Athlon Sports has continued it’s Top 16 series for the 2016 season by having an expert panel rank the best coaching staffs in college football. The panel, which includes Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz and SEC Network analyst Greg McElroy, named five SEC coaching staffs among college football’s best:

  • 16. Georgia
  • 15. Ole Miss
  • 12. Tennessee
  • 10. LSU
  • 1. Alabama

As defending national champion and the SEC’s most dominant team on the recruiting trail, it’s no surprise to see the Crimson Tide staff named No. 1. Here’s how Athlon Sports summed it up:

It begins with The Don of College Football Nick Saban but it ends with the best support staff in the game today. In between is arguably the best combination of coordinators in college football with Lane Kiffin and Jeremy Pruitt as well as talented recruiters Tosh Lupoi and Mario Cristobal.

Georgia is noticeably the only team with a first-year head coach to make the cut. The panel praised Kirby Smart for putting together a solid group of coaches in a short amount of time:

In very short order, Kirby Smart has assembled a well respected group of coaches. Jim Chaney and Sam Pittman on offense form a solid foundation while Mel Tucker shows up with some shiny jewelry to show for his one year on the defensive side of the ball at Alabama. This group has loads of upside.

For full rankings and more on the other SEC staffs, readers can view the article here.

Are you surprised any other SEC staffs did not make the cut? Does any staff stand out as overrated or underrated?