Callers and hosts alike stated the obvious duo: Alabama's Nick Saban and Ohio State's Urban Meyer. The other spots on the list were debated and mostly agreed upon. At the very least, arguments made were valid for any of the candidates to round out the Top 5.
A few of the names mentioned were Baylor's Art Briles, Michigan's Jim Harbaugh, Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, and LSU's Les Miles.
That got me thinking (and yes, it hurt). Who do I consider the Top 5 college coaches today? The basis for my rankings consists of many factors, but record over the last three years (this year included) weighed heavily.
*NOTE: Conference records below do not include conference championship games
1) Urban Meyer - Ohio State (4th season)
Record at current school: 44-3 overall, 26-0 Big Ten
Record at current school: 44-3 overall, 26-0 Big Ten
Record since 2012: 44-3 overall, 26-0 Big Ten
Conference titles at current school: 1
National titles at current school: 1
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| Ubran Meyer ranks at the top of my list. Photo courtesy The Washington Post. |
2) Nick Saban - Alabama (9th season)
Record at current school: 91-18 overall, 52-12 SEC
Record at current school: 91-18 overall, 52-12 SEC
Record since 2012: 41-6 overall, 23-4 SEC
Conference titles at current school: 3
National titles at current school: 3
As aforementioned, Saban would have held the No. 1 spot had he not faltered in the Sugar Bowl last year against Meyer. But Saban is still held with the highest regard around college football. He's really 1B. Saban has four National Championships (three with Bama, one with LSU), hasn't had fewer than 10 wins in a season since 2007, and brought Bama back to glory with three championships in four years. He's won or tied for the West Division crown five of his eight full seasons.
3) Art Briles - Baylor (8th season)
Record at current school: 60-34 overall, 35-27 Big 12
Record since 2012: 35-9 overall, 22-7 Big 12
Conference titles at current school: 2
National titles at current school: 0
Was there even a football program at Baylor before Briles? The Bears are a force to be reckoned with, and nobody thought that was possible before Briles arrived on campus. Briles has led Baylor to more Big 12 titles since 2010 than Oklahoma and Texas combined. He's got a way with Texas HS coaches - because he was one - and has built Baylor into a powerhouse. They've poured money into new facilities and he has Baylor in reloading mode. Who'da thunk it? One could argue that what Briles has done at Baylor is more impressive than any other coaching job in the country.
Was there even a football program at Baylor before Briles? The Bears are a force to be reckoned with, and nobody thought that was possible before Briles arrived on campus. Briles has led Baylor to more Big 12 titles since 2010 than Oklahoma and Texas combined. He's got a way with Texas HS coaches - because he was one - and has built Baylor into a powerhouse. They've poured money into new facilities and he has Baylor in reloading mode. Who'da thunk it? One could argue that what Briles has done at Baylor is more impressive than any other coaching job in the country.
4) Jim Harbaugh - Michigan (1st season)
Record at current school: 5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten
Record since 2012: 5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten
Conference titles at current school: 0
National titles at current school: 0
Why is Harbaugh on this list? It is curious. I even questioned myself. In four years under Brady Hoke, the Wolverines went backward from 11-2 his first season in 2011 to 5-7 in 2014. Harbaugh has instilled a winning attitude back into his alma mater almost overnight. I realize he doesn't have the track record at the school yet, but his impressive resume at Stanford and FCS San Diego at the collegiate ranks and what he did in his short time with the 49ers give me reason enough to think Harbaugh is about to turn Big Blue into a blue-blood program again.
Why is Harbaugh on this list? It is curious. I even questioned myself. In four years under Brady Hoke, the Wolverines went backward from 11-2 his first season in 2011 to 5-7 in 2014. Harbaugh has instilled a winning attitude back into his alma mater almost overnight. I realize he doesn't have the track record at the school yet, but his impressive resume at Stanford and FCS San Diego at the collegiate ranks and what he did in his short time with the 49ers give me reason enough to think Harbaugh is about to turn Big Blue into a blue-blood program again.
5) Jimbo Fisher - Florida State (6th season)
Record at current school: 63-11 overall, 37-6 ACC
Record since 2012: 44-3 overall, 26-1 ACC
Conference titles at current school: 3
National titles at current school: 1
Fisher had the unenvious task of taking over FSU following Seminole coaching legend Bobby Bowden. The Noles are back to their ways of the 1990s and the means winning championships. Fisher has won three straight ACC titles and won FSU's first National Championship since 1999. He had them in the first ever College Football Playoff. Florida State hasn't lost a regular season game since their final one in 2012. If he can control off-the-field problems, he'd be higher on my list.
Fisher had the unenvious task of taking over FSU following Seminole coaching legend Bobby Bowden. The Noles are back to their ways of the 1990s and the means winning championships. Fisher has won three straight ACC titles and won FSU's first National Championship since 1999. He had them in the first ever College Football Playoff. Florida State hasn't lost a regular season game since their final one in 2012. If he can control off-the-field problems, he'd be higher on my list.
Rounding out the Top 10: Dabo Swinney (Clemson), Gary Patterson (TCU), Les Miles (LSU), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma), Mark Dantonio (Michigan State)
-BtW
Mark Dantonio is sometimes forgotten and overshadowed at MSU. Yet he has won 11+ games in half of the seasons he's been a HC in Lansing.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. I really should have put him higher. Nos. 6-10 are really all interchangeable. Another 11+ win season and he's arguably in the Top 5 right now.
DeleteI am not arguing about Baylor being in there, it is impressive, and you are more of an expert in college football then me, college basketball is another thing GO CATS!!!... but i digress. How about Gary Patterson at TCU. They have been demolishing people too yet they haven't been in a power conference that attracts recruits as long as Baylor has been. Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteTrue. Patterson's in my Top 10. He had established TCU as a bigtime program, even when they were a non-AQ, taking them to two BCS bowls before joining the Big 12. Problem is, they went 7-6 and 4-8 in his first two years in the Big 12. Briles took Baylor from doormat to elite. Both are great coaches and the argument is valid for any of these guys year-in and year-out to jump into the Top 5.
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