Power Ranking: SEC football coaches
College football is still months away, but it is never too early to survey the landscape of the coaches in the SEC.
Franklin American Mortgage president Dan Crockett congratulates Tennessee head coach Butch Jones after the Vols' win over Nebraska on Dec. 30, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee.
No. 1: Nick Saban, Alabama
No other coach comes close to Saban in college football, much less the SEC. Saban has a 119-19 record at Alabama and 2016 marked the fifth consecutive season that the Crimson Tide have had the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation. Saban is one of the most legendary coaches of all-time, and now with the absence of Les Miles at LSU, he stands alone as the only true elite coach in the SEC.
No. 2: Gus Malzahn, Auburn
Malzhan is the only other coach in the SEC other than Nick Saban to win a conference championship. In his first season, he led the Tigers to the national championship and has been to a bowl game in each of his four seasons at Auburn. In total, Malzahn has a record of 35-18, but his recent struggles make 2017 a crucial year for him.
No. 3: Dan Mullen, Mississippi State
Mullen is the only coach in Mississippi State history to record three seasons with over nine wins. In his eight seasons as head coach of the Bulldogs, he has been to seven bowl games, posting a 5-2 record in those games. He doesn’t have a glamorous record at 61-42, but his continued success in the toughest division in college football with such a obvious recruiting disadvantages makes his success remarkable.
No. 4: Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M
In all five seasons as head coach for the Aggies, Sumlin has tallied at least eight wins, including bowl appearances in every season. Sumlin has an overall record of 44-21 at Texas A&M and has continuously put together elite top-10 recruiting classes. This is why Sumlin has solidified himself as one of the best coaches in the SEC. However, the Aggies have appeared to plateau with Sumlin. In order to survive in College Station, Sumlin must break the eight-win barrier.
No. 5: Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss
Hugh Freeze has had sustained excellence at Ole Miss outside of last year when the Rebels failed to make a bowl. In his first four seasons as head coach, Freeze appeared in a bowl game, where he has a 3-1 record. His biggest season came in 2015, when the Rebels finished with 10 wins and a trip to the Sugar Bowl. However, allegations of recruiting violations endanger his future in Oxford.
No. 6: Jim McElwain, Florida
McElwain is the only coach currently in the SEC East to have won the division. In his two seasons steering the Gators, he’s posted a 19-8 record. He was named the 2015 SEC Coach of the Year, and while his resume appears impressive, he still has work to do in order to become a top-tier coach in the SEC.
No. 7: Bret Bielema, Arkansas
After accruing a 3-9 record in his first season as head coach of the Razorbacks, Bielema has a record of 22-17 in the last three years. Bielema has also been to a bowl in each of the last three seasons with a 2-1 record. His best year as head coach came in 2015 when he had a 8-5 record and tied for third in the SEC West, topping the successful campaign off with a win in the Liberty Bowl. With the presence of Les Miles gone, look for Arkansas to step up in these SEC West standings in 2017.
No. 8: Butch Jones, Tennessee
In his four years as head coach for the Volunteers, Jones has an overall record of 30-21. Tennessee has been to a bowl game in each of the last three season and has won each of them. Jones’ win total as the Volunteers head coach has gone up each season as he started is tenure with a 5-7 year and just recently finished with a 9-4 record in 2017. Despite turning an ailing program around, it is imperative for Jones he matched expectations in 2017, or head coaching changes may come to Knoxville.
No. 9: Will Muschamp, South Carolina
Muschamp exceeded expectations during his debut season in Columbia, as he led South Carolina to a 6-7 record and bowl game appearance. As expected with a Muschamp-coached team, the Gamecocks boasted a formidable defense. If Muschamp wants to make strides in the SEC East, he’ll have to improve his offense.
No. 10: Kirby Smart, Georgia
Georgia tallied an 8-5 record in Smart’s first season as a head coach. As a result, the Bulldogs placed second in the SEC East and added a bowl win to end the season. Smart has clearly found a leader on offense in quarterback Jacob Eason, making the future look bright in Athens. Only time will tell if he can follow in the footsteps of the coaches he’s worked under, which includes hallowed names such as Bobby Bowden, Mark Richt and Nick Saban.
No. 11: Ed Orgeron, LSU
Although Orgeron’s past leads people to believe he won’t have success at LSU, his performance while replacing Les Miles proved otherwise. When he took over as interim head coach last season, the Tigers finished 2016 with a 6-2 record and a win in the Citrus Bowl. Taking over Miles’ throne comes with a load of pressure in Baton Rouge, but Orgeron’s experienced makes him a solid choice for LSU.
No. 12: Mark Stoops, Kentucky
Stoops’ 19-30 record at Kentucky is somewhat misleading. He started his career with a 2-10 season, but since then, the Wildcats have steadily improved. In 2014 and 2015, he posted five-win seasons and improved Kentucky’s spot in the standings. Last season, the Wildcats finished 7-6 and appeared in their first bowl game since 2010.
No. 13: Derek Mason, Vanderbilt
Mason faced the task of replacing James Franklin, which is no small feat. In his three years in Nashville, the Commodores are 13-24 under Mason with only one bowl appearance. Mason’s 6-7 record last year was his best at Vandy thus far. Despite his position on the list, he has the Commodores heading in the right direction.
No. 14: Barry Odom, Missouri
Odom is a mystery to people. In an obvious rebuilding year for Mizzou, Odom led the Tigers to a 4-8 season. Missouri did struggle defensively all season long, but did cap off the season with an impressive win over Arkansas.
Edited by David Bradford
Featured image by Ben Proffitt
