The Best Coaching Staffs

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What makes a great staff? Is it the number of championships won collectively? How about longevity at the institution or team? Could it be the number of future head coaches being apprenticed by the current head coach? Is the best staff the one that consistently recruits the top players?

The answer to what makes a great staff most assuredly is defined by each of the components listed above. For some staffs, they have been together for so long that each of the staff members feels like part of each other's family. Others have been brought together in the old San Francisco 49er approach of getting the fastest horses and riding them for as long as you can.

The Big 11

Considering all the factors that go into what makes an outstanding staff, here is our look at the top college staffs in the nation (in no particular order):

Florida State

The 12-year record in Tallahassee (129-17-1) settles any and all debate about this staff. They win at a clip almost unfathomable and consistently bring in the top recruiting class in the nation. With stars like Mickey Andrews (DC), Mark Richt (OC), Chuck Amato (LB), and the others, it is easy to understand why players flock to play for the Seminoles (they get the chance to go to the NFL -- in the past 10 years, 66 FSU players have been drafted). Several FSU coaches (Andrews, Richt, etc.) have turned down the opportunity to run other programs, choosing to stay and work for beloved and much respected Bobby Bowden.

Penn State

Talk about loyalty to a program, Penn State has several coaches on staff that have spent virtually their entire adult life working in Happy Valley for Joe Pa (Fran Ganter (OC), 28 years; Jerry Sandusky (DC), 32 years; Dick Anderson (QB), 23 years). That type of consistency builds great programs and leads to terrific results. Penn State has been a major player in the polls and recruiting lists for years. Not only does the staff have great veteran coaches and teachers like Ganter and Sandusky, the Nittanty Lions staff also has some young stars on the rise in Jay Paterno, Joe Sarra and Kenny Jackson.

Nebraska

How strong is this staff? Consider that in 1998 when Tom Osborne stepped down, and before Frank Solich was announced as the new head Cornhusker, there was valid speculation that any one of three assistants could be tapped as the new coach eitherSolich, Charlie McBride (DC), or Milt Tenopir (OL). To Solich's credit, he was able to keep the staff in check and thus preserve the great Nebraska tradition. In addition to the long-time members of the staff, several of the younger assistants are potential head coaches (Nelson Barnes (DL), Turner Gill (QB), and Ron Brown(WR)).

Texas

In quick order, the staff put in place by Mack Brown has restored the Longhorn program. As one of the highest paid staffs in the nation, much is expected of this group, and to date they have delivered (1998's 8-3 record and the consensus No.1 recruiting class last spring). Brown is the acknowledged master at blending veteran teachers and technicians with local talent to get the program ingrained with the state's high school coaches (the same formula worked at Tulane and North Carolina). At UT, the staff includes proven excellence like Greg Davis (OC) and respected Carl Reese (DC), as well as former Texas high school coach Bruce Chambers (RB).

Oklahoma

You have to give new OU head man Bob Stoops credit, he went out and tried to get the best of the best of young coaches. Not many staffs have three sure-fire future head coaches, but Oklahoma has that many if not more head coaches in waiting (Mike Leach (OC), Mike Stoops (Co-DC),and Brent Venables (Co-DC) have all been mentioned as head coaching material). The staff in Norman not only has future stars, but also has others with great pedigrees (Steve Spurrier, Jr. (WR), Jonathan Hayes (TE), Bobby Jack Wright (DE), Mark Mangino (OL)). This group has its sights set on getting it done for the Sooners quickly so some of the stars can move on.

Tennessee

After years of first-rate recruiting classes and top 10 finishes, the Vols finally put it all together to capture the 1998 national title. That Phil Fulmer has the best winning percentage in college football is due in no small part due to the staff of excellent coaches he has been able to attract to Knoxville. Even after losing two top aides (David Cutcliffe (OC) to Ole Miss as the head man, and Kevin Ramsey (DB) to Georgia as DC), the Vol staff is solid. New OC Randy Sanders and John Chavis (DC) are potentially big targets for schools looking to hire a new coach from a proven winner, plus up and comers like Pat Washington (WR) give this staff great balance; an no one recruits better than this group.

Ohio State

Pagac (DC), Jacobs (OC), Salem (QB), and Stobart (WR) are not names that everyone thinks of when they first think of Ohio State, but these coaches along with the other talented staff members assembled by John Cooper have the Buckeyes at the very top of the polls every year, and they do it by recruiting unbelievable athletes to Columbus. Just check the NFL drafts for the past five years and you'll find Ohio State players littered across the top of the draft (6 who left with eligibility remaining). And, the Buckeyes just keep rolling along; never rebuilding, just reloading. This staff apparently has a system in place that allows for interchangeable parts to be put in and the motor keeps running smoothly. Young stud coaches Tim Spencer (RB) and Shawn Simms (DE) are indicative of the type of coaches Cooper has brought in to go get the players needed to feed the OSU machine.

BYU

The BYU staff has all of the key ingredients required for a great staff: longevity at the school, great recruiters, and terrific teachers. LaVell Edwards' staff has had the Cougars at the top of their league for so long (formerly the WAC, and now the MWC-Mountain West Conference) that it seems to be a birthright that each year's team is picked to win or seriously compete for the league title. Norm Chow (OC) has been by Edwards' side for 22 years, as have other staff stalwarts: Ken Schmidt (DC) (18 years), Roger French (OL) (19 years), and Tom Ramage (ST) (26 years). When you combine this experience with highly regarded young stellar coaches like Robbie Bosco (QB) and Lance Reynolds (RB), you have the makings of a great group. But, when you factor in the hardships faced year-in and year-out with the Mormon missions and players coming and going, etc., you realize what a first-rate job is being done in Provo.

Georgia

It has taken Jim Donnan only three years to breathe life into the Bulldog program that was almost dead under Ray Goff, and much of the credit goes to Donnan for the astute hires he has made. This group is harvesting the talent-rich home state like a sonofagun, as well as making significant strides in neighboring states. Two members of the 1998 staff are now head coaches (Mickey Matthews at James Madison, Chris Scelfo at Tulane), so that tells you something about the caliber of coaches hired by Donnan. In the last two years, he has brought in great young coaches to add to his already seasoned staff. He hired Rodney Garner (DL/Rec.) from Tennessee before the 1998 campaign, and last spring took highly regarded Kevin Ramsey from Tennessee to become the Dogs' DC (here's a clue about Ramsey's ability, to get him, Donnan effectively kicked long-time DC guru Joe Kines upstairs).

Michigan

It helps you land the top players year-in and year-out when you play in the nation's most famous stadium, have great tradition and are generally at the top of the national rankings. But, to keep it going every year is a chore, (just look at Alabama, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, etc.). Yet, head coach Lloyd Carr has done a great job in Ann Arbor, and, in no small part, due to the staff he has in place. He has great coordinators (Mike DeBord (OC), and Jim Herrman (DC) - a Wolverine lifer) and tremendous position coaches like Brady Hoke (DL), Stan Parrish (QB), and Bobby Morrsion (ST). With the possible exception of Notre Dame, Michigan's staff brings in a "national" class better than anyone.

Clemson

Bobby Bowden's son Tommy, the new coach at Clemson has learned one lesson from his father very well, and that is, "surround yourself with great assistants." The collective assimilated in Death Valley is indeed impressive and boasts several future head coaches including Rich Rodriguez (OC), Reggie Herring (DC) -- a holdover from the old Tiger staff, Ron West (OL), Rodney Allison (DE), and Rick Stockstill (WR), as well as a great hire in former South Carolina head coach Brad Scott (TE) to help with in-state wars with new USC head man Lou Holtz. If the Tigers quickly regain their place as one of the nation's elite programs, look for Death Valley to become a shopping center for hungry ADs.

The Fab Five

The top staffs in the NFL (in no particular oder):

New York Jets

The Jets are poised to reach the Super Bowl, and no wonder; Parcells is as good as there is in the game and this staff reflects him. Veterans Weis (OC), Henning (QB), Belichick (DC), etc. are all at the top of the game, and Carthon (RB) is a star in the making.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Both 1998 coordinators are now head coaches (Palmer in Cleveland, and Jauron in Chicago) so you know head man Coughlin knows how to find 'em. New DC Dom Capers (former Carolina head coach and soon to be head coach again in 2000) is as respected a coach as there is in the game, and Pasquale (ST), Szabo (LB), Pease (DL), and the rest, are all excellent teachers.

Atlanta Falcons

Head man Dan Reeves is old school, and he knows full well the value of a great staff; this Falcon group is no exception. Rich Brooks (DC) is a former head coach (St. Louis) and will soon be given another chance. Shell (OL) (another former head coach, who many cannot understand why he is not running his own squad), Burns (QB), Sefcik (OC), Kollar (DL), etc. are some of the biggest reasons the Falcons went to the Super Bowl and may go back.

San Francisco 49ers

It seems that for 20 years the league's top coaches have graduated from the Bill Walsh Academy of coaching excellence otherwise known as the San Francisco 49ers. The 1999 staff led by head coach Steve Mariucci will continue to serve the NFL as a grocery store for coaches. Morhinweg (OC) is a future head man, even ailing, McKittrick (OL) is the best, new DC Mora is super good, and Stewart (ST), Brown (DB), etc. are top-rated teaching professionals (watch for Knapp (QC/QB) to emerge as a future star). The return of Walsh to the organization can only help the team's overall operation.

Seattle Seahawks

Mike Holmgren. . . Mike Holmgren

. . . Mike Holmgren. . . Mike Holmgren... No one name carries as much weight and respect in today's NFL. He will get the job done in Seattle (in part because former Seahawk mentor Erickson left him a full cupboard) with a great staff, and one that will be raided by vulture-like GMs in future years. Sherman (OC), Cromwel (WR), Brooks (DL), Flajole (DB), Lovat (OL), and Lind (DC/LB) lead the charge in relocating from Green Bay with Holmgren (also Shurmur (DC), out with cancer will be with the team in spirit each day). Holdover Rodriguez (ST) is an excellent compliment to the staff.

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