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The math doesn’t add up.
Two first-time head coaches plus a once-fired head coach doesn’t equal the three coaching legends the SEC lost in 2015.
Steve Spurrier, who was closing in on 250 career victories, won 86 games at South Carolina, most in program history. He’s been replaced by Will Muschamp, whose brief tenure ended badly at Florida.
Gary Pinkel, who was closing in on 200 career victories, won 118 at Missouri, most in program history. He’s been replaced by Barry Odom, a longtime defensive coordinator.
Mark Richt, who likely will win his 150th game next fall with the Miami Hurricanes, recorded all 145 of his victories at Georgia. He’s been replaced by Kirby Smart, a longtime defensive coordinator.
Les Miles and Nick Saban remain. Just one other SEC head coach, Dan Mullen at Mississippi State, entered his current job before 2012.
To be sure, the milestones will be different in 2016.
A look, then, at the coaching records of every current SEC head coach after the 2015 regular season:
| School | Coach | At school | Arrived | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Nick Saban | 103-18 | 2007 | 194-60-1 |
| Arkansas | Bret Bielema | 17-20 | 2013 | 85-44 |
| Auburn | Gus Malzahn | 26-13 | 2013 | 35-16 |
| Florida | Jim McElwain | 10-3 | 2015 | 32-19 |
| Georgia | Kirby Smart | 0-0 | 2016 | 0-0 |
| Kentucky | Mark Stoops | 12-24 | 2013 | 12-24 |
| LSU | Les Miles | 111-32 | 2005 | 139-53 |
| Mississippi | Hugh Freeze | 33-18 | 2012 | 43-21 |
| Miss. State | Dan Mullen | 54-35 | 2009 | 54-35 |
| Missouri | Barry Odom | 0-0 | 2016 | 0-0 |
| South Carolina | Will Muschamp | 0-0 | 2016 | 28-21 |
| Tennessee | Butch Jones | 20-17 | 2013 | 70-44 |
| Texas A&M | Kevin Sumlin | 36-15 | 2012 | 71-32 |
| Vanderbilt | Derek Mason | 7-17 | 2014 | 7-17 |
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
