College Football: Top 15 Defensive coordinators in 2015
Nov 30, 2013; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster (left) talks to his players against the Virginia Cavaliers in the third quarter at Scott Stadium. The Hokies won 16-6. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
College football head coaches get all the headlines, praise and blame. But defensive coordinators play a huge part in the success or failure of a program, even despite what the head coach may do well or poorly.
RELATED: 10 Smartest CFB Head Coach Firings of the Last 10 Years
Fans love to see long touchdown passes, breakaway runs by tailbacks, and receivers screaming downfield taking the top off a defense. Lots of points put butts in the seats, but the hard truth of football is that defense is what will win a championship more often than not.
More from Alabama Crimson Tide
- #10 Alabama football: 3 takeaways from close road win against USF
- College Football Playoff: Projected top 4 after Week 2
- Biggest winners and losers from College Football Week 2
- Alabama football: Is the Nick Saban Dynasty officially over?
- Alabama football: 3 bold predictions vs. No. 11 Texas in Week 2
Being a defensive coordinator for a major college program is a lot like being the drill sergeant for a platoon who plays a huge part in a military victory. The commanding general will be the one everyone points to as the genius, but that drill sergeant is the one who made things happen out on the battlefield.
The Alabama Crimson Tide won several of their most recent championships by leaning on their defense and letting the offense grind out the game, and although Nick Saban is lauded as the grand poobah of everything Alabama, he wouldn’t have been even close to winning those championships without the help of some very talented coaches around him, particularly his defensive coordinator.
Here are the top 15 defensive coordinators in college football today, with unit stats, win-loss records, years of service and championships (both conference and national) won as determining factors.
Honorable mentions: D.J. Durkin (Michigan), Lance Anderson (Stanford), Chuck Bresnahan (UCF),
Next: Begin Slideshow