Ranking the top 25 college football coaching hires of the past 25 years - ESPN Insider

[iowajerms]

Full article attached as .pdf

Ranking the best college football coaching hires since 1995: Saban, Dabo and who else?

#25: Bill O'Brien (Penn State) | Hired: 1/7/12
#24: Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State) | Hired: 1/3/05
#23: Steve Spurrier (South Carolina) | Hired: 11/23/04
#22: Kyle Whittingham (Utah) | Hired: 12/8/04
#21: James Franklin (Vanderbilt) | Hired: 12/17/10
#20: Jimbo Fisher (Florida State) | Hired: 1/5/10
#19: Gary Pinkel (Missouri) | Hired: 11/29/00
#18: David Cuttliff (Duke) | Hired: 12/14/07
#17: Greg Schiano (Rutgers) | Hired: 12/1/00
#16: Jim Harbaugh (Stanford) | Hired: 12/18/06
#15: Lloyd Carr (Michigan) | Hired: 11/13/95 (named interim coach 5/13/95)
#14: Mark Dantonio (Michigan State) | Hired: 11/27/06
#13: Brian Kelly (Notre Dame) | Hired: 12/10/19
#12: Chip Kelly (Oregon) | Hired: 3/19/09
#11: Jim Tressell (Ohio State) | Hired: 1/18/01
#10: Gary Patterson (TCU) | Hired: 12/8/00
#9: Mack Brown (Texas) | Hired: 12/5/97
#8: Chris Peterson (Boise State) | Hired: 12/16/05
#7: Nick Saban (LSU) | Hired: 11/30/99
#6: Urban Meyer (Florida) | Hired: 12/4/04
#5: Urban Meyer (Ohio State) | Hired: 11/28/11
#4: Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) | Hired: 12/1/98
#3: Pete Carroll (USC) | Hired: 12/15/00
#2: Dabo Swinney (Clemson) | Hired: 12/1/08 (named interim coach 10/13/08)
#1: Nick Saban (Alabama) | Hired: 1/3/07

 

[Blackshirts BLVD]

Full article attached as .pdf

Ranking the best college football coaching hires since 1995: Saban, Dabo and who else?

#25: Bill O'Brien (Penn State) | Hired: 1/7/12
#24: Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State) | Hired: 1/3/05
#23: Steve Spurrier (South Carolina) | Hired: 11/23/04
#22: Kyle Whittingham (Utah) | Hired: 12/8/04
#21: James Franklin (Vanderbilt) | Hired: 12/17/10
#20: Jimbo Fisher (Florida State) | Hired: 1/5/10
#19: Gary Pinkel (Missouri) | Hired: 11/29/00
#18: David Cuttliff (Duke) | Hired: 12/14/07
#17: Greg Schiano (Rutgers) | Hired: 12/1/00
#16: Jim Harbaugh (Stanford) | Hired: 12/18/06
#15: Lloyd Carr (Michigan) | Hired: 11/13/95 (named interim coach 5/13/95)
#14: Mark Dantonio (Michigan State) | Hired: 11/27/06
#13: Brian Kelly (Notre Dame) | Hired: 12/10/19
#12: Chip Kelly (Oregon) | Hired: 3/19/09
#11: Jim Tressell (Ohio State) | Hired: 1/18/01
#10: Gary Patterson (TCU) | Hired: 12/8/00
#9: Mack Brown (Texas) | Hired: 12/5/97
#8: Chris Peterson (Boise State) | Hired: 12/16/05
#7: Nick Saban (LSU) | Hired: 11/30/99
#6: Urban Meyer (Florida) | Hired: 12/4/04
#5: Urban Meyer (Ohio State) | Hired: 11/28/11
#4: Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) | Hired: 12/1/98
#3: Pete Carroll (USC) | Hired: 12/15/00
#2: Dabo Swinney (Clemson) | Hired: 12/1/08 (named interim coach 10/13/08)
#1: Nick Saban (Alabama) | Hired: 1/3/07

 

[iowajerms]

TBH, I was surpised there weren't any coaches from teams that are currently in the B1G West.

Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald IMO is higher than a lot of them. NW was bottom feeder when he showed up.

Bret Bielema started Wisconsin's trend at being the favorite to win division every season.

Bo Polini is better hire for Nebraska than some of those on the list. Not his fault where Nebraska is now.

 

[Locke888]

Pete Carroll should be at#2

 

[78Cyclones]

TBH, I was surpised there weren't any coaches from teams that are currently in the B1G West.

Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald IMO is higher than a lot of them. NW was bottom feeder when he showed up.

Fitz is a good HC, but Northwestern was not a bottom-feeder when he took over for Randy Walker. NU actually went 5-3 in the B1G in 2004 and 2005 and Bowled in 2 of the 3 previous seasons (2003 and 2005) under Walker and won the B1G in 2000. Of course, under Barnett, NU won the B1G in 1995 and 1996. So, that was 3 B1G Championships (1995, 1996 and 2000) in the 11 seasons (1995-2005) before Fitz took over as HC. Hardly bottom-feeder status.

 

[Blackshirts BLVD]

Just noticed. But why do we have the useful emoji in the PF, but not here?

 

[iowajerms]

I also think Mark Mangino at Kansas should be on here if Greg Schiano at Rutgers is on it. Schiano has a longer tenure but I don't think it is any better.

 

[outofyourmind]

I also think Mark Mangino at Kansas should be on here if Greg Schiano at Rutgers is on it. Schiano has a longer tenure but I don't think it is any better.

 

[Smart]

Bret Bielema started Wisconsin's trend at being the favorite to win division every season.

I think you are confusing Bret Bielema with Paul Chryst. When Wisconsin When the B1G from 2009 through 2011, it did so primarily on the back of Chryst's offense. Chryst's 2010 and 2011 offense both scored over 40 PPG only to be brought down in crucial moments by Bret's horrid special teams.

 

[Wild Turkey]

The Messiah Scott Frost isn't listed?

 

[Rolltide94]

The Messiah Scott Frost isn't listed?

He's in the deep cuts...

 

[ellupo]

The Messiah Scott Frost isn't listed?

List in immediately bogus.

How is Luke Fickell for Cincy a top tier team not in the list.

 

[TheLonestarDUCK]

List in immediately bogus.

How is Luke Fickell for Cincy a top tier team not in the list.

Laces out!!!!

 

[Boise4Life]

Where’s James Franklin? Bill O’Brien’s on here but no James Franklin? Seems ridiculous.

 

[RubinRock]

Muschamp to UofSC has easily been a top 25 hire IMO.

 

[Wild Turkey]

List in immediately bogus.

How is Luke Fickell for Cincy a top tier team not in the list.

I agree but didn't want to go all homer and all.

 

[RubinRock]

Where’s James Franklin? Bill O’Brien’s on here but no James Franklin? Seems ridiculous.

To be fair, Franklin is at 21, just not for who you were thinking.

 

[Thiefery]

Where's my man Charlie "Cake is baked" Strong??

 

[Thiefery]

Muschamp to UofSC has easily been a top 25 hire IMO.

In all seriousness, I wonder what would have happened if Mack honored his word and retired after the 2009 season. Muschamp already had Dana Holgerson on board to be his OC. Would Texas still have experienced the same downward spiral? Guess we'll never know but atleast Coach Blood knew the Spread/AirRaid was the way to go unlike Mack who got mental fucked into thinking three yards and a cloud of dust was going to be the answer ...in the Big12

 

[NolePride]

I also think Mark Mangino at Kansas should be on here if Greg Schiano at Rutgers is on it. Schiano has a longer tenure but I don't think it is any better.

Schiano shouldn't be on there at all. 1year in 10. If you eliminate all the games played by Rutgers
vs 1-AA's and mid-majors, he didn't win 40% of his games.