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Best of Best...The Top Coaching Staffs in Football

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Taking into account all of the factors that go into the composition of what makes a great coaching staff, the following is our second annual look at the best coaching staffs in football. Just as last year, it is extremely difficult to choose one staff over another. It is somewhat analogous to trying to decide which dessert you want in a buffet.

But, what makes a great staff? Is it the number of championships won collectively? How about longevity at the institution? 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 (Penn State, BYU, Nebraska, etc.), they have been together for so long they are part of each other's family. While other head coaches like Texas A&M head man R.C. Slocum seem to use the approach of getting the best current technicians and keeping them for as long as he can (i.e. until they are snatched up by a higher bidder).

Considering all of 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):

The top staffs in college (in no particular order):

Nebraska

No fewer than four coaches on this staff are legitimate D-I head coaching prospects (especially after the success that former NU assistant Tony Samuels is enjoying at New Mexico State). After a un-Husker 7-4 in 1998, a 11-1 rebound in 1999 solidified Solich in the hearts of the fans of Nebraska. One of the pieces of the NU fabric, Husker lifer DC Charlie Mc Bride stepped down. But Solich moved quickly promoting LB coach Craig Bohl to DC. The rest of the staff remained intact. To Solich's credit, when he took over he was able to keep the staff in check and thus preserve the great Nebraska tradition. A number of younger staff members are often mentioned as potential head coaches (DL Nelson Barnes, QB Turner Gill, and WR Ron Brown). This does not even take into account strength coach Boyd Epley, the best there is in football (pro or college).

Frank Solich - HC

Craig Bohl - DC/LB

Nelson Barnes - DE

Ron Brown - WR

George Darlington - DB Turner Gill - QB

Dave Gillespie - RB

Jeff Jamrog - DL

Milt Tenopir - OL

Dan Young - OL/ST

Florida State

The 13-year record in Tallahassee (141-17-1) speaks for itself. What Bobby Bowden has assembled in Tallahassee is simply one of the great juggernauts of all time. This staff wins and consistently brings in some of the top recruiting classes in the nation. With stars like DC Mickey Andrews, OC Mark Richt, DE Jim Gladden and the rest it is easy to see why this group succeeds. How good is FSU? Bowden lost LB Chuck Amato to NC State and replaces him with vaunted veteran Joe Kines. Several FSU coaches (Andrews, Richt, etc.) have turned down the opportunity to run other programs.

Bobby Bowden - HC

Mickey Andrews - DC

Jeff Bowden - WR

Joe Kines - LB

John Lilly - TE/RC

Jim Gladden - DE

Odell Haggins - DL

Jimmy Heggins - OL

Mark Richt - OC/QB

Billy Sexton - RB

Texas

In two short years, the swagger is back in the lone star state. The staff put in place by Mack Brown has restored the Longhorn program to a role of national prominence. As one of the highest paid staffs in the nation, much is expected of this group, and to date they have delivered (16 wins, two bowl trips and two consensus top three recruiting classes). Staff leader Brown is possibly the best in the business at the PR side of the game, and his staff management, blending veteran teachers, and technicians with local talent to get the program ingrained with the state's high school coaches is without parallel (the same formula worked at Tulane and North Carolina). At UT, the staff includes proven excellence like OC Greg Davis and respected DC Carl Reese, either of whom could likely name their job as a head coach in a year or two.

Mack Brown - HC

Tim Brewster - TE

Hardee McCray - DE

Tim Nunez - OL

Bruce Chambers - RB Greg Davis - OC

Carl Reese - DC/LB

Mike Tolleson - DT

Darryl Drake - WR

Everitt Withers - DB

Penn State

This staff has been together longer than most marriages. Several coaches on staff that have spent virtually their entire adult life working in Happy Valley for Joe Pa (OC Fran Ganter 29 years, QB Dick Anderson 24 years). With that type of consistency, recruiting bases are established and lead 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 the Nittanty Lions staff also has some young stars on the rise in Jay Paterno, Al Golden and Kenny Jackson. After 33 years, long time staff stalwart, DC Jerry Sandusky, retired, but not to worry, staff member Tom Bradley was promoted and all remains calm.

Joe Paterno - HC

Dick Anderson - OL

Tom Bradley - DC

Fran Ganter - AHC/OC

Al Golden - LB Kenny Jackson - WR

Larry Johnson - DL

Bill Kenney - OT & TE

Jay Paterno - QB

Bob White - DL/ST

Oklahoma

When he was hired, few in the know doubted Bob Stoops would get it done. A seven-win 1999 and a bowl trip, plus a high-octane offense captured the nation's attention and Sooner fans. Stoops, who learned from three of the best: Hayden Fry, Bill Snyder and Steve Spurrier, deserves much credit. He went out and got the best of the best of young coaches (proof of the quality of his hires came when Texas Tech stole his talented OC Mike Leach as Spike Dykes' replacement, and Tulsa tried to hire brother Mike). Co-DC Brent Venables has also been mentioned as head coaching material. The staff in Norman not only has future stars, but also has others with great pedigrees (WR Steve Spurrier, Jr., TE Jonathan Hayes, OC Mark Mangino, DE/RC Bobby Jack Wright). To keep the ball moving on offense after Leach's departure, Stoops hired Chuck Long from Iowa as his QB coach.

Bob Stoops - HC

Mike Stoops - Co-DC/DB

Brent Venables - Co-DC/LB

Cale Gundy - RB

Bobby Jack Wright - DE/RC Johnathan Hayes - TE

Steve Spurrier, Jr. - WR

Mark Mangino - OC/OL

Chuck Long - QB/PGC

Jackie Shipp - DL

Tennessee

The program in Knoxville is as solid as any in the nation and all of the credit goes to head coach Phil Fulmer, a life-long UT man, who no doubt has orange blood. This staff is as good a group of recruiters as there is in the business. After the Vols finally put it all together to capture the 1998 national title, they followed up last year with 10 wins and a BCS bowl. That Phil Fulmer has the best winning percentage in college football is in no small part due to the staff of excellent coaches he has been able to attract to Knoxville. OC Randy Sanders, DC John Chavis, WR Pat Washington and OL Mike Barry give this staff great balance; and once again, no one recruits better.

Phillip Fulmer - HC

Mike Barry - OL

Mark Bradley - TE

Dan Brooks - DL/RC

Steve Caldwell - DE John Chavis - DC/LB

Woody McCorvey - RB

Randy Sanders - OC/QB

Larry Slade - DB

Pat Washington - WR

Michigan

Lloyd Carr has truly turned this into one of the finest "national" programs. His talented team of recruiting experts consistently lands the top players from inside the state (ask Nick Saban) and across the country. He has put together a cohesive and seasoned staff including DC Jim Herrman-a Wolverine for his entire playing and coaching career, new OC Stan Parrish, who took over after last year's OC Mike DeBord left for the head job at Central Michigan, DL Brady Hoke, QB Stan Parrish, and ST Bobby Morrsion. Andy Moeller was brought back (he is the son of former HC Gary Moeller) into the fold from the Mizzou staff. Year after year, the Big Blue wins and gets players; a sure sign of a stable staff with a plan for winning.

Lloyd Carr - HC

Fred Jackson - AHC / RB

Teryl Austin - DB

Erik Campbell - WR

Jim Herrmann - DC / LB Brady Hoke - DL

Terry Malone - OL

Andy Moeller - OT & TE

Bobby Morrison - RC / ST

Stan Parrish - OC / QB

Clemson

Maybe just maybe in the year 2000 the best coach in the ACC is Tommy Bowden not his father. Bobby's son learned one lesson from his father very well, and that is, "surround yourself with great assistants." The staff in Death Valley is indeed impressive and boasts several future head coaches (OC Rich Rodriguez, who seriously flirted with the Texas Tech HC job last November, DC Reggie Herring - a holdover form the old Tiger staff, OL Ron West, and WR Rick Stockstill). One of the best things Bowden has done is get former South Carolina head coach Brad Scott on board to help with in-state wars with USC head man Lou Holtz. Also, Scott will more than likely take over as OC if Rodriguez leaves for greener pastures.

Tommy Bowden - HC

Rich Rodriguez - OC

Brad Scott - AHC/TE

Reggie Herring - DC/LB

Rick Stockstill - RC/WR Rodney Allison - DE

Burton Burns - RB

Jack Hines - DB

Thielen Smith - DL

Ron West - OL

Kansas State

15 years ago Manhattan, Kansas would have been on the bottom of the list of all places to become a football Mecca. Yet, in 11 years at the helm of the Wildcats, Bill Snyder has turned this once powder puff into a powder keg. While 99.9% of the credit for developing a consistent top 15 program goes to the man himself, he has been able to attract a number of top-notch assistants (Bob Stoops, Mike Stoops, Del Miller, Jim Leavitt, Dana Dimel, etc.). Evidence of the talent on this staff can be found in the way they are able to attract recruits to this school year-after-year, and the mere fact last year the staff was so strong that Miller, a former HC at SW Missouri, was a GA (he is now the OC at Oklahoma State). Current staffers DC Phil Bennett, OC Ron Hudson and passing game coordinator Greg Peterson are all future head coaches in training. Young guys like Smith and Miller have their best years ahead.

Bill Snyder - HC

Phil Bennett - DC/DB

Paul Dunn - OL/RGC

Bob Fello - DE

Jim Gush — LB Ron Hudson - OC/QB

Mo Latimore - DL/Asst. RC

Matt Miller - Tight ends

Greg Peterson - PGC/WR/RC

Michael Smith - RB

Arkansas

In 1998, Houston Nutt inherited a mess, but in a scant two years he has the Hogs moving in a direction they have only flirted with on occasion since the Broyles era. Nutt has solidified the state of Arkansas keeping the state's best at home, and with the help of excellent AHC/RC Fitz Hill (one of the nation's premiere African-American coaches) he has swept in players from across the south and southwest. In an off season coup, Nutt was able to persuade DC John Thompson (a rising star in the profession) to leave LSU and new coach Nick Saban's staff after only two weeks to come to Fayetteville. This added to an impressive array of talent including OL Mike Markuson, QB Joe Ferguson and co-DC Bobby Allen.

Houston Nutt - HC

Bobby Allen - Co-DC

Joe Ferguson - QB

Fitz Hill - AHC/WR/RC

Bill Johnson - DL Mike Markuson - OL

Danny Nutt - RB

James Shibest - ST/TE

John Thompson - Co-DC

Chris Vaughn - Rovers/bandits

East Carolina

Let's face it; this staff is doing one heck of a job. They have taken a school that has no business being a football powerhouse to the top of Conference USA, competing year-in and year-out with Southern Miss for the league title. Led by the innovative Steve Logan, the ECU staff harvests players in a state with four other D-IA programs (as well as D-IAA powerhouse Appalachian State). It cannot be easy to get kids to Greenville, yet Logan's staff does it. With studs like DC Tim Rose, OC Doug Martin, and WR Bob Leahy employing multiple schemes on offense and tenacious defense, this staff has what it takes to get ADs looking to ECU for future head coaches.

Steve Logan - HC

Doug Martin - OC/WR

Tim Rose - DC/ILB

Paul Jette - DB

Bob Leahy - WR Jerry McManus - RB

Tony Oden - OLB

Steve Shankweiler - OL

Terry Tilghman - TE

Jim Webster - DL

Virginia Tech

The new millennium began with the Hokies playing for all of the marbles and the bet here is it will not be the last time Va. Tech gets s shot to win it all (assuming Frank Beamer and his staff stay in Blacksburg). No team in the nation plays better on special teams than this group, and that level of play is all about the commitment of the staff and coaching. OC Ricky Bustle and DC Bud Foster are both long-time staff members and could get a head coach job at a moment's notice. DB Lorenzo Ward and DL Charley Wiles are well-respected position coaches at the top of the heap in the business and the offensive coaches AHC/RB Hite, WR Ball, etc. will get plenty of national acclaim as long as Vick is playing QB. Va. Tech may have supplanted UVA as the school of choice for in-state recruits.

Frank Beamer - HC

Billy Hite - AHC/RB

Ricky Bustle - OC/QB

Bud Foster - DC/LB

Tony Ball - WR Jim Cavanaugh - SS/OLB

Danny Pearman - OT & TE

Bryan Stinespring - OL

Lorenzo Ward - DB

Charley Wiles - DL

From the league... The top staffs in the NFL (in no particular order):

Tennessee Titans

After a surprise visit to the Super Bowl, the Titans are now poised to be perennial contenders. HC Jeff Fisher armed with security in the form of a contract extension has assembled a great group of assistants. Leading the pack are DC Gregg Williams and new OC Mike Heimerdinger; either or both of whom could be head coaches soon as the NFL plucks coordinators from successful teams. RB Sherman Smith, OL Mike Munchak and DL Jim Washburn are excellent, and LB Jim Scwantz is a real up-and-comer.

Jeff Fisher- HC

O'Neill Gilbert- LB

Jerry Gray- DB

Mike Heimerdinger- OC

George Henshaw-AHC

Craig Johnson- QCO

Alan Lowry- ST Mike Munchak- OL

Jim Schwartz-LB

Sherman Smith- RB

Ronnie Vinklarek-QCD

Steve Walters- WR

Jim Washburn-DL

Gregg Williams- DC

Indianapolis Colts

13-3 in 1999 pretty much sums it up. Only one year after a 3-13 record, HC Jim Mora and his staff of teaching pros got the young Colts headed in the direction of the ultimate prize. Sure it helps to have Manning, Harrison, Faulk, etc., but these youngsters had to be taught not only mechanics, but also how to overcome a losing image. With veterans OC Tom Moore, OL Howard Mudd, QB Bruce Arians and DC Vic Fangio, mixed in with LB Murphy, RB Huey and the rest, this is simply one fine congregation of coaches.

Jim Mora - HC

Bruce Arians- QB

George Catavolos- AHC/DB

Vic Fangio- DC

Todd Grantham-DL

Gene Huey- RB

Tony Marciano-TE Tom Moore- OC

Howard Mudd- OL

Mike Murphy- LB

Jay Norvell- WR

ohn Pagano - QCD

Kevin Spencer-ST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Success breeds success. Tampa Bay's staff receives the benefit of the media glare shining on one of the Super Bowl favorites and HC Tony Dungy is one of the league's media darlings. But the spotlight would not be a good thing were it not for the fact this staff can withstand the scrutiny. Forever, the winners spawn off head coaches for the also-rans of the league. Dungy has shown his method works and now staff members will reap the rewards of success by association. AHC/DB Herman Edwards, a Dungy clone, is in line for a promotion, and OL Foerster, QB Christensen, WR Williams, and ST Marciano are very special coaches. OC Steckle was brought in to fix a moribund offense. DC Monte Kiffin should be a head coach and his defense will be great, but age is a factor.

Tony Dungy - HC

Wendell Avery- QCO

Clyde Christensen- QB

Herman Edwards- AHC/DB

Chris Foerster- OL

Monte Kiffin- DC

Joe Marciano- ST Rod Marinelli- DL

Tony Nathan- RB

Kevin O'Dea- QCD

Lovie Smith- LB

Les Steckel- OC

Ricky Thomas- TE

Charlie Williams-WR

Baltimore Ravens

As in any business, it always starts at the top, and there is no better coach in the game than the talented Brian Billick. This staff is made up of computer-savvy intellects that are on the cutting-edge of 2000 coaching technology. OC Matt Cavanaugh and DC Marvin Lewis are each mentioned as superstars, and ST Purnell, LB Del Rio, WR Jackson, RB Simon and the rest are superior, and have the benefit of learning from a master craftsman.

Brian Billick - HC

Matt Cavanaugh- OC

Jim Colletto- OL

Jack Del Rio- LB

Wade Harman-TE/OL

Donnie Henderson- DB

Milt Jackson- WR Marvin Lewis- DC

Russ Purnell- ST

Rex Ryan- DL

Steve Shafer- DB

Matt Simon- RB

Mike Smith- QCD






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