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CFN preseason coaches rankings
by CollegeFootballNews.com
117. Brent Guy, Utah State: In his defense, Guy inherited an awful program four years ago. However, he hasn't done much to make the situation better in Logan, winning just six of his first 35 games.
116. Stan Brock, Army: An unpopular choice to replace Bobby Ross, Brock debuted with a 3-9 mark in his first head job at this level. He's got a tough job, but don't expect many excuses after Navy and Air Force bowled a year ago.
115. Greg Robinson, Syracuse: Syracuse should be better than this, right? In an era when Rutgers, Connecticut, and Cincinnati are thriving, the Orange has managed an unacceptable seven wins in three years. If he's back in 2009, it'll be a monumental upset.
114. Doug Martin, Kent State: Time is running out on Martin, who's yet to produce a winning record in four seasons. His Flashes appeared to be breaking through after beating Iowa State in the 2007 opener, but lost the final seven games to go 3-9.
113. Robb Akey, Idaho: The former Washington State defensive coordinator gets a mulligan after going 1-11 in his first season with the Vandals. With 18 starters returning, however, his team needs to show improvement, such as avoiding the WAC cellar.
112. Ken Niumatalolo, Navy: Paul Johnson says Niumatalolo is ready for this promotion. He'll have enormous shoes to fill. He's never been a head coach, but few know the program or the option offense better.
111. Rickey Bustle, Louisiana-Lafayette: Bustle has been a major disappointment since arriving six years ago, going 26-44 and just 1-5 versus rival Louisiana-Monroe. It's do-or-die time for the former Virginia Tech assistant.
110. Steve Fairchild, Colorado State: Folks around Fort Collins are hoping Fairchild can be to Colorado State what Troy Calhoun was to Air Force a year ago. Needing a shot in the arm, the program will put its fate in the hands of a coach who has spent this decade in the NFL and has no head coaching experience.
109. Steve Roberts, Arkansas State: Roberts has done a respectable job with the Red Wolves, perennially hovering around .500 and winning the Sun Belt crown in 2005. Through six seasons, he's done a good of maintaining stability within a quality staff.
108. Mike Sanford, UNLV: Sanford was supposed to be the coach to lead the Rebels to higher ground. Instead, the program is worse off than before he arrived from Utah, going a miserable 6-29 in three years and stumbling badly on offense, the coach's forte.
107. David Bailiff, Rice: In his first season in Houston, Bailiff did little to maintain the momentum created by Todd Graham, going 3-9. His roots are on defense, the side of the ball where the Owls need the most help.
106. Mark Snyder, Marshall: A major disappointment since arriving from Ohio State, he has won just 12 games in three years and sunk to a new low last fall. He's got a veteran team and likely one final chance to get things right in Huntington.
105. Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee State: Under Stockstill, the Blue Raiders have been a streaky team, losing at least six games in each of the last three seasons. He's a good fit for the program after waiting a couple of decades for his first job.
104. Greg McMackin, Hawaii: McMackin is facing the impossible job of replacing June Jones the season after the Warriors played in the Sugar Bowl. He has a world of experience as a defensive coordinator, but hasn't been a head coach since leading Aloha High School in 1973.
103. Hal Mumme, New Mexico State: June Jones light. A vagabond who attracts controversy, he can supercharge just about any passing game, but has struggled to win consistently. In three years with the Aggies, he's gone just 4-29 versus FCS opponents.
102. Kevin Sumlin, Houston: Sumlin is the next in a growing line of former Oklahoma assistants to get head jobs. An offensive wiz, Cougar fans are hoping he'll be more successful than Mike Stoops and Chuck Long.
101. J.D. Brookhart, Akron: In four seasons with the Zips, Brookhart has started laying a solid foundation, winning 22 games, including the MAC championship in 2005. Since then, however, Akron has slipped to consecutive losing seasons and is in danger of a third straight year under .500.
100. Todd Dodge, North Texas: Will unbridled high school success translate to the Sun Belt? We're going to find out. A legendary figure at Southlake Carroll (Texas) High School, he opened with a 2-10 mark with the Mean Green, gradually getting his system and personnel in place.
99. Chuck Long, San Diego State: Like Sanford at UNLV, Long has been a Mountain West disappointment needing to turn things around soon. He's won just seven games in two years, and last year's 4-8 squad had four players drafted in April.
98. Shane Montgomery, Miami University: In three years, Montgomery has gone 15-21, squeaking out a couple of first-place divisional ties. In the three years before he replaced Terry Hoeppner, the RedHawks were 28-11. He needs to deliver with a team that's favored to win the East.
97. Neil Callaway, UAB: After building a solid resume as an assistant in the SEC, Callaway is trying to infuse some life into talent-starved UAB. It won't be easy, as last year's 2-10 record indicated. Still, he's a quality coach if he can surround himself with more playmakers.
96. Joe Glenn, Wyoming: It wasn't that long ago that Glenn was on many short lists, even getting attention from his hometown Nebraska Huskers after Frank Solich was fired. He's since fallen on hard times in Laramie, getting above .500 only once in five years and needing a turnaround to get off the hot seat.
95. Butch Jones, Central Michigan: Jones was a success in his head coaching debut, picking up where Brian Kelly left off and leading the Chippewas to another MAC championship. He'll be just fine as long as Dan LeFevour is barking out signals, but there needs to be some semblance of a defense in a real hurry.
94. Larry Fedora, Southern Miss: For his work as an assistant at Florida and Oklahoma State, Fedora is considered one of the bright young offensive strategists in the game. If he maintains that success in Hattiesburg, he could have a short stay in Conference USA and a long flight up this list.
93. Charlie Weatherbie, ULM: An accomplished coach on his third head gig, Weatherbie led Utah State and Navy to bowl games before landing in the Sun Belt. He has owned rival UL-Lafayette and led the Warhawks to a stunning upset of Alabama a year ago.
92. Bill Cubit, Western Michigan: Cubit has quietly done a solid job in his three seasons with the Broncos, going 20-16 and knocking off Iowa and Virginia along the way. In 2005, he was named MAC Coach of the Year, and in 2006, he led the program to its first bowl game in 18 years.
91. Tim Brewster, Minnesota: Although the Gophers were historically miserable last year, going 1-11, the school is still excited about the energy and talent Brewster is bringing to Minnesota. A Mack Brown disciple, he'll have to prove he can develop players as well as he recruits them.
90. Paul Wulff, Washington State: The Cougars are banking on one of their former players to mold them into Pac-10 contenders. Wulff played for Dennis Erickson and Mike Price in Pullman, while cutting his coaching teeth nearby at Eastern Washington.
89. Tommy West, Memphis: A no-nonsense throwback, West's head coaching career began 15 years ago at Clemson. He's resurrected his career at Memphis, keeping the Tigers respectable most years and bowling in all but one of the last five seasons.
88. Bob Toledo, Tulane: Best known for a seven-year stint at UCLA, Toledo has largely had an inconsistent career on the sidelines. Always an offensive innovator, his teams rarely play much defense or with any degree of sustained excellence.
87. Derek Dooley, Louisiana Tech: Don't be fooled by Dooley's ranking. He's one of the deeply hidden gems of the coaching ranks. He did a solid job in his first year in Ruston, and at the age of 40, will get better with more experience on the sidelines.
86. Brady Hoke, Ball State: While it's taken five years, Hoke finally has the Cardinals inching toward respectability after leading them to a winning record and bowl game for the first time in 11 years. With many of the key parts from that squad back, Ball State is thinking MAC title in 2008.
85. Gregg Brandon, Bowling Green: Considering he followed in the footsteps of Urban Meyer, Brandon has done a very nice job, winning the division twice and going 27-14 in league play. Aside from 2006, his offenses have perennially been among the most potent in the MAC.
84. Bill Stewart, West Virginia: Stewart has an opportunity to make a lot of naysayers look foolish over the next few seasons. For now, however, he's college football's Kajagoogoo, a one-hit wonder with an impressive Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma and little else to justify such a huge promotion. On the plus side, he has put together a tremendous staff.
83. Randy Shannon, Miami: A recruiting machine and terrific defensive coach, Shannon appeared outclassed throughout last year's dismal 5-7 campaign. He has time to climb the rankings, but the first impressions were not encouraging.
82. Mike Stoops, Arizona: The hiring of Stoops four years ago made all the sense in the world. Today, however, he's sporting a 17-29 mark and needing to get into the postseason to save his hide. One more sub-.500 and he becomes the classic case of a terrific assistant who can't make the leap to head coach.
81. Turner Gill, Buffalo: Sometimes it's necessary to look beyond the numbers to accurately gauge a coach's performance. Gill is an ideal example. After two seasons, he's only 7-17, but he's got the Bulls playing competitive football in the MAC, a pipe dream before he accepted the job.
80. Ron Prince, Kansas State: After just two seasons and a 12-13 record, Prince is showing hints of desperation by signing a recruiting class dominated by junior-college transfers. He's gotten the best of Texas in each of the last two seasons, but against the rest of the Big 12 is just 5-9.
79. Mike Price, UTEP: After starting so quickly in El Paso, Price has shown signs of wear and tear, getting just nine wins over two years from a team that's had problems finishing. Not long ago, it looked like he'd use UTEP as a stepping stone, but that may no longer be an option.
78. Al Golden, Temple: Like Gill at Buffalo, Golden is a young and upwardly mobile coach making some waves in the MAC. Just 39 years old, he has the Owls playing their best football in ages, which hasn't been lost on athletic directors at much larger programs.
77. Gene Chizik, Iowa State: Chizik is an ace as a defensive coordinator, but can he excel as the head man? His first season in Ames produced just three wins, but it'll take a couple of years and recruiting classes before an accurate reading of his potential can be made.
76. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern: If Fitzgerald was a stock, you might want to get in now. The youngest coach in the country at 33, he's still learning after two years on the job, but was born to lead this program and has a high ceiling in Evanston.
75. Bill Lynch, Indiana: While Lynch did a magnificent job guiding the Hoosiers to a bowl game in the wake of Terry Hoeppner's passing, he'll need to maintain that success to ascend higher. He's spent his entire coaching career in the state of Indiana, including an up-and-down eight-year stint at Ball State.
74. Tom Amstutz, Toledo: Although wildly popular and as successful as any MAC coach over the last eight years, Amstutz is facing the first crisis of his career. The Rockets have gone 5-7 in back-to-back seasons, finishing fifth in the West division both years.
73. Jerry Kill, Northern Illinois: You don't know Kill now, but you might in a couple of seasons. Credited with completely turning around a Southern Illinois program that had been on life support, he's being asked to get Northern Illinois back on the winning track.
72. Larry Blakeney, Troy: Since becoming the head coach in 1991, Blakeney is credited with guiding the Trojans out of Division II and and into a position of prominence in the Sun Belt. He's taken Troy to its first two bowl games and perennially develops a couple of NFL caliber players.
71. Kyle Whittingham, Utah: In the three years since Urban Meyer left for Gainesville, Whittingham has kept the momentum going despite injury problems, winning a bowl game at the end of each season. Now he has to derail BYU and get back in the hunt for a Mountain West crown.
70. Tyrone Willingham, Washington: It's always tough ranking Willingham, the kind of coach you'd want your kid to have, but not if he wants to win championships. He's produced run-of-the-mill throughout his career, losing as many games as he's won and winning just one bowl game in 13 years.
69. Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt: Johnson is doing about as much as he can at Vanderbilt, getting painfully close to turning the corner. He doesn't attract the best talent to Nashville, yet his teams are always competitive and fundamentally sound. In a league loaded with rock star coaches, he'll struggle for attention.
68. Bo Pelini, Nebraska: Now that Bill Callahan has failed to revive Nebraska, it's Pelini's turn. Although he's a great defensive coach and looks like the right fit on paper, the real proving ground for these purposes begins in September.
67. Rocky Long, New Mexico: Long earns a nomination as one of the most underrated coaches in America, quietly piloting the Lobos to five bowl games over the past six years. He's been a perfect fit at his alma mater, and is likely to finish his career in Albuquerque.
66. Jim Harbaugh, Stanford: It's tempting to rate Harbaugh a lot higher following his success at non-scholarship San Diego and impressive debut with the Cardinal. He's got the energy, personality, and pedigree to get Stanford to a point where it competes for bowl eligibility every season.
65. Dave Wannstedt, Pittsburgh: On so many levels, it's crossroads time for Wannstedt. Sure, he can recruit like nobody's business, but he also can get outwitted by other coaches on game day. In a largely mediocre head coaching career, he has to produce better results this fall.
64. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State: Although Gundy is a game below .500 through three seasons, he's laying a foundation for sustained success in Stillwater. He's won back-to-back bowl games and his offenses are typically unpredictable and difficult to stop.
63. Skip Holtz, East Carolina: In the not too distant future, some larger program is going to scoop up Holtz and make him its coach. Despite being just 44, he already has eight years of head coaching experience, which includes taking the Pirates to consecutive bowl games.
62. Mike Sherman, Texas A&M: Some long-time NFL coaches flourish when they make the transition to college. In Sherman, who coached the Green Bay Packers for six seasons, the Aggies hope they've got Pete Carroll and not Bill Callahan.
61. Sylvester Croom, Mississippi State: After three straight three-win seasons to open his Mississippi State career, Croom finally got the breakthrough year he needed. Now he needs to build on last year's 8-5 record by keeping the Bulldogs from slipping back into the SEC's netherlands.
60. Rich Brooks, Kentucky: Kudos to Brooks, who has tuned out the critics and reinvented himself in Lexington after three decades of coaching in college and the NFL. His best days are clearly in the rear view mirror, but he still has enough left to milk eight wins and a Music City Bowl victory in each the last two years.
59. Troy Calhoun, Air Force: Calhoun was an unexpected star in his first season as a head coach, guiding the Falcons to nine wins and a bowl game to earn Mountain West Conference coach of the year honors. Facing massive turnover, it'll be interesting to see what he does for an encore in Year 2.
58. Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville: Good or bad, one season should not define a coach. Sure, he was awful last season, but he didn't elevate Tulsa in four seasons by accident. Given another year or two to clean house in Louisville, he'll be able to restore a reputation that took a big hit in 2007.
57. Art Briles, Baylor: Briles proved his mettle and offensive ingenuity in five years at Houston, winning 34 games and a Conference USA championship in 2006. If he's the first coach in a generation to get something out of Baylor, he'll soar well past this point. History says it'll be a daunting challenge.
56. Jeff Jagodzinski, Boston College: Just how good of a head coach is Jagodzinski? Now we'll find out. He won 11 games in his Eagle debut, but that was with a cupboard of talent that Tom O'Brien left fully stocked. The next few seasons will give a much better indication of where he belongs.
55. June Jones, SMU: Plenty of coaches can produce fancy offensive statistics. Jones, however, has had a history of parlaying lots of yards into lots of wins. He won nine games on six different occasions at Hawaii, capped by last year's flirtation with perfection. If he wins on the Hilltop, they'll canonize him in Dallas.
54. Dick Tomey, San Jose State: Even at the age of 70, Tomey is proving he still has it, routinely attracting Pac-10 dissidents and leading the Spartans to nine wins and a bowl victory just two years ago. He's seen it all over the last four decades, and hasn't lost his passion developing young talent.
53. Chris Ault, Nevada: Quick, name the only Hall of Fame coach in the WAC. Yeah, it's Ault, who has 177 career wins and is a wiz at making halftime adjustments. He hasn't skipped a beat following a decade-long layoff from the game, getting the Pack into three consecutive bowl games.
52. Al Groh, Virginia: Groh is never going to be cuddly or a friend of the media, but he's a consummate professional who runs an NFL-style program and is well-respected by players and their parents. Although greatness will continue to escape him, his teams are well-coached and rarely blown out.
51. Frank Solich, Ohio: Solich's three-year stop in Athens has proven that he can still coach and develop talent. He's had a profound impact on the Bobcats, making them competitive in the MAC and getting them to a bowl game in 2006, snapping a 28-year stretch of futility.
50. Ron Zook, Illinois: Everyone knew Zook could recruit, but last year, he showed he can coach a little too, getting the Illini to an improbable Rose Bowl. He may never be a dynamite Xs and Os guy, but that's why good assistants are hired. As a program builder, he's proving to be outstanding.
49. George O'Leary, UCF: O'Leary has dusted himself off following the whole Notre Dame flap, and rebounded nicely in Orlando. Not only does he have the Knights winning league championships, but he's also been a catalyst for major improvements in the program's facilities.
48. Charlie Weis, Notre Dame: Yes, Weis has a sharp offensive mind and can recruit, but last year's 3-9 collapse and a couple of ugly bowl losses have red flags going up all over the place. He needs to stop the bleeding as quickly as possible, or else the scrutiny and pressure will reach unbearable levels.
47. Ralph Friedgen, Maryland: Has Friedgen run out of tricks in College Park? Stunningly good in his first three seasons, he's drifted back to the pack, playing .500 ball over the last four years against ACC competition. Hailed for his offensive game-planning, the Terps have had problems developing quarterbacks.
46. Howard Schnellenberger, Florida Atlantic: What Schnellenberger is doing in Boca Raton at the age of 74 is bordering on incredible. Almost a quarter-century after coaching Miami to a national championship, he has the Owls winning bowl games and on top of the Sun Belt just seven years after playing their first game.
45. David Cutcliffe, Duke: Best known for his role in the development of the Manning brothers, Cutcliffe also has a solid track record as a head coach. He directed Ole Miss to two Top 25 finishes in six years, giving Duke its most accomplished coach since Steve Spurrier was in Durham.
44. Todd Graham, Tulsa: It's been two years on the sidelines and two very successful seasons for Graham in Conference USA. In 2006, he led Rice to its first bowl game in 46 years. In 2007, he guided Tulsa to 10 wins, shrewdly hiring Gus Malzahn away from Arkansas to run his offense.
43. Houston Nutt, Ole Miss: Nutt is set to begin his fourth stint as a head coach, carrying a reputation for getting maximum production from his players. In 10 seasons at Arkansas, he made it to seven bowl games and was a respectable 42-38 in SEC play. He'll be a step in the right direction for Ole Miss.
42. Joe Tiller, Purdue: It's easy to forget just how futile the Boilermakers were before Tiller got on campus. He's had just one losing season in his last 15 years as a head coach, and is a pioneer of sorts for bringing his wide-open passing attack to the traditionally conservative Big Ten.
41. Pat Hill, Fresno State: Hill's "anybody, anytime, anywhere" attitude resonates throughout a program that's had considerable success against larger schools. His teams are always tough, physical, and built on a solid running game. The Bulldogs have been to eight bowl games in nine years, but a WAC title has escaped them since Boise State joined the league.
40. Mark Dantonio, Michigan State: It took Dantonio all of one season to begin changing the culture around Michigan State, a school known for its inconsistency. He's already brought more discipline and toughness to East Lansing. The wins will follow before too long.
39. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: Will the real Kirk Ferentz please stand up? Is it the one who went 31-7 between 2002-2004 or the one who seems to be losing control of his program, on and off the field? Maybe he's not a superstar, as originally believed, but he's a whole lot better than the Hawkeyes have played the last three years.
38. Bobby Bowden, Florida State: Although Bowden's legacy is already in Fort Knox, it doesn't appear his brilliant career will have a storybook ending. The Seminoles have slipped considerably, and the reins are gradually being handed over to heir apparent Jimbo Fisher. Hard as it is to fathom, Florida State has won 10 games just once in the last seven years.
37. Gary Patterson, TCU: One of the biggest surprises about Patterson is that the Horned Frogs have been able to retain him for so long. He's 62-25 over the last eight years, winning three league titles, playing in seven bowl games, and finishing ranked five times. He's just 48 and poised for a big promotion.
37. Gary Pinkel, Missouri: Pinkel sure has come a long way since being in danger of losing his job just a couple of years ago. Mizzou is being rewarded for its patience, getting a dozen wins last season and being right back in contention for a Big 12 championship.
35. Bobby Petrino, Arkansas: Yeah, yeah, Petrino won't be on your Christmas card list, but his shifty off-field behavior doesn't mean he can't coach. Forget the NFL experiment. It was a terrible fit. Instead, focus on those Louisville years, when the Cards went 41-9 and had one of the top offenses in the country.
34. Tommy Bowden, Clemson: While Bowden has been solid over the last 11 seasons, spectacular has eluded him. Not since the Tulane days has he won a conference championship, and he's yet to deliver a 10-win season at Clemson. If it doesn't happen this fall, the locals will be howling.
33. Phil Fulmer, Tennessee: Whether Fulmer's glass is half full or half empty probably depends on your geography. While there's no denying he's been very successful over the last 16 years, folks in Knoxville point to a 10-year stretch without an SEC title and zero top 10 finishes since 2001.
32. Bronco Mendenhall, BYU: It took a few years, but BYU has found its man to build a bridge back to the program's golden years. In successive seasons, the Cougars have swept the Mountain West and finished ranked in the polls. If Mendenhall keeps this up, his name will replace Lavell Edwards' outside the stadium.
31. Joe Paterno, Penn State: Of course Paterno is a legend, but, like Bowden, this decade has been a weak facsimile of the glory days around Happy Valley. While he was named national Coach of the Year in 2005, he's also had four losing seasons since 2000. Oh, and during that time, the Lions are a pedestrian 32-32 in Big Ten play.
30. Dan Hawkins, Colorado: The Hawk is beginning to get off the ground, comforting news for impatient Colorado fans. Although he has just eight wins in his first two seasons, the Buffs improved dramatically in 2007 and continue to upgrade the talent level. Once he gets his system flowing, look out, Big 12.
29. Rick Neuheisel, UCLA: Say what you will about Neuheisel's off-field shenanigans, but the guy knows how to produce results. At both Colorado and Washington, he won twice as many games as he lost and three times finished in the top 10. How he handles this next gig after a six-year absence will define him as a coach
28. Butch Davis, North Carolina: Davis derailed his own career path when he left Miami for an ill-advised stab at the NFL. Now that he's back at the college level, he's poised to restore his reputation at a school brimming with upside and possibilities. Remember, the 'Canes don't win the 2001 national championship if Davis didn't fix things years earlier.
27. Jim Leavitt, South Florida: His offbeat style wouldn't sell in Ann Arbor or South Bend, but he's right at home in Tampa. The literal architect of the program, what he's done in just over a decade has been remarkable. Before long, he's going to have the Bulls playing in a BCS bowl game.
26. Randy Edsall, Connecticut: Edsall has been a borderline miracle worker in Storrs, transforming this basketball school into a legitimate threat in the Big East. His teams may not be that sexy, but they're always well coached, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
25. Mike Riley, Oregon State: No one in the Pac-10 gets more overlooked than Riley, who has quietly been outstanding in his second tour of Corvallis. He doesn't get elite recruits to Oregon State, yet his teams are always well-prepared, winning 39 games and four bowl games over the last five seasons. Players love him. So does the administration.
24. Mark Mangino, Kansas: Last year was no fluke for Mangino or the Jayhawks. He's got this program headed in the right direction after busting out with 12 wins and an upset of Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. He and his staff overcome a shortage of blue-ribbon recruits by doing a bang-up job of developing the kids they land.
23. Mike Leach, Texas Tech: Leach doesn't get nearly enough credit for what he's doing in Lubbock. Fueled by an offense that no one can stop, the Red Raiders have been to eight consecutive bowl games and haven't won fewer than eight games since 2001. If he can somehow bump Tech to another level, the top 15 will be calling.
22. Chris Petersen, Boise State: If he wasn't committed to being in Boise at this stage of his life, Petersen would be coaching for more money and in front of much bigger crowds. One of the bright young offensive minds in the game, he's already 23-3 with the Broncos, including the one-for-the-ages upset of Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.
21. Bret Bielema, Wisconsin: Bielema has taken the baton from Barry Alvarez and kept the momentum going in Madison. In two seasons, he's already 21-5 with a 12-4 mark in Big Ten games. The scary part? He's only 38 and likely to get even better with more experience on the sidelines.
20. Tom O'Brien, NC State: O'Brien is a rock of a head coach, an old-school disciplinarian who preaches fundamentals, a strong running game, and toughness on defense. Give him more time and a couple of recruiting classes, and he'll do for the Pack what he did for Boston College.
19. Greg Schiano, Rutgers: After a century of futility, Rutgers is relevant on a national level. That wouldn't be possible without Schiano. It took a few years to get traction, but now that the Scarlet Knights have been to three straights bowl games, more and more talent is deciding to stay home.
18. Brian Kelly, Cincinnati: Kelly simply wins wherever he goes. At Grand Valley State, he was the undisputed star of the Division II coaching ranks. It took three short years before he turned Central Michigan into a MAC champion. And in just over a year at Cincinnati, he's already 11-3 with two bowl wins. Can the Bearcats keep him for very long?
17. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech: All you need to know about Johnson is that he turned Navy into a perennial winner that bowled five years in a row. That's heady stuff. Everyone wants to know if his option attack will flourish in the ACC; if it stalls, he's flexible enough to adapt on the fly, especially with better talent.
16. Jeff Tedford, California: Last year's collapse may have tarnished Tedford's reputation a bit, but he's still one of the top all-around strategists and coaches in America. How soon everyone forgets that Cal was in disrepair before he arrived in 2002. Now the Bears are a first-division Pac-10 team that expects to be ranked every year.
15. Mike Bellotti, Oregon: The dean of Pac-10 coaches, Bellotti begins his 14th season as the head Duck. While Oregon has tapered off since delivering back-to-back top 10 finishes earlier in the decade, it's still good for eight wins and a bowl invite every season. When things started getting stale, he had the foresight to hire Chip Kelly to ignite the offense.
14. Dennis Erickson, Arizona State: Whether he's in Corvallis or Miami, Erickson simply knows how to get the job done. He's nomadic, but he wins wherever he puts up stakes. Getting perennial underachiever Arizona State to 10 wins and a first place Pac-10 tie last year was proof he's getting better with age.
13. Mack Brown, Texas: Although he doesn't belong on the Mount Rushmore of college coaches, it's hard to argue with his knack for attracting talented personnel or cranking out 10-win seasons. A second conference championship at Texas would help solidify his spot near the top of the rankings.
12. Les Miles, LSU: Miles can be unconventional and a little kooky at times, but what's not to like about the results? He laid a foundation for success at Oklahoma State, shocking Bob Stoops twice, and has gone 34-6 in Baton Rouge with an SEC and national title. In his last three bowl games, his Tigers have whipped Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Miami by an average score of 40-14.
11. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina: Has Spurrier lost his magic? It's a fair question considering he's gone 33-36 in his last five seasons, including the two-year debacle with the Washington Redskins. Although he's yet to get the Gamecocks over the hump, he'll continue hovering around the top 10 unless things really start going south.
10. Rich Rodriguez, Michigan: Forget for a moment all of the controversy that surrounded his exit from West Virginia. The guy can coach. Rodriguez built the Mountaineers into a national contender without attracting cream-of-the-crop recruiting classes. Over the last three years, the school won 33 games, including the Sugar, Gator, and Fiesta Bowls, all but the last with Rod on the sidelines.
9. Nick Saban, Alabama: Love him or despise him, Saban is a winner who will out-work and out-recruit the competition in order to reach his goals. His defenses are always tough and smart, and his record, especially at LSU, speaks for itself. He's college football's version of Bill Belichick, a personal friend of the 'Bama coach.
8. Tommy Tuberville, Auburn: While he doesn't get the attention of some other SEC coaches, Tuberville has been every bit as good this decade. Playing in the toughest conference, he's gone a sterling 59-18 over the last six years, while winning five of six bowl games. He's also owned 'Bama the last eight years.
7. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech: The Hokies will never be able to thank Beamer enough for what he's done in Blacksburg over the last two decades. From humble beginnings, he's created a monster that's strung together 15 consecutive winning seasons. More impressive, his teams have gotten better since joining the ACC, winning two of the last four championships.
6. Jim Grobe, Wake Forest: There's a reason he's been flooded with job offers following each of the last few seasons. Few coaches do more with less than Grobe does at tiny Wake Forest, a program that does a fantastic job in the area of player development.
5. Mark Richt, Georgia: Richt was already one of the nation's premier coaches, but really took off in 2007, guiding a young Bulldog team to 11 wins and a No. 2 ranking in the final AP poll. He's 72-19 with a couple of SEC championships and bowl victories in five of the last six seasons. Oh, and at 48, he's just getting warmed up.
4. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma: Yeah, he's had a rough time in January bowl games, losing the last four, but his Sooners have been remarkably consistent otherwise. Since winning the national championship in 2000, Oklahoma has gone 90-17, winning the Big 12 five times, and earning squatter's rights in the top 10. If he can solve the BCS woes, the top overall spot is within reach.
3. Jim Tressel, Ohio State: When the Buckeyes plucked Tressel from Youngstown State seven years ago, few envisioned this much success. Ohio State has won or shared the last three Big Ten championships, leaving the rest of the league in its wake. Although there's fallout from losing the last two BCS title games, about 110 schools could only dream of playing in back-to-back BCS title games.
2. Pete Carroll, USC: Whenever a university hires an NFL coach, it'll point to Carroll as the measuring stick. Modestly successful as a pro coach, he's found his calling in Los Angeles, winning six straight Pac-10 titles, five BCS bowl games, and a pair of national championships. An ace recruiter and player's coach, he hasn't finished lower than No. 4 in the final rankings since his debut in 2001.
1. Urban Meyer, Florida: In many ways, Meyer is the perfect blend of youth, energy, and experience. He can motivate and recruit as well as anyone in the country, and he's emerging as a game-day coach. He's methodically climbed the ladder, using Bowling Green and Utah as stepping stones for his current gig in Gainesville. If he can handle the expectations for perfection, the national championship in 2006 won't be his last.
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