are fast, opportunistic and typically ranked among the nation’s best at the end of the season.
Five-Year Record: 43-18 (2-3 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 30-28 (2-0 in bowl games)
24. Tommy Bowden, Clemson – Given up for dead just a couple of years ago, Bowden has stepped up, ignored his critics and actually solidified his long-term job security at Clemson. Now all the Tigers have to do is establish themselves as a bona fide and regular contender for ACC supremacy, and Bowden’s star will shine even brighter. He’s beaten his dad in two of the last three years, and enters the upcoming season with one of the nation’s top recruiting classes and a team that might be deep enough to challenge in the Atlantic Division.
Seven-Year Record at Clemson: 52-33 (3-3 in bowl games)
Seven-Year Record Before He Arrived: 44-37 (1-3 in bowl games)
Career Record: 70-37 (3-3 in bowl games)
23. Mike Bellotti, Oregon – For some reason, when the really successful coaches are discussed, Bellotti’s name seems to get lost in the shuffle. Too bad, because he’s been the savior of a Duck program that’s currently enjoying the most prosperous decade in its history. His low-key demeanor resonates with his players, but has also opens him up to criticism when times were a little less favorable. One year after sinking to 5-6, Bellotti and the Ducks responded in 2005 by ringing up an equally unexpected 10 wins for the third time in the last six years.
11-Year Record: 90-42 (4-5 in bowl games)
11-Year Record Before He Arrived: 68-61 (1-2 in bowl games)
22. Les Miles, LSU – In a no-win situation, Miles really showed a lot in his first season in Baton Rouge. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he somehow kept his kids focused on football for four months, and led the Tigers to an 11-win campaign and a shellacking of Miami in the Peach Bowl. Until he wins his SEC title, Miles will have a difficult time stepping out of Nick Saban’s shadow, but he laid a nice foundation at Oklahoma State, and now has a chance with a name brand program to become one of college football’s premier head coaches.
One-Year Record at LSU: 11-2 (1-0 in bowl games)
One-Year Record Before He Arrived: 9-3 (0-1 in bowl games)
Career Record: 39-23 (2-2)
21. Paul Johnson, Navy – Johnson’s enormous success, both at Georgia Southern and Navy, has been built on the triple-option attack, so he’s not going to be a great fit everywhere. However, any school that’s willing to adopt his system would be getting one of the game’s most underrated head coaches. In four seasons, Johnson has been nothing short of a revelation for the Midshipmen, taking a program that was winless the year before he arrived to an unprecedented three straight bowl games, and more important, four consecutive blowouts of Army. What he’s doing in Annapolis is one of the most overlooked stories in all of all college football.
Four-Year Record at Navy: 28-21 (2-1 in bowl games)
Four-Year Record Before He Arrived: 9-35 (0-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 90-31 (2-1 in bowl games)
20. Mike Price, UTEP – The past two years in El Paso have shown all you need to know about Price. Even after getting publicly humiliated and fired by Alabama, he has bounced back in a big way and proven that he can still elevate the play of young athletes. The Miners were in a dark place when Price was hired, but have wasted no time becoming one of the more competitive teams outside the BCS conferences. UTEP has won eight games each year and averaged more than 30 points a game, a characteristic of all Price teams. He’s getting to the twilight of his career, however, still has time for one more promotion and one more shot at national recognition.
Two-Year Record at UTEP: 16-8 (0-2 in bowl games)
Two-Year Record Before He Arrived: 4-21 (0-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 145-130 (3-4 in bowl games)
19. Ralph Friedgen, Maryland – Back-to-back five win seasons has taken some of the gloss off the Fridge’s exterior, but it hasn’t stripped him of his ability to coach. He still has one of the best offensive minds in college football, is a masterful motivator and has few peers in terms of game-day preparation. Now all he has to do is find a way to parlay those skills into more offensive production and better play under center, two major issues the last two years. Before Friedgen arrived from Georgia Tech, the Terrapin program was a mess.
Five-Year Record: 41-20 (2-1 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 20-35 (0-0 in bowl games)
18. Pat Hill, Fresno State – In nine years, Hill has become somewhat of a folk hero in the Valley. His us-against-the-world, won’t-back-down-from-any-fight persona has been adopted by a program that’s earned a reputation under the coach as giant killers. He’s ultra intense and demanding, on and away from the field, and is a big proponent of old school, smash-mouth football. Hill is a proven winner on the sidelines, which is the chief reason so many college and pro teams inquire about his availability at the end of every season.
Nine-Year Record: 72-43 (3-4 in bowl games)
Nine-Year Record Before He Arrived: 70-36-2 (3-2 in bowl games)
17. Dan Hawkins, Colorado – Lots of schools wanted a piece of the Hawk the last couple of years, and the Buffs are thrilled to have caged him. It was only a matter of time before Hawkins out grew Boise, where he took the house Dirk Koetter started building and actually added a few impressive extensions. He’s an energetic, no-nonsense type disciplinarian, whose teams are always well-prepared and sound in the fundamentals. Hawkins is well-respected and well-liked by the players and the community, and has an unusually voracious appetite for success.
Five-Year Record at Boise State: 53-11 (2-2 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 32-27 (2-0 in bowl games)
16. Mike Leach, Texas Tech – It used to be that Leach was treated like the ringleader of a novelty act. Not anymore. Yes, he’s still the engineer of the most wide-open passing game in the country, but he’s also the winner of three bowl routs in four years and the reason Tech has moved past Texas A&M in the Big 12 South hierarchy. Leach isn’t the most well-liked in the coaching fraternity for his knack to keep his foot on the gas under all circumstances, yet few can deny that he’s an Xs and Os wiz and one of the cerebral coaches in college football.
Six-Year Record: 48-28 (3-3 in bowl games)
Six-Year Record Before He Arrived: 41-29 (1-3 in bowl games)
15. Tom O’Brien, Boston College – O’Brien does not coach at a perennial national power and is the last man to self promote, so it goes to figure that he’s one of the most underrated coaches in America. He is the model of consistency, quietly building a fundamentally sound team every year, despite only attracting a modest group of recruits to the Northeast. A product of the military, O’Brien is tough, but fair, and very well-respected by the kids who’ve passed through the program and the parents of those players. Give the coach enough time and he’ll out fox most opponents, as his shiny 6-1 bowl record will indicate.
Nine-Year Record: 66-42 (6-1 in bowl games)
Nine-Year Record Before He Arrived: 49-52-2 (2-1 in bowl games)
14. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech – Beamer is an all-time great and a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but don’t forget that this question asked who you’d hire right now. He’s still got it, but he’s no spring Hokie and hasn’t coached outside Blacksburg in almost two decades. Beamer’sthe face of the Tech program and will always be remembered as the man that guided the Hokies out of independence and into the Big East and national prominence. At his core, he is a skilled teacher, a stickler for pre-game preparation and an executive, who’s not timid about delegating to the staff he employs.
19-Year Record: 146-79-2 (6-7 in bowl games)
19-Year Record Before He Arrived: 107-100-4 (1-2 in bowl games)
13. Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia – Rodriguez was an up-and-comer before last year, but winning 11 games and the Sugar Bowl in 2005 with a bunch of untested kids certainly didn’t hurt his reputation or marketability. He adapts exceedingly well to the specific talent around him and, along with his staff, has done a marvelous job of coaching up kids like Adam Jones, Dan Mozes and Chris Henry, who’ve become much better players after going through Morgantown. The last time expectations were in the clouds, West Virginia didn’t respond well in 2004, so Rodriguez will be under the microscope this fall.
Five-Year Record: 39-22 (1-3 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 34-25 (1-3 in bowl games)
12. Bobby Petrino, Louisville – In a short amount of time, Petrino has helped build a genuine powerhouse program at Louisville, winning 29 games and averaging 42 points a game over the last three years. He is widely recognized for having one of the sharpest offensive minds at any level, which is a big reason why NFL and college teams have come calling after each of the last couple seasons. And that’s the only risk of hiring a rising star, such as Petrino. Landing him is tough enough, but because he’s in such demand, keeping him on your payroll might be even tougher.
Three-Year Record: 29-8 (1-2 in bowl games)
Three-Year Record Before He Arrived: 27-11 (1-2 in bowl games)
11. Tommy Tuberville, Auburn – The Auburn administration almost bailed on Tuberville after the 2003 season. Good thing for them that they didn’t. The Riverboat Gambler, as he’s known for his past penchant for trick plays, has won 17 of his last 18 SEC games, including four in-a-row over rival Alabama. He’s done a sensational job of surrounding himself with quality assistants, and is not afraid to delegate to those coaches, while overseeing the operation like an executive. Tuberville’s confident and easy-going approach to life has been embraced by players and recruits as he restores the pride in Auburn football.
Seven-Year Record at Auburn: 65-27 (3-3 in bowl games)
Seven-Year Record Before He Arrived: 54-25-2 (2-1 in bowl games)
Career Record: 85-47 (4-3 in bowl games)
10. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina – Even at this late stage of his career, Spurrier brings something to a program that goes well beyond wins and losses. He’s still a lightning rod for attention, which means kids want to play for him, the media wants to interview him and fans want tickets when he’s in the building. That dynamic, which very few coaches in any sport can create, was on display in Spurrier’s first season in Columbia. As long he’s motivated, he’s still one of the best and most innovative coaches in college football. And if there’s a chance to get such a galvanizing figure on board, it’d be awfully hard to pass up.
One-Year Record at South Carolina: 7-5 (0-1 in bowl games)
One-Year Record Before He Arrived: 6-5 (0-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 149-45-2 (6-7 in bowl games)
9. Jeff Tedford, Cal – As good as Tedford has been in his first four years in Berkeley, it’s hard to believe it took him so long to get his first head job. The program he inherited was in shambles beyond just its 1-10 record, but he’s whipped the Bears into shape and into three straight bowl games for the first since the late 1940s. Tedford is one of football’s most gifted offensive strategists and a quarterback guru in every sense of the title. Without his presence, there’s no way Kyle Boller and Aaron Rodgers make it into the NFL’s first round in 2003 and 2005, respectively.
Four-Year Record: 33-17 (2-1 in bowl games)
Four-Year Record Before He Arrived: 13-31 (0-0 in bowl games)
8. Mack Brown, Texas – He’s beaten Oklahoma. He’s won the Big 12. And he’s brought the national championship back to the Lone Star State. Maybe now folks outside Texas can appreciate what Brown has done for the Longhorns. Vilified for years for not being able to win the big game, he’s all that is right in college coaching. He cares about his kids, runs a clean program and creates a home-away-from-home type atmosphere. Oh yeah, he’s also won more than 80% of his games in Austin, including the last two Rose Bowls. Brown hasn’t been under .500 in a season since 1989 and has won at least nine games in 12 of the last 14 years.
Eight-Year Record at UT: 83-19 (5-3 in bowl games)
Eight-Year Record Before He Arrived: 56-36-2 (1-3 in bowl games)
Career Record: 169-93-1 (8-6 in bowl games)
7. Jim Tressel, Ohio State – He’s already won a national championship, beaten Lloyd Carr four times in five tries and won all but one bowl game. Yeah, Tressel has been a pretty good hire for the Buckeye program. At times, he can be maddeningly conservative and predictable on game day, but he gets results, and is well-positioned to make a run at a second national title in five years. Tressel recruits well, emphasizes the fundamentals and leads his troops with the steady hand of an old-school field general.
Five-Year Record: 50-13 (4-1 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 46-15 (2-2 in bowl games)
6. Urban Meyer, Florida – Don’t let last year’s temporary bout with mediocrity fool you. Meyer is a superstar of the coaching ranks. And he’s going to win plenty of games for Florida in the SEC. Meyer’s critics came out of every nook and cranny in 2005, but you don’t coach Bowling Green out of an abyss and guide Utah to a BCS bowl win unless you’re special. Meyer’s only 41, has already proven to be a crackerjack recruiter and flies above the curve in terms of offensive ingenuity. If he can’t out smart you, he’ll out hustle you, an indication that his drive to succeed is relentless.
One-Year Record at Florida: 9-3 (1-0 in bowl games)
One-Year Record Before He Arrived: 7-5 (0-1 in bowl games)
Career Record: 48-11 (3-0 in bowl games)
5. Charlie Weis, Notre Dame – It’s only been one year, but what’s not to like about Weis? With the entire sports world scrutinizing his every move, he made a immediate and profound impact on a university that was going sideways. He’s a winner in ways that extend beyond the record. Yeah, nine wins and a Fiesta Bowl berth was an impressive debut, but Weis has also displayed a knack for out coaching the opposition, cleaning up in recruiting and energizing the masses that’ve been pining for a capable leader since Lou Holtz left South Bend. Like Ralph Friedgen, Weis should have had a job sooner, and looks poised to make up for lost time.
One-Year Record: 9-3 (0-1 in bowl games)
One-Year Record Before He Arrived: 6-6 (0-1 in bowl games)
4. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa – Ferentz was extremely slow out of the gate, winning just four games in his first two seasons in Iowa City, but has been one of the country’s premier coaches since turning things around in 2001. In many ways, he’s college football’s version of Bill Belichick, a calm, cerebral leader, who surrounds himself with a terrific staff of assistants. Ferentz and Co. have earned a reputation for taking average recruits that few other schools wanted and molding them into dominant college players and coveted NFL draft picks. See Robert Gallery and Chad Greenway.
Seven-Year Record: 49-36 (3-2 in bowl games)
Seven-Year Record Before He Arrived: 43-38-1 (2-2 in bowl games)
3. Mark Richt, Georgia – In Richt, Georgia has joined forces with the kind of young and successful coach that can conceivably be the pillar of the program for two decades and the school’s next Vince Dooley. He’s been that good in his first five years in Athens. Good coaches win games, but great coaches win titles, and Richt had already bagged a pair of SEC championships before his 46<SUP>th</SUP> birthday, including last year’s, which took everyone by surprise. Throw in a hard-to-imagine 19-2 record on the road that includes no out of conference cream puffs, and
Five-Year Record: 52-13 (3-2 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 40-17 (4-0 in bowl games)
2. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma – No one is perfect, and that obviously includes coaches. Keep that in mind as visions of the 2004 Sugar Bowl, 2005 Orange Bowl and the first half of last year dance through your head. Yes, Stoops has shown hints of vulnerability the past couple of years, but not nearly enough to cloud all the good that he’d bring to any program. When he got on board in 1999, the Sooners were riding an unusual six-year streak of .500 or worse finishes, yet it took Stoops just two years to elevate OU to the top of the NCAA mountain. And they’ve been meandering near the peak ever since. He’s tough, disciplined and among the best defensive strategists in all of college football. Stoops is a franchise head coach, who’d bring dignity, better recruits and elevated expectations to his next employer.
Seven-Year Record: 75-16 (4-3 in bowl games)
Seven-Year Record Before He Arrived: 37-40-3 (1-1 in bowl games)
1. Pete Carroll, USC – Critics point to USC’s deep pool of local prep talent and assume any coach can be plugged into the job, and 10-win seasons will churn out. Those critics are sorely misguided. Carroll did not take over a well-oiled machine when he arrived in 2001. In fact, the once proud Trojans were mired in mediocrity and the last 10-win season had happened in 1988. After losing six games by a combined 29 points in his debut season, Carroll has led USC to a 48-4 record, four straight Pac-10 titles, three BCS bowl wins and at least a share of two national championships. His high energy, low stress coaching style has been a smashing success with the players, and his ability to make in-game adjustments and attract blue-chip talent from all over the country is second to none.
Five-Year Record: 54-10 (3-2 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 31-29 (0-1 in bowl games)
01 - Pete Carroll
02 - Bob Stoops
03 - Mark Richt
04 - Kirk Ferentz
05 - Charlie Weis
06 - Urban Meyer
07 - Jim Tressel
Other Big Ten:
26 - Lllloyd Carr
28 - Joe Tiller
31 - Glen Mason
32 - Randy Walker
cfbnews
Hire Education ... 1-25[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=+1]
Ranking the Head Coaches You'd Want for the Next Few Years[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial,
sans serif]
By Richard Cirminiello
[/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]Close your eyes, prop up your feet and picture this: You’ve switched careers, leaving behind the mundane world of 9-to-5, and you’re now the athletic director of a major university with a I-A football program. Your first order of business? Hire a head coach to fill the vacancy that currently exists—not just for one year, but for the foreseeable future. Not long after you’ve settled into your new office that overlooks the stadium, 119 applications arrive on your desk—one from each of the head coaches currently running I-A programs. Whether you sink or swim in this dream job depends heavily on this one decision. Hey, you’re an accountant, lawyer, school teacher…so first impressions are critical. Nail it, and you’re the big man on campus. Fail it, and it’s back to a job that inspires you about as much as a 9 AM conference call on last quarter’s results. Who do you offer first, and if he declines, how do you rank the applicants?
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50. Jim Grobe, Wake Forest – Coaching at Wake and Ohio is never going to get Grobe the recognition or winning percentage that’s commensurate with his sideline skills, but don’t be fooled by his record. He can coach. In fact, he’s done a solid job in Winston-Salem, consistently delivering a physical, grind-it-out team that, despite an obvious shortage of blue-chippers, has given fits to every ACC team not named Miami.
Five-Year Record at Wake Forest: 26-32 (1-0 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 20-36 (1-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 59-65-1 (1-0 in bowl games)
49. Greg Schiano, Rutgers – Earning a bowl bid in 2005 was a Herculean accomplishment for Rutgers, but let’s all exercise a little bit of caution as it pertains to Schiano. Yes, progress is being made, however, the coach has exactly two wins in five years over teams that finished above .500 and never would have gotten that Insight invite if Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College were still in the Big East. That said, he is young, very well-liked by his kids and amassing a diverse resume that includes stops with Miami, Penn State and the Chicago Bears.
Five-Year Record: 19-39 (0-1 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 11-44 (0-0 in bowl games)
48. Dennis Franchione, Texas A&M – Just three years ago, Franchione was knocking on the top 10 door, and why not? He’d steadily climbed each rung of the coaching ladder, earning the label of a turnaround specialist after successful stints at New Mexico, TCU and Alabama. After three bad years in College Station, however, he’s being viewed in an entirely different light, and is one more rocky season from extinction. Franchione hasn’t gotten this far with smoke and mirrors, but if A&M continues to slip in the Big 12 South pecking order, his future will surely go up in a puff of smoke.
Three-Year Record at A&M: 16-19 (0-1 in bowl games)
Three-Year Record Before He Arrived: 21-15 (1-1 in bowl games)
Career Record: 104-82 (3-2 in bowl games)
47. Mark Mangino, Kansas – From last December’s first bowl win in a decade to the new $31 million football facility that’s scheduled to open in 2007, there’s something positive happening in Lawrence. And Mangino, the former Oklahoma assistant, has been the catalyst, helping make football relevant at a traditional basketball power. Last year’s historical shellacking of Nebraska sent notice that the Jayhawks are about the turn the corner with Mangino at the wheel.
Four-Year Record: 19-29 (1-1 in bowl games)
Four-Year Record Before He Arrived: 16-29 (0-0 in bowl games)
46. Dan McCarney, Iowa State – It’s a good thing for patience, or else Iowa State might have fired one of its best ever coaches before he could ever hit his stride. McCarney was a dismal 13-42 after his first five years, but has won 39 games since, while leading the Cyclones to five bowl games, or one more than the school had played in the century before he arrived. He’s won four of his last six against rival Iowa, closing the divide on the in-state recruiting wars and reversing a series trend that had been one-sided for a generation.
11-Year Record: 52-77 (2-3 in bowl games)
11-Year Record Before He Arrived: 41-75-5 (0-0 in bowl games)
45. Randy Edsall, UConn – The Huskies are doing their best to keep Edsall from straying, but one of the game’s hottest young coaches may out grow Storrs someday soon. Skip Holtz really got things going at UConn in the 1990s, but it’s Edsall who has taken the baton and carried the program to new heights in its history. Under his watch, the Huskies have played in and won their first bowl game and developed a pair of prominent draft choices, and as a full-fledged member of the Big East, even better days lie ahead for Edsall & Co.
Seven-Year Record: 37-43 (1-0 in bowl games)
Seven-Year Record Before He Arrived: 45-34 (0-0 in bowl games)
44. Mike Shula, Alabama – Shula experienced a breakthrough year in 2005, unexpectedly leading the Tide to a 10-win season and their first January bowl game since 1999. In order to stay relevant to this discussion, he has to continue that momentum without long-time starting quarterback Brodie Croyle and a few of his best defensive players. Shula’s got plenty of room for growth as a head coach, but at just 41, also has plenty of time to hone his coaching craft provided he can keep himself away from the hot seat.
Three-Year Record: 20-17 (1-1 in bowl games)
Three-Year Record Before He Arrived: 20-16 (1-0 in bowl games)
43. Chuck Amato, North Carolina State – For a time, it looked as if the Pack would make a bee line to the top of the ACC. That hasn’t happened, and now Amato is in danger of becoming one of the nation’s most over hyped head coaches. He can bring an instant identity and player upgrade to any middling program, but his teams in Raleigh make too many mental mistakes and haven’t produced enough wins to match the talent on the field. The Pack had three players taken in the first round, and six overall, in April’s draft, but could only manage a 7-5 mark last year.
Six-Year Record: 46-28 (4-1 in bowl games)
Six-Year Record Before He Arrived: 34-35 (1-1 in bowl games)
42. Tyrone Willingham, Washington – It’s become fashionable these days to dog this Husky, who may never win a BCS bowl game, but embodies all that is good in college athletics. If you a want a coach of impeccable character, class and integrity, Willingham belongs on your short list. He is a great fit for the program that puts a priority on education and the development of young men, however, if you want to get to the college football’s Promised Land, there are about three dozen current head coaches that make more sense.
One-Year Record at Washington: 2-9 (0-0 in bowl games)
One-Year Record Before He Arrived: 1-10 (0-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 67-60-1 (1-4 in bowl games)
41. Houston Nutt, Arkansas – Nutt’s gotten a little tougher to handicap the last two years. The Hogs have won just nine games, and the coach that was on a lot of AD’s short lists not long ago is suddenly in a must-win situation in 2006. From 1998 to 2003, Nutt earned a reputation for coaching up teams and pulling upsets, and was a front-runner to land the Nebraska job and a hefty pay raise two years ago. He’s a homegrown talent, who’s tailor-made for the Hogs, but might not be as successful away from Arkansas.
Eight-Year Record at Arkansas: 57-40 (2-4 in bowl games)
Eight-Year Record Before He Arrived: 37-52-2 (0-2 in bowl games)
Career Record: 61-47 (2-4 in bowl games)
40. Dennis Erickson, Idaho – Erickson isn’t exactly in his coaching prime, but you can do a lot worse than a man that already has two national championships in the trophy case. He’s seen just about everything in a quarter of a century at the pro and college levels, and is still recognized as an innovator when his offense has the ball. Not that long ago, Erickson was the architect of Oregon State’s miraculous rise from the ashes and he still has the charisma to lure recruits. Idaho is pinching itself over luring him back to Moscow.
Career Record: 154-57-1 (5-5 in bowl games)
39. June Jones, Hawaii – With his quick strike run-and-shoot offense, Jones isn’t for everyone. He wouldn’t exactly blend in at places like Ann Arbor or Knoxville, but the guy is a winner and that unconventional offense is still one of the most exciting, must-see units in all of college football. Jones guided the Warriors to a nine-game turnaround in his first season as a college head coach, and would be a great match for the anonymous school looking to quickly get on the map.
Seven-Year Record: 53-37 (3-1 in bowl games)
Seven-Year Record Before He Arrived: 29-51-1 (1-0 in bowl games)
38. Guy Morriss, Baylor – Because his coaching stops have been at Kentucky and Baylor, Morriss is one of the better kept secrets in college coaching. No one is getting rich in Lexington or Waco, but that hasn’t kept Morriss from earning the respect of his players and peers at both stops. With a laid back approach, he pulled Kentucky out of the hole Hal Mumme dug and just led Baylor to its first five-win season in a decade. Put Morriss at, oh, Texas A&M, and he’d be a household name in under three years.
Three-Year Record at Baylor: 11-23 (0-0 in bowl games)
Three-Year Record Before He Arrived: 8-26 (0-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 20-37 (0-0 in bowl games)
37. Jim Leavitt, South Florida – Leavitt is the only head coach USF has ever had, so there’s no telling how he’d function in a completely different environment, but his head coaching debut has been nothing short of remarkable. He took a program from its infancy a decade ago, and has already guided them out of I-AA and into a BCS conference and the school’s first bowl game. Leavitt is a straight-shooter, who demands accountability from his players and the rest of his staff. He’s been wooed by a handful of schools recently, but seems content to continue bull rushing past expectations in Tampa.
Nine-Year Record: 61-39 (0-1 in bowl games)
Nine-Year Record Before He Arrived: Leavitt is the school’s first and only head coach
36. Bill Callahan, Nebraska – Slowly, Callahan is turning skeptics into believers. Now, he still has a ways to go in his extreme makeover of the Husker program, but you can see his vision beginning to take shape. Callahan is in this adventure for all the right reasons and his West Coast offense will prove to be a good fit for the college game. He’s indefatigable and passionate about the sport and the kids he’s coaching, which is probably why he’s been cleaning up in the area of recruiting ever since arriving in Lincoln.
Two-Year Record: 13-10 (1-0 in bowl games)
Two-Year Record Before He Arrived: 17-10 (1-1 in bowl games)
35. Steve Kragthorpe, Tulsa – He’s young, he’s building a solid resume and he’s quickly becoming one of the hottest second-tier coaches in America. In just three seasons, Kragthorpe has turned dust into gold in Tulsa, guiding the Hurricane to a pair of unexpected bowl games and two of the best seasons in school history. All this from a program that had won just two games in the two years before he arrived. Last year’s C-USA crown and Liberty Bowl upset of Fresno State was one of the finest coaching jobs of 2005, and brought him one giant step closer to a well-deserved promotion and bump in pay.
Three-Year Record: 21-17 (1-1 in bowl games)
Three-Year Record Before He Arrived: 7-28 (0-0 in bowl games)
34. Dirk Koetter, Arizona State – Koetter’s been a bit of a tease, alternately going up and down each season since he left Boise State for the desert. He can crank up an offense as well as any coach in college football, but that alone hasn’t been enough to elevate the Devils to that coveted spot just behind USC in the Pac-10 hierarchy. Instead, since 2001, five league teams have won more games than Arizona State and three have played in BCS bowl games. And after a disappointing 7-5 season last fall, it’s imperative that Koetter hits the high note with a team that’s good enough to win nine games in 2006.
Five-Year Record at ASU: 33-28 (2-1 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 37-22 (1-3 in bowl games)
Career Record: 59-38 (4-1 in bowl games)
33. Al Groh, Virginia – Five years after arriving in Charlottesville, it’s still hard to get a good read on Groh. On one hand, he’s proven to be a deft recruiter and a well-organized executive, which comes from his days in the NFL. On the other hand, that hasn’t been enough to elevate Virginia to the upper echelon of the ACC alongside Miami, Florida State and Virginia Tech. Instead, the Cavs have lost at least four games in each season of his tenure, making a sometimes surly Groh like a Bill Parcells without the championships.
Five-Year Record: 37-26 (3-1 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 36-23 (0-4 in bowl games)
Career Record: 63-66 (3-1 in bowl games)
32. Randy Walker, Northwestern – Very few coaches in America get more from less than Walker does at Northwestern. He is not attracting a plethora of future NFL stars to Evanston, a la Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, yet has gone a respectable 14-10 in Big Ten play over the last three years. He’s beaten every conference opponent at least once in his tenure behind a balanced offense that makes the most of the team’s talent and drives the rest of the league batty. One big knock on Walker has been the post-season, where his ‘Cats are 0-3 and have surrendered 134 points.
Seven-Year Record at Northwestern: 37-46 (0-3 in bowl games)
Seven-Year Record Before He Arrived: 35-45-1 (0-2 in bowl games)
Career Record: 96-81-5 (0-3)
31. Glen Mason, Minnesota – Mason’s been real good for Minnesota, much like he was for Kansas in the 1990s, but you have to wonder if he’s taken the Gophers about as far as he or anyone else can at this time. The last four years, Minnesota has been above .500 and has won three bowl games, but has never really broken through and challenged for its first Big Ten title since Hubert Humphrey was the veep. Mason’s a no-nonsense leader, whose teams are strong at the point of attack and prolific on the ground. Two words for those, who understate his value to Minnesota football: Jim Wacker. Two more: John Gutekunst.
Nine-Year Record at Minnesota: 58-50 (3-3 in bowl games)
Nine-Year Record Before He Arrived: 32-65-2 (0-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 117-114-1 (5-3)
30. Larry Coker, Miami – It cannot be easy being Larry Coker. All the guy has done in five years is win 85% of his games and a national championship, and yet the consensus is that he’s just a product of all that Miami talent, specifically Butch Davis’ talent when the 2001 title was won. Despite the gaudy record, only one question really matters to this discussion—is Coker your top choice when it’s time to fill an opening? Top 10? Top 20? Probably not, for a lot of the same reasons you wouldn’t have looked up Frank Solich when he left Nebraska with a 58-19 record. The ‘Canes have been vulnerable the last three seasons, losing at least one game they absolutely shouldn’t in the second half of each year.
Five-Year Record: 53-9 (3-2 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 43-15 (4-0 in bowl games)
29. George O’Leary, UCF – O’Leary’s best days may be in the rear view mirror, but the game has clearly not passed him by. He showed that in a massive way last year, turning a team that was winless in 2004 into co-champs of C-USA. The Knights capped the year with their first-ever bowl game, further validation that O’Leary was back after a bizarre three-year period following his humiliating dismissal from Notre Dame. He’s a tough disciplinarian and a solid recruiter, which is exactly what UCF needed in order to dig themselves out of the mayhem that existed at the end of Mike Kruczek’s regime.
Two-Year Record at UCF: 8-16 (0-1 in bowl games)
Two-Year Record Before He Arrived: 10-14 (0-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 60-49 (2-3)
28. Joe Tiller, Purdue – To really appreciate Tiller, you’ve got to understand what he inherited when he came on board. Back in the mid 1990s, the Boilers were mired in one of the lowest periods of their history, and had been to just one bowl game in the previous 17 years. Since Tiller headed east, Purdue has been to eight bowl games and its first Rose Bowl since 1966. He has put the program back on the map by consistently assembling one of the league’s better staffs and with a pass first offense that forced the rest of the Big Ten to revisit how they move the chains.
Nine-Year Record at Purdue: 67-43 (3-5 in bowl games)
Nine-Year Record Before He Arrived: 29-67-3 (0-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 106-73-1 (3-6)
27. Phil Fulmer, Tennessee – Fulmer’s record says top 5, but everyone else says, no thanks. He is the dean of SEC coaches and a future Hall of Famer, but he’s also going to be 56 at the start of the season and has spent the last 25 years in the same program. Starting over in a brand new town, let alone wearing a color other than orange on the sidelines, would be like asking Teddy Kennedy to adopt the Republican ideology. Plus, Fulmer hasn’t exactly been peaking the last couple of seasons. The Vols had their worst season in 17 years in 2005, and David Cutcliffe was brought back to Knoxville to instill a little discipline and structure.
14-Year Record: 128-37 (7-6 in bowl games)
14-Year Record Before He Arrived: 105-52-8 (7-4 in bowl games)
26. Lloyd Carr, Michigan – See Phil Fulmer to understand why Carr can’t be ranked any higher despite his myriad accomplishments. He’s another future Hall of Famer, who can count a national championship among his 100+ victories, but is most valuable in his current job. Away from Ann Arbor, it’s doubtful Carr would have anywhere near the success he’s had the last 11 years. And again, like Fulmer, the past couple of years have hardly been his best. The Wolverines have way too much blue-chip talent to go a decade without competing for a national title and always seems to get caught off guard and lose an early season game they shouldn’t.
11-Year Record: 102-34 (5-6 in bowl games)
11-Year Record Before He Arrived: 98-30-5 (7-4 in bowl games)
25. Gary Patterson, TCU – A strange thing happened on the way to Dennis Franchione’s coronation—Patterson, Fran’s defensive coordinator on the 2000 WAC championship team, wound up being the can’t-miss coach with the upward mobility. Since taking over the program, he’s had three 10-win seasons and won a share of two conference titles. Save for 2004, Patterson’s defenses are fast, opportunistic and typically ranked among the nation’s best at the end of the season.
Five-Year Record: 43-18 (2-3 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 30-28 (2-0 in bowl games)
24. Tommy Bowden, Clemson – Given up for dead just a couple of years ago, Bowden has stepped up, ignored his critics and actually solidified his long-term job security at Clemson. Now all the Tigers have to do is establish themselves as a bona fide and regular contender for ACC supremacy, and Bowden’s star will shine even brighter. He’s beaten his dad in two of the last three years, and enters the upcoming season with one of the nation’s top recruiting classes and a team that might be deep enough to challenge in the Atlantic Division.
Seven-Year Record at Clemson: 52-33 (3-3 in bowl games)
Seven-Year Record Before He Arrived: 44-37 (1-3 in bowl games)
Career Record: 70-37 (3-3 in bowl games)
23. Mike Bellotti, Oregon – For some reason, when the really successful coaches are discussed, Bellotti’s name seems to get lost in the shuffle. Too bad, because he’s been the savior of a Duck program that’s currently enjoying the most prosperous decade in its history. His low-key demeanor resonates with his players, but has also opens him up to criticism when times were a little less favorable. One year after sinking to 5-6, Bellotti and the Ducks responded in 2005 by ringing up an equally unexpected 10 wins for the third time in the last six years.
11-Year Record: 90-42 (4-5 in bowl games)
11-Year Record Before He Arrived: 68-61 (1-2 in bowl games)
22. Les Miles, LSU – In a no-win situation, Miles really showed a lot in his first season in Baton Rouge. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he somehow kept his kids focused on football for four months, and led the Tigers to an 11-win campaign and a shellacking of Miami in the Peach Bowl. Until he wins his SEC title, Miles will have a difficult time stepping out of Nick Saban’s shadow, but he laid a nice foundation at Oklahoma State, and now has a chance with a name brand program to become one of college football’s premier head coaches.
One-Year Record at LSU: 11-2 (1-0 in bowl games)
One-Year Record Before He Arrived: 9-3 (0-1 in bowl games)
Career Record: 39-23 (2-2)
21. Paul Johnson, Navy – Johnson’s enormous success, both at Georgia Southern and Navy, has been built on the triple-option attack, so he’s not going to be a great fit everywhere. However, any school that’s willing to adopt his system would be getting one of the game’s most underrated head coaches. In four seasons, Johnson has been nothing short of a revelation for the Midshipmen, taking a program that was winless the year before he arrived to an unprecedented three straight bowl games, and more important, four consecutive blowouts of Army. What he’s doing in Annapolis is one of the most overlooked stories in all of all college football.
Four-Year Record at Navy: 28-21 (2-1 in bowl games)
Four-Year Record Before He Arrived: 9-35 (0-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 90-31 (2-1 in bowl games)
20. Mike Price, UTEP – The past two years in El Paso have shown all you need to know about Price. Even after getting publicly humiliated and fired by Alabama, he has bounced back in a big way and proven that he can still elevate the play of young athletes. The Miners were in a dark place when Price was hired, but have wasted no time becoming one of the more competitive teams outside the BCS conferences. UTEP has won eight games each year and averaged more than 30 points a game, a characteristic of all Price teams. He’s getting to the twilight of his career, however, still has time for one more promotion and one more shot at national recognition.
Two-Year Record at UTEP: 16-8 (0-2 in bowl games)
Two-Year Record Before He Arrived: 4-21 (0-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 145-130 (3-4 in bowl games)
19. Ralph Friedgen, Maryland – Back-to-back five win seasons has taken some of the gloss off the Fridge’s exterior, but it hasn’t stripped him of his ability to coach. He still has one of the best offensive minds in college football, is a masterful motivator and has few peers in terms of game-day preparation. Now all he has to do is find a way to parlay those skills into more offensive production and better play under center, two major issues the last two years. Before Friedgen arrived from Georgia Tech, the Terrapin program was a mess.
Five-Year Record: 41-20 (2-1 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 20-35 (0-0 in bowl games)
18. Pat Hill, Fresno State – In nine years, Hill has become somewhat of a folk hero in the Valley. His us-against-the-world, won’t-back-down-from-any-fight persona has been adopted by a program that’s earned a reputation under the coach as giant killers. He’s ultra intense and demanding, on and away from the field, and is a big proponent of old school, smash-mouth football. Hill is a proven winner on the sidelines, which is the chief reason so many college and pro teams inquire about his availability at the end of every season.
Nine-Year Record: 72-43 (3-4 in bowl games)
Nine-Year Record Before He Arrived: 70-36-2 (3-2 in bowl games)
17. Dan Hawkins, Colorado – Lots of schools wanted a piece of the Hawk the last couple of years, and the Buffs are thrilled to have caged him. It was only a matter of time before Hawkins out grew Boise, where he took the house Dirk Koetter started building and actually added a few impressive extensions. He’s an energetic, no-nonsense type disciplinarian, whose teams are always well-prepared and sound in the fundamentals. Hawkins is well-respected and well-liked by the players and the community, and has an unusually voracious appetite for success.
Five-Year Record at Boise State: 53-11 (2-2 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 32-27 (2-0 in bowl games)
16. Mike Leach, Texas Tech – It used to be that Leach was treated like the ringleader of a novelty act. Not anymore. Yes, he’s still the engineer of the most wide-open passing game in the country, but he’s also the winner of three bowl routs in four years and the reason Tech has moved past Texas A&M in the Big 12 South hierarchy. Leach isn’t the most well-liked in the coaching fraternity for his knack to keep his foot on the gas under all circumstances, yet few can deny that he’s an Xs and Os wiz and one of the cerebral coaches in college football.
Six-Year Record: 48-28 (3-3 in bowl games)
Six-Year Record Before He Arrived: 41-29 (1-3 in bowl games)
15. Tom O’Brien, Boston College – O’Brien does not coach at a perennial national power and is the last man to self promote, so it goes to figure that he’s one of the most underrated coaches in America. He is the model of consistency, quietly building a fundamentally sound team every year, despite only attracting a modest group of recruits to the Northeast. A product of the military, O’Brien is tough, but fair, and very well-respected by the kids who’ve passed through the program and the parents of those players. Give the coach enough time and he’ll out fox most opponents, as his shiny 6-1 bowl record will indicate.
Nine-Year Record: 66-42 (6-1 in bowl games)
Nine-Year Record Before He Arrived: 49-52-2 (2-1 in bowl games)
14. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech – Beamer is an all-time great and a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but don’t forget that this question asked who you’d hire right now. He’s still got it, but he’s no spring Hokie and hasn’t coached outside Blacksburg in almost two decades. Beamer’sthe face of the Tech program and will always be remembered as the man that guided the Hokies out of independence and into the Big East and national prominence. At his core, he is a skilled teacher, a stickler for pre-game preparation and an executive, who’s not timid about delegating to the staff he employs.
19-Year Record: 146-79-2 (6-7 in bowl games)
19-Year Record Before He Arrived: 107-100-4 (1-2 in bowl games)
13. Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia – Rodriguez was an up-and-comer before last year, but winning 11 games and the Sugar Bowl in 2005 with a bunch of untested kids certainly didn’t hurt his reputation or marketability. He adapts exceedingly well to the specific talent around him and, along with his staff, has done a marvelous job of coaching up kids like Adam Jones, Dan Mozes and Chris Henry, who’ve become much better players after going through Morgantown. The last time expectations were in the clouds, West Virginia didn’t respond well in 2004, so Rodriguez will be under the microscope this fall.
Five-Year Record: 39-22 (1-3 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 34-25 (1-3 in bowl games)
12. Bobby Petrino, Louisville – In a short amount of time, Petrino has helped build a genuine powerhouse program at Louisville, winning 29 games and averaging 42 points a game over the last three years. He is widely recognized for having one of the sharpest offensive minds at any level, which is a big reason why NFL and college teams have come calling after each of the last couple seasons. And that’s the only risk of hiring a rising star, such as Petrino. Landing him is tough enough, but because he’s in such demand, keeping him on your payroll might be even tougher.
Three-Year Record: 29-8 (1-2 in bowl games)
Three-Year Record Before He Arrived: 27-11 (1-2 in bowl games)
11. Tommy Tuberville, Auburn – The Auburn administration almost bailed on Tuberville after the 2003 season. Good thing for them that they didn’t. The Riverboat Gambler, as he’s known for his past penchant for trick plays, has won 17 of his last 18 SEC games, including four in-a-row over rival Alabama. He’s done a sensational job of surrounding himself with quality assistants, and is not afraid to delegate to those coaches, while overseeing the operation like an executive. Tuberville’s confident and easy-going approach to life has been embraced by players and recruits as he restores the pride in Auburn football.
Seven-Year Record at Auburn: 65-27 (3-3 in bowl games)
Seven-Year Record Before He Arrived: 54-25-2 (2-1 in bowl games)
Career Record: 85-47 (4-3 in bowl games)
10. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina – Even at this late stage of his career, Spurrier brings something to a program that goes well beyond wins and losses. He’s still a lightning rod for attention, which means kids want to play for him, the media wants to interview him and fans want tickets when he’s in the building. That dynamic, which very few coaches in any sport can create, was on display in Spurrier’s first season in Columbia. As long he’s motivated, he’s still one of the best and most innovative coaches in college football. And if there’s a chance to get such a galvanizing figure on board, it’d be awfully hard to pass up.
One-Year Record at South Carolina: 7-5 (0-1 in bowl games)
One-Year Record Before He Arrived: 6-5 (0-0 in bowl games)
Career Record: 149-45-2 (6-7 in bowl games)
9. Jeff Tedford, Cal – As good as Tedford has been in his first four years in Berkeley, it’s hard to believe it took him so long to get his first head job. The program he inherited was in shambles beyond just its 1-10 record, but he’s whipped the Bears into shape and into three straight bowl games for the first since the late 1940s. Tedford is one of football’s most gifted offensive strategists and a quarterback guru in every sense of the title. Without his presence, there’s no way Kyle Boller and Aaron Rodgers make it into the NFL’s first round in 2003 and 2005, respectively.
Four-Year Record: 33-17 (2-1 in bowl games)
Four-Year Record Before He Arrived: 13-31 (0-0 in bowl games)
8. Mack Brown, Texas – He’s beaten Oklahoma. He’s won the Big 12. And he’s brought the national championship back to the Lone Star State. Maybe now folks outside Texas can appreciate what Brown has done for the Longhorns. Vilified for years for not being able to win the big game, he’s all that is right in college coaching. He cares about his kids, runs a clean program and creates a home-away-from-home type atmosphere. Oh yeah, he’s also won more than 80% of his games in Austin, including the last two Rose Bowls. Brown hasn’t been under .500 in a season since 1989 and has won at least nine games in 12 of the last 14 years.
Eight-Year Record at UT: 83-19 (5-3 in bowl games)
Eight-Year Record Before He Arrived: 56-36-2 (1-3 in bowl games)
Career Record: 169-93-1 (8-6 in bowl games)
7. Jim Tressel, Ohio State – He’s already won a national championship, beaten Lloyd Carr four times in five tries and won all but one bowl game. Yeah, Tressel has been a pretty good hire for the Buckeye program. At times, he can be maddeningly conservative and predictable on game day, but he gets results, and is well-positioned to make a run at a second national title in five years. Tressel recruits well, emphasizes the fundamentals and leads his troops with the steady hand of an old-school field general.
Five-Year Record: 50-13 (4-1 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 46-15 (2-2 in bowl games)
6. Urban Meyer, Florida – Don’t let last year’s temporary bout with mediocrity fool you. Meyer is a superstar of the coaching ranks. And he’s going to win plenty of games for Florida in the SEC. Meyer’s critics came out of every nook and cranny in 2005, but you don’t coach Bowling Green out of an abyss and guide Utah to a BCS bowl win unless you’re special. Meyer’s only 41, has already proven to be a crackerjack recruiter and flies above the curve in terms of offensive ingenuity. If he can’t out smart you, he’ll out hustle you, an indication that his drive to succeed is relentless.
One-Year Record at Florida: 9-3 (1-0 in bowl games)
One-Year Record Before He Arrived: 7-5 (0-1 in bowl games)
Career Record: 48-11 (3-0 in bowl games)
5. Charlie Weis, Notre Dame – It’s only been one year, but what’s not to like about Weis? With the entire sports world scrutinizing his every move, he made a immediate and profound impact on a university that was going sideways. He’s a winner in ways that extend beyond the record. Yeah, nine wins and a Fiesta Bowl berth was an impressive debut, but Weis has also displayed a knack for out coaching the opposition, cleaning up in recruiting and energizing the masses that’ve been pining for a capable leader since Lou Holtz left South Bend. Like Ralph Friedgen, Weis should have had a job sooner, and looks poised to make up for lost time.
One-Year Record: 9-3 (0-1 in bowl games)
One-Year Record Before He Arrived: 6-6 (0-1 in bowl games)
4. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa – Ferentz was extremely slow out of the gate, winning just four games in his first two seasons in Iowa City, but has been one of the country’s premier coaches since turning things around in 2001. In many ways, he’s college football’s version of Bill Belichick, a calm, cerebral leader, who surrounds himself with a terrific staff of assistants. Ferentz and Co. have earned a reputation for taking average recruits that few other schools wanted and molding them into dominant college players and coveted NFL draft picks. See Robert Gallery and Chad Greenway.
Seven-Year Record: 49-36 (3-2 in bowl games)
Seven-Year Record Before He Arrived: 43-38-1 (2-2 in bowl games)
3. Mark Richt, Georgia – In Richt, Georgia has joined forces with the kind of young and successful coach that can conceivably be the pillar of the program for two decades and the school’s next Vince Dooley. He’s been that good in his first five years in Athens. Good coaches win games, but great coaches win titles, and Richt had already bagged a pair of SEC championships before his 46<SUP>th</SUP> birthday, including last year’s, which took everyone by surprise. Throw in a hard-to-imagine 19-2 record on the road that includes no out of conference cream puffs, and
Five-Year Record: 52-13 (3-2 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 40-17 (4-0 in bowl games)
2. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma – No one is perfect, and that obviously includes coaches. Keep that in mind as visions of the 2004 Sugar Bowl, 2005 Orange Bowl and the first half of last year dance through your head. Yes, Stoops has shown hints of vulnerability the past couple of years, but not nearly enough to cloud all the good that he’d bring to any program. When he got on board in 1999, the Sooners were riding an unusual six-year streak of .500 or worse finishes, yet it took Stoops just two years to elevate OU to the top of the NCAA mountain. And they’ve been meandering near the peak ever since. He’s tough, disciplined and among the best defensive strategists in all of college football. Stoops is a franchise head coach, who’d bring dignity, better recruits and elevated expectations to his next employer.
Seven-Year Record: 75-16 (4-3 in bowl games)
Seven-Year Record Before He Arrived: 37-40-3 (1-1 in bowl games)
1. Pete Carroll, USC – Critics point to USC’s deep pool of local prep talent and assume any coach can be plugged into the job, and 10-win seasons will churn out. Those critics are sorely misguided. Carroll did not take over a well-oiled machine when he arrived in 2001. In fact, the once proud Trojans were mired in mediocrity and the last 10-win season had happened in 1988. After losing six games by a combined 29 points in his debut season, Carroll has led USC to a 48-4 record, four straight Pac-10 titles, three BCS bowl wins and at least a share of two national championships. His high energy, low stress coaching style has been a smashing success with the players, and his ability to make in-game adjustments and attract blue-chip talent from all over the country is second to none.
Five-Year Record: 54-10 (3-2 in bowl games)
Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 31-29 (0-1 in bowl games)
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Yeah, I saw this last night and skipped bringing it over here because the list (like everything Cirminiello writes) is garbage.
I am sick and f'ing tired of the Ferentz, Meyer, Weis worship. Trivia question: How many national championships (all divisions) have the six coaches ahead of JT on this list won?
:2004:
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t_BuckeyeScott
Hall of Fame
I think when outside people look at tOSU its possible that they think we should have been even better. I think some people look at some of the offensive struggles prior to the last half of last year as JT's fault.
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I don't mind Tressel's position on that list. Right now, Carroll should be above Tressel on that list. I'll grant the bitching about Weis - there's no way he's above Tressel right now. The rest though are all younger than Tressel, and are all top-flight coaches in their own right. All other things being relatively equal, if you're trying to build a program, you're gonna want a younger coach because he can give you more years. After all, this list isn't JUST about credentials, and it's not about who you'd want to coach next season and next season only. If age were not a factor, you'd find Paterno and Bowden at or near the top. But since they're both one foot in the grave now, there's no way in hell you'd hire them at your program, no matter how good their resume is. I don't think it's a bad list - with the exception of Weis being ranked over Tressel. Being a Buckeye, I'd rank Tressel number one myself, but I think there's a good and valid argument for everyone else that's ranked above him.
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ant80
Think less, feel more.
I wouldn't look at just that statistic to belittle him. I believe that article mentions that he won a combined 4 games his first two years. After that, his record is 45-17, which is fairly good.Oh, what a stunning turnaround
edit: I definitely won't put Weis over Tressel. He is an arrogant SOB.
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pianobuck46
pianobuck46
I completely agree. The guys you sight are all "darlings of the media".
Based on the number of NCs (I count only two [Carroll & Stoops]). I believe Tressel has FIVE!!! No. 1, Baby--No. 1!
:gobucks3: :osu2: :gobucks4:
:scum3:
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