In his second season as the offensive coordinator at St. Ambrose (an NAIA school in Davenport, Iowa), Drinkalls offense ranked No. He has gone 14-7 over the last two seasons, a mark that would have been much better if Indiana could have feasted on some non-conference opponents last year. Played a role in the Bulldogs ranking fourth in the SEC in total defense in 2020 (380.3 yards per game) after ranking 11th under the previous staff in 2019 (419.3 yards per game). Sure, there might be an inclination to not have them at No. Walter Camp, Yale (1888-92 . 382 votes. His 2020 Ole Miss special teams unit ranked 17th nationally in kick-return defense and 23rd in kick-return average. David Johnson, Tennessee -- $505,000 4. He won six national championships. Thomas Stidham and Jim . Was a four-year starter at quarterback at Illinois (2010-13) and ranks seventh in Big Ten history in career total yardage (10,634 yards). Volatility was profitable for college football's elite wide receivers coaches in 2021. The move to UCF reconnected him with Gus Malzahn, who was his quarterback coach at Tulsa in 2008. For what it's worth, Gattis made $525,000 while coaching the Crimson Tide's wide receivers in 2018. Kasey Dunn, Oklahoma State -- $800,000* 3. Dameyune Craig, Texas A&M -- $675,0005. Kearis Jackson enters the year with Day 3 grades. Under Brock in 2019, Washington State ranked first in the Pac-12 in field goal percentage (95.2) as well as second in punt-return average and kick-return defense. New hire replaces Marc Vottler following Vottler's hiring at Ohio State. Three of the coaches in last season's the top 25 lost their jobs following the 2021 season, including a top-10 coach in Dan Mullen and another who won a national title in 2019, Ed Orgeron. Also received interest for multiple NFL job openings. Florida coach Dan Mullen fought hard to keep him. Now hes revamped the Texas A&M program, going 26-10 in three seasons and coming off a 9-1 season with huge aspirations for a national title hunt in 2021. Contributed to A&M improving from 29th nationally in total defense in 2019 to ninth in 2020. He'll earn $250,000 in 2022, per the 2-year deal he signed upon joining the Wolverine staff from Michigan's West Bloomfield High School. Ranking college football's 10 best head coaches this season In theory, coaches listed here should beat the coaches ranked beneath them with a team of equal talent on a neutral field 10.. Finished his career with 344 catches, two 1,000-yard seasons and 14 career touchdowns. Well, volatility will always play a role in the process because our group of voters, consisting of writers from both CBS Sports and 247Sports, aren't given a set of guidelines to follow. After feeling his way around early in his Bulls tenure, Leipold went 24-10 in his last three seasons before landing this Kansas job. Already has worked in a few Power 5 conferences and has coordinator experience at the FCS level (Southern Utah). Has been working up at the college level since 2015 after two jobs as a high school coach. The program ranks sixth in the same metric in the five years since he became head coach. -- Equally worth of mentioning: Alabama does not have a wide receivers coach as of this moment. Was contacted by Boise State about a job with a bigger title this past coaching cycle. Was a reserve QB at Texas (2012-16) and played in 23 games as a snapper for field goals and extra points. But Saban is still No. Saban landed at LSU in 2000 and awoke the sleeping Cajun giant, compiling a 48-15 record and a National Championship in five years. David Johnson, Tennessee -- $505,000 4. Joker Phillips, NC State -- $415,000+21. He had 191 catches for 3,379 yards and 31 touchdowns in his four-year career. Had two All-Conference USA honorable mention selections in his first season at Louisiana Tech (Smoke Harris and Cee Jay Powell). Behind Greggs line, the Flames ran for a school-record 2,776 yards in 2020 and ranked No. Has worked with coaches such as Syracuse coach Dino Babers, Orange offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert and Kent State coach Sean Lewis. After an incredible 2000s period that saw Texas win two Big 12 titles and a National Championship, a malaise set in and the wins dried up. 56 nationally in pass defense in 2019 (222.2 yards per game) to No. And we have a history of Saban turning around other programs. Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater was already somewhat of a national power at that level when Leipold took over the team in 2007, but his 109-6 record with the team is still truly remarkable. Brian Hartline, Ohio State -- $600,000+7. 4 in 2020 (398.5). At James Madison in 2019, Smith helped lead a defense that ranked No. College football rankings: 10 best wide receivers this season 10. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Was the lead recruiter on five-star 2022 linebacker C.J. Holtz won 76% of his games in South Bend. Alvis Whitted, Wisconsin -- $400,00022. Tyler Grisham is a top 5, maybe top 3, WR coach in the entire country. Before Monken took over in 2014, the team had put forward just one seven-win season since 2000. Regarded as one of the best kickoff-return and special teams coaches in the country. Some value accomplishments on the field above all else, while others may give greater weight to recruiting prowess or the possibility of future success. From 1892 to 2006, the team played in six bowl games. One is five-star cornerback Travis Hunter, rated as the nations No. Before Oregon, Chance was part of Minnesota improving from No. Samples, a former Oklahoma State and Houston wide receiver, currently is ranked among the top-15 recruiters in the country for the 2022 class. Was Greg Schianos first hire for his Rutgers staff. Was a four-year starter at quarterback for USF (1999-2002). Was promoted to associate head coach after last season. 16). Leipold has shown that he can turn around a downtrodden program. I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. 12) and punt-return defense (No. The headliners are preseason All-Americans Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, who has evolved from a three-star recruit into a first-round 2022 draft prospect under Hartlines coaching. Kelly has led the Bruins to 17 total wins over the past two seasons. Since 2016, the Utes have been the best defense in the conference, posting a cumulative -0.149 EPA allowed per play in those five seasons. That includes 2020 Jim Thorpe Award winner Trevon Moehrig, who was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the second round of this years NFL draft. And Penn States 4-5 season in 2020 is the only reason why hes as low on this rankings list, as he went an astounding 42-11 from 2016 to 2019. Interviewed for the job as the Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach before the Eagles hired Florida offensive coordinator Brian Johnson. In-depth analysis. Interviewed for the Boston College coaching job two years ago and turned down the Tennessee coordinator job this past cycle. Under West, Alex Highsmith ranked in the top five nationally in sacks and tackles for loss in 2019. Under Halzle, UCF QB Dillon Gabriel led the nation in passing yards per game (357.0) last season. Josh Gattis, Michigan -- $900,000* 2. Holmon Wiggins, Alabama -- $575,000+11. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: collegefootball | pageType: stories | With free agency around the corner, players rated how teams treated them off the field: for better or for worse. In his first season as Washingtons defensive backs coach, Harris was part of the Huskies improving from No. The Florida State dynasty of the late 1980s and 1990s produced 14 straight years where the team finished in the top five of the AP Poll under Bobby Bowden. Kinne, Recent jobs: UCF (2021), Hawaii offensive coordinator (2020), Philadelphia Eagles special projects assistant (2019), Arkansas offensive analyst (2018), Recent jobs: Tennessee (2021), Rice offensive coordinator (2018-20), North Carolina Central head coach (2014-17), Recent jobs: Pitt (2021), Hawaii wide receivers coach (2020), William & Mary offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2019), Howard offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2017-18), Oklahoma Baptist running backs coach (2016), Arizona State quality control coach (2015), Tennessee senior offensive analyst Matt Merritt, Recent jobs: Tennessee (2021), James Madison running backs coach (2019-20), Elon running backs coach/special teams coordinator (2017-18), Oklahoma inside linebackers coach Brian Odom, Recent jobs: Oklahoma (2019-present), Missouri outside linebackers coach (2017-18), Washington State defensive quality control coach (2015-16), Georgia State cornerbacks coach Cory Peoples, Recent jobs: Georgia State (2020-present), Georgia Southern cornerbacks coach (2018), Albany State defensive coordinator (2017), Recent jobs: Memphis (2020-present), Liberty linebackers coach (2019), Alabama graduate assistant (2017-18), Baylor special teams coordinator/safeties coach Matthew Powledge, Recent jobs: Baylor (2020-present), Louisiana special teams coordinator/outside linebackers coach (2018-19), ULM special teams coordinator/tight ends coach (2016-17), Florida linebackers coach Christian Robinson, Recent jobs: Florida (2018-present), Mississippi State graduate assistant (2017), Ole Miss graduate assistant (2015-16), Texas A&M defensive line coach Elijah Robinson, Recent jobs: Texas A&M (2018-present), Baylor defensive line coach (2017), Temple defensive line coach (2014-16), Texas A&M defensive backs coach TJ Rushing, Recent jobs: Texas A&M (2020-present), Memphis secondary coach/defensive pass game coordinator (2018-19), Arizona State secondary coach (2016-17), Recent jobs: SMU running backs coach (2020-present), SMU offensive assistant (2019), Texas offensive analyst/on-campus recruiter (2018), Texas A&M linebackers coach Tyler Santucci, Recent jobs: Texas A&M (2020-present), Wake Forest (2019), Texas A&M analyst (2018), Notre Dame analyst (2017), Texas State linebackers coach (2016), Iowa State running backs/wide receivers coach Nate Scheelhaase, Recent jobs: Iowa State (2018-present), Illinois analyst (2016-17), Illinois running backs coach (2015), Penn State running backs coach JaJuan Seider, Recent jobs: Penn State (2018-present), Florida running backs coach (2017), West Virginia running backs coach (2013-16), LSU offensive graduate assistant Derek Shay, Recent jobs: LSU (2020-present), McNeese State tight ends coach (2019), Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy offensive line coach (2017-18), Recent jobs: UAB cornerbacks coach (2019-present), UAB analyst/grad assistant (2016-18), South Alabama quality control coach (2014-15), Virginia Tech cornerbacks coach Ryan Smith, Recent jobs: Virginia Tech (2020-present), James Madison safeties coach (2019), Elon secondary coach (2017-18), Penn State graduate assistant (2015-16), Notre Dame running backs coach Lance Taylor, Recent jobs: Notre Dame (2019-present), Carolina Panthers wide receivers coach (2017-18), Stanford running backs coach (2014-16), Recent jobs: Ohio (2021), LSU analyst (2020), Cleveland Browns quality control coach (2019), New York Jets pro personnel intern (2018), Oklahoma graduate assistant (2015-17), Ohio State linebackers coach Al Washington, Recent jobs: Ohio State (2019-present), Michigan linebackers coach (2018), Cincinnati defensive line coach (2017), Boston College assistant (2012-16), Charlotte co-coordinator/defensive line coach Marcus West, Recent jobs: Charlotte (2019-present), Minnesota defensive line pass rush specialist (2018), Austin Peay co- coordinator/defensive line coach (2016-17), Recent jobs: USC (2020-present), Oregon cornerbacks coach (2018-19), Nebraska cornerbacks coach (2017), Arizona cornerbacks coach (2016), San Jose State secondary coach/recruiting coordinator (2013-15), Florida State secondary coach Marcus Woodson, Recent jobs: Florida State (2020-present), Auburn secondary coach (2018-19), Memphis secondary coach (2016-17), Fresno State secondary coach (2014-15), UTSA co-coordinator/defensive line coach Rod Wright, Recent jobs: UTSA (2019-present), East Carolina defensive line coach (2018), Sam Houston State defensive line coach (2014-17). In the past two years, Colbert has produced four all-conference wide receivers, a Biletnikoff Award finalist (Michael Pittman in 2019) and two top-four-round draft picks (2021 fourth-round pick Amon-Ra St. Brown and Pittman, a 2020 second-round selection). Was a quarterback at Oklahoma (2006-08) when Heupel was the Sooners quarterbacks coach, then got his start in coaching under Heupel as a support staffer at Oklahoma from 2009-14. In addition to his work with the Colts and St. Thomas High, he has been a Nike Elite 11 quarterbacks coach. Here's how the full list breaks down: 1. Currently ranked among the nation's top 15 recruiters for the 2022 recruiting class. Riley was hired as the Sooners' offensive coordinator in 2015, and East Carolina fell to 65th in EPA per play while Oklahoma rose to ninth. The Rich Brooks era was longer yet still just as painful. Regarded as one of the best recruiters in the country. 1 thus far for the 2022 class. And thats what makes Allens tenure so impressive. NFL-style clock rules could come to college football, but the most extreme proposal will not. Helped BCs defense improve by an average of 71 yards per game against conference opponents in 2020 (from 494 yards per game under the previous staff in 2019 to 422.8 yards per game last season). When Ed Orgeron was fired and the staff was changed over, LSU paid a premium to pluck Cortez Hankton, still buzzed from the championship champagne, away from Georgia. Jan 18, 2022. Under Williams, USC allowed just 216.3 passing yards per game last season, its lowest number since 2013. Made a big-time impression with people at LSU during his one season on the Tigers staff. If the QBs they coach perform at an elite level, though, all three will be on the fast track to coordinator gigs and rocket up future editions of this list. On this list for a second time, Duggan coached two of the ACC's best linebackers during his debut season with Boston College. You could almost pick anybody on the Bears ' fall camp roster at the receiver position to team up with Goodley (5-foot-10, 220 pounds) and Baylor. Its a future that Dawg fans can only dream of because Smart is still only a one-time SEC champion and zero-time national champion. This list is booty cheeks. Mario Williams Where he plays: USC 2021 stats: 35 rec, 380 yards, 4 TD Williams was a reliable fixture for Oklahoma a year. And this is precisely why Dabo could be seen as more successful than Saban the Clemson program is not an important program in college footballs history, unlike the Crimson Tide. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. What Campbell has done is nothing short of remarkable. The belief is that it wont be long before Bailey gets a big-time assistant job, whether its at Ohio State or elsewhere. Zach has been FootballScoop's national columnist since 2012. Has produced at least one first- or second-team All-Big 12 selection in each of the past five seasons. Brian Hartline, Ohio State -- $600,000+ 7. They have played in 10 under Fitzgerald. To put that into perspective, thats the same percentage allowed by Clemson during this four-year stretch and better than the figure posted by Alabama (55.1). By Anthony Treash. How did they climb so high, so quickly? Was promoted earlier this year to associate head coach. The group also includes talented young players such as sophomore Jermaine Burton and promising freshman Adonai Mitchell, whom Hankton landed after he was initially committed to Ole Miss. A former record-setting wide receiver at Tulsa, where he set FBS records for single-season yards per catch (31.9) and career yards per catch (28.7). On Monday he will be coaching in the College Football Playoffs national championship game,. Its always difficult to examine coaches through the prism of wins, losses and efficiency rankings. He lost the first two rival games in 2014 and 2015 to make it 14 straight but has since won four of the last five. 1 because the turnaround he pulled with this Clemson program is almost unheard of. It feels like a long time ago, but Notre Dame had fallen on hard times after the dominant Lou Holtz era that spanned the late 80s and early 90s. Rushing was contacted about several jobs this past cycle, including Alabama and Georgia, but decided to remain with A&M. Ranked as the No. Tyler Grisham, Clemson -- $450,000+15. Also received interest for multiple NFL secondary coach openings. Sonny Dykes promoted Samples to associate head coach earlier this year. Led the way for BCs 2021 class that was the Eagles top-ranked group in the modern recruiting era. He landed one of the. Mark Hudspeth improved the Rajin' Cajuns' win total from three to nine in his first year in charge, which started a four-year run of 9-4 finishes and a New Orleans Bowl victory each season. While Williams salary numbers arent public, a source told On3 that Williams is the highest-paid non-coordinator in the nation. Led Mercers 2018 special teams operation to four top-12 rankings in the FCS net punting (No. 14) and interceptions (No. 2 overall player in the On3 2022 rankings. Here are the 25 best college football coaches in America heading into the 2022 season. Thats not good enough at Notre Dame. Cale Gundy, Oklahoma -- $535,000 3. Bill Clark, UAB He's amid one of the most underrated coaching jobs in this generation of college football, leading UAB back from the brink of extinction. Cale Gundy, Oklahoma -- $580,000+ 6. George McDonald, Illinois -- $550,000+11. In fact, at $350,000, we've now found the low end of the high end among FBS position coaches. 25. Whereas Nick Saban will always be Alabama's defensive backs coach in a wink-wink way, Lincoln Riley is actually Oklahoma's quarterbacks coach -- it says so right there on his bio. Continues to be regarded as one of the nations top recruiters. In the 10 years leading up to the longtime head coach, the team had only won 55% of their games. Age: 60. Assuming 2020 was just a blip and not the beginning of a downward trend, Franklin has proven himself to be one of the top coaches in college football. Brian Early has been a part of the Houston staff since 2019 and was at Arkansas State previously. Brennan Marion is one of the bright young minds in college football. Let's rank the top 100 . The Blazers won Conference USA in. Cortez Hankton, LSU -- $850,000+2. (McClendon was set to follow Mario Cristobal to Miami before returning to Athens.). 11 in the AAC in total defense in 2018 (496.8 yards per game) and No. 2 out of ranking fatigue, but this is their rightful spot. The QBE coaching staff over the years has included former D1 QB coach & Offensive Coordinator Brandon Doman, 10 year NFL QB Koy Detmer, Canadian . That kind of turnover played a role in the shakeups all over our list of 65 coaches, and this year we have six coaches cracking the top 25 for the first time. Does FSU or any ACC power actually have options. A 26-year-old who has quickly established himself as one of the premier recruiters and top young coaches in the nation. Under Woodson at Auburn, Noah Igbinoghene developed into a first-round pick at cornerback after. That's largely due to the return of Jaxon Smith-Njigba,. 13 nationally and No. Has a twin brother, Kelsey, whos also an up-and-coming coach. Jerry Rice. The way hes been able to develop linemen at the FCS level and now at the Power 5 level speaks for itself.. Cincinnati handed the reins to Mark Dantonio, Brian Kelly, Butch Jones, Tommy Tuberville and now Luke Fickell in consecutive seasons. 2 in the SEC in pass defense in its first season under Rushing and should be even better this fall. Mario Cristobal continues to replenish the Hurricanes' staff. 11 in 2019 (467.5) to No. The highest-paid quarterbacks coach in college football will make $8.05 million this year. While playing in eight games for Miami last season, he caught four passes for . There isnt a lot more to say about these two. He is repeatedly hitting home runs on the recruiting front and is breeding high-upside players into elite-level route-runners. Special teams coordinators, in theory, coach nearly every player on the roster, and they're responsible for all 11 players on the field at a given time.