AFM RSS Feed Follow Us on Twitter       
AMERICAN FOOTBALL MONTHLY THE #1 RESOURCE FOR FOOTBALL COACHES
ABOUT |  CONTACT |  ADVERTISE |  HELP  



   User Name    Password 
      Password Help





Article Categories


AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


Walking the Sidelines

Top 25 Coaches
by: Gene Frenette
Florida Times-Union
© More from this issue

Click for Printer Friendly Version          

Every week during college football season, fans routinely cast their eyes on somebody's Top 25 poll - Associated Press, ESPN/USA Todayand several lesser-known ranking systems now incorporated into the Bowl Championship Series formula - to see where their respective schools might stack up with the rest of the nation.

These polls are anything but perfect. They spur controversy, often drawing the ire of people in places like Blacksburg, Lincoln, Knoxville, Manhattan and State College who feel their schools should be ranked higher or somebody else's lower. But the polls do serve one useful purpose: they get folks talking about college football.

So with that in mind, we'd like to present a different kind of Top25 poll, one that is sure to pique the curiosity of fans who bleed notonly their school's colors, but have strong allegiances to the coacheswho helped form the great football traditions at college campuses across the nation. In honor of the new millennium, below we rank for your reading pleasure, or discomfort (whichever the case may be), the Top 25 coaches of the 20th century.

We base this ranking equally on three factors: the coach's overallwinning percentage, plus his impact on his school's program and the game of college football. Whether you agree or disagree with the list, one thing is certain: you're looking to see if your favorite coach is there.

Here's the American Football Monthly's version of the Top 25 coaches for this century, listing the ranking, the coach, his record, the years he roamed the sideline and the school(s) where he was employed:

1. Paul "Bear" Bryant, 323-85-15; 1945-82; Maryland (1 year), Kentucky (8 years), Texas A&M (4 years), Alabama (25 years) — The man in the houndstooth hat rates a slight edge over several deserving candidates because of his success during a college football era when the landscape changed rather drastically. It's not just the six national championships, 13 Southeastern Conference titles or 24 consecutive bowl trips at Alabama that makes the Bear No. 1. It was his ability to get it done wherever he went and the small army of head coaches he produced at major schools throughout the South. In his last five years at Kentucky, that perennially mediocre program was ranked in the final Top 20, including a No. 7 ranking when UK finished 11-1 in 1950. Texas A&M went from 1-9 in his first season to 9-0-1 and a No. 5 ranking two years later. Bryant won when there were unlimited scholarships and no black players at his schools. And he won just as much when the scholarship playing field got leveled and integration arrived. He truly changed with the times and, contrary to what some might think, became a much better coach in his later years. And judging by his 43-6 record against his former pupils, he clearly was the master of his domain.

2. Amos Alonzo Stagg, 314-199-35; 1890-1946; Springfield (2 years), Chicago (41 years), Pacific (14 years) - He won more games than any other college coach before Bryant came along, but it was his innovations that marked his legacy. Stagg is credited with pioneering the forward pass, the T-formation, the single and double flanker, the huddle, the shift, the man in motion, the quick kick and the short kickoff. He invented the tackling dummy, the blocking sled, padded goal posts and uniform numbers. And much to the chagrin of players everywhere, he also created wind sprints. Notre Dame icon Knute Rockne once said: "All football comes from Stagg." His Chicago teams won seven Big Ten championships. He only went to Pacific after Chicago forced him into mandatory retirement at age 70. Even at age 90, he served as an advisory coach at Stockton (Calif.) Junior College. Also selected for Walter Camp's first All-America team as an end at Yale in 1889.

3. Glenn "Pop" Warner, 319-106-32; 1895-1938; Georgia (2 years), Cornell (5 years), Carlisle (13 years), Pittsburgh (9 years), Stanford (9 years), Temple (6 years) - He doesn't have quite as many innovations as Stagg, but that doesn't mean he lacked for creativity. He made national headlines with his double-wing formation, the one that a Jim Thorpe-led squad at Carlisle used in 1912 to upset Army 27-6. The single wing, the three-point stance, shoulder and thigh pads are also among things he's credited with bringing to the game. Guided Stanford to three of the first four Rose Bowls played and went 1-1-1, losing to Notre Dame, tying Alabama and beating Pittsburgh.

4. Knute Rockne, 105-12-5; 1918-30; Notre Dame (13 years) - His .881 winning percentage tops the list of all Division I-A coaches and will likely never be broken by anyone who coaches on that level for any length of time. Given that Rockne was primarily responsible for Notre Dame leaping to national prominence, some might argue that he deserves a higher ranking. But the former chemistry research assistant also had nearly unlimited power, some of it a direct conflict-of-interest that would never be tolerated in modern times, to help ensure his great record. He controlled everything connected with Notre Dame athletics, from which officials worked his games to what was written in the newspapers about his teams. Control freak that he was, Rockne also was a great coach. He made Notre Dame into a national team by taking his squads all over the country and playing the best competition. Before his tragic death in a 1931 plane crash, he produced three mythical national titles, 20 first-team All-Americans and five perfect seasons. Golden Domer historians sometimes embellish his legend, but there's no denying that he knew how to get it done on Saturday.

5. Bud Wilkinson, 145-29-4; 1947-63; Oklahoma (17 years) - Of all the dynasties in college football history, the 11-year stretch when his Sooner teams went 107-8-2 from 1948-58 may have been the most impressive ever. OU's 47-game winning streak stands as one of the most unbreakable team marks of all time. Wilkinson put a premium on speed and quickness long before that became the highest priority in modern-day recruiting.

6. Bob Neyland, 173-31-12; 1926-34, 1936-40, 1946-52; Tennessee (21 years) - He came to Tennessee as an ROTC instructor and left as its most famous general. Neyland was hired with the lone order of helping the Volunteers take command of its series with in-state rival Vanderbilt, which it was losing rather badly. Neyland not only dominated Vanderbilt, he coached UT to some of its greatest moments during three separate coaching stints. (Military obligations forced him to give up coaching temporarily.) Neyland's teams won 30 consecutive regular season games in the late 1930s and in his final era, the Vols captured the 1951 national championship. His squad still holds an NCAA record for holding opponents scoreless for 71 consecutive quarters and pitching 17 straight shutouts. Leave it to a military man to have a great defense.

7. Joe Paterno, 315-83-3; 1966-present; Penn State (34 years) - He has had perfect seasons in four different decades, both as an independent and member of the Big Ten Conference. He has won two national titles and, except for the fate of fickle voters, might have a couple more. But above all that, in coaching's modern era, nobody has done more to keep the fading concept of "student-athlete" alive by his example on and off the field. Paterno is one of the few coaches still making a national impact by doing things the old-school way.

8. Fielding Yost, 196-36-12; 1897-1926; Ohio Weslyan (1 year), Nebraska (1 year), Kansas (1 year), Stanford (1 year), Michigan (25 years) - Long before there was Bo Schembechler and Fritz Crisler, there was a coach who not only won big at Michigan, but was responsible for the "Big House" of Michigan Stadium. Yost didn't lose a game until his fifth year in Ann Arbor. His teams finished first in the Big Ten eight times in the 15 years that they competed under Yost's guidance. But it was Yost's early vision in the 1920s for a 100,000-seat venue that eventually laid the groundwork for Michigan Stadium to expand to 101,001 by 1956. Several schools are now moving toward these huge stadiums. The man who got that ball rolling is also the eighth-winningest Division I-A coach by percentage (.828).

9. Eddie Robinson, 408-165-15; 1941-42, 1945-97; Grambling (55 years) - Some will scoff that the game's all-time winningest coach should be at the top. Others will insist that because Grambling played on a lower level, and that because segregation provided him with great black players who couldn't get scholarships to the major schools, Robinson's record was easier to attain. Hey, every coach must perform his job under certain parameters. That Robinson stayed at one school for that long is a testimony to his loyalty and the winning is a tribute to his own determination. He started at Grambling for $64.63 a month. He left one of the richest legacies in the game's history.

10. Bob Devaney, 136-30-7; 1957-72; Wyoming (5 years), Nebraska (11 years) - Surprisingly, he's one of the most underrated coaches despite an .806 win percentage, capturing back-to-back national titles and being the winning coach in what many regard as the "Game of the Century" in 1971 against Oklahoma. What's easily forgotten about Devaney is the Cornhuskers had six consecutive losing seasons before he arrived from Wyoming. Now the school is at 38 consecutive winning seasons and counting. And remember this: it was Devaney's assistant, Tom Osborne, who learned under him and kept that tradition and produced three more national titles in the '90s.

11. John Heisman, 185-70-17; 1892-1927; Oberlin (2 years), Akron (1 year), Auburn (5 years), Clemson (4 years), Georgia Tech (16 years), Pennsylvania (3 years), Washington & Jefferson (1 year), Rice (4 years) - OK, so he was the Lou Saban of his time, always moving around except for his long-term stay at Tech. But modern-day coaches making seven-figure salaries owe a debt to Heisman. He was the first paid coach in the country, getting $2,250 in salary plus 30 percent of the gate receipts when he arrived at Tech in 1904. He was responsible for the innovation of the hidden-ball trick and liked to confuse opponents with lateral passes, reverses, onside kicks and using a pulling guard for sweeps. Heisman might have run up the score a bit on Cumberland College, winning 222-0, but his 102-29-7 record at Tech and four national titles speak volumes for his coaching acumen. Besides, if this German immigrant hadn't married a peasant girl and taken her last name, the Heisman Trophy might now be known as the von Bogart Trophy.

12. Bobby Bowden, 303-85-4; 1959-62, 1970-present; Samford (4 years), West Virginia (6 years), Florida State (24 years) - Given that FSU football was basically a non-entity just before Bowden's arrival, his 12 consecutive Top Four finishes has to put his program as maybe the greatest of the modern-day college football dynasties. Bowden's willingness to gamble offensively and win so many games against big-name schools on the road during his early years at FSU set a tone. It enabled FSU to eventually surpass rivals Florida and Miami for Sunshine State supremacy.

13. Gil Dobie, 180-45-15; 1906-38; North Dakota St. (2 years), Washington (9 years), Navy (3 years), Cornell (16 years), Boston College (3 years) - You've probably never heard of this guy, but his name is all over the NCAA record books. And for good reason. Dobie didn't lose a game until his 12th season as a head coach. In his first year at Navy, he finished an uncharacteristic 7-1. Sure, they played fewer games back then, but going 59-0-2 in your first decade as a head coach is still a remarkable achievement. After a 6-2 start at Cornell, his teams followed with three consecutive 8-0 seasons. Combined, Dobie had 14 unbeaten seasons. Many schools who have played football over 100 years don't have that many. Washington's 63-game unbeaten streak from 1907-17, still an NCAA record, happened almost entirely under Dobie's guidance.

14. Darrell Royal, 184-60-5; 1954-76; Mississippi State (2 years), Washington (1 year), Texas (20 years) - By the time opponents could adjust to Mr. Wishbone, he was leading Texas to two national championships and nine Top Five finishes. The saying "Hook 'Em, 'Horns" had the most impact when he was roaming the UT sideline.

15. Woody Hayes, 238-72-10; 1946-78; Denison (3 years), Miami, Ohio (2 years), Ohio State (28 years) - You can't give him many high marks for offensive creativity, but few coaches had a more indomitable spirit or got players to put out a greater effort than Hayes. While his career went out on an embarrassing note in the 1978 Gator Bowl, his teams embodied the tough, physical style of Big Ten football. It also brought the Buckeyes two national titles, 13 Big Ten championships and three runner-up finishes.

16. Barry Switzer, 157-29-4; 1973-88; Oklahoma (16 years) - Spare us all the sanctimonious babble about how undisciplined some of his players were off the field. No coach in college football's modern era won games at a higher percentage than the Bootlegger's Boy (.837). NCAA probation and player unrest aside, Switzer's teams won three national titles and had 10 Top Five finishes. Give him credit for recruiting talent and doing something with it.

17. Steve Spurrier, 122-33-2; 1987-present; Duke (3 years), Florida (10 years) - Love him or hate him, Spurrier is responsible for moving the Southeastern Conference from a run-oriented league to a passing one. His opponents had no other choice but to adapt to his style if they wanted to keep up with the Gators' dominance in the 1990s. He's also the nation's highest-paid coach at $2 million per year. Unlike previous UF coaches, Spurrier has taken abundant resources and made the most out of them.

18. Ara Parseghian, 170-58-6; 1951-74; Miami, Ohio (5 years), Northwestern (8 years), Notre Dame (11 years) - A lot of Notre Dame loyalists would give a higher place to Frank Leahy, but remember that Parseghian lifted the Fighting Irish out of the doldrums when he came over from Northwestern, where he impressed the N.D. administration by beating the Irish. He beat two of the game's greatest coaches, Royal and Bryant, in high-stakes bowl games, won two national titles and only twice in 11 seasons in South Bend did Parseghian's teams finish out of the Top 10.

19. Red Blaik, 166-48-14; 1934-58; Dartmouth (7 years), Army (18 years) - No service academy has ever come close to dominating college football the way Blaik's Army teams did in the mid-1940s. With Heisman Trophy winners Glenn Davis and "Doc" Blanchard in the same backfield, Army averaged an NCAA record 56.0 points in 1944 and the No. 1-ranked Cadets went 3-0-1 in head-to-head matchups with the No. 2-ranked team from 1944-46. Had it not been for Blaik's teams, Notre Dame might have won a lot more than four national titles in the 1940s.

20. Frank Leahy, 107-13-9; 1939-43, 1946-53; Boston College (2 years), Notre Dame (11 years) - The Notre Dame tradition had already been established by Rockne and Leahy woke up the echoes again in a big way. From 1946-49, his teams went 36-0-2 and won three national titles. Leahy was as militaristic as any coach in his time and he often had two platoons ready for each game, often winning the war of attrition.

21. Tom Osborne, 255-49-3; 1973-97; Nebraska (25 years) - His teams consistently won Big Eight and Big 12 titles (12) for much of his career, but Osborne took a lot of criticism for years for not being able to win major bowl games and national titles. Unlike most of the game's top coaches, his greatest highlights came at the end of his career as the Cornhuskers went an eye-popping 60-3 in his last five seasons and won or shared three national crowns. Better late than never.

22. John McKay, 127-40-8; 1960-75; Southern Cal (16 years) - At a time when West Coast teams weren't much of a factor on the national scene, McKay assembled some of the greatest talent linemen and running backs that one school ever produced and molded USC into a dominant program. His teams won three national championships, produced three NCAA rushing leaders and two Heisman Trophy winners. McKay also tutored assistant John Robinson, who maintained USC's dominance for five years after McKay left.

23. Bobby Dodd, 165-64-8; 1945-66; Georgia Tech (22 years) - He was already an All-America quarterback at Tennessee and outdid himself as a coach. Considered one of the best game-day decision makers in college football history. Bear Bryant once said that if he could coach a team from Monday through Friday and hand that team over to Dodd on Saturday, it would never be beaten. While many coaches believed in hard, tough practices, Dodd went the other way and preferred to keep his players fresh for game day. It obviously worked. His teams compiled a 31-game winning streak, won eight consecutive bowl games and one national title.

24. Jake Gaither, 203-36-4; 1945-69; Florida A&M (25 years) - Like Robinson, he benefited from the major schools refusing to sign black players to scholarships. So he took some of that great talent from his own state, players like Willie Galimore and Bob Hayes, and turned the Rattlers into the most dominant black-college program of its time. Only seven coaches in the history of NCAA football, regardless of division, have a higher winning percentage than Gaither (.844).

25. Dan McGugin, 197-55-19; 1904-17, 1919-34; Vanderbilt (30 years) - You need look no further than a coach winning over 75 percent of his games in all that time at a school like Vanderbilt to know that he merits a place on this list. Sure, it was a different college football era, but who would have ever believed the Commodores were once this good for this long.

Honorable mention: Fritz Crisler (Minnesota, Princeton, Michigan 1930-47); Percy Houghton (Cornell, Harvard, Columbia 1899-1924); Bo Schembechler (Miami, Ohio, Michigan 1963-89); Jock Sutherland (Lafayette, Pittsburgh 1919-38); Fred Folsom (Colorado, Dartmouth 1895-1915); John Vaught (Mississippi 1947-70, 1973); Dana Bible (Mississippi College, LSU, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Texas 1913-46).






NEW BOOK!

AFM Videos Streaming Memberships Now Available Digital Download - 304 Pages of Football Forms for the Winning Coach



















HOME
MAGAZINE
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE COLUMNISTS COACHING VIDEOS


Copyright 2024, AmericanFootballMonthly.com
All Rights Reserved