This may be a topic revisited but it is an interesting take on what CFN views as the Top 6 coaches in CFB and worth looking at again: (For the record I agree pretty much with this list) 6. Urban Meyer, Florida – Don’t let last year’s temporary bout with mediocrity fool you. Meyer is a superstar of the coaching ranks. And he’s going to win plenty of games for Florida in the SEC. Meyer’s critics came out of every nook and cranny in 2005, but you don’t coach Bowling Green out of an abyss and guide Utah to a BCS bowl win unless you’re special. Meyer’s only 41, has already proven to be a crackerjack recruiter and flies above the curve in terms of offensive ingenuity. If he can’t out smart you, he’ll out hustle you, an indication that his drive to succeed is relentless. One-Year Record at Florida: 9-3 (1-0 in bowl games) One-Year Record Before He Arrived: 7-5 (0-1 in bowl games) Career Record: 48-11 (3-0 in bowl games) 5. Charlie Weis, Notre Dame – It’s only been one year, but what’s not to like about Weis? With the entire sports world scrutinizing his every move, he made a immediate and profound impact on a university that was going sideways. He’s a winner in ways that extend beyond the record. Yeah, nine wins and a Fiesta Bowl berth was an impressive debut, but Weis has also displayed a knack for out coaching the opposition, cleaning up in recruiting and energizing the masses that’ve been pining for a capable leader since Lou Holtz left South Bend. Like Ralph Friedgen, Weis should have had a job sooner, and looks poised to make up for lost time. One-Year Record: 9-3 (0-1 in bowl games) One-Year Record Before He Arrived: 6-6 (0-1 in bowl games) 4. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa – Ferentz was extremely slow out of the gate, winning just four games in his first two seasons in Iowa City, but has been one of the country’s premier coaches since turning things around in 2001. In many ways, he’s college football’s version of Bill Belichick, a calm, cerebral leader, who surrounds himself with a terrific staff of assistants. Ferentz and Co. have earned a reputation for taking average recruits that few other schools wanted and molding them into dominant college players and coveted NFL draft picks. See Robert Gallery and Chad Greenway. Seven-Year Record: 49-36 (3-2 in bowl games) Seven-Year Record Before He Arrived: 43-38-1 (2-2 in bowl games) 3. Mark Richt, Georgia – In Richt, Georgia has joined forces with the kind of young and successful coach that can conceivably be the pillar of the program for two decades and the school’s next Vince Dooley. He’s been that good in his first five years in Athens. Good coaches win games, but great coaches win titles, and Richt had already bagged a pair of SEC championships before his 46th birthday, including last year’s, which took everyone by surprise. Throw in a hard-to-imagine 19-2 record on the road that includes no out of conference cream puffs, and Five-Year Record: 52-13 (3-2 in bowl games) Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 40-17 (4-0 in bowl games) 2. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma – No one is perfect, and that obviously includes coaches. Keep that in mind as visions of the 2004 Sugar Bowl, 2005 Orange Bowl and the first half of last year dance through your head. Yes, Stoops has shown hints of vulnerability the past couple of years, but not nearly enough to cloud all the good that he’d bring to any program. When he got on board in 1999, the Sooners were riding an unusual six-year streak of .500 or worse finishes, yet it took Stoops just two years to elevate OU to the top of the NCAA mountain. And they’ve been meandering near the peak ever since. He’s tough, disciplined and among the best defensive strategists in all of college football. Stoops is a franchise head coach, who’d bring dignity, better recruits and elevated expectations to his next employer. Seven-Year Record: 75-16 (4-3 in bowl games) Seven-Year Record Before He Arrived: 37-40-3 (1-1 in bowl games) 1. Pete Carroll, USC – Critics point to USC’s deep pool of local prep talent and assume any coach can be plugged into the job, and 10-win seasons will churn out. Those critics are sorely misguided. Carroll did not take over a well-oiled machine when he arrived in 2001. In fact, the once proud Trojans were mired in mediocrity and the last 10-win season had happened in 1988. After losing six games by a combined 29 points in his debut season, Carroll has led USC to a 48-4 record, four straight Pac-10 titles, three BCS bowl wins and at least a share of two national championships. His high energy, low stress coaching style has been a smashing success with the players, and his ability to make in-game adjustments and attract blue-chip talent from all over the country is second to none. Five-Year Record: 54-10 (3-2 in bowl games) Five-Year Record Before He Arrived: 31-29 (0-1 in bowl games)
Interesting that the guy who is starting his 9th year at Texas, has never won fewer than 9 games, and has won at least 10 games for the last 4 or 5 years plus a Nat'l Championship isn't considered one of the top 6 coaches. Terry
To further elucidate. 10 year record. 10-2 UNC 1996 10-1 UNC 1997 9-3 Tx 1998 9-5 TX 1999 9-3 TX 2000 11-2 TX 2001 11-2 TX 2002 10-3 TX 2003 11-1 TX 2004 13-0 TX 2005 Nat'l Championship. 101 - 22 82% winning record.
I'm a huge Weis fan but Mack Brown should be in there in front of him based on a longer track record if nothing else.
I agree with George and also wonder why Jim Tressel is not included. Frankly, I don't believe Weis should be in the top 5 at this time ahead of Brown or Tressel. That's just my opinion.
I think it's definitely premature for Charlie, he's being ranked there because he was the OCoord on 4 Super Bowl teams and he did have a good first year, but I do think you should have a track record before being annointed one of the top 10.
I still don't like Mack Brown (no, not because of where he coaches), but the second he removed the "never won a championship" monkey from his back, he jumped way up on that list. I don't really get why Richt is there. Considering Georgia's resources, and legacy, what's he done that is so much better than Spurrier who has won a MNC?
I will have to admit I was surprised CoachTressel was not in that group with his accomplisments at ohio State. Don :?
Truth be known this is the top 6 of a long list put out by CFN. I think Tressel and Brown are very close behind and I agree that both should be ahead of Richt because of his one nemesis...Florida.