If this were 2013, when Mack Brown was hobbling to the end of his very successful stint as the head coach of Texas, theres no way he would be this high. The Elite Quarterback Training Program. Here are the 25 best college football coaches in America heading into the 2022 season. As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest. Jacob Peeler, Ole Miss -- $425,000 6. Under Brock in 2019, Washington State ranked first in the Pac-12 in field goal percentage (95.2) as well as second in punt-return average and kick-return defense. Worked under current Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule at Baylor and Temple. Volatility is a hazard of the coaching business. Before Oregon, Chance was part of Minnesota improving from No. The belief is that it wont be long before Bailey gets a big-time assistant job, whether its at Ohio State or elsewhere. That's when Fleck headed to Minnesota to rebuild the Gophers. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. Has coached four top-10 kickoff-return units in his career. Joyner was SMUs defensive line coach from 2018 through last season. This upcoming weekend Alabama football is set to host multiple top recruits in the 2024 class on campus as head coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide gear up for another calendar year of. Under Halzle, UCF QB Dillon Gabriel led the nation in passing yards per game (357.0) last season. Is one of the latest coaching stars to emerge from the tree of former. As coordinator at Division II Albany (Ga.) State in 2017, his unit held opponents to an average of 287 yards per game. Ja'Juan Seider, Penn State, Co-OC, running backs coach The South Florida native has been a candidate for a few Group of 5 jobs thanks to his reputation as a top position coach and one of the. Josh Gattis, Michigan -- $900,000* 2. Breaking news. Helped Houston go from No. Regarded as one of the best recruiters in the country. 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. Kasey Dunn, Oklahoma State -- $410,000 7. Has been one of the lead recruiters on 10 four-star players that the Gators have landed the past three years. (Running backs being the other.) (Obviously, Gattis is also an offensive coordinator.) Tyler Grisham, Clemson -- $450,000+15. Played a big role behind the scenes last season at Ole Miss, contributing to a Rebels offense that ranked third nationally in total offense (555.5 yards per game) and seventh in passing offense (344.9 ypg). 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. 1 recruiter in the country in 2020 and is No. As the Mustangs running backs coach, Samples has aided in the progression of players such as Ulysses Bentley and Tyler Lavine. Coached one of the more productive tight ends in the SEC last season (Kenny Yeboah) after mentoring 2019 Freshman All-American Jalen Wydermyer at Texas A&M and Mackey Award finalist Albert Okwuegbunam at Missouri in 2018. Georgias defense had fallen to 13th in expected points added (EPA) allowed per play in the two years before Kirbys arrival, but hes since straightened that out. Has been heavily pursued for college and NFL jobs in recent years. 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. Bryan McClendon, Georgia -- $700,000+4. Toledo had gone 6-5 in 1989 before Saban took over for one year and led them to 9-2. 22. To help develop Drake Maye and the Heels' quarterbacks, Mack Brown is bringing in one of the NFL's most accomplished quarterbacks coaches. Special teams coordinators, in theory, coach nearly every player on the roster, and they're responsible for all 11 players on the field at a given time. As a player, Wright was an All-American defensive lineman at Texas and was one of the leaders of the Longhorns 2005 national championship team. 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.. Kasey Dunn, Oklahoma State -- $800,000* 3. Yes, Alabama claimed 12 championships before Saban's arrival, but it was a program going through turmoil and probation before he took the reins. Alabama head coach Nick Saban and offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian against Arkansas at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday October 26, 2019. Was the lead recruiter on five-star 2022 linebacker C.J. 1 in the Pac-12 last season (184.9 yards per game). 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. Helped BCs defense improve by an average of 71 yards per game against conference opponents in 2020 (from 494 yards per game under the previous staff in 2019 to 422.8 yards per game last season). The Cougars also were first in the AAC in kick-return defense and net punting. Jeff Monken, Army. Thomas Cahill enjoyed mild success in the mid-1960s, going 23-7. Played and learned under coaches such as Will Muschamp and Ted Roof and got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant under Roof at Penn State (2012) and Georgia Tech (2013-14). -- Another notable name missing is Miami's Josh Gattis. 1 Brian Hartline Wide Receivers Coach 6 Commits 96.41 82.05 2 Todd Bates Co-Defensive Coordinator 6 Commits 95.55 79.52 3 Karl Scott Defensive Backs Coach 10 Commits 93.94 79.14 4 Rodney. He's led the program to four national championship games and two national Championship wins, a feat very few would have imagined all those years ago. There were only two new entries in our top 25 at this point 12 months ago. Was set to be FIUs offensive coordinator this season but decided to join Gus Malzahns staff at UCF. Considering those advancements were mostly made with other coaches' recruiting classes, those numbers are as impressive as it gets. Also has worked and learned under Billy Napier at Louisiana, one of the nations top up-and-coming head coaches. Cortez Hankton, LSU -- $850,000+2. Saban is now at 88%. The Greatest Entertainers Of All Time. FSU has gone 14-20 in that period. Sonny Dykes promoted Samples to associate head coach earlier this year. He is repeatedly hitting home runs on the recruiting front and is breeding high-upside players into elite-level route-runners. Holmon Wiggins, Alabama -- $575,000+11. The opportunity to win games was the biggest factor here. They helped West Georgia advance to the Division II playoffs four times in five years. Has been one of the lead recruiters on six of the Scarlet Knights 14 commitments, including the primary recruiter on three four-star pledges. Under Williams, USC allowed just 216.3 passing yards per game last season, its lowest number since 2013. Yes, Alabama was already the college football program before Sabans arrival, but they were in a down period when they signed him. Two of Simpsons cornerbacks were named second-team All-Conference USA last season (Brontae Harris and TD Marshall). We look back fondly on the Air Raid team of Hal Mumme in the late 1990s, but they only went 20-26. 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. I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. A veteran Power 5 head coach mentioned Hankton as someone he sees as a potential Group of 5 head-coach candidate. Nate Scheelhassee, Iowa State -- $500,000+14. By Anthony Treash. 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. Has been working up at the college level since 2015 after two jobs as a high school coach. In the 10 years leading up to the longtime head coach, the team had only won 55% of their games. Has secured commitments from five four-star recruits in the past two recruiting classes, including top-100 2022 prospect Derrick Moore. Also received interest for multiple NFL secondary coach openings. Staggs had been set to join the Western Kentucky staff as an assistant coach. Was under consideration for the Marshall coaching job before the hire of Charles Huff. Turned down a job offer from Michigan this offseason. The Guy Morriss era was short and painful. Has coached 11 All-American offensive linemen throughout his career. From 1953 (when they joined the Big Ten) to 2006, they had two finishes in the AP Top 25. Florida coach Dan Mullen fought hard to keep him. 2 out of ranking fatigue, but this is their rightful spot. Was Greg Schianos first hire for his Rutgers staff. 1 because the turnaround he pulled with this Clemson program is almost unheard of. Powledges 2019 Louisiana special teams crew also ranked first in the Sun Belt in kickoff-return defense and net punting. Interviewed for the Boston College coaching job two years ago and turned down the Tennessee coordinator job this past cycle. Received inquiries about at least a few Power 5 defensive line coach openings this offseason and turned down a job offer from a Big 12 program. If you haven't yet checked out our ranking of Power Five coaches outside the top 25, you can catch up here. 14) and interceptions (No. 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. Had two All-Conference USA honorable mention selections in his first season at Louisiana Tech (Smoke Harris and Cee Jay Powell). Also is Boston Colleges defensive pass game coordinator. Its unfair, but its hard to hold two fluke comebacks against him not that hes totally off the hook for those two Bama losses but he has surpassed Mark Richts 74% win rate with his 79% win rate in six years. Interviewed for the Alabama running backs coach opening this past coaching cycle. Is assisting with Ohio States quarterbacks after previously working with Brian Hartline and the Buckeyes wide receivers unit. Cortez Hankton, Georgia -- $375,000 10. Brian Early has been a part of the Houston staff since 2019 and was at Arkansas State previously. Kelsey is in his first season an offensive analyst at Tennessee after a year as the wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator at Gardner-Webb. Ranked as one of the top recruiters in the Big 12 for the 2021 recruiting class. The move to UCF reconnected him with Gus Malzahn, who was his quarterback coach at Tulsa in 2008. 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. Justin Stepp, South Carolina -- $475,00015. Dameyune Craig, Texas A&M -- $675,000 5. He rushed for 1,125 yards during the Fighting Irishs run to the College Football Playoff last season. 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. 382 votes. 6-keys: media/spln/collegefootball/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. Kinne, Recent jobs: UCF (2021), Hawaii offensive coordinator (2020), Philadelphia Eagles special projects assistant (2019), Arkansas offensive analyst (2018), Recent jobs: Tennessee (2021), Rice offensive coordinator (2018-20), North Carolina Central head coach (2014-17), Recent jobs: Pitt (2021), Hawaii wide receivers coach (2020), William & Mary offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2019), Howard offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2017-18), Oklahoma Baptist running backs coach (2016), Arizona State quality control coach (2015), Tennessee senior offensive analyst Matt Merritt, Recent jobs: Tennessee (2021), James Madison running backs coach (2019-20), Elon running backs coach/special teams coordinator (2017-18), Oklahoma inside linebackers coach Brian Odom, Recent jobs: Oklahoma (2019-present), Missouri outside linebackers coach (2017-18), Washington State defensive quality control coach (2015-16), Georgia State cornerbacks coach Cory Peoples, Recent jobs: Georgia State (2020-present), Georgia Southern cornerbacks coach (2018), Albany State defensive coordinator (2017), Recent jobs: Memphis (2020-present), Liberty linebackers coach (2019), Alabama graduate assistant (2017-18), Baylor special teams coordinator/safeties coach Matthew Powledge, Recent jobs: Baylor (2020-present), Louisiana special teams coordinator/outside linebackers coach (2018-19), ULM special teams coordinator/tight ends coach (2016-17), Florida linebackers coach Christian Robinson, Recent jobs: Florida (2018-present), Mississippi State graduate assistant (2017), Ole Miss graduate assistant (2015-16), Texas A&M defensive line coach Elijah Robinson, Recent jobs: Texas A&M (2018-present), Baylor defensive line coach (2017), Temple defensive line coach (2014-16), Texas A&M defensive backs coach TJ Rushing, Recent jobs: Texas A&M (2020-present), Memphis secondary coach/defensive pass game coordinator (2018-19), Arizona State secondary coach (2016-17), Recent jobs: SMU running backs coach (2020-present), SMU offensive assistant (2019), Texas offensive analyst/on-campus recruiter (2018), Texas A&M linebackers coach Tyler Santucci, Recent jobs: Texas A&M (2020-present), Wake Forest (2019), Texas A&M analyst (2018), Notre Dame analyst (2017), Texas State linebackers coach (2016), Iowa State running backs/wide receivers coach Nate Scheelhaase, Recent jobs: Iowa State (2018-present), Illinois analyst (2016-17), Illinois running backs coach (2015), Penn State running backs coach JaJuan Seider, Recent jobs: Penn State (2018-present), Florida running backs coach (2017), West Virginia running backs coach (2013-16), LSU offensive graduate assistant Derek Shay, Recent jobs: LSU (2020-present), McNeese State tight ends coach (2019), Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy offensive line coach (2017-18), Recent jobs: UAB cornerbacks coach (2019-present), UAB analyst/grad assistant (2016-18), South Alabama quality control coach (2014-15), Virginia Tech cornerbacks coach Ryan Smith, Recent jobs: Virginia Tech (2020-present), James Madison safeties coach (2019), Elon secondary coach (2017-18), Penn State graduate assistant (2015-16), Notre Dame running backs coach Lance Taylor, Recent jobs: Notre Dame (2019-present), Carolina Panthers wide receivers coach (2017-18), Stanford running backs coach (2014-16), Recent jobs: Ohio (2021), LSU analyst (2020), Cleveland Browns quality control coach (2019), New York Jets pro personnel intern (2018), Oklahoma graduate assistant (2015-17), Ohio State linebackers coach Al Washington, Recent jobs: Ohio State (2019-present), Michigan linebackers coach (2018), Cincinnati defensive line coach (2017), Boston College assistant (2012-16), Charlotte co-coordinator/defensive line coach Marcus West, Recent jobs: Charlotte (2019-present), Minnesota defensive line pass rush specialist (2018), Austin Peay co- coordinator/defensive line coach (2016-17), Recent jobs: USC (2020-present), Oregon cornerbacks coach (2018-19), Nebraska cornerbacks coach (2017), Arizona cornerbacks coach (2016), San Jose State secondary coach/recruiting coordinator (2013-15), Florida State secondary coach Marcus Woodson, Recent jobs: Florida State (2020-present), Auburn secondary coach (2018-19), Memphis secondary coach (2016-17), Fresno State secondary coach (2014-15), UTSA co-coordinator/defensive line coach Rod Wright, Recent jobs: UTSA (2019-present), East Carolina defensive line coach (2018), Sam Houston State defensive line coach (2014-17). Their rushing efficiency stands out for a program like this theyre 14th in the Power Five in EPA per rush over the last three seasons, a mightily impressive figure. When Buffalo came back to Division I-A football in 1999, they embarked on a journey of countless losses. A former All-Big 12 tight end at OU who played five seasons in the NFL. 2016 New England Patriots (QB Coach/O-Cord) 14-2 Won Super Bowl 51 over ATL. Played three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. In the past three years, four A&M defensive linemen have been selected in the first four rounds of the NFL draft. 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. Robinsons 2020 defensive line helped the Aggies finish No. (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.). 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. Charlie Fisher, Arizona State -- $400,000 9. Posted 130 catches in six NFL seasons, including 47 catches for 754 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie. The greatest coach in college football history wonders aloud how the SEC could possibly be so cruel to the Crimson Tide. Bob Sutton won 10 games in 1996. Led the way for BCs 2021 class that was the Eagles top-ranked group in the modern recruiting era. In-depth analysis. 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). According to Football Scoop, that man is Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver coach Cortez Hankton. Teams: Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils football, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers. 9 nationally in rushing offense (252.2 yards per game). Taylor, who was promoted to run game coordinator for Notre Dame last year, was looked at during the South Alabama and Buffalo coaching searches. David Johnson, Tennessee -- $505,000 4. 51 nationally in pass defense the year before his arrival (212.4 yards per game) to No. Led by Etheridge and coordinator Derek Mason, the Tigers are expected to have one of the better secondaries in the SEC this season. Of those six, three were ranked 50th or lower last year. 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 | Charlie Fisher, Arizona State -- $400,000 9. A Texas graduate, he is married with three children and lives outside Fort Worth, Texas. Whittingham has won 67% of his games in his 17 years as head coach for a program that was invisible for most of its history. It's a perfect process! 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. Has been interviewed for multiple FBS head-coach openings, including South Alabama this past cycle. Samples, a former Oklahoma State and Houston wide receiver, currently is ranked among the top-15 recruiters in the country for the 2022 class. Addison is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award given to the top wide receiver in the country. It's unlikely we'll ever learn what he's making at The U, a private school, but we do know he was set to become college football's first $1 million wide receivers coach had he remained in Ann Arbor. Other college support staffers or NFL staffers who received votes: Stephen Adegoke (Michigan); Max Bullough (Alabama); Jamar Chaney (Mississippi State); Steve Cooper (Nebraska); Zachary Crabtree (Oklahoma State); Ty Darlington (Oklahoma); Jon DeCoster (Cleveland Browns); Ross Douglas (New England Patriots); Declan Doyle (New Orleans Saints); Will Johnson (Oklahoma); Conner McQueen (Oklahoma); Nick Perry (Atlanta Falcons); Ryan Osborn (Michigan); Effrem Reed (Michigan State); Ronnie Regula (Miami); Zac Robinson (Los Angeles Rams); Spencer Whipple (Arizona Cardinals); Nick Williams (Texas A&M). Was a quarterback at Oklahoma (2006-08) when Heupel was the Sooners quarterbacks coach, then got his start in coaching under Heupel as a support staffer at Oklahoma from 2009-14. 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. Mark Hudspeth improved the Rajin' Cajuns' win total from three to nine in his first year in charge, which started a four-year run of 9-4 finishes and a New Orleans Bowl victory each season. Walter Camp, Yale (1888-92 . A former record-setting wide receiver at Tulsa, where he set FBS records for single-season yards per catch (31.9) and career yards per catch (28.7). After recording just four carries in 2019, Williams has developed into one of the best running backs in the country under Taylors watch. Helped Rutgers tie for second in the Big Ten with 19 takeaways last season,almost double what the Scarlet Knights tallied in 2019 (10) despite playing four fewer games. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. At North Carolina Central, Mack posted a 31-15 record and was a finalist for the 2016 Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year award. On Monday he will be coaching in the College Football Playoffs national championship game,. A 2004 second-round pick of the Carolina Panthers. Of course, he was wildly successful in the years before his Buffalo tenure. Former USC star wide receiver (2000-03) who left as the Trojans career leader in receptions. Regarded as one of the best kickoff-return and special teams coaches in the country. Marion is an expert in the "Go-Go . His rsum includes a successful run as an FCS coach, time as an FBS offensive coordinator and now SEC experience with a coach known for putting up big offensive numbers. The program ranks sixth in the same metric in the five years since he became head coach. Dameyune Craig, Texas A&M -- $675,0005. They have played in 10 under Fitzgerald. In their history, Minnesota has only won more games in a season twice in 1903 and 1904. The headliners are preseason All-Americans Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, who has evolved from a three-star recruit into a first-round 2022 draft prospect under Hartlines coaching. Highest-Paid OC/QB Coaches: 1. With free agency around the corner, players rated how teams treated them off the field: for better or for worse. Was hired to be Heupels running backs coach at UCF before then following Heupel to Tennessee as a senior analyst. 2017 New England Patriots (QB Coach/O-Cord) 13-3 Lost Super Bowl 52 to PHI. Boston College is expected to hire former Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads, sources told FootballScoop on Friday. Assisted with Ohio States running backs and tight ends for three seasons in his role as a Buckeyes graduate assistant from 2017-19. Was part of an Indiana staff that transformed the Hoosiers program from 23 losing records in a 24-year period to back-to-back winning seasons in 2019 and 20, including a 6-1 mark in Big Ten play last fall. Texas A&M ranked No. That's largely due to the return of Jaxon Smith-Njigba,. At Alabama, he worked with players such as 2018 first-round NFL draft pick Daron Payne and 2019 first-round selection Quinnen Williams. He won six national championships. Some value accomplishments on the field above all else, while others may give greater weight to recruiting prowess or the possibility of future success. Produced a first-team All-AAC selection in his first season at Memphis (OBryan Goodson). Charges dropped against Georgia WR Rara Thomas, UCLA, Kelly agree to extension through 2027, Four Pac-12 programs renew contact with Big 12, NCAA committee approves new college football rules, Saban sounds off on proposed permanent opponents. Top 10 returning wide receivers in college football for the 2022 season. Has a twin brother, Kelsey, whos also an up-and-coming coach. At Sam Houston State, one of Wrights linemen (P.J. An ex-Stanford and NFL defensive back who won a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts in 2006. Over the last two campaigns, Buffalo ranked fifth in EPA per rush in the FBS.