How I would rank SEC coaches heading into 2020
There are many factors to consider when ranking a college football coach. It’s easy to glance at the win-loss records and championships, but college football is such a unique sport that context can easily be lost when determining where a coach belongs on a list of this type.
Especially in the SEC.
How easy is it to compare Mark Stoops to Kirby Smart considering the massive advantage Georgia’s coach has had in terms of overall talent to work with?
How will Mike Leach’s success coaching the likes of Washington State and Texas Tech translate to coaching in the rugged SEC West? Has Lane Kiffin learned what it takes to lead an SEC program after being fired by USC but turning around FAU?
These questions and many more can all be debated to no end, but when ranking the SEC coaches for the 2020 season, the criteria I like to consider is which coach do I trust the most to win a game with a week’s worth of preparation?
This list isn’t a ranking of which coach is going to win the most games next season. It’s not a ranking of which coaches have accomplished the most in their careers. It’s a list of which coaches I trust to get a team ready to play and execute the team’s gameplan on Saturdays in the fall.
If every SEC coach had the same exact roster to work with this season, this is the order I would select them to lead my team to victory.
For a more in-depth analysis of these picks, check out the episode of “That SEC Podcast” featuring these SEC coach rankings.
14. Sam Pittman, Arkansas
Pittman’s hire might have stunned some SEC observers, but not those in Fayetteville. As soon as Chad Morris was out, former players started vouching for Pittman to get the job. After landing the job, it’s easy to see why Pittman’s former players were convinced the former offensive line coach was ready for his big promotion. The job Pittman has done in building his Arkansas coaching staff and recruiting has been masterful thus far and should be recognized as such. However, the reality is, until we’ve actually seen what he can do as a head coach, it wouldn’t be right to rank him any higher than No. 14. Pittman likely makes a big jump up this list in the years to come, but considering his lack of experience leading a program on game day, he has to cede position to the rest of the SEC coaches for the time being.
13. Derek Mason, Vanderbilt
There’s no debating that Vanderbilt took a big step back in Derek Mason’s first year and while there have been signs of life over his 6-year stint — the Commodores have defeated Georgia on the road and Tennessee multiple times — there have been way too many lows for the few highs. The program’s defense, which was Mason’s calling card upon his hire, took a huge step back in 2019 and if that isn’t corrected immediately, the Commodores could be the next program to go 0-8 in conference play.
12. Will Muschamp, South Carolina
Entering his 5th season in Columbia, you could make the case that Muschamp has the program right where it was when he arrived — albeit with more talent. There’s no debating Muschamp can recruit; the Gamecocks have signed 5 quarterback recruits rated as 4-star prospects and signed the top in-state prospect in 3 of the previous 4 recruiting cycles. Muschamp also has developed defensive players, but the same offensive failings have followed him from Gainesville to Columbia. The result: He’s sitting on arguably the hottest seat in the conference. After 4 years at the helm, the one thing Muschamp has proven is his teams are widely inconsistent. One week, the Gamecocks are beating the No. 2 team in the nation, 2 weeks later, they give up 24 unanswered 2nd-half points to a 3-5 Tennessee team to get blown out.
11. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri
Missouri’s first-year coach is tough to accurately grade as he’s only had one year of head coaching experience and he inherited an outstanding ASU program from Scott Satterfield. Be that as it may, Drinkwitz led Appalachian State to a win over Muschamp’s South Carolina program in Columbia last season. That game wasn’t a fluke, either, as the Mountaineers outplayed the Gamecocks. Winning 12 games in a season is something many coaches on this list cannot claim, but Drinkwitz can.
10. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
The Lane Train has brought enthusiasm back to Oxford. With an exciting brand of offense coming to Ole Miss, Rebels fans have reason to be optimistic, but based on Kiffin’s head coaching history, he can’t rate any higher on this list. It’s easy to fixate on the outstanding job he did in Tuscaloosa running the Alabama offense, but those Crimson Tide teams were loaded with talent. Those I’ve spoken with have indicated the same thing applied to Kiffin’s FAU squads: When it came to pure talent, FAU was unmatched in the East Division of Conference USA. Kiffin’s SEC experience could prove to be invaluable in building back up the program, but the Ole Miss coach rates in the bottom half of my list entering 2020.
9. Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee
Pruitt has real potential to rise up this list immediately if his program truly turned a corner late last season and didn’t simply take advantage of the weaker portion of the schedule. Detractors will continue to point toward the latter and suggest Tennessee had an “easy” schedule to close out the year, but the reality is there are very few SEC contests and bowl games that are easy to win. Digging the Volunteers out of the 1-4 hole was one of the more impressive coaching jobs of the season, but that doesn’t mean we can simply overlook the reason Pruitt’s team dug itself in that hole in the first place. If his team were better prepared for the opener, the Vols likely would have been a 10-win team last season. Weighing all those factors, this is the best spot on this list for Pruitt and he’ll have the opportunity to prove himself as one of the biggest risers with a roster he built.
8. Gus Malzahn, Auburn
You have to give Malzahn credit for the length of his tenure on The Plains. Nick Saban is the only SEC coach who has lasted longer at his current program, and Malzahn has beaten Saban more than anyone else in the league. However, Auburn’s coach is far from elite. Malzahn’s 1-6 record against Georgia is tough to overlook, as is his 2-5 bowl record. How a coach can lead a team to victory over Saban’s Alabama program only to lose to the likes of UCF and Minnesota is hard to fathom. You could argue Malzahn isn’t even the best coach on Auburn’s staff these days, as Kevin Steele might be the most underrated assistant in the nation. For a coach who got the job because of his expertise on offense, you’d think that side of the ball would be better, but Malzahn’s unit seems to hold the program back more than push it forward.
7. Mike Leach, Mississippi State
The pirate has finally made his way to the SEC as a head coach and the results should be fascinating. Leach has already done a good job dispelling the notion that he won’t be able to recruit in the South as the Bulldogs have landed arguably the nation’s most coveted graduate transfer quarterback and a touted 4-star high school signal-caller to play in Starkville. Leach has consistently proven he can do more with less and while he should have more talent to work with than ever before, he’ll have to continue that trajectory if the Bulldogs are going to win at a high level in the SEC. Leach will be out to prove he belongs in the SEC and while immediate success might not be in the cards, he’ll turn the program’s offense around by the end of his first season with MSU.
6. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M
The Aggies could very well be embarking on a huge season, but it’s been surprising to see so many rate Fisher as one of the SEC’s best head coaches. Fisher hasn’t led a team to a double-digit win season since 2016 and the last time we saw the Aggies in a conference game, LSU gave them a beating of a lifetime in a 50-7 loss. Great coaches don’t allow that to happen. Fisher is going to have to earn his way into the top 5 of this list and he’s simply not done that yet in College Station.
5. Mark Stoops, Kentucky
Stoops continues to squeeze every bit of talent his program has. And despite dropping a bit after winning 10 games in 2018, winning 8 games in 2019 without a quarterback for the final two months might have been even more impressive. The Wildcats lost several key players to injury last season but kept plugging along. With the talent slowly being upgraded on an annual basis, it won’t be a surprise if Kentucky upsets a few teams in conference play this fall and continues to finish higher in the final SEC standings than predicted in the preseason.
4. Kirby Smart, Georgia
Picking between Smart and Dan Mullen was a struggle. I initially had Smart over Mullen with the tiebreaker being their head-to-head results, but this is a list designed to look forward, not at previous seasons. Smart has done an outstanding job building Georgia’s program into an annual national championship contender, but he has made some costly coaching decisions during games and has failed to beat Alabama and LSU. He has stockpiled so much talent, I expect Smart to deliver a national championship to Athens one day, but when it comes to game day coaching, he falls a bit short of Mullen.
3. Dan Mullen, Florida
The best way to illustrate how good of a coach Mullen is? Look at the program he inherited and how quickly he turned it into an SEC contender. Add that with the fact that Mississippi State suffered an immediate dropoff upon his exit and has already moved on from Joe Moorhead while Mullen has the Gators as a popular preseason pick to win the SEC East heading into 2020. Mullen’s coaching effect has also been evident on his quarterbacks, and considering how important that position is, he deserves a boost for his ability to get the most out of his signal-callers more often than not.
2. Nick Saban, Alabama
Putting Saban anywhere other than No. 1 is certainly going against the grain, but it’s hard for me to ignore the trends I’ve seen from Alabama’s coach compared to Ed Orgeron. Alabama’s defense has not yet recovered from losing Jeremy Pruitt to Tennessee and while some fans are quick to blame Pete Golding, ultimately, it’s Saban’s defense that’s being run in Tuscaloosa. If Golding were that big of a liability, why did Saban hire him and why had he kept the assistant on staff? Alabama is going to out-talent nearly every opponent it faces, and that’s a credit to Saban’s outstanding ability to recruit, but when it comes to evenly matched opponents, Alabama has come up short several times in recent seasons.
1. Ed Orgeron, LSU
Orgeron’s transformation from one of the worst coaches in recent league history to arguably its best has been nothing short of miraculous. While many are going to be quick to credit the likes of Joe Burrow and Joe Brady for LSU’s unprecedented championship run last season, it’s easy to forget that neither had any cache before entering Orgeron’s LSU program. You have to give credit where credit is due and Orgeron has proven he knows which buttons to press, which players need to be pushed and which ones need an arm around their shoulders. Coach O has transformed from a caricature of the classic gung-ho, hard-headed coach to a coach willing to adjust his personnel and listen to the coaches and support staff surrounding him. If you gave me the option of picking any SEC head coach with only one week to prepare a team before a crucial matchup, I’m picking Ed Orgeron.
Interesting concept for an article. Recruiting is a huge part of coaching, but if you take that away, it just leaves coaching. With that in mind, I would also put Mullen ahead of Smart. I might put Stoops ahead of him too. The Saban Orgeron case is interesting. I didn’t expect to see Orgeron on top, but I understand the thinking.
I don’t. I think it’s majorly impacted by recency bias and the assumption that a fiery locker room speech is somehow the formula for properly prepping your team.
It seemed to work last year.
I think what worked for LSU last year was Burrow and Brady. Those two ships have sailed and your left with the knucklehead.
That knucklehead has put major beatdowns on your genius these past two seasons. You should keep your smack talk to UF. Orgeron owns your.
@LSUMC I agree we’ve struggled against Orgeron but why after 2 meetings does Orgeron “own Kirby” but after losing 3 Mullet is “closing in” on Kirby? Seems like a double standard.
Well UGA fans talk about Kirby closing in on Saban yet Kirby hast lost to him twice…
Is there a double standard or can UGA fans not think rationally when it comes to Florida?
I think the difference is no one is saying Kirby is a better coach than Saban (or Orgeron) like people claim mullet is a better coach than Kirby.
So what are you upset about? Your original post was about mullen closing In on Kirby and now you switched it to someone thinking he is better…
It obvious on SDS that UGA fans think a coach “close in” on another without beating them based on comments but doesn’t like the logic Applied to their own coach.
I’m not upset. Did you read the article or just the headline? The article ranks Mullet ahead of Kirby and he seemed like he agrees. He says “I would also put Mullen ahead of Smart”.
My original post is why Orgeron “owns” Kirby but Kirby doesn’t “own” Mullet.
I only gave Mullen credit for in game coaching, even though I readily admit that is debatable. Overall, Smart is the better coach as his recruiting is way better. Smart made a bad hire at OC in Coley, but hopefully he has now rectified that. Orgeron did the same thing. He made a bad hire at OC but rectified that. That’s a huge part of the improvement process. Gotta have the right coaches in place.
Yeah I think Smart thought he had an offensive system in place and Coley would just keep it going. I also think Kirby was trying to stay loyal to Coley so he could keep his south Florida ties in recruiting. Terrible mistake and I hope he learned from it. I hope Monken can prove to be a better OC.
I did read the article but my comment was about your take of a double standard and closing in…
You consider Kirby as “closing in” on Saban right? He hasn’t beat Saban… So where is the double standard?
I don’t think I’ve ever said Kirby is “closing in” on Saban. He’s performed well against Saban coming up short both times. The only way Kirby is be “closing in” would be by closing the talent gap which he has done but head to head obviously Saban has the edge. I think if he ends up beating Saban it will be because Saban is sliding down more that Kirby sliding up. Or he just gets lucky on any given Saturday. Saban is probably the greatest coach in the history of the game. Kirby is very early in his career. It would take an unbelievable run for Kirby to start being in the same league as Saban and I have always acknowledged that.
Don’t mention UF winning the East, They don’t take that very well…
Dan’s never won a division so we don’t worry to much about that. Actually we’re more concerned with results of the WLOCP. Florida state championships are more prestigious than divisions around here don’t ya know, lolo?
“Criteria” is plural.
It is, so to help you, the criteria is to prepare the team during the week, AND then execute the game plan on Saturday. Most here have probably never heard or used the word criterion.
The comment I made was directed at a professional writer, not to “most here”. But to help you in kind, LSUMC, “the criteria are to prepare the team,” and so on. My version is more better.
To help these here, I suggest each of you say out loud every morning when you get up, “the criterion is, the criteria are” several times. If you do this for a few weeks or so, you’ll have it down. I promise.
If you want to be the grammar police, you are in the wrong place.
Leeland, dude, you just said “my version is more better”…..more better???!! You’re grammar is more better…sure…;)
And so is mine apparently ha! *your.
Criteria IS plural but it can and is used as both plural and as a singular reference. Criterion is rarely even used. While you are correct it is acceptable to use is after criteria and grammar nazi after your name…
Dude why don’t you take a day off and get outside for a while.
Wow. You aren’t even bright enough to know that cell phones work as well outside as in. I’m not surprised.
The fact that you are outside and yet still posting to this website shows you a problem. Get a life.
This argument over grammar is my favorite part of this story. You both win!
he takes SDS wherever he goes cause it is his life. Every single article he posts. He is obsessed. Noone else here is like that except him.
Eye 4 1 am glad U R calling dim out… just stay away from my post(s), Eye ant paid two right N English…
Even if the writer claims that he’s basing this on preparation, I still think Saban is ahead of Orgeron there.
Saban’s season opener record alone would put him comfortably ahead of anyone in that category, yet Bratton seems to be banking on that as his main reason for putting Orgeron ahead. Locker room speech giving, I guess?
Talent. Saban has more talented teams than anyone he plays.
That’s a cop out. Recruiting and team building is as important as play calling.
I agree. Every aspect matters. The writer is simply trying to start a conversation using just one aspect. Also probably trying to fire up UGA and Bama fans.
Didn’t LSU just put 5 or 6 more guys in the NFL than Bama? Didn’t LSU just break the record for the most guys drafted? Seems like LSU had the most talented team. So Coach O is only good because he had the most talented team in history.
Lots of talented guys aren’t draft eligible. Others choose to not enter the draft. Recruiting rankings say Alabama is supposed to be the most talented team in the country.
Funny you say Mullen is a better game day coach yet he has lost to him all 3 times their teams played, and he was boat raced in 2 of those games. Mullen hasn’t been in a situation to make the same mistake Smart has. What is Mullen’s SEC Championship game record? How many times has he been to the playoffs? He needs to win something before you crown him.
Smart has made some terrible in game decisions. He also has much better talent than Mullen because he is a better recruiter. I don’t believe that Mullen hadn’t lost to an unranked team either.
Kirby hasn’t lost to non-power 5 team either. So I guess both he and Mullen should be higher than Orgeron.
The non P5 team was ranked in the top 25. SC wasn’t ranked. LSU blew out UGA twice. You might want to stick with trying to crack on UF until UGA can get within three scores of Orgeron and LSU.
If you’re referring to Troy then no they weren’t ranked..
They finished ranked in the top 25. SC didn’t, even after beating UGA.
Uh they no didn’t..
Uh no they didn’t *
I’d like to see the list of coaches who have not made a few terrible decisions in their career.
Apparently two botched fake special teams attempts mean you’re a completely inept in-game head coach. Not sure why the fake field goal against LSU and the fake punt against Alabama are so desperately clung to by opposing fans as the defining moments of Smart’s career, instead of the defensive adjustments in the Rose Bowl, the switch to a clock-eating prevent in the WLOCP, the fake field goal vs Baylor that worked, etc.
The fake against Bama wasn’t a terrible call. The defense was spent. They were not going to stop Bama anyway. Just shorten up the distance.
I’d have to disagree with that JTF. It was a terrible play call. I don’t have a problem with going for it but leave your offense out there and draw up a play for 11 yards. If you’ve made up your mind to go for it then leave your O out there. If it was 4th and 3 maybe you run that fake but it was 4th and 11. Hard to get those yards on a fake punt.
Who knows? Your opinion is as valid as mind.
mine*
Never it said it wasn’t but okay.
imo the fake punt was pretty bad. Since Fields was in there it was pretty obvious.
I have that list for you.
1. Tim Unicorn
2. The Tooth Fairy
3. The Easter Bunny
4. Jack Frost
The funny thing is that they all coached at Utopia U. I don’t think Kirby has made that many head scratching decisions.
It was a dumb call, but the thing is that it was set up for success until Fields took too long and Mac Wilson recognized it. And then, Mecole was still open for a throw across the middle, but by then Fields had already panicked and tucked and run into the middle of the LOS.
Hmm, I never thought you said your opinion wasn’t valid. That would be weird. But, OK.
Orgeron doesn’t make any game-day decisions. He leaves it up to hos coordinators. Orgeron’s biggest asset is that he knows he’s a dumba$$. He’s a glorified cheerleader. He can recruit but that’s about it. Burrow and Brady are gone. Orgeron’s weaknesses will show up in the next few seasons. They almost let him go before the 2018 season.
You are just a goof. Orgeron has never been close to being fired at LSU. I’m not sure if it’s jealousy and your just an idiot, but you make an awful lot of dumb comments about LSU and Orgeron. You are just like the knucklehead UF fan that talks trash about UGA. LSU had no problem beating UGA before Brady arrived. You might want to wait until y’all actually beat LSU before talking trash. Maybe at least stay within three scores. Maybe?
After never losing to Mullet, this article has it right, the future is very dark when it comes to Georgia playing Florida. How can we hope to continue that success we have had against him at both MSU and UF? It’s a troubling future for sure. Right???
Can’t really disagree with the rankings. Not sure about coach O above Saban, but the author explained the logic he used. Of course, logic is just a way to be wrong with confidence. The rankings will certainly change as the season plays out. Nice article.
Orgeron was never even a coordinator before he became a head coach. Can the guy even draw up a play on the white board?
Swinney wasn’t a coordinator either. Somehow, they have combined for three national championships over the past five years. Fun times.
So what game day coaching does Orgeron do that qualifies him to be ranked #1? He’s a loud mouth knucklehead. Does yelling and cussing count as a game day coaching?
Scoreboard. I wouldn’t put Orgeron ahead of Saban, but he’s a great fit for LSU. He brought in Burrow and Brady and made both household names and hot commodities. 15-0 says he is doing something right.
15 and 0 says Burrow and Brady did something right. It’s a one and done. Orgeron can recruit but other than that he’s a dumba$$.
36-16 without Brady. 37-10 with him. You have no leg to stand on.
^^^ Is that the kind of math they teach at LSU? ^^^
There is no math in my statement. I just pointed out two beatdowns. We scored one more point with Brady. Does that make any sort of difference? UGA was blown out twice. Orgeron owns you.
UGA has no room to trash talk LSU or Orgeron. They’ve had our number the past 2 meetings. I hate the way our cross division games are set up. Unless we both win our divisions we won’t play each other again for a long time.
UGA is a heck of a program right now and they are certainly close to that elusive title. I don’t mean anything against them. I just don’t care for the nonsense spewed by 417. I wish you guys all the best this season.
I’m pretty sure the dumbass perception comes from his accent. That’s how people speak from the area he grew up. Don’t let an accent fool you there are plenty of highly intelligent people with the same accent. One of his strengths is he is willing to embrace cutting edge methods and technology contrary to the perception.
I understand the ??? If it’s a New Head Coach in the SEC. But how on earth is Will Muschamp not The Worst Head Coach in the SEC ? He’s gotta have that Number Fourteen(14) spot nailed down…The guy’s had four(4) years and their 2019 record was 4/8 ? Then Derek Mason at #13. Gotta put Nick Saban in that Number One(1) Spot. Game-Day Decisions…I’ll always go with an Offense-Minded coach like Mullen over a Defense-Minded Smart. That’s it for me on this one.
While he has underachieved, he is not the worst coach in the SEC. He had the same SEC record as Kentucky and Mizzou last year, toppled UGA on the road, and has produced two 1st round NFL picks in four years. He’s also landed three 5 star recruits. An uncommon feat at USC.
Things could be much worse. Just look at Chad Morris and Arkansas. He deserves a 5th year. Miss a bowl and he’s gone. That simple.
Odum did much better with less talent. Stoops does it each year. What type of accomplishment is there if you recruit five stars and fail? His buyout is the thread that allows him to hand for one more year. He will need to do better than a bowl to retain his seat. I agree with AFan on this one.
*Hang, not hand.
“ I’ll always go with an Offense-Minded coach like Mullen over a Defense-Minded Smart”
Saban is a “defense-minded coach”
Not to mention every time Smart and Mullet have gone against each other (as coordinators or HCs) Smart has won
We’re not discussing Nick Saban. It’s about Kirby Smart vs. Dan Mullen in Game-Day-Coaching-Decisions. And in this competition, even a Dawg Fan can see Reality.
Reality that Smart has beaten Mullet every time they’ve competed against one another?
What you don’t understand is that Dan Mullen is making a push and gaining ground on UGA with less talents. If Kirby continues to flop against Alabama, LSU, and now maybe Florida this year. Writer is talking about this coming season not past seasons! Using past seasons only to say improvements and so forth and made adjustments and recruiting better. UGA just not getting it done! Maybe Florida can get it done this year? That is what it’s all about.
So you can use the past to say Uf is “gaining ground” but not the results of actual games? Got it. How are they “gaining ground”?? They haven’t come close to matching us talent wise. It all sounds good, in theory, and everyone wants a Cinderella story but there is no tangible evidence that Uf is somehow passing UGA.
Aaaand cue angry Georgia fans
“It’s a list of which coaches I trust to get a team ready to play and execute the team’s gameplan on Saturdays in the fall.”
Well Malzahn has executed his game plan to a 3-1 record vs Leach and Fisher.
Yeah. There’s no way Jimbo and Leach are above Gus.
I don’t follow Leach, but Gus certainly belongs above Fisher at this point. Jimbo hasn’t done much in the SEC, yet. Leach has done nothing, so Gus should be ahead of him too.
Don’t know much about Leach except that he’s pretty strange lol
It’s a bit early to judge Jimbo solely on his SEC record with the schedule he’s had the last two seasons. Swap UF/Mullen’s schedule for A&M/Jimbo’s the last two seasons and Jimbo could be in that 3 spot.
That is what I see. Leach is way too high.
Of course Michael Wayne Bratton thinks MuLLLen is a better coach than Kirby, who can be trusted to have his team ready to compete.
I mean, it’s not like Sideshow Dan the Clown’s lack of attention to detail has ever hurt his team. Oh, wait. It did. When half his offense were wearing the wrong offensive play sheet wristbands in the Cocktail Party.
I mean, it’s not like Cousin Eddie’s big fat mouth has wrote checks his team can’t cash. Oh wait, that’s exactly what happened before the 2018 and 2019 seasons, providing even more motivation to Kirby and the Dawgs? #FTMF
It’s not like Sideshow Dan hasn’t not won even a division title ever in his entire career as a head coach, which is 7 years longer than Kirby’s been a coach. Wait. He’s never won a division title? I mean, even Jackie Sherrill won his division at Mississippi State, so MuLLLen isn’t even the best coach at the school from where the media-made myth of his genius comes?
It’s not like Dancing Dan hasn’t not ever beaten Kirby. Wait, he’s been smoked not once, not twice, but thrice as a head coach, once even as a trendy upset pick?
It’s not like Sideshow Dan the Clown doesn’t trounce Kirby on the recruiting trail. Wait… the coach of Floriduh is routinely getting his butt kicked on the recruiting trail? The coach of the flagship team in the most talent rich state can’t keep his blue chippers at home like Spurrier, Zook, Meyer, and even Muschamp was able to do? Didn’t Floriduh fire the last guy because he was a crap recruiter?
Michael Wayne Bratton… congrats. You’re even dumber than I ever would’ve figured. And I figured you were pretty dang dumb already.
Lol Mullen is a better coach, Smart is just a better recruiter. He just out-talents everyone, that doesn’t work every time(see: LSU, South Carolina, Texas) because he regularly gets out coached. Your blind, cocky, and biased opinions are what make UGA fans insufferable
Preach
“He just out-talents everyone”
Isn’t that what Saban has done for over a decade? If Mullet is such a better coach than Smart why does his vaunted offenses fall flat against Smarts defenses?
I just told you. He out-talents everyone. This is why UGA always loses a game they shouldnt. Kirby gets outcoached by a less talented team
Kirby is a young coach. Sometimes it’s just not your day. He got outcoached by Bama and LSU. He lost a weird game to USCjr when Fromm happened to have the worst game of his career. I think to say he “always loses a game he shouldn’t” is a little cliche. I mean at least we didn’t lose to FCS Ga. St. and BYU.
GA st is an FBS team. Yall lost to a team worse than GA state and BYU.
Sure bud. Whatever you need to make you feel better.
Evidently being “better coach” does not work every time either.
Yeah, it’s not like Kirby hasn’t developed award winning players who weren’t blue chippers.
Wait, that’s exactly what he did with Deandre Baker and Eric Stokes? Hmm.
It’s not like Kirby has ever made adjustments to win games against teams with similar talent. Wait, that’s what he did in the Rose Bowl against Oklahoma? That’s what he did against Auburn in the 2017 SEC Title Game?
It’s not like he routinely beats the crap out of a coach you seem to think is better. Wait, that’s exactly what he’s done every single time he’s come up against Sideshow Dan the Clown?
Yeah, that Kirby sure can’t coach.
Lol DeAndre Baker just got arrested for armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. I never said he couldnt coach, just that he wasnt better than Mullen
Does Baker getting arrested erase the fact he was one of the best DBs in 2018?
He wasn’t very good his rookie season though. Only graded out at a 48. Greedy Williams didn’t have a good season either, but he graded out at 54. Neither met expectations, but Greedy was a second round pick.
They put a Baker in a zone scheme and he definitely had trouble adjusting. He’s much better man to man. It’s no excuse but it makes me wonder why they drafted him knowing zone coverages weren’t his strong suit
Mullen’s big selling point has been that he is THE quarterback whisperer in CFB. Yet he kept Franks as the starter even though Franks showed no progress. Florida is lucky Franks got hurt because I don’t think their QB whisperer HC would have ever realized he had a better quarterback on the bench. Mullen is an egotistical overrated clown.
“Egotistical” how?
Franks showed no progress says another Georgia Moron. Look up Franks stats from 2017 w/ Mac and from 2018, his first year under Mullen. You freaking idiot
Feleipe Franks
Completion Percentages
————————–
2017 54.6%
2018 58.4%
Franks was injured in game 3 in 2019. His completion percentage for the last seven games he started at Florida was 69.6%.
Take out the cupcakes and FSU and recalculate
UK
Miami
Michigan
South Carolina
Florida State
64% CMP
The cupcakes:
Idaho
UT Monroe
81.5% CMP
Not taking FSU out. While the program was a mess in 2018, the starting secondary was plenty talented. Stanford Samuels and Levonta Taylor both signed as undrafted free agents in 2020. Asante Samuel, Jr. was a talented true freshman in 2018. And Brian Burns went in the 2019 first round as an edge rusher.
I find it interesting that your metric is “the last 7 games” Game 8 was against Mizzou. His Comp% was 40.9%.
You are correct. Mizzou was a terrible game and South Carolina was his turning point. The original comment in the thread was about progress and improvement, yes?
Yes. I know you’ll disagree but I don’t know how much he improved under Mullet. I suspect is was a little but Franks’ biggest problem was inconsistency. You never knew which guy you were going to get and when things started going downhill during a game he seemed to get worse.
Last 7 of 8 games? Migrant cherry pickers got nothing on you Nash, lol.
Still giving true meaning to stars being made to be manipulated. Said it before, say it again, no one has your ability to maximize that manipulation, cheers, well done again
^stats^ but in your case stars and stats, lol
If consistency is measured by completion percentage, he clearly improved over time. His weakness is in reading his progressions and missing open receivers, which is sort of odd given his height. I think the “emotional” issue is overblown.
Leghumper, I’m not sure it’s cherry picking when you’re looking at trends in completion ratio over two seasons plus three games before injury. He did start to perform consistently better after the 2018 Missouri game. And more precisely, after half-time in the 2018 South Carolina game.
But if it weren’t for cherry picking, I’d have no pits at all.
Love the “MuLLLen” – very creative though you forgot to add the “t” making it “MuLLLet.” Missed opportunity, I suppose. But, would that work with Kirby, like KiWWWby? Fun to say, at the very least.
I mean if Georgia fans can call our coach MuLLet then why can’t we say KirBBBy
You certainly can. In spite of the burning and looting it’s still America so your freedom of speech is acknowledged… But surely you won’t be expecting any extra credits for creativity and originality will ya? With a name like Smart I could have come ip with something a little more creative, like Agent 86 or sumpin!!! Just sayin
Sure Bratton is dumb in your book just like everyone else who doesn’t share your opinion. In that case the world is chock full of dummies and then there’s you, DumbsOfWar, leghumper and DumbDawg78. Oh and Negan too
You literally come up with stupid nicknames for anyone who disagrees with you. You are the epitome of hypocrisy.
I use only 2 nicknames on this site, both deservedly have “dumb” in them, you happen to be one of the two. Own it
Nice deflection
You talk smack like my grandma
your gandma talks smack?
“but when it comes to game day coaching, he falls a bit short of Mullen”
How? Head to head battles, Smart’s defenses have stifled Mullen’s offenses time and time again. His defensive gameplans have worked resoundingly. What was it, 3 points through 3 quarters for Trask & Co last year? 0? Player development? Smart has done nothing to suggest Mullen has much of an edge there. Jim Thorpe winner, Lou Groza winner, Butkus Award winner, etc. It’s just baffling why everyone looks at Mullen’s three or four QB prospects and declares he is an offensive wizard, but ignores Smart’s decade worth of defensive coordinating.
Smart out-talents Mullen. Mullen is a better coach, Smart is a better recruiter
Smart is one of the best defensive coaches in the country. It’s not only recruiting.
Being able to assemble a better team has nothing to do with coaching didn’t you know that?
This was pointed out a few days ago and I agree with it. Offensive Gurus get more attention and credit than a defensive coach. Head coaches with defensive backgrounds are seldom if ever called a guru. The top 4 out 5 on this list come from the defensive side not one are called gurus.
His defense wouldnt be as good at Vanderbilt or Kentucky bc he wouldnt have the talent. Stoops is doing more with less. Smart? Less with more. 2 #1 recruiting classes and no NC.
Lol he’s been a HC for 4 years. Acting like he should have a NC already is idiotic. So since Pruitt lost to FCS Ga. St. his he doing “less with more” too? Surly Ut had more talent than Ga St and BYU.
Georgia state is in the Sunbelt they aren’t fcs… A sunbelt team did beat SC…
Ironically…a Sunbelt team beat a Nick Saban coached TrunksnorterU team as well…
Now about that Samoan culture link…
You’re right. And USC lost to App St. who also beat UNC and Ga st. by 30
Yes a sunbelt team…
Yes like ULM
You act as though the Vols losing to a sunbelt team is some huge put down… UGA lost to a team that couldn’t beat a sunbelt team either…
But we beat the Vols…and didn’t lose to a Sun Belt team…not sure why you feel the need to comment about it…UGA has never lost to a Sun Belt team…20-0…How about Bama?
Sure bud but is it really a put down for Pruitt to lose that game in year two of trying to turn the Vols around? Kirby in year 4 losing to a sub .500 team at home isn’t any better IMO
Also Bama has won 6 NCs in the last 30 years.. How about UGA?
How did I know you would bring up NCs?? Nothing at all to do with the conversation. In fact it has nothing to do with Bama. Not everything is about Bama believe it or not. If Smart lost to Ga. St. in year 2 y’all would still be talking about it so yeah it’s a “put down”.
You brought Bama Into the conversation not me… Why wouldn’t I bring up NCs as that the ultimate goal right? I mean we’re you alive when UGA won theirs?
Pruitt has the Vols going in the right direction. The Vols was terrible when he took them over. It’s not like he is losing to sub .500 teams after signing number one recruiting classes…
Kirby lost 1 game to a sub .500 team. It was a rivalry game against an SEC opponent that we lost in OT. You keep acting like he “continuously loses one he shouldn’t”. It’s just not true.
Tell me again about your NCs. Bring up 1980. I’ll be anxiously waiting for your snarky retort.
That’s not the first time or only time. He lost to a 6-7 Vandy squad as well.. I also didn’t say he continuously losses ones he shouldn’t all the time but he has been there 4 years right? Off the top of my head Vandy, Texas, and SC is probably games he shouldn’t have lost…
All I’m saying is based on the two programs the Vols losing to a sunbelt team wasn’t that crazy honestly…. I would think a team with playoff aspirations losing to a sub .500 team at home would be a little worse… pot meet kettle…
In no universe is losing to an in conference rival worse than losing to Ga. St.
Sorry we’ll just have to disagree here.
Kirby Dumb ain’t never had to develop no 3-star player, Paaawwwwll!!!!
Smart is one of the best defensive minds the CFB. It always surprises me that people are blind to that fact.
I agree. He improved UGAs defense the day he arrived. Apparently offense is the only thing that matters.
UGADAWG78, Not have a good offense is what kept Kirby from winning the National championship!
UGADAWG78, Kirby hasn’t been able to get the offense going against top defensive teams like LSU, Alabama, and others. That’s what keeping him from winning a National Championship. *
UGADAWG78, Also look at Will Muschamp! Very similar situation! Great defense but not so good offense! Last year Muschamp beat Kirby! See what I am getting at? Georgia got to get the offense going this fall.
Kirby went to the Natty after winning a shootout with Oklahoma….shoot..out……..
Kirby lost the SECCG against bama the following year with Fromm throwing for 300 yards and 3 tds.
Georgia’s offense was down last year and needed to be revamped, true.
We’re acting like his offense has been the reason he hasn’t gotten a natty……and I don’t know why.
It’s true our offense struggled against LSU but we’ve done fine against Bama.
I’ve worn that sentiment out. Offense was fine when there were receivers who could run routes and catch.
Reference in game coaching.. There have been a couple of WTF moments for Smart.. Thr fake punt with J Fields on the field,,, late game against Bama SEC title game was horrible,,, not to mention Bama’s Defense was still on the field….2nd half collapse in previous year Title game against Bama?? And Texas spanking in the Sugar Bowl,,, not even prepared to play,,, out played by the Longhorns,,, but crying about being left out of Final 4…Recruiting is outstanding,,, but eventually gotta win title with the talent he has
He will
Orgeron is rated number 1 in this list. Orgeron asks his coordinators “Guys, what do you think we should do?”. This whole article is a joke.
No way O over Saban or Mullet over Smart. Leach at 7 is a reach too.
Orgeron over Saban is dumb, Mullen is a better coach than Smart but cant beat him with worse talent, Leach has a proven track record.
I believe Drinkwitz will beat Leach at MSU this fall! Why? Leach is not using balancer offense attack and it is known he just not that great overall. If he was so great then why haven’t he got a better coaching job? Like one of the powerhouse schools when it opened up? All those years? Something is missing here.
“I believe Drinkwitz will beat Leach at MSU this fall! Why?”
Unbridled optimism?
If Bobo is truly the “Head Coach of Offense” then South Carolina could be in for an interesting year. There is enough talent at USC.
Leach above Gus (not Duggerton) is laughable.
100%
This Mullen is a better coach than Smart stuff always cracks me up.
Which coach has had his team better prepared every time Smart and Mullen have faced each other. The answer is Kirby Smart.
Mullen had his team fully built, had ‘his’ QB the first time they faced each other, the media said MS was going to beat Georgia and it was what, Kirby’s 2nd year? The result was a blowout loss for Mullen.
Smart is a defense coach. Mullen is an offense coach.
Smart’s defense has completely dominated Mullen’s offense every time they have played.
It’s one thing when a rookie coach like Smart makes a bad call in the biggest game (NC) against a veteran coach like Saban.
It’s unfair to give Mullen credit for not making the same mistake when he’s never even been in that same position.
Mullen’s offense couldn’t even read their QB arm ban and get the offense on the same play for most of the first quarter in last years game. I have never seen a Smart coached team that was so lost they didn’t even know what play had been called, and it happened on multiple plays. But let’s act like that never happened. Hilarious!
Kirby does nothing but out talent Mullen. Hes not a better coach. UF doesnt lose games their supposed to win unlike UGA under Smart(Texas, 2018 LSU, Auburn, South Carolina)
Career comparison
Kirby 4 years
3 Division titles
1 Conference title
1 playoff win
1 NC appearance
3 top 3 recruiting classes
Sugar Bowl win
Mullet 11 years
Win over Michigan in Orange Bowl
Yeah Mullet is clearly the superior coach. I think you’ve convinced me.
So our win over Virginia don’t count?
My bad. + 1 win over Virginia
It always makes me laugh when Dawg fans compare accomplishments as if it’s just as easy to win at MSU as it is at UGA. Get a clue Dawg fans. If you think Smart would have all those accomplishments as a first time head coach thing over a 4 win MSU program, then you clearly don’t know much about college football. Mullen’s now at a program that is comparable and what do you know, he’s already accomplished something no other coach in history has accomplished in his first 2 seasons and did so once again taking over a 4 win program, but yeah he sucks, Smart is clearly the superior coach.
“he’s already accomplished something no other coach in history has accomplished in his first 2 seasons”
What is this great impossible feat you speak of?
DumbDawg look it up for yourself, we won’t tell you. It shows you don’t know much about college football
Ahh.. leader of the pack has spoken I guess.
Nut Sack is such a ultra-sensitive, whiny little B. I wouldn’t want him for my spokesperson.
Any non-Florida fans want to help me out? I looked it up. Couldn’t find this unprecedented achievement that has never been done before in the history of CFB. Nut Sack has forbidden his minions from answering.
Personally, I wouldn’t have Saban 2nd in anything when it comes to coaching. I fully expected to see O 2nd. However, the writer explained his parameters and his reasoning is sound.
If you take away talent gaps, coaching becomes NASCAR….all about the driver ( coaching). All he said he’s got 1 gm to win vs a season ending record. Os takeaway from losing to Saban was he needed more talent and a much better Offensive system. He has both. I need to see how he does vs Saban over the next few yr b4 putting him I. But given the writers parameters, he at least has a leg to stand on in making his case. Still, I got Saban 1 and O at 2.
Also he said… Stupid autocorrect! Lol
Coach O, as he is called now after the end of last season Lol, doesn’t do any game day coaching. He just yells at his coordinators and players.
He owns you. He doesn’t want you, but he owns you.
He doesn’t own me. Even his wife is not impressed.
He’s the one that filed for divorce. The reasons are unknown. And yes, he clearly owns space in your head.
Orgeron is a clown. I wouldn’t hire him to run one of my car washes.
At best, you work in a car wash. Orgeron makes millions a year. He is not trying to get an entry level job so he can work with you.
Exactly,, Saban’s record is 1 or 2 in history of college football!!!!! Coach O ,,, I like a lot.. But keep it real ,, it’s Saban,, then we will start the countdown until he retires,,, that’s it!!! Mullen,, I like his work,,, but really what marquee victory have we seen? ? ? I can’t rate him over Kirby,, 3 big matchups,, 3 spankings!!! Watch out for my man in Knoxville,, he is going to be a good one!!!
I’m going to stay out of the Mullen-Smart debate on this one.
Kiffin has become a very good coach. People forget that he was under brutal scholarship sanctions at USC, imposed after Pete Carroll left. I think he will out-perform expectations at Ole Miss; he’s just got a lot of catching up to do on talent.
It is kind of shocking not to see Saban at the top of any coaching list, even if the criterion is game-day coaching. He’s made some pretty amazing game-day moves, putting Tua in after halftime in an NC game being the most notable. I think putting Coach O at number 1 based largely upon 2019 is getting a bit ahead of things. I’d probably still have Saban at number 1.
Stoops has been fantastic at player development and getting the most out of his roster, but he and his staff cost Kentucky at least one Florida game they should have won and maybe two. Just being honest.
As much as I bad-mouth Jimbo Fisher’s program management, he’s a pretty good game-day coach and a very good offensive coordinator.
I remember well having 10 on the field against the gators and losing, very fair point about Stoops. I think he has improved as an in game coach as his teams have improved. I think it gets lost of what a massive jump it is going from coordinator to the head coach. I see similarities in Stoops and Smart for that reason. Stoops doesn’t make the same head scratching mistakes in year 7, as opposed to year 2 or 3. I think Smart is growing as a head coach also. I’m not saying he’s better than Mullen, I think they are both great coaches. All I’m saying there is a learning curve going from coordinator to your first head coaching job, especially when your first job is in the SEC where the margin for error is virtually nil. The same could be said for Pruitt as well. Guys get better with experience. I’m not gonna pile on Muschamp. Just kidding Carolina fans, couldn’t resist. Y’all still hold the W against my Cats.
We need a workable formula for this, otherwise it’s just a beauty contest. A formula that pulls several factors together and ranks coaches according to how often they exceed expectations, meet expectations, fall just short of expectations, or fail miserably.
This article seems like it was written specifically to be controversial.
Lots here are. That’s the point of a message board site. None of us should any of this too seriously.
Yeah you’re absolutely right
I’m ok with Kirby Smart not getting the respect he deserves. I think it only furthers his drive, but it really doesn’t make a lot of sense. The author cites Mullen’s second year as proof of his game day smarts, but Smart led UGA to the national championship game in his second year with a true freshman QB. In the NC game against what many considered one of the best Alabama teams ever, UGA dominated the first half. With only two weeks to prepare, UGA shut Alabama down, and if not for the extraordinary talent of Tua, would have won that game handily. The next year in the SEC championship, UGA shut Tua down and again took Alabama to the wire, only to be undone by a change at QB the team did not expect. UGA was considered toast after last year’s USC loss, but again beat its rivals to win the East, relying on a defense that suffocated both Auburn and UF for three quarters. If our offense had been able to match our defense who knows where we might have gotten.
As an LSU fan, I truly appreciate the game day decisions Kirby makes.
Lol LSU has definitely dominated the Dawgs the last few years. I think y’all proved no coach could stop LSU last year though.
Literally one fake field goal, Kyle.
Saban is #1 imo. Orgeron is a good coach but he had a really good offense last year.
Funny how you rank Gus #8 when he’s one of only three active College coaches that’s beaten Saban. Swinney has beaten him twice and Orgeron has beaten him once. Gus has beaten him three times.
I don’t get that either. I’d much rather play Fisher or Stoops than Malzahn. Stoops has done more with less, but it still hasn’t been that much, while Fisher barely beat Ole Miss and Arkansas last year and could have easily gone 6-7.
I’d say Stoops is a better coach than Malzahn since he’s taken an untalented team and turned it into a pretty good team.
Not sure how much credit Gus should get for beating Alabama. Those have been some weird games. Either sheer luck or bad coaching decisions by Saban led to those final scores. I’d call it the Iron Bowl craziness, not Gus winning the game with brilliant coaching.
Some of Malzahn’s play calling did wonders for Auburn in those games. For example, the formation trick play at the end of the Iron Bowl 2019. But there’s always magic in the Iron Bowl. It certainly does the most.
Maybe it’s because of all the other games he has lost. By your logic as long as he beats Saban it’s a successful year. Most people remember the loss to UCF instead of the win against Saban which occurred in the same year. The difference between Swinney, Oregon and Gus would be their National Championship rings.
True. Gus failed in 2013. And in 2017, we had an amazing team. But Gus choked in the SEC Championship, then the Peach Bowl.
Orgeron above Saban? Cmon. Stoops above Leach? Cmon
I’d have to put Saban first, no doubt. I’m biased but wouldn’t trade Stoops for Leach. If you can get Kentucky to 10 wins, in any year, under any circumstance, you are a helluva football coach. I think he does it again this year, can’t wait to find out.
With Wilson, no doubt in my mind
Stoops is one of the best coaches in the conference. Leach hasn’t coached a single game in the SEC. So yeah, Stoops over Leach
Leach won 11 games at both Tech and Washington freaking State. Yea no big deal.
While USC, Stanford and Oregon were all down. He averaged 7 wins per season at Wazzou. I’m not saying he’s not a good coach but I think the consensus around CFB would be that Stoops is better.
Have to agree with Stoops above Leach. Stoops has really put together something in Lexington with some terrible recruits.
It’s not really fair to say they’re terrible. Bennie Snell was a 3-star. Josh Allen was a 2-star. And he’s gone from an average of 11 4-stars (per season) in 2015-2016 to 15 in 2017-2019. Those aren’t close to upper tier SEC numbers, but his program has steadily improved the roster.
Terrible is a strong word. There are some three stars and two stars that go to Kentucky and become stars. I think UK gets more of the more talented three stars than the not talented ones. But overall, good developing by Stoops.
It’s hard to believe a higher-tier job hasn’t opened up for him yet. Can’t help but wonder if he would take a hard look at USC if Muschamp gets booted. FSU was a bit of an exception due to its dumpster fire status.
FSU was a dumpster fire but it was a dumpster fire like Tennessee was a dumpster fire: a blue blood program with a lot of structural recruiting advantages that just hired the wrong guy. The one difference that might have mattered is that FSU is cash-strapped, but the only thing that might impact is new facilities. Tennessee has plenty of cash.
South Carolina has better access to talent than Kentucky but even with a great recruiter (and while he has flaws, Muschamp is a great recruiter) they’re not nearly talented enough to contend for a championship.
I think Stoops is really happy at Kentucky.
I hope you’re right about Stoops being happy at Kentucky. I know I’m happy with him. Most of the coaching staff seems pretty happy to be here, too. With continued success they will probably pick up a few more 5- and 4-stars as time goes on. He should pass the Bear in 2-3 more seasons (wins, not percentage). Maybe he can overcome the recruiting ceiling and elevate the program in a few more years, if he stays. Needs to beat the Vols, though.
He’s really turned Kentucky around. Hopefully he continues to improve recruiting. Once he actually lands a 5-star or two, then Kentucky is gonna be a really good team.
I agree with Nash. Stoops could land a “better” job but I think he’s happy at UK. I think he uses the disrespect card to get the most out of his players.
Mark Stoops is recruiting very well in Ohio since Ohio State can’t sign all the 3*** Players there. He’s given Kentucky Consistency and has Done-More-With-Less than any coach in the SEC.
Who cares… I wouldn’t trade Saban for any coach in the nation..
Who would??
Ask 1000 college football experts who the best coach is Saban or Orgeron. 1000 would pick Saban.Orgetons wife would pick Saban
We are all just a little dumber from reading this “article”.
Well, let’s be fair. At least 1 writer (above) didn’t pick Saban for his own reasons. Whether that is popular or credible is a matter of what the reader constitutes “best.” For me, that would be Saban hands down but I can see where the argument for Coach O comes from. If Coach O has the same success as Saban has had in Alabama (aside from one outstanding year) then let’s revisit this but until that happens, it is Saban and then a growing list of others.
Coach O is number 1 cause LSU won Nat champ last year. Ask LSUSMC.
No one would ever ask you anything. They all know better. I’m not sure what your problem is, but you clearly have problems.
It’s obvious Bratton doesn’t actually believe his own hot takes. He isn’t a fool. The fact is Saban has a 6-1 record in national championship games, so I’m not quite sure why he would make the point that Saban consistently loses to teams that have similar talent levels. As for the defense, injuries have absolutely decimated Alabama’s defense the previous two seasons. Saban hasn’t lost his touch with defensive coaching.
Putting Mullen over Smart is a strange take as well. Kirby hasn’t lost to Mullen since 2008. I think that streak will continue when considering how promising Georgia’s defense looks going into 2020. Everyone else’s ranking seemed to be just right.
I’m pretty sure he is 6-2, but I get your point.
Coach O got it covered$$$$$
Darrell, I applaud your focus and consistency of message, if not the factual underpinnings.
Don’t encourage him
“It’s a list of which coaches I trust to get a team ready to play and execute the team’s gameplan on Saturdays in the fall.”
It’s all about opinions. But if you’d like to get a solid idea poll 100 random college football fans. They cannot pick their own coach (there’s obvious bias in that), ask what coach they would most want to get ta team ready to play (that would include everything from recruiting, to hiring assistants, to film work, to practice, to play design, to matching those to skill sets, and motivation) and to execute the team’s gameplay on Saturdays in the fall (probably the most relevant factor here would be results). How many think Coach O would really be the one that would be picked? Alabama fan, LSU fan, Florida fan…you can’t pick your own coach…unless you are just a hater, you know Nick would win that opinion poll every time.
So after reading all 179 comments here’s what I think.
On the Mullen vs Kirby debate: Kirby is obviously the better defensive coach, sorry to say, but I do believe Mullen is the better offensive coach. Yes I know he struggled against Georgia last year in the first 3 quarters but the 4th quarter was great. Also take LSU. Both Florida and Georgia played them. Georgia scored 10 points against them, while Florida scored 28. Also, mind you the Gators were in Death Valley. Ultimately, I hate to say it, but Kirby is the better coach here :(
On the Sabah vs Orgeron concept it’s obvious Saban is better.
Quick question NCgator, you put Mullen as head coach of UGA and Smart as coach of MSU/UF during their last 3 meetings, who wins? To sit there and say Smart is clearly the better coach cause he’s 3-0, is a very short-sighted argument that I’ve seen mentioned quite a few times already.
I see your point, but I still say Kirby is the best coach RIGHT NOW, but Mullen is picking up recruiting success and will be the better coach in 2 yrs.
Ahh the old hypothetical unanswerable scenario. Great argument Joe.
I think Smart would easily have had as much success at MSU. He would have had great defenses and I feel confident in 10 years he could achieve finishing 3rd in the west a couple times. As far as at Uf (puke) can you imagine his recruiting in the state of Florida?? Oh my.
Being mentioned repeatedly does not magically imbue something with correctness. Also it’s not a good start that the entire basis for the claim is an unknowable hypothetical.
I’d really like to see what Stoops could do with an established QB and maybe a few more playmakers. In my opinion, he’s done a great job with what he has at KY.
Naming anybody other than Saban as #1
just proves this article was written to stir the pot.
THe only REAL debate is whether Orgeron or Smart should be #2
I’ll add some fuel to the fire. I’m probably the only one on here that doesn’t think Saban is that good of a coach with game planning. If he’s at UK, he’s barely a .500 coach. He has to have a physical advantage to win. That doesn’t mean he’s not the best coach in the country, because you do have to include recruiting, developing, and staying out of the NCAA doghouse. But that’s not what the author is asking about.
Name your top-5 examples of Saban’s poor game planning?
What games has Alabama lost due to Saban’s poor game planning?
All three times he’s lost to Gus, the two losses to Freeze, I would even include a couple of close calls to UT and MSU where he pulled out a late victory because the other team wore down. His record at MSU and with the Dolphins was nothing spectacular. His game plan up until he hired Kiffin was always wear the other team down. And he hated the changes that Kiffin brought.
Wow, I still think any school (apart from LSU) would choose Saban over Orgeron. Orgeron is indeed a formidable coach, but he’s yet to prove it over multiple seasons. That’s not to say that he won’t, just that he hasn’t yet. When Bama’s down year is a year when they don’t go to the playoffs, that speaks to how dominant Saban’s teams have been. He’s still the leader.
As much as I cringe seeing Fisher at #6, I can’t argue with that. I’m expecting him and the Aggies to compete on a high level now that he’s starting to get some talent on the field, but the ranking will have to wait until the wins start coming in.
I think this is a very interesting topic myself and i think there are two ways to look at this. The first is how good is the coach at recruiting and how much he can get out of those players. In this scenario I think the rankings would be easy for the top 3. 1) Saban 2) Smart 3) Orgeron. Talent is the most important thing in college football thats why normally the NC is also one of the most talented teams in college football. That being said there are more facets to the game then acquiring talent when it comes to coaching though aquiring talent is the most important. So like this guy states if every coach in the SEC has the same talent level who is the better coach? The problem is this is all just opinion since there is no way to know for sure. The way I look at is is what coach is able to get the most out of his players regardless of their ranking. IMO that would be Mark Stoops, then I would go Nick Saban, Dan Mullen, Mike Leach, Kirby Smart.
Mullen v Kirby is still to be decided. Both states loaded with HS talent. Mullen gets edge on offense, Smart on defense. So far Smart is the better recruiter. One might argue Mullen has gotten more out of less.
But in the end, this debate will be decided on the field over next decade. Who wins the most championships?
Putting Coach O at #1 after a single year of elite success makes about as much sense as putting Chizik #1 going into 2011. Was it Chizik? Was it Cam? Was it Gus? Was it all lightning in a bottle (hint: this is the correct answer).
For the record I think Coach O is far better as a HC than Chizik, but maybe we can slow the “Coach O is #1” hype train until his teams score even one single point against Alabama at home.
Didn’t they just score 46 against Alabama at home this year?
“at home” as in “in Baton Rouge”. Bama has beaten LSU in BR by a combined score of 39-0 in Coach O’s 2 games against Bama in Redstick.
Ahh… ok I read it wrong
That was at Alabama. I’m not sure why he chooses to gloss over that.
Yeah I mean wouldn’t being beat at home (at Bama) be worse?
I’m not glossing over it. No one is taking away anything from what LSU did last season. Best season ever. But until Coach O fields an elite team more than once, he doesn’t deserve to suddenly be named the best coach in the SEC.
Football success is easily quantified. Really, the only subjective part is the how/why some coaches are more successful than other coaches.
mullet – 12 years as a Head Coach
0 Conference Championships
0 Division Titles
Biggest Game of Career to Date – BCS Orange Bowl, got curb-stomped by GT
0 Recruiting Titles. Best Class To Date – 9th in 2019, 2020
Smart – 4 years as a Head Coach
1 SEC Conference Championship
2 SECE Titles
1 CFP win
Biggest Game of Career to Date – 2018 National Championship Game, double-overtime loss to Alabama
2 Recruiting Titles. #1 Ranked Recruiting Classes in 2018 and 2019, 2017 = #3 and 2019 = #2. UGA never had a #1 recruiting class prior to Smart’s arrival.
Head to Head competition Smart is 3-0 vs mullet
ridiculous rankings:
Kiffin is 14 until proven otherwise reference his power five experience
Muschamp beat Georgia, Pruitt did not.
I don’t like Fisher but he is ahead of Stoops
Orgeron is not a better coach than Saban, you must have gotten some cash after
the game as well
Mullen is a long way from proving he is better than Smart, a long long way.
Drinkwitz has already proven he is a better recruiter than 4 coaches you ranked
ahead of him, so what are you going on here? talking season?
Drinkwitz has proven nothing in the SEC. Missouri recruiting is currently ranked 13th in the conference. They are better than only Vandy. Take a bow, but quit making up stuff.
And Orgeron will never be as good a coach as Saban, Malzahn, or Mullen. It remains to be seen if he can coach as well as Drinkwitz, Pruitt, Mushamp, or Stoops, or Smart, Kiffin, Fisher, Mason, or Leach. He’s ahead of Pittman at least for this year. If anybody ever backed into a job, he did. He would last a year at Tennessee and he wouldn’t last two years at Arkansas, He wouldn’t last 3 years at South Carolina.
Comical. He just led a team to a national championship. He isn’t Saban, but he is above all the others. Orgeron is 3-0 against Malzshn and just beat Fisher’s team 50-7. He’s 2-0 against Smart. Do you watch football at all or just come here to talk nonsense. No need to answer. We all know the answer.
There is no way in hell that anyone could take any list like this seriously if you’re ranking Mullen ahead of Smart. Smart’s played for a NC, won an SEC ‘ship, and is SEC east champs 3 years running. Not only that, but the most important factor is that Smart has beaten Mullen in each of their matchups, 2 by landslides. You can make yourself do mental gymnastics to justify it, but the facts don’t change: Mullen hasn’t beaten Smart, how can he be the better coach?
Ranking Ed Orgeron ahead of Nick Saban is like ranking Andy Reid ahead of Bill Belichick. Many head coaches have won 1 national championship (see Gene Chizic, Jimbo Fischer, Philip Fulmer). The measure of greatness is when you can sustain winning championships. I don’t have to mention Saban’s record on winning championships. There is an old saying that says ; Even a blind squirrel will find a nut….eventually! Ed found a nut last season. Question is can he sustain this success. I agree the jury is still out on Orgeron but I have a strong feeling Ole Ed will eventually be added to the list of coaches above.
Wow, coach O over Saban, not really sure I understand the logic there. I would say that Saban is still king, one win won’t change that and it hasn’t.
No one besides Bratton would put Orgeron over Saban no matter how he slices it. I will congratulate him on a tremendous job of BS that’s attracted lots of clicks and comments.