SEC – who would you rank as the best in these categories: head coach, recruiter, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator.

[1osubucks]

I was listening to Finebaum on the way home tonight and had this thought.. I don't know enough about all of the coaches to make an educated assumption. I do think Saban is with out a doubt the best recruiter, heads and shoulders above all. As I have said previously here at the rx, i do not think he is the best when it comes to the X's and O's. He puts 11 Thoroughbreds on the field for the most part and says beat me imo. But his overall success easily makes him the best HC i guess, as this is a result oriented business and at bama their measuring stick is national championships, there is no other program or fan base that is national championship or bust that i have ever seen.
Gus Malzahn, Mark, Richt, Gary Pinkel, Dan Mullen, Hugh Freeze, Les Miles, Butch Jones, Spurrier.......

Curious of the thoughts on the SEC guys on coordinators, coaches, etc..

 

[CoachCB]

Head Coach: Saban (by far....it's not even close)

Recruiter: Saban (w/ Miles a close 2nd)

OC: Malzahn (and his staff), Sumlin is close.....

DC: Kirby Smart (w/ Muschamp a close 2nd)

I think Spurrier is in the top 5 in the 3 categories (non-defensive).

Freeze is a top 5 as well (he has shown he recruit outside of Mississippi).

Mullen is above average, but should have gotten out of Starkville when he had a chance.

Butch Jones is very impressive, and cracks the top 5 or so as a recruiter.

Richt is probably top 6 in most categories as well (and this could be "the year").

I'm impressed w/ Bielema as well. After his first year I thought they were done....he came back strong last year. Let's see what he does this year in the toughest division in football.

It's time for Sumlin to do something....he's living off the first year. He's probably a top 3 OC though.

Pinkel is the most underrated coach in the country. If he was younger, he'd be the most sought after coach in the country.

Jury is still out on McElwain and it will be for a few years.

 

[rolltide]

HC = Saban (followed by Meyer)
Recruiter = Saban (Miles and Meyer not too shabby but can't argue against b2b2b2b #1's and just saw that 41 players from 2011 Tide team are on a current NFL roster. that's nuts)
OC = tough one since they so quickly become HC's ... montgomery, herman, morris, etc. Will always be shocked at what Kiffin accomplished with the worst Tide qb in >20 years but I'll give him another year before i put him near the top.
DC = Brent Venables (followed by Chavis then Smart) - just look at the #'s before/after Venables arrived...they're insane
Overrated HC = Bob Stoops (Mike Leach and Dana Holgorsen right behind him. Ferentz has a place on that chart too)
Underrated HC = Jerry Kill (then Dabo Swinney...don't be shocked if he is Bama's successor to Saban. Can't really call D'Antonio underrated anymore)
Worst HC = Randy Edsall

 

[1osubucks]

Head Coach: Saban (by far....it's not even close)

Recruiter: Saban (w/ Miles a close 2nd)

OC: Malzahn (and his staff), Sumlin is close.....

DC: Kirby Smart (w/ Muschamp a close 2nd)

I think Spurrier is in the top 5 in the 3 categories (non-defensive).

Freeze is a top 5 as well (he has shown he recruit outside of Mississippi).

Mullen is above average, but should have gotten out of Starkville when he had a chance.

Butch Jones is very impressive, and cracks the top 5 or so as a recruiter.

Richt is probably top 6 in most categories as well (and this could be "the year").

I'm impressed w/ Bielema as well. After his first year I thought they were done....he came back strong last year. Let's see what he does this year in the toughest division in football.

It's time for Sumlin to do something....he's living off the first year. He's probably a top 3 OC though.

Pinkel is the most underrated coach in the country. If he was younger, he'd be the most sought after coach in the country.

Jury is still out on McElwain and it will be for a few years.

coach do you really think smart is the man? any bias in that choice? I just dont think smart is as good as the credit he gets and like wise i think kiffin is better then he gets credit for.. bama puts up 35 on OSU they should have won the game.. same goes for the auburn game, almost 100 points on the board in that one. Also think kiffin did a great job with what he had with Sims and his skill set.

I agree with just about all u said.. I think Sumlin could be on the hot seat soon and losing greg little does not help the over all picture..

I am ready for some football, will be a great year I think and will not be surprised if the 4 who make the playoffs are teams no one is predicting. I think there is a lot of parity out there. I have lowered my expectations with Ohio State for the simple fact that if you have 3 QB's you have no QB.. I think meyer has a personal bias to Miller and he may be deserving of the spot but this year will not play out as last year. It was the perfect storm for OSU last year, no one knew what Jones would do and he played better then opposing defenses thought he would. I think osu is best served with JT at QB.. Jones should have rode that wave to the NFL..LoL Being in the BIG is a help but I dont expect another championship this year but it would be nice !

 

[1osubucks]

HC = Saban (followed by Meyer)
Recruiter = Saban (Miles and Meyer not too shabby but can't argue against b2b2b2b #1's and just saw that 41 players from 2011 Tide team are on a current NFL roster. that's nuts)
OC = tough one since they so quickly become HC's ... montgomery, herman, morris, etc. Will always be shocked at what Kiffin accomplished with the worst Tide qb in >20 years but I'll give him another year before i put him near the top.
DC = Brent Venables (followed by Chavis then Smart) - just look at the #'s before/after Venables arrived...they're insane
Overrated HC = Bob Stoops (Mike Leach and Dana Holgorsen right behind him. Ferentz has a place on that chart too)
Underrated HC = Jerry Kill (then Dabo Swinney...don't be shocked if he is Bama's successor to Saban. Can't really call D'Antonio underrated anymore)
Worst HC = Randy Edsall

tide I am there with Kiffin.. OC is what he does best, not cut from the same cloth as a Saban to be a leader but what he did with Sims was amazing. good call on sweeny too. I will be watching Pitt closely.. i think they may have got the right guy who can build the program back up, I dont see him looking to leave anytime soon. He could have had other jobs but passed on those and chose pitt. I think being close to home is a big factor. He is from my area and I can be at Heinz field in about an hour. If Narduzzi can beat YSU by 50 I think he will... I still remember his dad getting fired there when Pat was on the team, cant imagine he ever forgot that. I heard something on the radio today YSU added another big D1 player.. this one from Auburn, Elijah Daniel who was booted from the barn. I think they have about 5/6 defensive guys that transferred.. if memory correct 2 from nebraska, 1 from msu, kid from auburn and there is one more i think.

 

[cloverleaf]

Head Coach: Saban (by far....it's not even close)

Recruiter: Saban (w/ Miles a close 2nd)

OC: Malzahn (and his staff), Sumlin is close.....

DC: Kirby Smart (w/ Muschamp a close 2nd)

I think Spurrier is in the top 5 in the 3 categories (non-defensive).

Freeze is a top 5 as well (he has shown he recruit outside of Mississippi).

Mullen is above average, but should have gotten out of Starkville when he had a chance.

Butch Jones is very impressive, and cracks the top 5 or so as a recruiter.

Richt is probably top 6 in most categories as well (and this could be "the year").

I'm impressed w/ Bielema as well. After his first year I thought they were done....he came back strong last year. Let's see what he does this year in the toughest division in football.

It's time for Sumlin to do something....he's living off the first year. He's probably a top 3 OC though.

Pinkel is the most underrated coach in the country. If he was younger, he'd be the most sought after coach in the country.

Jury is still out on McElwain and it will be for a few years.

Dang Men, all that Alaska air while running a marathon has given the ole CoachCB some new brain cells on college football. Hell, not sure I can disagree with any of his takes/opinions on this topic. Good stuff Coach.

Bear Bryant was the best EVER. Not on the chalk board, not as a recruiter, not as a coordinator...he was a "Master" of getting the best out of his assistants....no one has ever been better...NO ONE!

 

[Conan]

Saban's focus is dead on in every case.

 

[cloverleaf]

Key word Conan for Saban is FOCUS. I agree with that as a long time Bama supporter. Saban is the best CEO Alabama has ever had. He runs a great program. Saying that...he AIN'T the best coach by any stretch of the imagine that Alabama has ever had. Bama has had some great coaches. Saban is still working himself up the ladder.

Still some work to do before even mentioned with Coach Bryant......................

 

[CoachCB]

coach do you really think smart is the man? any bias in that choice? I just dont think smart is as good as the credit he gets and like wise i think kiffin is better then he gets credit for.. bama puts up 35 on OSU they should have won the game.. same goes for the auburn game, almost 100 points on the board in that one. Also think kiffin did a great job with what he had with Sims and his skill set.

I agree with just about all u said.. I think Sumlin could be on the hot seat soon and losing greg little does not help the over all picture..

I am ready for some football, will be a great year I think and will not be surprised if the 4 who make the playoffs are teams no one is predicting. I think there is a lot of parity out there. I have lowered my expectations with Ohio State for the simple fact that if you have 3 QB's you have no QB.. I think meyer has a personal bias to Miller and he may be deserving of the spot but this year will not play out as last year. It was the perfect storm for OSU last year, no one knew what Jones would do and he played better then opposing defenses thought he would. I think osu is best served with JT at QB.. Jones should have rode that wave to the NFL..LoL Being in the BIG is a help but I dont expect another championship this year but it would be nice !

bucks, I don't think Smart would still be on staff if he wasn't earning his keep....especially as the DC. Saban is too involved in every aspect to put all his focus on the D, thus allowing Smart to do his job (sure, he has 5-star talent...and that alone would make most "average" DC's look better). But I think Smart has earned it at this point. It's like when people say of a newer coach, "Oh...he won the title with the old coaches players..." Well, that argument doesn't hold water when the guy has been there 5 or more years. Same holds true for Smart, he's been there long enough to earn the respect. I just don't understand why he's still there (he should be a head coach). If that idiot Will Muschamp can land a head coaching gig shouldn't Smart? Makes me think he's holding out for either: (a) Bama or (b) UGA.

 

[CoachCB]

Dang Men, all that Alaska air while running a marathon has given the ole CoachCB some new brain cells on college football. Hell, not sure I can disagree with any of his takes/opinions on this topic. Good stuff Coach.

Bear Bryant was the best EVER. Not on the chalk board, not as a recruiter, not as a coordinator...he was a "Master" of getting the best out of his assistants....no one has ever been better...NO ONE!

CL, I agree that Bear was the best ever. Saban is right on his heels though (I think it's harder to win today than it was in the 60's and 70's). But this thread was asking about current coaches. If Spurrier had won an SEC title at South Carolina, I think he'd be without a doubt #2....but, he hasn't. Winning 4 SEC titles in a row in the 90's was impressive. No one has won more than 2 in a row since.

 

[rolltide]

SEC only:

HC = Saban
Recruiter = Saban
Position Coach as Recruiter = Cristobal
DC = Chavis
OC = the barner
Worst HC = Mullen
Underrated = Pinkel (narrowly ahead of Stoops)
Overrated = Sumlin

 

[CoachCB]

SEC only:

HC = Saban
Recruiter = Saban
Position Coach as Recruiter = Cristobal
DC = Chavis
OC = the barner
Worst HC = Mullen
Underrated = Pinkel (narrowly ahead of Stoops)
Overrated = Sumlin

Worst HC is the train wreck at Vanderbilt. They were so hell-bent on hiring a black coach and showing the world that they were hip and cool (by hiring a minority) that they fell off the face of the earth in 1 season....ONE! Mason is the worst...by far....and it's not even close!

 

[1osubucks]

SEC only:

HC = Saban
Recruiter = Saban
Position Coach as Recruiter = Cristobal
DC = Chavis
OC = the barner
Worst HC = Mullen
Underrated = Pinkel (narrowly ahead of Stoops)
Overrated = Sumlin

i was curious about DC's.. there are some quality coaches in sec waiting to get some head coaching jobs..

 

[cloverleaf]

I don't believe Mark Richt will coach at Georgia much longer. He's indicated that he and his wife have a calling they are eager to start. If Richt leaves soon, two SEC defensive coordinators would be given top priority. Believe it or not, Auburn's DC Will Muschamp and Alabama's DC Kirby Smart would be at the head of the list.

Vanderbilt will probably have an opening after this season but most coordinators at big time programs want no part of starting a coaching career at Vandy. How did Gus Malzahn turning down Vanderbilt and taking the Arkansas State job work out. Smart and Muschamp are making more as coordinators than most head coaches make outside the top five conferences.

 

[CoachCB]

I don't believe Mark Richt will coach at Georgia much longer. He's indicated that he and his wife have a calling they are eager to start. If Richt leaves soon, two SEC defensive coordinators would be given top priority. Believe it or not, Auburn's DC Will Muschamp and Alabama's DC Kirby Smart would be at the head of the list.

Vanderbilt will probably have an opening after this season but most coordinators at big time programs want no part of starting a coaching career at Vandy. How did Gus Malzahn turning down Vanderbilt and taking the Arkansas State job work out. Smart and Muschamp are making more as coordinators than most head coaches make outside the top five conferences.

I think Muschamp will get a cursory interview, but they want Smart. If Muschamp gets another gig he'll go the same route as Pelini (but more likely a D1 program vs. 1AA Youngstown State). Also, Muschamp is probably 4-5 years (or more) away from getting another head coaching job. Honestly, after his body of work at UF who would want to take that on? Plus his demeanor won't sit well w/ a lot of administrations. I'm sure Foley would recommend him...but his body of work (and stubbornness) speak for themselves. Maybe after a few years watching Malzahn run an offense he'll understand what it takes. Smart would come right in and run a similar program as Richt....w/ some Saban twists.

Agree on Vandy. Vandy thought they were cute and were hell-bent on hiring another minority. Well, they got a dud. A BIG dud. And I agree w/ you regarding top coordinators. I'd think Vandy would go after a proven head coach from a smaller conference (Hudspeth?) and see what he can do. Vandy could be a 5-7, 6-6, 7-5 type program w/ the right coach.

 

[rolltide]

i was curious about DC's.. there are some quality coaches in sec waiting to get some head coaching jobs..

personally I love Jeremy Truitt and he's really the only reason for me to think Georgia will finally win a SEC championship after >10 years of dominating recruiting on that side of the conference. I think he has to be in the conversation along with Chavis, Muschamp, and Smart. Obviously some luster has been taken off of Smart with some beatings in the past 1.5 years (OU, barn x2, OSU) but especially that OSU game where he admitted that the defense had no respect for a 3rd string qb. IMO that is coaching if you can't properly prepare your guys for a semifinal in a national title game and his X's and O's vs talented spreads has been largely unsuccessful. Still I think he has a tremendous defensive mind but as far as a shoo-in for the Bama job once CNS retires? big question marks on that one right now but with the crazy amount of talent he has this year it's hard to see them not improving and he'll then be again looked at as the HC in waiting.

 

[cloverleaf]

I would vote the two best defensive coordinators in the SEC as a tie between Chavis and Muschamp with Smart not far behind. Pruitt is a young guy on the move, entering only his third year as a coordinator. Below are SEC DC's and season's with school (including 2015).

Georgia: Jeremy Pruitt, second year.
Missouri, Barry Odom, first
Tennessee: John Jancek, third
Florida: Geoff Collins and Randy Shannon, first
South Carolina: Lorenzo Ward and John Hoke, first
Kentucky: D.J. Elliot, third
Vanderbilt: Derek Mason, second

Alabama: Kirby Smart, eight
Auburn: Will Muschamp, first
LSU: Kevin Steele, first
Arkansas: Robb Smith, second
Ole Miss: Dave Wommack, fourth and Jason Jones, third
Mississippi State: Manny Diaz, first
Texas A&M: John Chavis, first

I've always thought of teams with two defensive coordinators as teams lacking a top tier coordinator. Feel the same about offensive coordinators.