Ranking The Top 10 College Football Coaches Entering the 2017 Season
10) Bill Snyder, Kansas State Wildcats
When people discuss the greatest coaches in College Football history, Snyder’s name is not usually mentioned. It should be! He took over a terrible Kansas State program a long time ago and turned them into a consistent top 25 program. Snyder is Kansas State and a statue will be erected someday for this legendary coach.
9) Jim Harbaugh, Michigan Wolverines
Harbaugh built Stanford into a powerhouse and it looks like he is close to doing the same in Ann Arbor. He needs to win something before he climbs higher on this list. I still feel bad that Coach Snyder is ranked below him, but I feel Harbaugh is a great coach. And it is only a matter of time until he is in the top 5.
8) Chris Peterson, Washington Huskies
Peterson was wildly successful at Boise State and you knew it would be just a matter of time until he turned the Huskies into a winner again. I never thought he would do it this fast though. Knowing Peterson, I am sure the best is still yet to come.
7) Bob Stoops, Oklahoma Sooners
Stoops looked to have overstayed his welcome in Norman just a couple of years ago. The he adjusted and changed his offense and, like great coaches are apt to do, he reinvented himself as a coach. Don’t be surprised if Stoops is in the Final Four at the end of this season.
6) Gary Patterson, TCU Horned Frogs
Patterson is the most underrated coach in the country, sure the Horned Frogs had a down season last year, but I bet that will not turn into back-to-back bad seasons. He has turned the Horned Frogs into an elite program in a power five conference. In other words, the Horned Frogs have come a long way under Patterson’s leadership.
5) Jimbo Fisher, Florida State Seminoles
Fisher has taken over for a legend and the Seminoles haven’t seemed to miss a beat. The Seminoles have been restored as an elite program because Fisher is an elite coach. Look for them to be in contention yet again this year.
4) David Shaw, Stanford Cardinals
If Shaw wanted to coach in the NFL, he would have a job immediately. That’s how good of a coach he is. Shaw took over from Harbaugh and he hasn’t just maintained what Harbaugh started, he has improved upon it.
3) Dabo Swinney, Clemson Tigers
Everybody knows who will be number 1-2 in this list and the rest of the coaches on the list are way behind. Dabo Swinney is the one guy that could join Meyer and Saban in discussions as the best. If he can somehow keep the program in contention for a National Title after losing Deshaun Watson. It may seem like a long shot, but I wouldn’t bet against him.
2) Urban Meyer, Ohio State Buckeyes
Meyer was thoroughly out-coached by Swinney last year in the playoffs. From his past history, expect him to learn from his mistakes and come back as an even better coach. Once again with Meyer at the helm, the Buckeyes will be a playoff contender.
1) Nick Saban, Alabama Crimson Tide
Saban has to be hands down number one and it will take a long-time for anyone to surpass him. Right now he is chasing the Bear Bryant’s and Knute Rockne’s of the world as he is on the verge of being considered for eternity one of the greatest coaches ever. In the end he may go down as the greatest, but only time will tell that tale.
