Orange and Blue Hue » SEC Coaching Rankings

SEC Coaching Rankings

1) Urban Meyer (UF) - his credentials are impeccable. You can argue with his schemes and his play calling but you can’t argue with his success. And his resume includes doing almost the same thing at THREE consecutive schools. From 7-5 to 13-1 in two years is impressive on its own. When put together with his past accomplishments its hard to argue against his ability to recruit, motivate and blend players. Whether or not Florida had won the title this year, the foundation has been placed for a run that could last quite a while. Meyer might be the best recruiter the SEC has seen since Nick Saban (who coincidentally is now back in the SEC). If that’s the case, the road to the SEC championship could run through Florida on an annual basis.

2) Nick Saban (ALA) - Personally the guy annoys me. He’s abrasive, self righteous and condescending but the man is a proven winner. No, not at the NFL level, he never achieved success in his two years with the Dolphins but at the college level he’s been to the top of the mountain. A defensive minded strategist who even Bill Belichick felt was his coaching equal, Saban’s biggest strength is his ability to recruit. For the past two years, Les Miles has greatly underacheived with a team as talented as ANY in the country, a team built and assembled by former coach Nick Saban. Only Pete Carroll could realistically be suggested to be superior at selling himself and program to high school kids. Although the number two spot was close to call, Saban has the national title on his pedigree and Richt does not. I started this list when Rodriguez was about to be hired I had Rich ranked 4th. I was very excited about Rodriguez bringing his offensive scheme to the SEC and seeing a shift in league philosophy. But based on my rankings you can see that while Rich would have been better for the SEC, Saban is better for Alabama.

3) Mark Richt (UGA) - Georgia struggled this year going 8-4 and losing to Vanderbilt and Kentucky. However they did beat Auburn, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech (all ranked teams) to end the year. Its interesting that one of the WORST years under Richt’s tenure would have been one of the BEST during the decade prior to his arrival. While he hasn’t delivered a national title he has won the SEC twice and fielded a team that is an SEC contender every year and an occasional National Title contender. Richt is underrated nationally but knowledgeable SEC fans respect and appreciate his ability. Richt is an excellent recruiter and rarely will you find Bulldog players who lack ability. You may find years where UGA is a young, inexperienced team (like this year) and they may underachieve from time to time but they will never be devoid of talent or coaching while under Richt.

4) Steve Spurrier (SCar) - Until he builds South Carolina up to the level where they contend for the SEC every year he falls behind Richt. Sure his resume at UF is impressive but he also had several built in advantages when coaching in Gainesville he doesn’t have in Columbia. He struggled in the NFL but if he can continue to improve the Gamecocks I’ll slide him up one or two slots. Until then its just speculation as two 5 loss seasons plus his past puts him in the top third of a loaded coaching conference. Recruiting was never a strength of SOS, his greatest asset is his football mind and fiery personality. This doesn’t mean that SOS can’t recruit, he will bring talent to Columbia. And while he won’t have the talent advantage he had when in Gainesville, his coaching and schemes will give the Gamecocks a shot to win any game they play.

5) Rich Brooks (UK) - Laugh if you will but did you notice that UK has 2 more wins than a fellow bowl bound SEC team Alabama this year? Rich Brooks was also a NFL failure like Spurrier but he has done the impossible. He took a football program on probation at a basketball school from joke to bowl in 3 years. This will be the FIRST year that Kentucky doesn’t have to deal with limitations from their scholarships from sanctions. Combine this with the fact that Brooks essentially BUILT the program at the University of Oregon (leading them to a Pac-10 championship before leaving for the St Louis Rams) and you have a guy who can legitimately be called a program builder . . . at least for now.

6) Houston Nutt (ARK) - A lot of people in Arkansas don’t like Houston Nutt. This is based upon the irregular success that Nutt has had while head coach. Prior to this year Nutt had two consecutive losing seasons which had the fans calling for his head. His overall record at Arkansas is 67-43 and has won 9 or more games in 4 out of his 8 years at the school. This is not to say that a coach like Mack Brown, Urban Meyer or Pete Carroll wouldn’t have built a much better program in Fayetteville but . . . come on people, this is ARKANSAS!!! Those coaches wouldn’t be AT the University of Arkansas and if they were it wouldn’t be for LONG!!!

7) Tommy Tuberville (AUB) - Sure, of course, I can hear it now. How can a coach who led his school to an undefeated record be the 7th best in the SEC??? Now don’t get me wrong, Tommy Tuberville is a GOOD coach but unfortunately there are a LOT of good coaches in the SEC. To prove that double T is a good coach . . . he won at Ole Miss which is not an easy task. However he didn’t wow anyone at Ole Miss. When the highlight of your tenure is an 8-4 year and the rest are either a game above or below .500, I’m not blown away. He’s solid but Auburn would probably have been better off with Petrino. Sure, sure, 13-0 in 2004. He did a great job that year but the SEC was down and when you have three NFL first rounders in your backfield (two top 10 pick RBs and a late first round QB) do you really expect to lose many games? And how do you take the same players in their junior years and manage to go . . . 8-5??? Speckled into Tub’s tenure are some 5 and 6 loss seasons. Because of that . . . he drops on the list in comparison. Had Auburn beaten one decent non-conference opponent maybe Tommy gets to play for it all and wins a NC. If so I would have definitely moved him up. Finishing number two doesn’t thrill me, especially when your bowl victory is down to the wire win against a less regarded Virginia Tech team whom USC crushed the same year in Blacksburg.

8) Phil Fulmer (UT) - No one can argue with the success of Tennessee or the recruits they’ve attracted. What you CAN debate is whether that success should be credited to Fulmer OR his coordinators (Chavis and Cutcliffe). There are very few games during the year where UT isn’t the most talented team on the field. Despite that Tennessee has a grand total of 2 SEC titles in Fulmer’s tenure. He does have a National Championship but usually UT seems to be an underacheiving team rather than an overacheiving one. You could stock a pretty good NFL roster with the players that Phil has coached in Knoxville but when translating that into on the field success at the college level . . . the proof is in the pudding. Pudding that wouldn’t last long if sitting on a table in front of Phat Phil.

9) Bobby Johnson (VAN) - Two consecutive 5 win season wouldn’t get you much play anywhere else but at Vanderbilt . . . it can definitely get you a better gig! It looks like Vandy has recruited some better athletes the past few years and it shows. A team that used to be an easy win and a stat filler for most of the league is now competitive and if you have a bad day . . . might beat you!

10) Les Miles (LSU) - If based strictly on wins at a his current school then Miles would be near the top of this list. He is currently 22-4 at LSU. In his previous coaching stint he took over a sad Oklahoma State team and in his 2nd, 3rd and 4th years won 8, 9 and 7 games respectively. He is best known for his 16-13 upset win against #4 Oklahoma in Normon in his first year and then repeating the feat against a #3 ranked OU team 38-28 the next year in Stillwater. But for all that Miles has accomplished it’s not about what Miles has done but about what he HASN’T done. Namely, he hasn’t won an SEC championship despite having, arguably, the most talented team in the league in his two years in the league. Nick Saban left the cupboard stocked and it will be another banner day for the Tigers in the NFL draft this year. I give him some credit for keeping the Tigers focused despite Hurricane Katrina last year but LSU has still underacheived. Plus next year he will no longer have the gaping talent advantage he has enjoyed early in his tenure. He would probably be the 5th or 6th best coach in the Big 12 or ACC but . . . . this is the SEC baby.

11) Ed Orgeron (Ole Miss) - The jury is still out on Ed. I and some others were led to believe that Ole Miss might be respectable this year and perhaps even make a bowl game. Boy were we fooled. Mr. Ed is reportedly a great recruiter and has brought some better talent to Oxford. I think he still has an opportunity to turn the ship around but based on what he’s done so far number 11 is where he deserves. His previous head coaching experience was . . . oh yeah . . . none! To date his biggest impact in college football has been to direct academically struggling recruits to take online courses offered from Brigham Young. These classes can sometimes be completed in as little as an hour and could replace failing grades on their HS transcripts. One recruit reportedly took 14 hours of such classes. These courses are under investigation and may be disallowed in the future but for now . . . it’s perfectly within the rules. Coincidentally, Ole Miss landed a top 15 recruiting class under Orgeron last year.

12) Sylvester Croom (MSU) - There is no honor in last place even in a league as littered with quality coaches as the SEC. I give Croom credit, I have yet to see a Mississippi State team that doesn’t play hard on the field. However they definitely lack talent and a scheme that overcomes the deficiencies they bring to the field. The highlights of Croom’s coaching career has been the ability to get OTHER coaches fired. His win against Florida in 2004 led to the dismissal of Ron Zook. Likewise MSU’s victory over Mike Shula and Alabama led to a similar fate for his one time rival for the Tide coaching job. It says a lot about the state of your program though when if you win a game the opposing coach gets canned. Yikes!!!

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I wonder if Urban will take BillyBall approach to getting the new contract. I would of thought Les Miles higher, but we’ll tell more when he runs out of Saban’s players.

I think they got it right with Les Miles. The success of the LSU Tigers for the past few years is due to the talent on the field more than the coaching. However, I don’t see LSU dropping off anytime soon while they are staying consistent with top recruiting classes. Les Miles has a good thing going, but he needs to learn how to rotate his players better, giving them more experience, and spreading his talent out. Then, you may see him as the top coach in the SEC.

I think you are dead on with most. However, Croom has split the Egg Bowl with Coach O. Croom inherited Sherrill’s mess and probation. Coach O got Cutcliffe’s leftovers(who you praise). Croom beat Bama and Florida. Coach O’s Rebels signature game..Northwestern State? Switch these two.

That’s right MRC2, comments are moderated and can be edited. But thanks for the laugh and all the juevenile insults!!! Back to Buckeyland for you. Go Gators!!!

Sincerely,

Jury, you make some good points. Perhaps I should have just had an 11A and 11B. I moved Orgeron ahead not based from “on the field” accomplishments but due to recruiting. Both he and Croom are too early to make a clear judgement on.

Man, this list drives home how much stronger the SEC is then all other conferences. The only exception I have to your rankings is Les Miles. The poor guy can’t get a break with anyone. No one, and I mean no one ever talks about the guy. His biggest problem the past 2 years have been the mental mistakes of JaMarcus Russell. You take away his 4 turnovers against Florida and guess who is in the NC game. Then his bone headed mistake on the last drive against Auburn and they are undefeated. I’m guessing if Matt Flynn stays healthy next year the Tigers will make a run at the NC. Instead of this years road games of Tennessee, Florida, Auburn and Arkansas; they have them all at home next year. I also think if Miles wins the NC he still won’t get the respect he deserves. It’s just one of those things that happens to some guys.

Too early to tell with Croom? Croom enters his 4th year without breaking the 4 win mark. If he wins 3 games in ‘07 he’ll be gone. Is that clear enough for you to judge?

With Miles, it will be interesting to see what he can do in year 3 as the “cupboard” stocked by Saban starts to be replaced by Miles kids. I agree that he hasn’t gotten much of a fair shake. I believe he was outcoached at Florida this year, rather than LSU “imploding” as is the popular opinion, but the loss at Auburn was just “one of those things.” LSU was in a position to win that game. Of the two games Miles lost last year, I think of the half-time gaff when Tennessee came to visit in which the Tigers couldn’t get a field-goal attempt off after Russell failed to get out of bounds when he ran the ball. There are two losses of the four that just weren’t his fault. I think he might be better than most of us think. We’ll see how he does recruiting-wise.

TENTEX,
That was exactly the problem I could see with Les Miles…the fact that he had such a good back-up QB, yet he still never rotated him with JaMarcus even if it would cost them the game. He needs to rotate his talent better and let them know the competition doesn’t end in Spring drills.

Regarding Les Miles. I don’t have anything AGAINST him and he can still move up the list even if he maintains but for now . . . I can’t imagine too many coaches who couldn’t put together a 2 loss season with the talent he had. In other words, pick the coaches who could have walked into that situation and done worse than 2 losses a year? I’m thinking of the recent coaching hires around the country and Tom OBrien, Steve Kragthorpe, Nick Saban, Randy Shannon . . . would any of those guys really have lost 3 games with those LSU teams??? I just can’t see it.

Now if Miles continues at the 2 loss level past this year then I’ll give him more due because the talent will be HIS talent. And even if he can’t take them over the hump he will be maintaining a high level of football.

TenTex,

If he wins the NC or even comes very close I will definitely give him credit. Moreso if he does it now than in his first year or two.

I think you’re jumping the gun on Saban — he may have recruited well at LSU, but he will be competing against better and more established coaches this time around.

I would rate both Tuberville and Spurrier above Saban — at least until he does something with Alabama.

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Only an idiot would actually put Miles that far down… I guess the improvement Russell made is all Saban’s work (oh thats right Saban never touched the offense while he was at LSU or even coached the last two years). Did you even look at Saban’s record at LSU only one really good year and only made it to SEC Championship Games because of a weak SEC West only two good teams in that division during his tenure. You just have no idea and should just keep your trap shut

I would agree with your evaluation wholeheartedly…when IS the beauty contest?

Again regarding Les Miles. Name me the coaches LSU could have hired who would have lost more than four games in two years with that much talent. All the talent he has recruited while there is on him but he hasn’t proven he can do better than good with great talent.

For the last two years LSU has gone into the season as the favorite and most talented team. The results for two years in a row . . . 2 losses and no SEC titles. That’s not a great acheivement for a team who is about to stockpile the NFL.

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Everything you said about Urban Meyer applies to Spurrier. SOS can’t recruit? Look at the latest class rankings. Sure, Florida is above South Carolina, but how much did the NC have to do with that? Who has more SEC wins historically? It ain’t Urban Meyer, Bub. And look at what Spurrier has done with a “mediocre” South Carolina team against UF: he’s 1-1 and that loss was hair-thin. Look at his two year record against UT: same as above. All this without players he pulled in and with his system still shiny new to the team.

Your decision making is twisted to say the least. To put it another way, Your tyro mentality is incomparable
Tubervilles’s 3 year record of 33-5
was matchless in the SEC & 3rd best nationally ! ! Last year Tommy’s mediocre team bested Florida, the national champs & LSU, the Sugar bowl champs.
He’s been declared National Coach of the year which resulted in a multi-year contract with Auburn for mucho $
Placing Saban as # 2 exemplifies your ineptitude. The man has been our of college footall for two years while failing miserably with Miami.
Perhaps you should try another profession ? ?

Gordon is dead on… Saban at number 2 in the SEC ? Tuberville at number 7 ? You’ve got to be kidding…

If anything the two loss season in 2005 makes him look better. People that didn’t live in South La. or visit shorlty after the storm have no idea what it was like. He should be commended for a two loss season following thet catastrophy. Show me another coach from your list who has had a two loss season following anything like what happened at LSU.

I also forgot to mention, how is 24-13 win considered a “crush” ? And the game was not in Blacksburg, it was a neutral game in Maryland. Sour grapes ? Urban and the Gators traveled to Auburn in 2006 and left with their only loss of the season…

I guess now we’ll start to see how Urban does with his talent since he won the NC with Zooks

Tuberville and Miles - even Saban to a lesser extent - have had the good fortune of coaching against an Alabama team who has been down since 2000 due to rogue boosters and poor coaching (and strip clubs). However, Alabama started to right the ship in recruiting with the 2005 class and this has carried through this 2007 class by Saban.

Saban inherits an offense which is loaded and at least 2 deep at every position. Plus he inherits a defense which has been ranked in the top 5 at almost every position for the past two recruiting classes. Alabama should be a quick fix for Saban.

Now all of those teams who play Alabama yearly - the SEC West and UT - won’t be etching a “W” before the Bama game has been played…Now we’ll see how good the SEC coaches (especially the West and Fat Phil) really are.

This list reeks of “What have you done for me lately.” Or “what’s the current state of my face time in the press.”

Tubs n’ Spurrier are too low, Richt is too high, so is Saban and Urban.

Spurrier is #1, hands down. Without argument. He’s the only one who took a loser program and made a perennial major contender out of it, without anyone else’s help/players and that withstood the test of time.

And I’m an Auburn guy.

Miles is way too low. Not saying the guy is the best coach in the league but saban, with similar talent in his later years, lost 3+ games every year he was at LSU with the exception of the NC year. Even then he lost at home to a Ron Zook coached Florida team.

Thanks! I mean it. I know Miles beat Urban his first year at UF, and after the game Urban change his offence. I know that being said the Tiger players had homes destroyed. I know it was Miles first year. I know home games were scheduled away. But you are likely right he should have won a NC. Keep thinking that Baton Rouge is a non-factor! If only Urban would!!!

It seems your choices indicate a bias.

First year NC for less would have been wonderful, Urban did’t do that. No your right Les should have done it this past year, al it would have taken is beating UF. Tigers lost 23 to 10. But I guess your saying Les should have beaten Urban.

i agree with all your assesments. however, i would have spurrier at 1. the man can win anywhere. after that, saban, meyer, richt are all pretty close. the right below that, tubby, fat phil and i believe bobby johnson is on the same level considering the talent. then brooks…the miles, then croom and finally orgeron.

I see Al Borges’ Son made a post about his daddy. Auburn could not score an offensive touch down against Florida, and Tubbs always has a break down during the season. He is 0-4 vs. USC and Ga Tech. He can thank Beamer for preserving his 13-0 season, and thank God that he did not get blown out by USC in ‘04.

Yes I am a Bama fan, but I think Spurrier should be 2nd and Saban 3rd. Spurrier was the man to turn around UF and laid the foundation. Les Miles is a joke, 0-2 in his last 2 games vs Stoops and about to start the slide in the SEC that claimed many coaches before him (Archer / Dinardo anyone?)

Florida appears to be here to stay for some time, Auburn keep on playing western carolina (every undefeated season Auburn has they play a 1-AA school or are on probation) and keep telling yourself Washington state was a better opponent than Hawaii.

I see the SEC powers for the next few years are Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and even Auburn thanks to Les Nes Miles.

Nutt is better than Miles and Tuberville? You are nuts! Saban had a couple of good years but #2? I will have to see, but right now no way he is #2. Tuberville is easily top 2-3 in the SEC.

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This might be the worst listing of these 12 coaches - EVER. I understand that you’re a Florida fan - but don’t try to write an editorial when you have no idea what you’re talking about.

I’m a huge Tennessee fan (alumnus), and I put Fulmer at 4, with some heat from Saban at 5.

Again, you have no idea what you’re talking about.

Hmmm…

LSUROCKS says Tuber and Miles are better than Nutt…

But who was in the SEC champ game from the West with possibly a crappier team than AU or LSU?

Hint: It weren’t the Gators…

Doug…

Fulmer has constantly underacheived with UT and the talent therin…

Remember the four straight losses to UF with future Super Bowl winner and uber QB Peyton Manning and the talent that was stocked on those teams…

He can’t win and usually gets outcoached…

Sorry, but it may be you who doesn’t know what they’re talking about…

Saban should come after Richt.Just look @ the dawgs record he came speeks for itself

Im just glad Mike Shula’s name isnt an option anymore…lol…ROLL TIDE!!!!!
No more Darby up the middle…..Saban has the ENTIRE state of ALABAMA behind him. except the little vet school in Aubby…which is one of the only SEC schools that you can still buy tickets at the gate….HAHA

how do all you morons feel about his ranking now that Tommy tub is doing terrible along with Fat Phil and saban and myer are coaching there teams to an SEC NATIONAL CHAMPION DECIDING SHOWDOWN??? Good article and good prediction

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