Another year of college football is winding down, and along with it comes one of the more exciting races that no one is talking about—that being coach of the year. For the first time in a while, there’s really no clear-cut favorite this late in the season.
While most prognosticators would be tempted to flood their lists with SEC and Big 12 coaches, there are plenty of others who deserve recognition.
With that being said, here are ten coaches that when discussing coach of the year, each should be mentioned in that same breath—with only one featured from each of the two aforementioned power conferences:
Top Ten Coach of the Year Candidates in College Football
10. Butch Davis – North Carolina (3-3, 7-3)
It was an easy bet that Coach Davis, with his past pro and college experience, would be able to improve the quality of football at Chapel Hill. What wasn’t expected was the way he’s turned things around so quickly—especially after losing talents such as T.J. Yates and Brandon Tate for the majority of the 2008 season.
9. Mark Dantonio – Michigan State (6-1, 9-2)
Before Dantonio arrived at the beginning of last year, Michigan State hadn’t seen a winning season since 2003. After a 7-6 campaign in ’07, Dantonio has responded with nine wins, and with a week to go, the Spartans still have an outside shot at a Rose Bowl berth. That’s something that even Sparty didn’t see coming.
8. Paul Johnson – Georgia Tech (4-3, 7-3)
They said his system wouldn’t work in the ACC. They said it would take years for him to bring in enough recruits to build respectability.
Yet, while not having one of his biggest weapons in Josh Nesbitt during parts of the season, Coach Johnson has managed to keep the Yellow Jackets afloat with solid defense and other offensive weapons.
To top it off, a victory over Miami later this week could land Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship game, something no one expected.
7. Brian Kelly – Cincinnati (4-1, 8-2)
West Virginia isn’t sitting on top of the Big East. Neither is South Florida, or Pittsburgh. Nope, it’s the Bearcats, led by Coach Kelly. In his first year, Kelly led Cincinnati to ten wins and a bowl victory. This season, after returning only twelve starters, he’s on top of the Big East, hoping for another double-digit win season—and perhaps a conference title.
6. Brady Hoke – Ball State (6-0, 10-0)
Hoke is the darkhorse in this competition, coaching in the Mid-American conference, which gets little to no national exposure. A program that managed only 15 victories from 2003-2006, Hoke has accumulated 17 wins since the beginning of last season. Hoke’s two biggest tests are still to come with other Mid-American powers Central Michigan and Western Michigan on deck.
5. Tim Brewster – Minnesota (3-4, 7-4)
If not for three consecutive losses, Brewster could easily be at the top of this list. Still, after a dismal 1-11 season last year, the second-year coach not only managed a solid 2008 recruiting class (28th according to scout.com), but also managed at least a half-dozen win turnaround along with a bowl berth to come. Dontcha know that’s one heckuva year, yah?
4. Kyle Whittingham – Utah (7-0, 11-0)
Some coaches get buried in mediocrity after replacing someone that had a great deal of success. When Urban Meyer left Utah (for Florida) after giving the Utes its first perfect season since 1930 (plus the first BCS bowl berth by a mid-major), there were lofty expectations and high hopes for the program—certainly a tall order for Whittingham and his staff.
Still, he’s responded with three winning seasons, and in year four, Utah is undefeated and primed for a potential second BCS berth in five years.
3. Mike Leach – Texas Tech (6-0, 10-0)
Leach and the Red Raiders have always been known to have an explosive offense, but never enough to get over the hump in big games—until this season. Beating Oklahoma at Norman may be enough to push him to the top of this list and push Texas Tech to a national title berth.
2. Joe Paterno – Penn State (6-1, 10-1)
From having to cut two d-linemen, lose another to injury, lose a star linebacker for the year, fend off questions of retirement, avoid questions regarding his health, among other things, Coach Paterno brought Penn State to within one point and one last second field goal from an undefeated record.
With Michigan State approaching, a win can earn the Nittany Lions its first Rose Bowl berth since 1994. It’s been a special year for Paterno—but will it be his last? That question alone could earn some extra votes.
1. Nick Saban – Alabama (7-0, 11-0)
Everyone knew Coach Saban would make the Tide roll again—but this quickly? With the number one recruiting class in 2008 (according to scout.com), it looked like Saban and the boys were about a year or two away, especially with an ’08 schedule that featured road tests against LSU, Tennessee, Georgia, plus a neutral site game against Clemson during week one.
After a 7-6 2007 season, Saban has done a spectacular job with this year’s team, but the road to the national title is getting tougher, with Auburn and Florida still in the way. Either way, don’t expect the Tide to go away anytime soon and if forced to choose a favorite for coach of the year, Saban would have to be the one.
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about 1 month ago
Thanks Kevin, one of my favorite topics and something Baby Tate and I have been talking about for a month or so through the comment part of the profile. I am really torn this year, do one of the big name really successful guys get it or does it go to a small guy who has done an incredible job righting a ship that seemed lost at sea? I'm talking Mario Cristobal, Art Briles, Turner Gill, David Cutcliffe, Bobby Johnson and even the quick turn around job Houston Nutt has done. This may be one of the toughest years I have ever seen, someone is going to cash in. Did anyone epect Kirk Lefrentz or Ralph Friedgen's teams to have these kinds of years? my guess is this is the closest vote of all time.
from about 1 month ago
Hey buddy... thanks. Hopefully, BT will stop by and pitch in on the discussion as well.
You certainly add some other names that have done solid coaching jobs throughout this year. There were certainly a few others that I had to leave off... but had thought about... such as Mike Gundy, Pat Fitzgerald, and even Coach Jags at BC - with what he was able to do with a team that lost a few stars, including first round pick Matt Ryan.
But yes... I think this is going to be a close vote for sure... and the final few weeks will certainly change the way the voting comes out...
from about 1 month ago
Great article of interest and thanks to Mitch for the heads-up.
Good candidates this year as so many things were accomplished by the men you've listed. I like the job Paul Johnson has done at Tech because he took a team with a different offense and turned it into his own.
I have voted for Tim Brewster of Minnesota. Despite the nagging unjuries that have slowed down the Golden Gophers late in the season, turning around that program has been nothing short of a miracle.
I would think Nick Saban will win the hardware as Coach of the Year, or at least share it with Mike Leach. To the victor goes the spoils.
I wish we could have articles to discuss like this each week, you've done a great job in preparation and presentation.
Thanks to you and to Mitch !
from about 1 month ago
Thanks Baby...
It sounds like we are on the same page regarding some of these candidates...
Obviously, I'm with you regarding Johnson... and if you think about it, look at him compared to Rich Rod at Michigan. Both had to incorporate a new system with their inherited rosters, plus any recruits they were able to bring in. Johnson even lost a number of players, who transferred. Look at how Michigan has fared, and then at Georgia Tech... really a big difference...
As for these topics, I'm happy to get together every now and then with you and put things like this out for debate... it could be fun.
about 1 month ago
i enjoyed this although my vote is for leach currently and saban 2nd, paterno third.
but of course ttu still has toughies and saban has AU and florida. right now i think ttu had the tougher road of the two teams.
whichever (if either) of these teams win their conference will probably be my pick although ttu if they lose to OU might not even get to the big 12 cg.
from about 1 month ago
Hey Justin,
With those three, I would say it's pretty close - a borderline tossup.
Tech had the tough road when they faced Oklahoma State and Texas, but they managed to get both of them at home. Plus, the Red Raiders returned 18 starters from a nine win team.
'Bama had most of their challenges on the road... so I thought about that. I also thought about records over the past year, expectations, players back, and what not. That combined with other adversity and that's how I came up with my current top three...
about 1 month ago
If Mike Leach or Nick Saban negotiate through the remaining slate of tough games and meet in the Championship game, can we have a split Coach of the Year award? The will both be deserving of the honor.
Mark Dantonio deserves consideration for the job he's done at MSU and if the Spartans can pull off the upset on Saturday, the Spartans will win a share of the Big Ten title for the first time in 18 years! Remarkable not only or the on field performance, but the complete change in culture in East Lansing.
Kyle Whittingham, Chris Peterson, and Brady Hoke have done a tremendous job as well. It's going to be the closest vote in quite a while. There are a lot of deserving candidates out there.
from about 1 month ago
Yes, most definitely.
I agree on Dantonio... obviously, since I have him on my list. Michigan State has always had talent, and always gotten off to quick starts... but by midseason, the Spartans begin to falter. Dantonio has managed to keep the ball rolling. He's really done a great job so far - Michigan State fans have to be pleased. Now they just have to steal away a few wins in big games, but taking the games they should win is a good start.
about 1 month ago
Great article, just switch No. 2 and No. 1. Joe Pa is not only a great coach, but an honorable guy as well. Probably the best coach and the best person in that school's history, and probably one of the best coaches and one of the best people in the world. He makes great players come out of PSU, but even better people.
from about 1 month ago
Hey Isaac,
I expected you to come by and toss in your two cents - mentioning that Paterno should be at the top of the list.
I will say this - Paterno has put together one of his best coaching jobs ever with this 2008 Nittany Lions team. The real story with him is going to be his contract, which ends at the end of the season.
from about 1 month ago
Hey Calvin! Go back to special ed class you idiot! Coach of the year is who is the BEST coach, the BEST role model, and who did the BEST job with his team. Paterno comes in first in two of those, and the other one, the best job with the team (record) he is in the Top 3. So shut up. All you do is harass me and you are mentally deficient. You are the dumbest person I ever met, and stop harassing me you low life!
about 1 month ago
I'd give it to Paul Johnson. Yeah, they don't run a flashy, spread offense. But they play hard, compete well, and have the GT fans excited again. That's right, excited for the ol' triple option.
All the coaches are quite deserving though. Great article.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks Jeff...
I'm impressed that someone is with me on pitching the award for Paul Johnson. He really caught a lot of negative attention when accepting this job, with a lot of critics thinking that his unique option-oriented system just wouldn't cut it - but he's certainly proved everyone wrong with the job he's done this year. I personally think this is only the beginning for Johnson and the Yellow Jackets...
about 1 month ago
The first two on the list are front runner picks. You missed the obvious choice. Mitch dropped the winner already, David Cutcliffe. It has been 20 years since anyone cared about sports at Duke before November 1st!! Before this year, every team on the Blue Devils schedule started the season 1-0. You go Dave...by the way, how hard is it to win at Bama or PSU? That's rhetorical Isaac...
from about 1 month ago
Hey Lucky,
Cutcliffe is certainly improving the Duke program, there's no doubt about that one. Still, I personally just couldn't include him in my list... while Duke is obviously getting better, I still have a hard time giving the coach of the year nod to a team with one conference win and a losing record. I'm very curious to see what Duke can accomplish going forward though...
As for 'Bama and PSU... think about each program since 2000. Penn State has had four losing seasons and Alabama has had three. Any program can hit a low point...
about 1 month ago
I never expected him to make the list, but had to give him some love. And remember, I'm a Tarheel!
As for Bama, okay, Saban is making it happen. And he has the magic back in Mobile. But PSU, well they have the same coach they had when they were losing. What kind of logic is that? He has been there for 50 years. Are we saying he deserves an award for cleaning up his own mess? No way.
Let's just give it to Leach for making this season fun to watch!!
from about 1 month ago
Ha ha... well that's impressive that as a Tarheel, you give some love to Duke. Did it hurt to do that? Did you get a sour stomach afterward? I kid, I kid.
Well, if we went with the logic that you mention, then we would have to give the award out to a first-year coach on his team every season. All I'm saying is that certain situations come into play... certain players, etc... that add challenges to coaching. Take Penn State for example. Paterno had to kick a few players off the team. He's had to coach from the press box and may have to go through hip replacement surgery. He lost his defensive star for the year, and coupling that with the loss of half of his d-line, PSU managed to maintain the composure of the players, and still have a top ten defense. His new QB played well, and they built a unique offensive scheme around him - much like that of the 2005 team. That plus no one expected the Nittany Lions to compete for a Rose Bowl berth this year, and here they are. It all adds up to some Coach of the Year votes.
Still, I'm with you regarding Leach... he has made the season exciting - and honestly, if they can knock off the Sooners... that award could be as good as his. But as of now, I still have Saban in the lead.
about 1 month ago
Hey co-worker...loved the list. Saban should win it. But I like Brady Hoke as the darkhorse....the voters love to vote for the little guy.
from about 1 month ago
Hey Hey... thanks.
The more I think about it, the more I like Whittingham as my darkhorse... especially if they go undefeated. Still, if any of the big guns remain undefeated as well, you have to think one of them will steal those votes away.
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