We must start with Franklin's time at Vanderbilt, where his 18-8 record in 2012 and 2013 is the best two-year mark since the 1920s. Also received interest for multiple NFL job openings. George McDonald, Illinois -- $550,000+11. The QBE coaching staff over the years has included former D1 QB coach & Offensive Coordinator Brandon Doman, 10 year NFL QB Koy Detmer, Canadian . Turned down a job offer from Michigan this offseason. Worked under current Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule at Baylor and Temple. David Johnson, Tennessee -- $505,000 4. After all, coaches who win a seemingly endless number of games arent necessarily good, and those who lose games arent necessarily bad. Led Mercers 2018 special teams operation to four top-12 rankings in the FCS net punting (No. Here are the 25 best college football coaches in America heading into the 2022 season. It feels like a long time ago, but Notre Dame had fallen on hard times after the dominant Lou Holtz era that spanned the late 80s and early 90s. Was the lead recruiter on five-star 2022 linebacker C.J. Fickells record would surely have him higher on this list if it weren't for the fact that the Bearcats program has been wildly successful over the last couple of decades. Zach has been FootballScoop's national columnist since 2012. From Yale's Walter Camp to Alabama's Nick Saban, here are eight whose innovations or achievements have significantly impacted the sport over the past 15 decades. Interviewed for the Alabama running backs coach opening this past coaching cycle. As the Mustangs running backs coach, Samples has aided in the progression of players such as Ulysses Bentley and Tyler Lavine. A veteran Power 5 head coach mentioned Hankton as someone he sees as a potential Group of 5 head-coach candidate. Was looked at by Kentucky for its secondary coach opening this offseason. One could assume that Riley is just continuing the tradition of excellence left by Bob Stoops, but the Sooners experienced a big dip in offensive output in the mid-2010s. That came after Powledges 2019 return man at Louisiana (Raymond Calais) earned first-team all-conference honors and led the Sun Belt in kick-return average. Was a leader in the recruitment of recent LSU tight end commit Mason Taylor, the son of former NFL star Jason Taylor. Walter Camp, Yale (1888-92 . The belief with some in the coaching world is that Samples could be this years Randall Joyner. Also was Indianas associate head coach last year. Ron Dugans, Florida State -- $450,00015. Anyone who saw him play at N.C. State knew the Rams and the Greatest Show on Turf got something special. After going 3-9 in his first year as Iowa State head coach in 2016, Campbell has won 63% of his games in Ames, with three eight-plus-win seasons in his five years. A former college baseball player at UC Davis, Gonzalez got his first opportunity as a football coach in 2007 and has been at TCU since 2012, working and learning under one of the top defensive minds in the country in Gary Patterson. Made a big-time impression with people at LSU during his one season on the Tigers staff. Darrin Chiaverini, Colorado -- $550,000* 6. The wide receiver position at Miami has been a loaded spot for the 'Canes since Eddie Brown signed with The U out of Miami Senior High School . Ranked as one of the top recruiters in the Big 12 for the 2021 recruiting class. Also is a respected special teams coordinator. Brantley came to play for the Hurricanes after being a 3-star recruit by 247 Sports out of Miami (Fla.) Northwestern. Under Cains watch, Oklahoma outside linebacker Nik Bonitto broke out as a second-team All-American in 2020 and enters this season as one of the nations top defensive players. There were only two new entries in our top 25 at this point 12 months ago. NFL-style clock rules could come to college football, but the most extreme proposal will not. Also has worked and learned under Billy Napier at Louisiana, one of the nations top up-and-coming head coaches. Its easy to just think about Utah as a team that always competes for a conference title year in year out because of the recent past, but that is not how this program is viewed historically. 1. Boston College is expected to hire former Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads, sources told FootballScoop on Friday. Texas A&M ranked No. Josh Gattis, Michigan -- $900,000* 2. Also is Boston Colleges defensive pass game coordinator. 1. Turned down an NFL linebackers coach job and an SEC defensive run game coordinator opportunity this past cycle. We might forget that Urban Meyer served as Utah's head coach for only two seasons, and while he may have started the Utes down this track, Whittingham has sustained a level of success the school has never even come close to enjoying before. Bryan McClendon, Georgia -- $700,000+ 4. Opposing quarterbacks have completed just 53.6 percent of their passes vs. TCU during that span. Hes helped an offense that ranked 108th in the FBS in EPA per play over the last two Fedora years to a ninth-place finish over the past two seasons. The belief is that it wont be long before Bailey gets a big-time assistant job, whether its at Ohio State or elsewhere. Is the eldest son of Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz, who also has been a head coach at UConn (1994-98), East Carolina (2005-09) and USF (2010-12). You can safely assume it'll be above $105,000, though. With free agency around the corner, players rated how teams treated them off the field: for better or for worse. Then, after coming back from the NFL, Saban took over a Michigan State program that had gone 19-26 in the four years before his arrival and shepherded them to a 34-24-1 record during his tenure. Samples, a former Oklahoma State and Houston wide receiver, currently is ranked among the top-15 recruiters in the country for the 2022 class. Will be coaching star QB Dillon Gabriel, who has thrown for 7,223 yards and 61 touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Knights. Tyler Grisham is a top 5, maybe top 3, WR coach in the entire country. 1 in the Big 12 in opponents completion percentage each of the past four seasons. Whereas Nick Saban will always be Alabama's defensive backs coach in a wink-wink way, Lincoln Riley is actually Oklahoma's quarterbacks coach -- it says so right there on his bio. Returned to coaching in 2019 after two years working in the private sector. The Guy Morriss era was short and painful. Already has worked in a few Power 5 conferences and has coordinator experience at the FCS level (Southern Utah). (Part one in the series was on Group of 5 and FCS head coaches; part two was on nine non-Power 5 coordinators you need to know.). Has recruited and coached players like DeMarvin Leal, a former five-star recruit who could be a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. 2 out of ranking fatigue, but this is their rightful spot. Continues to be regarded as one of the nations top recruiters. Of those six, three were ranked 50th or lower last year. In the end, nearly everybody is angry. Was promoted earlier this year to associate head coach. We look back fondly on the Air Raid team of Hal Mumme in the late 1990s, but they only went 20-26. Under Harris, FIU running back DVonte Price developed into one of the nations most productive running backs last season (116.2 yards per game) and a potential early-round 2022 NFL Draft pick. Ranking college football's 10 best head coaches this season In theory, coaches listed here should beat the coaches ranked beneath them with a team of equal talent on a neutral field 10.. An ex-NFL defensive back who spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005 and 06. A former All-Big 12 tight end at OU who played five seasons in the NFL. 1 because the turnaround he pulled with this Clemson program is almost unheard of. From 2014 to 2017, the Gators offense ranked 120th in EPA per play that is not just bad, it is horrendous. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: collegefootball | pageType: stories | Joker Phillips, NC State -- $415,000+21. The feel in the coaching world is that Odom likely would be a top contender for the Oklahoma coordinator job if Alex Grinch leaves for a head-coaching opportunity. The move to UCF reconnected him with Gus Malzahn, who was his quarterback coach at Tulsa in 2008. Currently ranked among the nations top 15 recruiters for the 2022 recruiting class. Justin Stepp, Arkansas -- $350,000, PREVIOUS INSTALLMENTS:Offensive line | Running backs | Tight ends |Defensive line | Linebackers |Defensive backs | Special teams. But instead of kicking him to the curb, the program stayed with him and has gone 23-14 in the last three years, the team's best three-year stint since the mid-1970s. 8 in 2019. He interviewed for the South Alabama head coach job this past cycle and has interviewed for NFL wide receivers coach openings with the Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers. Woodson, an ex-Ole Miss defensive back, also has the defensive pass game coordinator title at Florida State. As a new season approaches, let's take a moment to compare Saban's accomplishments -- and those of other active coaches -- to the best of college football's modern times. On Monday he will be coaching in the College Football Playoffs national championship game,. George Pickens, who suffered a torn ACL during the spring, is viewed in the NFL scouting world as a potential Day 2 pick. How did they climb so high, so quickly? Also received interest for multiple NFL secondary coach openings. There isnt a lot more to say about these two. Riley was hired as the Sooners' offensive coordinator in 2015, and East Carolina fell to 65th in EPA per play while Oklahoma rose to ninth. 1 nationally in blocked kicks (six) and blocked punts (five) in 2019. Flying above or below program expectations was the most important point when putting this list together. A Texas graduate, he is married with three children and lives outside Fort Worth, Texas. Let's rank the top 100 . And thats what makes Allens tenure so impressive. 11:31 am ET. His 2020 Ole Miss special teams unit ranked 17th nationally in kick-return defense and 23rd in kick-return average. Courtney Hawkins, Michigan State -- $425,00020. -- Junior Adams was Washington's original wide receivers coach on Kalen DeBoer's new staff, at $500,000 per year. Serves as Oklahomas associate head coach of offense in addition to being the Sooners tight ends and H-backs coach. LSU paid Mickey Joseph $407,000 to coach its wide receivers in 2021. Was part of helping Liberty go 10-1 in 2020. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Some value accomplishments on the field above all else, while others may give greater weight to recruiting prowess or the possibility of future success. Previously assisted in the development of Molden, McDuffie and others as the Huskies assistant defensive backs coach. The Heupel-led staff felt like they uncovered a diamond in the rough when they initially hired Merritt at UCF. 1 in Conference USA in sacks and tackles for loss last season. Indianapolis is making MAJOR moves, set to hire FootballScoop's reigning top special teams coordinator. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Was an all-conference defensive back in 2007 and 08 at Lambuth University, an NAIA school in Jackson, Tenn., playing for current Liberty coach Hugh Freeze. Was UCFs quarterbacks coach last season after working as an analyst in 2019. Mike Krysl played for Willie Fritz at Central Missouri, coordinated special teams for him at Georgia Southern, and will now coach special teams again at Tulane. Thomas Cahill enjoyed mild success in the mid-1960s, going 23-7. Kasey Dunn, Oklahoma State -- $800,000* 3. Drew Mehringer, Texas -- $350,000 10. He likely got more than that to leave for Miami. Quarterback Elite (QBE) is one of the premier QB & WR development programs in the nation headquartered in Utah. Left after the season to take an analyst position at Oregon, then returned to the Ducks two years later to be the Ducks cornerbacks coach. There are a whole lot of top teams that could've used some wide receiver help through the transfer portal last year - looking your way, Alabama . In Smiths first season at Virginia Tech, cornerback Dorian Strong developed into a Freshman All-American. A rise this rapid from the FCS ranks is almost unheard of. The Best Athletes Of All Time. Dameyune Craig, Texas A&M -- $675,000 5. Mickey Joseph, Nebraska -- $600,000+9. 25. Was hired as the replacement for Jon DeCoster, who now works for the Cleveland Browns. Was his fathers offensive coordinator at Miami Booker T. Washington from 2009-13 and then served as the teams coach in 2014 before being hired at FIU. 1 recruiter in the country in 2020 and is No. When Ed Orgeron was fired and the staff was changed over, LSU paid a premium to pluck Cortez Hankton, still buzzed from the championship champagne, away from Georgia. From 1892 to 2006, the team played in six bowl games. Without further ado, the list: 1. Leipold has shown that he can turn around a downtrodden program. Currently ranked among the nation's top 15 recruiters for the 2022 recruiting class. Was contacted about an FBS special teams coordinator job this past cycle but opted to stay at James Madison. Mullen had them up to 29th in Year 1 and 30th in Year 2, and then they exploded with an 11th-place finish in 2020. Cortez Hankton, LSU -- $850,000+ 2. In the 10 years leading up to the longtime head coach, the team had only won 55% of their games. Dabo has lifted whatever Clemsoning curse was put on the Tigers and has won 81% of his games so far. Washington, who has known Ohio State coach Ryan Day since they were together at Boston College in 2003 and 04, joined the Buckeyes staff after Day became coach. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Yes, Alabama was already the college football program before Sabans arrival, but they were in a down period when they signed him. They have played in 10 under Fitzgerald. Michigan replaced Gattis by moving Ron Bellamy from safeties to wide receivers. (McClendon was set to follow Mario Cristobal to Miami before returning to Athens.). 382 votes. When we ranked Power Five college football coaches last year, there wasn't much change in the top 25. Played a role in the Bulldogs ranking fourth in the SEC in total defense in 2020 (380.3 yards per game) after ranking 11th under the previous staff in 2019 (419.3 yards per game). By Anthony Treash. Before Ohio State, Bailey spent two years as a recruiting analyst at Notre Dame. On3 is a registered trademark of On3 Media, Inc. nine non-Power 5 coordinators you need to know. Assuming 2020 was just a blip and not the beginning of a downward trend, Franklin has proven himself to be one of the top coaches in college football. Three of the coaches in last season's the top 25 lost their jobs following the 2021 season, including a top-10 coach in Dan Mullen and another who won a national title in 2019, Ed Orgeron. All Rights Reserved. 1 thus far for the 2022 class. Staggs had been set to join the Western Kentucky staff as an assistant coach. Whether it was nobody crashing and burning or soaring higher than ever -- or none of our voters wanting to take anything that happened during a pandemic season too seriously -- things remained largely the same. Fisher quickly got the program back on track, though, winning 78% of his games and bringing home a National Championship. Northwestern is not a historically good football program. To replace Hankton, Georgia recalled Bryan McClendon, a former Bulldog wide receiver and a former Bulldog running backs coach, to coach his old position at his alma mater. Powledges 2019 Louisiana special teams crew also ranked first in the Sun Belt in kickoff-return defense and net punting. Recent jobs: Rutgers (2020-present), Temple co-coordinator/cornerbacks coach (2019), Baylor assistant head coach/cornerbacks coach (2017-18), Temple associate head coach/secondary coach (2016) Was Greg Schiano's first hire for his Rutgers staff. But Saban is still No. Between Craig Cirbus, Jim Hofher, Turner Gill and Jeff Quinn, the team won 3.25 games per season on average. He rushed for 1,125 yards during the Fighting Irishs run to the College Football Playoff last season. Led the way for BCs 2021 class that was the Eagles top-ranked group in the modern recruiting era. Has been working up at the college level since 2015 after two jobs as a high school coach. Dennis Simmons, Oklahoma -- $460,000 5. Because of his achievements with the Seminoles team of Florida State University, Bobby Bowden is one of the most famous and greatest college coaches of all time. That includes a 40-8 mark from 2015-18, the best four-year run in program history. The way hes been able to develop linemen at the FCS level and now at the Power 5 level speaks for itself.. Interviewed for the job as the Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach before the Eagles hired Florida offensive coordinator Brian Johnson. Addison is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award given to the top wide receiver in the country. Cortez Hankton, Georgia -- $375,000 10. Led by Etheridge and coordinator Derek Mason, the Tigers are expected to have one of the better secondaries in the SEC this season. Cale Gundy, Oklahoma -- $580,000+ 6. Coastal Carolina has only graced the FBS for four years, but it has improved every season, culminating in a ludicrous 11-1 record last fall thanks to a full-scale offensive transformation. You could make the case that Swinney is No. 1 nationally (both FBS and FCS) with nine blocked kicks and set a Colonial Athletic Association record with 27 made field goals by Ethan Ratke. As long as we're asking humans to complete this fundamentally thankless task, there's room at the table for people who really know ball. The former offensive coordinator has produced the second-highest EPA per play figure in the Group of Five over the last two seasons, behind only UCF. Produced a first-team All-AAC selection in his first season at Memphis (OBryan Goodson). To put this list together, we gathered feedback from a combination of head coaches, coordinators, team officials, etc., around college football after asking them about position coaches whom they expect to be in line for bigger jobs this next coaching cycle or at some point in the near future. In addition to the opportunity at Pitt, which is less than an hour from where Marion grew up in Greensburg, Pa., he also garnered interest for a Group of 5 coordinator opening this past cycle. These college football head coach rankings are a shoutout to the underdog and the unwanted, a chance to recognize those who might not be in the national spotlight but deserve their moment for clawing their programs up from the depths and steering it toward a new, compelling future. After an incredible 2000s period that saw Texas win two Big 12 titles and a National Championship, a malaise set in and the wins dried up. Braden Layer is set to return to the Gators after spending 2022 at Dayton. The group also includes talented young players such as sophomore Jermaine Burton and promising freshman Adonai Mitchell, whom Hankton landed after he was initially committed to Ole Miss. Mario Cristobal continues to replenish the Hurricanes' staff. Has had six of his defensive backs selected during the past three NFL drafts, including Asante Samuel in the second round of the 2021 draft. FSU has gone 14-20 in that period. Joined Charles Huffs first Marshall staff after initially planning to return to UT-Martin as the programs co-coordinator and secondary coach. Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline has established himself as one of the best assistants in all of college football over the past few years. After the championship-winning year of 2013, the FSU offenses that ranked 38th nationwide in EPA per play under his watch dropped down to 107th in the three years since he left. Josh McDaniels Coaching Rsum. Being groomed by new Tennessee coach Josh Heupel, whose UCF offenses ranked No. 1 in the FCS. Has played a large role in setting up Texas A&M to have one of the best defenses in the country this season. section: | slug: ranking-the-top-25-power-five-college-football-coaches-entering-the-2022-season | sport: collegefootball | route: article_single.us | When Bud Wilkinson took over in Norman in 1947, the University of Oklahoma was still a stepping-stone destination for head coaches in college football. Brian Hartline, Ohio State -- $600,000+7. At Alabama, he worked with players such as 2018 first-round NFL draft pick Daron Payne and 2019 first-round selection Quinnen Williams. Franklin has performed just as well with the Nittany Lions. Lonnie Galloway, North Carolina -- $440,000+19. Has been interviewed for multiple FBS head-coach openings, including South Alabama this past cycle. Kelly has led the Bruins to 17 total wins over the past two seasons. Florida coach Dan Mullen fought hard to keep him. Of course, he was wildly successful in the years before his Buffalo tenure. That 2019 Austin Peay defense ranked in the top 16 of the FCS in total defense (No.