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College football has seen plenty of legendary coaches patrol the sidelines, but who is the greatest college football coach of all-time?
The best college football coaches are more often than simply just coaches. They’re recruiting, doing endless media appearances, appeasing the boosters and serving as the CEO of the football program.
Compared to their counterparts in the NFL, college football head coaches are doing a lot more work than the likes of Bill Belichick, Tom Coughlin or Mike Tomlin, among others.
This is a list of the 30 best college football coaches and includes coaches on all levels and from all time periods. So you will probably not recognize a few names on this list, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less worthy of inclusion on this list.
There are active head coaches on this list like Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer and Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban, who have combined to win seven national championships.
And there are coaches from the early 20th century on this list like Glenn “Pop” Warner, Walter Camp, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Fielding Yost and other innovators of the game who are largely responsible for where football is today.
There’s so much to consider when ranking these coaches from wins, championships, records, awards, off-field impact and even recruiting. What I found most impressive was the tenure that some of these coaches had at their respective schools. For example, Larry Kehres spent his entire career at Division III powerhouse Mount Union and compiled 332 wins.
Find out who cracked the list and where these college football legends rank in this list of the 30 greatest college football coaches of all-time.
Next: Honorable Mention
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Honorable Mention
- Frank Thomas
- Larry Kehres
- Robert Neyland
- Jackie Sherrill
- Les Miles
- Bobby Dodd
- Bob Stoops
- John Heisman
- Earl Blaik
- Gene Stallings
- Jimmy Johnson
It’s almost unfair to compile a list of just 30 so here’s the list of coaches who were in contention to crack the list, but fell just short but are worthy of an honorable mention.
Larry Kehres may be the best football coach you’ve never heard of. He took over the Mount Union athletic department in 1985 and became head football coach a year later. Since then, Kehres failed to qualify for the NCAA Division III playoffs only four times during his stint from 1986-2012. He also boasts the highest winning percentage (93.26 percent) in college football history with only 24 losses to his 332 wins.
Robert Neyland is one of the greatest coaches of his time. Tennessee named their stadium after “The General” who won four national championships at Tennessee and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956.
Almost everyone should recognize Les Miles’ name. He’s on the hot seat as the 2015 season comes to an end, but the LSU head coach for the last 11 years has been one of the best in the 21st century and a Hall of Fame quote.
It would be criminal not to mention John Heisman. The trophy given to the best player in the nation each year is named after him. As a coach, Heisman won one national championship during his head coaching career, which included stays at eight different universities. Interestingly, coaching football wasn’t his only forte, Heisman was just as successful as a baseball coach.
You could make an argument for any of these coaches to be on this list and many others too. However, without further ado, here are the top 30 college football coaches of all time.
Next: The 30 Best Ever
30. John Gagliardi
- Career Record: 489-138-1
- Bowl Record: 1-0
- Tournament Record: 4-1 in NAIA Playoffs, 34-18 in NCAA D-III Playoffs.
- Honors and Awards: Most wins in college football history. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. 2 NAIA National Championships, 2 NCAA Division III National Championships, 3 Montana Collegiate Conference Championships, 27 MIAC Championships.
St. John’s University, a small, men’s only college in Collegeville, Minnesota, possesses one of the most successful football programs in the entire nation. You’ve probably never heard of John Gagliardi or St. John’s, but that shouldn’t discount any of their accomplishments.
Gagliardi is the winningest coach in college football history. He has won four national championships and collected 30 conference championships along the way.
Winning a national title at the Division III level is slightly more difficult because of their 32-team playoff system, and not just a four-team playoff for the FBS schools.
Gagliardi is most famous for his unorthodox style of coaching. His practices only last 90 minutes, his players don’t have to lift weights, tackling is not allowed in practice, and his players aren’t supposed to even call him coach. As odd as it may seem it works pretty well for Gagliardi.
Next: Frank Beamer
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29. Frank Beamer
- Career Record: 280-143-4
- Record at Each School: 42-23-2 at Murray State, 238-121-2 at Virginia Tech.
- Bowl Record: 10-12
- Honors and Awards: Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year (1979), 3x Big East Coach of the Year, 2x ACC Coach of the Year, Appointed to College Football Playoff Committee (2017).
When Frank Beamer retired from coaching after the 2015 season, it was the end of an era at Virginia Tech for one of the most successful and well-liked coaches to ever prowl the sideline.
While Beamer never won the elusive national championship at Virginia Tech, his Hokies did play in one BCS Championship Game (1999 vs. Florida State). Beamer also led the Hokies to 23 consecutive bowl appearances from 1993-2015, the longest streak on record at the time.
In 1987, Beamer took over a Virginia Tech program which was under NCAA sanctions from former coach Bill Dooley, and despite the reduction in scholarships and loss of national TV exposure, still managed to have the Hokies back to a winning record in just three seasons.
Beamer won eight conference championships during his coaching tenure – one Ohio Valley Conference, three Big East, and four ACC.
Next: Bernie Bierman
28. Bernie Bierman
- Career Record: 153-65-12
- Record at Each School: 9-9-3 at Montana, 8-8-1 at Mississippi State, 36-10-2 at Tulane, and 93-35-6 at Minnesota.
- Bowl Record: 0-1
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955. 5 National Championships, 7 Big Ten Championships, and 3 Southern Championships.
Five national championships really say it all for Bernie Bierman.
Bierman played running back for the Minnesota Golden Gophers before taking over as their head coach in 1932. He won 93 games at Minnesota as their head coach and will be firmly ingrained in their program’s history.
After leading his team to a Big Ten championship in 1915, Bierman served as a marine in World War I. When his time with the military ended, he took over as the head coach at the University of Montana where he posted a pedestrian 9-9-3 record over three years. Bierman spent time selling bonds before returning to coaching as an assistant at Tulane before he was hired at Minnesota.
The Golden Gophers finished sixth in the Big Ten during his first season as head coach in 1932. However, he would only fail to finish first in the division twice over the next decade. Bierman led his team to three consecutive national titles from 1934-1936, something that may never happen again, and he would win two more in 1940 and 1941.
Next: Mack Brown
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27. Mack Brown
- Career Record: 244-122
- Record at Each School: 6-5 at Appalachian State, 11-23 at Tulane, 69-46-1 at North Carolina, and 158-48 at Texas.
- Bowl Record: 13-8
- Honors and Awards: 1 National Championship, 2 Big 12 Championships. 2-time Big 12 Coach of the Year.
Mack Brown took the Longhorns to two national championships, winning one, and dominated their home state in recruiting, which made Texas one of the best programs of the early 21st century.
Brown had 20 consecutive winning seasons during his time at North Carolina and later at Texas, he had a streak of 18 consecutive bowl game appearances and 162 consecutive weeks ranked in the AP Top 25. Ricky Williams won the Heisman Trophy during Brown’s tenure at Texas, and three players–Ricky Williams, Vince Young, and Colt McCoy–won the Maxwell Award.
Most importantly, Brown was a combined 32-17 combined against Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas Tech during his time at Texas. The Longhorns churned out tons of NFL talent under Brown like Earl Thomas, Jamaal Charles, and Derrick Johnson.
While he’s mostly remembered for his time at Texas, it would be silly not to mention the success Brown had as head coach at North Carolina. Overall, he finished 69-46-1 at UNC, including three 10-win seasons. He coached the Tar Heels to five consecutive bowl games from 1992-1997.
Mack Brown created a winning culture at North Carolina and Texas, and should be viewed as one of the best coaches in either team’s history.
Next: Vince Dooley
26. Vince Dooley
- Career Record: 201-77-10
- 6 SEC Championships, One national championship
- Bowl Record: 8-10-2
- Honors and Awards: Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year (1976), “Bear” Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award (2010), 5x SEC Coach of the Year, Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame (1994)
Vince Dooley spent his entire head coaching career with the Georgia Bulldogs, and is still a revered name around Athens, Georgia and to the entire Bulldog Nation.
In 25 seasons at Georgia Dooley averaged an incredible eight wins per year in an era when most teams only played nine to ten games per season for many years. He was 3-0 against the legendary coach Bobby Dodd and, ironically, was the very first recipient of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year award in 1976.
Dooley simultaneously held the post of Athletic Director as well as head football coach from 1970 until his retirement from coaching in 1988, and then continued on as AD at Georgia until 2004. During his time as Georgia’s AD, the school won an unprecedented 78 team SEC championships and 23 national championships.
At the time of Dooley’s retirement in 1988, he was the second-winningest coach in SEC history behind only Bear Bryant. He is one of only 81 coaches in the history of college football to reach the 200-win mark.
Next: Jim Tressel
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25. Jim Tressel
- Career Record: 229-79-2
- Record at Each School: 135-57-2 at Youngstown State, 94-22 at Ohio State.
- Bowl Record: 5-4
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015. 12 Coach of the Year awards. 1 BCS National Championship, 4 NCAA Division 1-AA National Championships, 6 Big Ten Championships.
You may recognize him by his iconic sweater vest, but Jim Tressel is one of the greatest coaches in Ohio State and college football history.
After a 14-year stint at Youngstown State, Tressel was hired to usher in a new millennium of winning football at Ohio State. He went 94-22 with the Buckeyes from 2001-2010. In that time period, his team won one BCS National Championship, appeared in nine bowl games, and did not record a single losing season.
Among all the things he did at Ohio State, Buckeye fans should be most proud of his 8-1 record against rival Michigan.
Troy Smith won the Heisman under Tressel. According to Ohio State’s official website, he also produced 24 first-team All-Americans and 133 players earned their degree.
His career with the Buckeyes came to a bitter end when he had to resign amidst controversy. Tressel played ineligible players that had traded memorabilia for tattoos; he and the university faced NCAA sanctions. Despite a sour ending, Tressel’s career at Ohio State should always be remembered as sweet.
Next: John McKay
24. John McKay
- Career Record: 127-40-8
- Record at Each School: 127-40-8 at USC.
- Bowl Record: 6-3
- Honors and Awards: Induced into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988. 4 National Championships, 9 Pac-8 Championships. 2-time Coach of the Year.
As it turns out, a former Oregon running back is one of the greatest head coaches in USC’s history. John McKay took over the program after one season as an assistant coach, and oh, did the former tailback run with it.
During his only head coaching stint in college football, McKay reeled in four national championships and nine conference championships. His first two seasons with the Trojans were disappointing, recording a combined record of 8-11-1.
I’m sure he was facing pressure and was on the hot seat at that point, especially at USC. However, in 1962 McKay somehow went 11-0 and won his first national championship. That had to have calmed the qualms of USC’s elite.
O.J. Simpson developed and flourished under John McKay and became the 1st overall pick in the NFL Draft after winning the Heisman Trophy at USC.
McKay has a hefty resume, which is why he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
Next: Ara Parseghian
23. Ara Parseghian
- Career Record: 170-58-6
- Record at Each School: 39-6-1 at Miami (Oh), 36-35-1 at Northwestern, 95-17-4 at Notre Dame
- Bowl Record: 3-2
- Honors and Awards: Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (1964), 2x Football News Coach of the Year (1964, 1973), Induced into College Football Hall of Fame 1980
It’s hard not to think of the greatest college coaches of all time without the name of Ara Parseghian coming to mind. While some of Parseghian’s numbers may not stack up to others on this list, his impact on the coaching ranks and his players is a lasting one.
While successful at both Miami (Oh), and Northwestern, Parseghian is most known for his tenure at Notre Dame, where he led the Fighting Irish to two national championships in his first 10 years on the job.
The 1950s and early 1960s were a forgettable time in Notre Dame football history, but all that changed when Parseghian came on board in 1964. The Irish were almost immediately transformed back to the winning ways of the Knute Rockne and Frank Leahy eras.
During Parseghian’s tenure at Notre Dame, the long-dormant football rivalry with Michigan was revived through an agreement signed in 1970 with the help of then Michigan coach Bo Schembechler . The two schools had not met since 1943, and agreed to resume the series starting with the 1978 season.
One of the other notable items from Parseghian’s tenure in South Bend was uniform codes. All uniform ornamentation, including shamrocks and shoulder stripes, were done away with, as were any green jerseys. The Irish went to a plain navy blue home jersey while Parseghian was head coach.
Next: Darrell K. Royal
22. Darrell K Royal
- Career Record: 184-60-5
- Record at Each School: 12-8 at Mississippi State, 5-5 at Washington, 184-60-5 at Texas.
- Bowl Record: 8-7-1
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982. 3 National Championships, 11 Southwest Conference Championships.
Darrell K Royal is the third coach with Longhorn ties to appear on this list.
The University of Texas was one of the first schools to integrate African-American athletes into their programs, and Royal played an integral role in that. This had a huge impact on all of college football, not just his program.
Royal coached from 1954-1976 and didn’t record a single losing season. He won 11 Southwest Conference championships and three national championships at Texas. Not only was he inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, but Texas honored him by naming their stadium after him in 1996.
Ironically, Royal played football at the University of Oklahoma from 1946-1949, which is Texas’ biggest rival. Although his football career began there, his heart was clearly with Texas as he is now buried in Austin.
Next: Walter Camp
21. Walter Camp
- Career Record: 79-5-3
- Record at Each School: 67-2 at Yale, 12-3-3 at Stanford.
- Bowl Record: N/A
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. 3 National Championships.
Walter Camp is known as “The Father of Football,” so it’d be silly to omit him from this list.
Camp played in one of the first college football games when Harvard played Yale in 1876. Initially, he planned on being a doctor but realized he liked sports better. Now, his name is on a trophy presented to the best player in college football.
Not only was Camp a coach, he was a player and sports writer too. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach. At Yale, Camp’s alma mater, he went 67-2, won three national championships, and four conference titles.
Although he died in 1925, Camp helped shape modern football today. He played an integral role in creating rules and helping advance the game.
Next: Eddie Robinson
20. Eddie Robinson
- Career Record: 408-165-15
- Record at Each School: 408-165-15 at Grambling
- Bowl Record: 9-9
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997. 9 Black College National Championships, 19 SWAC Championships.
Eddie Robinson has the third most wins in college football history. His 408 wins are right behind John Gagliardi of St. John’s and Joe Paterno of Penn State. Robinson coached at Grambling State, a small university in Northern Louisiana, for 57 years and paved the way for African-Americans in college football.
50 of 57 of Robinson’s seasons at Grambling State had a record above .500, and only had one losing season between 1960 and 1990. No team scored a single point against Robinson during his second season at Grambling State.
Willie Brown, Buck Buchanan, and Charlie Joiner–all NFL Hall of Famers–played under Robinson. Even the Washington Redskin’s Doug Williams, the first African-American quarterback to win a Super Bowl, played for Robinson.
Robinson accomplished as much as any coach ever could have and more at Grambling State and when you have the Coach of the Year trophy named after you, you know you did something legendary.
Next: Lou Holtz
Jan 10, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Two time Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year recipient Lou Holtz speaks during Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year press conference at Renaissance Hotel Dallas. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
19. Lou Holtz
- Career Record: 249-132-7
- Record at Each School: 13-20 at William & Mary, 33-12-3 at NC State, 60-21-2 at Arkansas, 10-12 at Minnesota, 100-30-2 at Notre Dame, 33-37 at South Carolina.
- Bowl Record: 12-8-2
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. 1 National Championship, 1 SoCon Championship, 1 ACC Championship, 1 SWC Championship. 2-time Paul “Bear” Bryant Award winner, 1972 ACC Coach of the Year, 2000 SEC Coach of the Year.
Lou Holtz has one of the most recognizable names in the entire sports industry. It’s hard to think of Notre Dame without thinking of Holtz who won 100 games at Notre Dame and won the 1988 national championship.
However, before he got his golden opportunity with the Fighting Irish, Holtz tried his hand at coaching at five different schools. His first head coaching job was at William & Mary in 1969, but posted a 13-20 record and moved on to NC State in 1972. His success at NC State propelled him to a more prestigious job at Arkansas where he won 60 games, including six bowl games.
During his time at Notre Dame, Holtz only posted one losing season, his first in 1986. His Notre Dame teams appeared in nine bowl games. Holtz came out of retirement to coach South Carolina, but he never rekindled the same success he had at Notre Dame.
Next: Amos Alonzo Stagg
18. Amos Alonzo Stagg
- Career Record: 314-199-35
- Record at Each School: 10-11-1 at the YMCA, 251-114-27 at Chicago, 6-77-7 at Pacific.
- Bowl Record: 0-1
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959. 2 National Championships, 7 Big Ten Championships, 5 NCAC Championships.
Amos Alonzo Stagg coached football from 1890-1958 and even dabbled in coaching basketball and baseball. He was also the first paid coach in football history.
Not only does he have 314 wins to his name, Stagg helped develop some of modern football’s most common strategies. He was the first to use a man in motion and he helped develop the lateral pass.
He spent most of his coaching career with the University of Chicago and built his legacy there. He won seven Big Ten championships and two national championships during his time with the Maroons.
The Division III National Championship is named after him — the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. Later in his life, he was dubbed “The Grand Old Man of Football” by his peers. Stagg’s legacy is sure to outlive him; he is one of college football’s many legends.
Next: Pete Carroll
17. Pete Carroll
- Career Record: 97-19
- Record at Each School: 97-19 at USC.
- Bowl Record: 7-2
- Honors and Awards: 1 National Championship. 2003 Coach of the Year, 2-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year. 6 BCS Bowl Game wins.
Pete Carroll failed to win at least 11 games only twice from 2001-2009 at USC, the only school he ever coached in college. He was one of the best coaches in USC history and continued his success in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks.
Carroll had an uncanny ability to recruit and develop talent at USC. While he was the head coach, USC had 25 first-team All-Americans, two combined losses to rivals Notre Dame and UCLA, 63 straight 25-point games, 14 first round NFL draft picks and 53 players drafted, seven straight BCS bowl appearances and six BCS bowl wins, and four top-five recruiting classes.
That’s quite the resume.
Infamously, USC and Carroll were stripped of their 2004 BCS National Championship and all of their victories from their 2005 season were voided. It seemed as though the Trojans had lost everything, Reggie Bush even had his Heisman Trophy vacated. USC lost 30 scholarships and they were banned from playing in bowl games for two years. This was clearly not the brightest hour for Carroll during his time in Los Angeles.
Next: Bill Snyder
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16. Bill Snyder
- Career Record: 207-110-1
- Record at Each School: 207-110-1 at Kansas State.
- Bowl Record: 8-10
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015. Two Big 12 Championships. 4-time Big 12 Coach of the Year, 3-time Big 8 Coach of the Year. 2011 Coach of the Year. Received the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award in 1998.
Bill Snyder is the longest-tenured coach in Kansas State history and he’s still coaching the Wildcats today at 76 years old.
Although he’s never won a national championship, Snyder consistently produced competitive teams at Kansas State. I liken Kansas State to a low-budget MLB team because Snyder is limited in what he can sell to recruits, but he makes up for it with smart coaching decisions and execution of details. There may not be a coach who gets more out of his players than Snyder.
In his two stints with Kansas State, Snyder has produced 35 first and second team All-Americans. He’s had three different players finish in the top-five of the Heisman voting. Snyder’s also produced some very good coaching talent in Bob Stoops, Bret Bielema, Mike Stoops, Mark Mangino, and Phil Bennett who all coached under Snyder at some point.
Snyder was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015 and is the only active coach enshrined there as of 2017. His legacy at Kansas State is unlike any other, and I’m not sure there’s a nicer guy coaching college football today.
Next: Bo Schembechler
15. Bo Schembechler
- Career Record: 234-65-8
- Record at Each School: 40-17-3 at Miami (OH), 194-48-5 at Michigan.
- Bowl Record: 5-12
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993. 6-time Big Ten Coach of the Year. 13 Big Ten Championships, 2 Mid-American Championships.
Bo Schembechler is one of the most iconic figures in all of college football. He helped mold Michigan into one of college football’s premiere programs. Schembechler was an incredible motivator and always got the most out of his players. He fits nearly every stereotype of what you’d think a football coach should be.
Although he has a rather lackluster bowl record (5-12), Schembechler was a pioneer for Michigan football. The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry was cemented as one of the greatest in all of sports during his tenure. He brought along a culture that would forever change the program. His slogan, “Those who stay will be champions!” is still remembered among Michigan fans.
Of course, it wouldn’t be fitting to talk about Coach Bo without sharing his legendary ”the team” speech. Be careful watching this video, you may end up running through the nearest brick wall.
Next: Barry Switzer
Aug 30, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Former Oklahoma Sooners head coach Barry Switzer comes out of the tunnel at the end of the third quarter against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
14. Barry Switzer
- Career Record: 157-29-4
- Record at Each School: 157-29-4 at Oklahoma.
- Bowl Record: 8-5
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001. 3 National Championships, 12 Big 8 Championships.
Barry Switzer was Oklahoma’s head coach from 1973-1988, this was his only head coaching gig in college football. During his time in Norman, Switzer collected 157 wins and only 29 losses, which gives him one of the highest winning percentages in college football history.
He got his coaching start as an offensive coordinator for the Sooners in 1966. Under his tenure, Oklahoma had one of the most dynamic rushing attacks in college football, thanks to the Wishbone offense.
The Sooners did not suffer a losing season under Switzer, his worst record was 7-4-1 in 1981, and they only failed three times to finished in the top-10 at the end of the season.
Switzer accomplished so much in such a short time, it’s honestly a shame he didn’t coach any longer because he was also one of the larger personalities we’ve seen on the sidelines.
Next: Frank Leahy
13. Frank Leahy
- Career Record: 107-13-9
- Record at Each School: 20-2 at Boston College, 87-11-9 at Notre Dame.
- Bowl Record: 1-1
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1970. 5 National Championships. 1941 AFCA Coach of the Year.
Frank Leahy is another one of college football’s great pioneers, as a player and coach Leahy excelled and helped transform the game we all know and love today.
He played offensive tackle at Notre Dame under legendary coach Knute Rockne from 1928-1930 before beginning his coaching career at Georgetown, Michigan State, and Fordham. His first head coaching gig was at Boston College where he won a national championship and only lost two games while he was in Chestnut Hill. His success there propelled him to the head coaching job at his alma mater, Notre Dame.
Leahy made waves early at Notre Dame, he didn’t lose a game his first year and made major schematically changes his second year. Knute Rockne was known for his legendary “box” formation, which evolved from one of Glenn Warner’s schemes. The box used four different running backs, and the quarterback was mainly a blocker. However, Leahy scrapped that for the “T” formation.
He had great success with this new offense, winning three straight national championships from 1943-1947. He only lost 13 games from 1941-1953 at Notre Dame, placing him among the most elite coaches in their history.
Next: Bud Wilkinson
12. Bud Wilkinson
- Career Record: 145-29-4
- Record at Each School: 145-29-4 at Oklahoma.
- Bowl Record: 6-2
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969. 3 National Championships, 14 Big 8 Championships. 1949 AFCA Coach of the Year.
Bud Wilkinson was the head coach at Oklahoma from 1947-1963, which is where he etched his name in college football immortality. He moved up the ranks as an assistant coach at Syracuse, Minnesota, and Iowa Pre-Flight before he got his first, and only, college head coaching gig.
He started off his time at Oklahoma by winning a share of the conference title and he would continue that trend for the next 13 seasons. From 1947-1959, Oklahoma won their conference. That’s incredible to not even have one down year over more than a decade’s time.
In addition to his conference championships, Wilkinson collected three national championships in 1950, 1955, and 1956. Oklahoma only suffered one losing season under Wilkinson’s tenure. Oklahoma’s 47-game winning streak under Wilkinson is still the longest winning streak in college football and a record that may never be broken.
Wilkinson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969, and for good reason. He’s one of four coaches in Oklahoma history with more than 100 wins and he has one of the highest winning percentages in college football history.
Next: Fielding Yost
11. Fielding Yost
- Career Record: 198-35-12
- Record at Each School: 7-1-1 at Ohio Wesleyan, 8-3 at Nebraska, 10-0 at Kansas, 7-2-1 at Stanford, 1-0 at San Jose State, 165-29-10 at Michigan.
- Bowl Record: 1-0
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. 6 National Championships, 10 Big Ten Championships.
Fielding Yost spent most of his coaching career with the Michigan Wolverines, posting a record of 165-29-10 with the Wolverines. He was hired in 1901 when Michigan was still an Independent school and helped facilitate their move into the Big Ten, which they are still apart of today.
Most impressively, Yost’s 1901 team outscored their opponents a combined 550-0. That’s a mind-numbing statistic and something we will never see again.
Michigan won four straight national championships (1901-1904) under Yost. But what may be the most impressive aspect of his coaching career is that 72 players and assistant coaches under Yost went on to be head coaches in college and the NFL. His coaching tree is more like a coaching forest.
Next: Steve Spurrier
Sep 13, 2014; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier directs his team against the Georgia Bulldogs in the first quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
10. Steve Spurrier
- Career Record: 228-89-2
- Record at Each School: 20-13-1 at Duke, 122-27-1 at Florida, and 86-49 at South Carolina.
- Bowl Record: 11-10
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986. Heisman Trophy Winner. 7-time SEC Coach of the Year, 2-time ACC Coach of the Year. 1 National Championship, 1 ACC Championship, 6 SEC Championships.
Steve Spurrier is the embodiment of what I think an SEC football coach should be. Blatantly truthful and always loaded with a snarky remark. The only thing better than Spurrier’s record as a coach is his press conferences.
In addition to his head coaching success at Florida, Spurrier was a very good quarterback for the Gators from 1963-1966 and won the Heisman Trophy as a senior. He later coached a Heisman winner in Danny Wuerffel to become the first coach to win a Heisman and coach a Heisman winner.
Spurrier only had two losing seasons during his career, one of which he retired halfway through. Really, the only disappointing time in Spurrier’s career was his stint as the Washington Redskins head coach. Who could blame someone for failing at that job anyway?
The Head Ball Coach will always be remembered as one of college football’s finest and one of the best to ever coach in the SEC.
Next: Urban Meyer
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer on the sidelines late in the fourth quarter against the Oregon Ducks in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
9. Urban Meyer
- Career Record: 149-26
- Record at Each School: 17-6 at Bowling Green, 22-2 at Utah, 65-15 at Florida, and 45-3 at Ohio State.
- Bowl Record: 9-2
- Honors and Awards: 3 National Championships, 2 Mountain West Conference Championships, 2 SEC Championships, 1 Big Ten Championship. 2-time MWC Coach of the Year, MAC Coach of the Year, and named Sports Illustrated Coach of the Decade.
The current head coach at Ohio State and last year’s national champion, Urban Meyer is one of the top coaches in college football today. Myer’s ability to innovate and adapt his scheme to the players he has is uncanny. A lot of head coaches try to find players who fit what they do, but Meyer molds players to fit what he does.
We all saw how much success he had with three different quarterbacks during his National Championship run in 2014, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Meyer was able to modify his spread offense to fit Alex Smith’s set of skills at Utah and then tweaked it once at Florida when he had Chris Leak and later Tim Tebow.
His quarterback tree is impressive but his coaching tree may be even better. 11 of Meyer’s former assistants have moved on to be head coaches, which includes names like Charlie Strong, Dan Mullen, and Tom Herman.
Meyer has found success everywhere he’s gone and you should expect him to add to his resume over the next few years and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him a few spots higher on a list like this when his career is over.
Next: Nick Saban
Oct 17, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban looks up from the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Crimson Tide defeated the Aggies 41-23. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
8. Nick Saban
- Career Record: 188-60-1
- Record at Each School: 9-2 at Toledo, 34-24-1 at Michigan State, 48-16 at LSU, 92-18 at Alabama.
- Bowl Record: 8-8
- Honors and Awards: 4 National Championships, 5 SEC Championships, 1 MAC Championship. 2-time AP National Coach of the Year, 3-time SEC Coach of the Year.
Nick Saban is the greatest college football coach of the modern era. You can’t find a coach that recruits, teaches and builds better than Saban. He’s made head coaching stops at Toledo, Michigan State, LSU, the Miami Dolphins, and now Alabama. He’s found success almost anywhere he’s gone, except the NFL, where he went 15-17.
Saban amassed five SEC championships and four national championships at Alabama and LSU and looks to be on his way to his second College Football Playoff appearance this season.
Since 2009, 17 of Saban’s players were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, including names like Marcell Dareus, Julio Jones, Amari Cooper and Mark Ingram.
He’s also developed incredible coaching talent with Jimbo Fisher, Will Muschamp, Mark Dantonio and Jim McElwain all former Saban assistants.
Appreciate Saban while he’s still coaching, because he’s one of the best of all-time and when he retires we may never see another like him.
Next: Bobby Bowden
Nov 16, 2013; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Former Florida State Seminoles head coach Bobby Bowden before the game against the Syracuse Orange at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
7. Bobby Bowden
- Career Record: 377-134-5
- Record at Each School: 31-6 at Howard, 42-26 at West Virginia, 304-97-4 at Florida State.
- Bowl Record: 21-10-1
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. 2 National Championships, 12 ACC Championships.
Bobby Bowden is Florida State football.
The Seminoles were a joke before Bowden took over, going 3-8 in 1975, but things changed in 1976 when Bowden began his path toward the Hall of Fame. Shockingly, Florida State only had three losing seasons during his tenure and were in the top five of the final top 25 polls every year in the 90s. That’s remarkable consistency and his teams only had three losing seasons from 1976-2009.
Florida State produced two Heisman winners (Charlie Ward, Chris Weinke) and 26 consensus All-Americans during Bowden’s career. He produced tons of NFL talent too with 163 players drafted from 1976-2009.
Bowden took his Seminoles to 32 bowl games and won 21 of them. He collected two national championships and 12 ACC Championships, and it’s important to remember Florida State was independent from 1976-1991, otherwise he’d have another dozen or so more conference titles.
Next: Woody Hayes
6. Wayne “Woody” Hayes
- Career Record: 238-72-10
- Record at Each School: 19-6 at Denison, 14-5 at Miami, 205-61-10 at Ohio State.
- Bowl Record: 6-6
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983. 5 National Championships, 13 Big Ten Championships, 1 OAC Championship, 1 Mid-American Championship. 2-time Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Wayne Hayes, or better known as “Woody”, is the greatest coach in Ohio State’s rich history.
During his tenure with the Buckeyes, Hayes collected five national championships and 13 Big Ten championships. Ohio State only suffered two losing seasons from 1951-1978 and consistently finished in the AP’s final top 10 polls.
Although Hayes was a great man, friend, and coach, many people remember him for the incident at the end of the 1978 Gator Bowl. Charlie Bauman, a Clemson football player, was on the wrong end of Hayes’ fist at the end of the game. This wasn’t the only time Hayes let his character get the best of him, but it was the final nail in his coaching career coffin.
The fiery Buckeye coach was tough and hard-nosed, which is pretty much exactly what you’d imagine a football coach to be in that era. However, he let his temper get the best of him too often.
Despite his irritability, we should all remember Hayes for who he was and that’s one of the greatest college coaches to ever patrol the sidelines.
Next: Tom Osborne
5. Tom Osborne
- Career Record: 255-49-3
- Record at Each School: 255-49-3 at Nebraska.
- Bowl Record: 12-13
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999. 3 National Championships, 12 Big 8 Championships, 1 Big 12 Championship.
Tom Osborne lived and breathed football. He played at a small college in his hometown of Hastings, Nebraska as a quarterback and wide receiver.
In 1959, he joined the San Francisco 49ers and then played for the Washington Redskins the next two seasons. His playing career didn’t exactly take off, so he decided to join the Nebraska coaching staff as an unpaid assistant in 1964. He would hold that job for the next four years before taking over as the offensive coordinator.
Osborne coached under another coach on this list, the legendary Bob Devaney. Nebraska won the national championship in 1970 after Devaney promoted Osborne to offensive coordinator. Osborne made big changes in the program, completely changing the offensive identity, but it worked.
When Devaney decided to step down in 1972 it was clear who would take over for him.
Osborne took off where Devaney left off, winning three national championships, 12 Big 8 championships, and never won fewer than nine games in a season. Did I mention Osborne never failed to appear in a bowl game, either? Nebraska’s program was a model of consistency from 1973-1997.
After losing a Hall of Fame coach, Nebraska’s winning tradition only got better under Osborne.
4. Glen “Pop” Warner
- Career Record: 319-106-32
- Record at Each School: 7-4 at Georgia, 36-13-3 at Cornell, 114-42-8 at Carlisle, 60-12-4 at Pittsburgh, 71-17-8 at Stanford, 31-18-9 at Temple.
- Bowl Record: 1-1-2
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. 4 National Championships, 3 PCC Championships, 1 SIAA Championship.
The year 1895 was very important for sports; the first intercollegiate basketball game was played, the first pro football game was played, and Glen “Pop” Warner was hired by the University of Georgia for $34 a week to be their head coach.
Warner started slow at Georgia, going 3-4 his first year, but went undefeated in just his second season. He only coached at Georgia for two years before going to Cornell where he went 36-13-3 record with the Big Red but didn’t win any championships.
He spent seven years at Carlisle after coaching at Cornell and had an 114-42-8 overall record. In his third head coaching stint, Warner only posted one losing season before going back to Cornell.
Warner found his most success in Pittsburgh from 1915-1923 when he won three national championships and had three undefeated teams. He continued to prosper when he moved to Stanford in 1924, adding another national championship and two conference championships.
His coaching success is impressive, but that’s not only why Warner is this high on the list. He helped create some of football’s most important fundamentals. Warner created the three-point stance, screen pass and putting numbers on the backs of jerseys.
Next: Knute Rockne
3. Knute Rockne
- Career Record: 105-12-5
- Record at Each School: 105-12-5 at Notre Dame.
- Bowl Record: 1-0
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. 4 National Championships.
The native Norwegian helped innovate the game and laid the foundation for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s rich history. According to babynameshub.com, there hasn’t been a baby named Knute since 1893, but that’s not only what makes Rockne unique.
In college, he helped further the development of the forward pass, something that no one had really tried to do before. Rockne’s use of box formation and forward pass lead him to five different undefeated seasons in South Bend, Indiana. From 1918-1930, Notre Dame only lost 12 games and didn’t suffer a single losing season.
In addition to his four national championships and 100-plus wins, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. Rockne would’ve had a ton more victories, but he tragically died in a plane crash in 1931. His death was heartbreaking and rocked the nation.
Next: Joe Paterno
2. Joe Paterno
- Career Record: 409-136-3
- Record at Each School: 409-136-3 at Penn State.
- Bowl Record: 24-12-1
- Honors and Awards: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. 2 National Championships, 3 Big 10 Championships. 5-time AFCA Coach of the Year, 3-time Walter Camp Coach of the Year, 3-time Big 10 Coach of the Year.
Joe Paterno has the most wins in FBS college football. He spent over a half century at Penn State (1950-2011) and is the program, even if they’re distancing themselves from the iconic head coach. During his time, he won 409 games, three Big Ten Championships, and two national championships.
Penn State only had five losing seasons during his 45 years as head coach. He won 24 bowl games and received a bounty of head coaching awards. Paterno was a strong voice for instant replay and is probably the reason it was adopted in the first place.
Of course, many people remember Paterno for his failure to handle the Jerry Sandusky incident in the early 2000’s. This leads to his eventual dismissal and a heavy set of NCAA sanctions for Penn State. Joe Paterno died of lung cancer just two months after his firing.
Despite the negative end to his career, people should still acknowledge Paterno’s ability as a coach and what he did for Penn State.
Next: Bear Bryant
1. Paul “Bear” Bryant
- Career Record: 323-85-17
- Record at Each School: 6-2-1 at Maryland, 60-23-6 at Kentucky, 24-14-2 at Texas A&M, and 232-46-9 at Alabama.
- Bowl Record: 15-12-2
- Honors and Awards: 7 National Championships, 14 SEC Championships, 1 SWC Championship. 12-time SEC Coach of the Year, 3-time AFCA Coach of the Year.
Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant is the most iconic head coach with his houndstooth fedora and stoic presence on the sidelines.
Before coaching at Alabama, Bryant helped turn lowly programs like Maryland, Kentucky, and Texas A&M into very good teams. Kentucky went to its first bowl and had its first winning season under Bryant. The Bear turned the 1-9 “Junction Boys” into Southwest Conference champions at Texas A&M in 1955 and produced his only Heisman winner, John David Crow, in 1956.
What I respect most about Bryant was how adamant he was about integrating African American players into college football. He ultimately decided to leave Kentucky and Texas A&M because both universities refused to integrate their programs.
Bryant found success quickly after he took over as head coach at his alma mater Alabama in 1956. The Crimson Tide went to 23 consecutive bowl games after they failed to make one his first season. Alabama did not suffer a single losing season under Bryant.
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Seven national championships, 14 SEC championships, the transformation of two major programs and his laundry list of other accomplishments speak for themselves.
Bear Bryant is the greatest college football coach of all-time.