How many times has each SEC head coach won 10 games in a season?
Winning 10 games in a season means the season was most likely a successful one.
At some programs, however, 10 wins turns out to be a disappointment, while at others it turns out to be the ceiling.
Every SEC head coach has had at least one 10-win season except for two: Kentucky’s Mark Stoops and Vanderbilt’s Derek Mason. While you could say it has more to do with the program that hired them, I would argue it has more to do with the lack of experience. Between the two, they have only five combined seasons as a head coach.
It takes time – and a lot of luck – to win 10 games in the SEC.
South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier has had the most 10-win seasons. Surprising? It shouldn’t be. Three of the 12 have been at USC, while the others were at Florida. Next in line are Nick Saban and Mark Richt with nine 10-win seasons apiece. Les Miles and Gary Pinkel both have seven 10-win seasons.
Here are the 10-game winners and their seasons:
Steve Spurrier, South Carolina
Years: 12
Teams: 1991 Florida, 1993 Florida, 1994 Florida, 1995 Florida, 1996 Florida, 1997 Florida 1998 Florida, 2000 Florida, 2001 Florida, 2011 South Carolina, 2012 South Carolina, 2013 South Carolina
Mark Richt, Georgia
Years: 9
Teams: 2002 Georgia, 2003 Georgia, 2004 Georgia, 2005 Georgia, 2007 Georgia, 2008 Georgia, 2011 Georgia, 2012 Georgia, 2014 Georgia
Nick Saban, Alabama
Years: 9
Teams: 2001 LSU, 2003 LSU, 2008 Alabama, 2009 Alabama, 2010 Alabama, 2011 Alabama, 2012 Alabama, 2013 Alabama, 2014 Alabama
Les Miles, LSU
Years: 7
Teams: 2005 LSU, 2006 LSU, 2007 LSU, 2010 LSU, 2011 LSU, 2012 LSU, 2013 LSU
Gary Pinkel, Missouri
Years: 7
Teams: 1995 Toledo, 2000 Toledo, 2007 Missouri, 2008 Missouri, 2010 Missouri, 2013 Missouri, 2014 Missouri
Bret Bielema, Arkansas
Years: 4
Teams: 2006 Wisconsin, 2009 Wisconsin, 2010 Wisconsin, 2011 Wisconsin
Kevin Sumlin
Years: 3
Teams: 2009 Houston, 2011 Houston, 2012 Texas A&M
Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss
Years: 2
Teams: 2009 Lambuth, 2011 Arkansas State
Butch Jones, Tennessee
Years: 2
Teams: 2009 Central Michigan, 2011 Cincinnati
Gus Malzahn, Auburn
Years: 1
Teams: 2013 Auburn
Jim McElwain, Florida
Years: 1
Teams: 2014 Colorado State
Dan Mullen, Mississippi State
Years: 1
Teams: 2014 MSU