Returned to coaching in 2019 after two years working in the private sector. 12) and punt-return defense (No. 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. And we have a history of Saban turning around other programs. But those were the high points until Monken turned the program around. Aided by Merritt, James Madison ranked sixth in the FCS in rushing offense last season (232.6 yards per game) and 10th in 2019 (242.9 yards per game). His move to rival Oregon was profitable for him and for his replacement, JaMarcus Shepard. Is the grandson of Lou Holtz. Zach has been FootballScoop's national columnist since 2012. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports. Also received interest for multiple NFL job openings. Regarded as one of the best recruiters in the country. Allen led the team to a 32nd-place finish in his one year as defensive coordinator in 2016 and sits at 28th over the last two seasons. His 64 catches led the Big 12. Because of his achievements with the Seminoles team of Florida State University, Bobby Bowden is one of the most famous and greatest college coaches of all time. Cale Gundy, Oklahoma -- $610,000+7. New hire replaces Marc Vottler following Vottler's hiring at Ohio State. Ranked as one of the top recruiters in the Big 12 for the 2021 recruiting class. Posted 130 catches in six NFL seasons, including 47 catches for 754 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie. Helped Rutgers tie for second in the Big Ten with 19 takeaways last season,almost double what the Scarlet Knights tallied in 2019 (10) despite playing four fewer games. A 26-year-old who has quickly established himself as one of the premier recruiters and top young coaches in the nation. Yes, Alabama was already the college football program before Sabans arrival, but they were in a down period when they signed him. Threw for 3,579 yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior at A&M in 2009. To replace Hankton, Georgia recalled Bryan McClendon, a former Bulldog wide receiver and a former Bulldog running backs coach, to coach his old position at his alma mater. 4 in NAIA in scoring, total offense and passing offense. Flecks first team went 1-11, a three-loss decrease from the previous year, but he ultimately turned the boat around and went 8-5 the next two seasons before the incredible 13-1 season of 2016, where the team only lost in the Cotton Bowl to Wisconsin. Has been interviewed for multiple FBS head-coach openings, including South Alabama this past cycle. Had a second-team All-Sun Belt cornerback last season in his first year at Georgia State (Quavian White). It's unlikely we'll ever learn what he's making at The U, a private school, but we do know he was set to become college football's first $1 million wide receivers coach had he remained in Ann Arbor. Josh McDaniels Coaching Rsum. He won six national championships. How did they climb so high, so quickly? Has helped Oklahoma go from last in the Big 12 in total defense in 2018 to second in 2019 and third in 2020. Mullen had them up to 29th in Year 1 and 30th in Year 2, and then they exploded with an 11th-place finish in 2020. At Alabama, he worked with players such as 2018 first-round NFL draft pick Daron Payne and 2019 first-round selection Quinnen Williams. Charlie Fisher, Arizona State -- $400,000 9. After moving from the Mountain West to the Pac-12 and starting 18-19 over the first three years, the Utes now have won at least nine games in five of the last six seasons, not including the shortened 2020 season. Also is Boston Colleges defensive pass game coordinator. Joker Phillips, NC State -- $415,000+21. There are a whole lot of top teams that could've used some wide receiver help through the transfer portal last year - looking your way, Alabama . Indianapolis is making MAJOR moves, set to hire FootballScoop's reigning top special teams coordinator. 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. But Saban is still No. According to Football Scoop, that man is Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver coach Cortez Hankton. 2 in the SEC in pass defense in its first season under Rushing and should be even better this fall. Under Williams, USC allowed just 216.3 passing yards per game last season, its lowest number since 2013. 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. Within a four-day period in July, he landed two of the top-ranked recruits in SMU program history five-star wide receiver Jordan Hudson and four-star safety Chace Biddle. Imagine a world in which Kirby Smart is a two-time national champion, one where his team did not blow a 10-point lead to Alabama in the fourth quarter of the 2018 championship game and then a 14-point third-quarter lead in the SEC Championship the following year. Smith, who filled in as the Hokies defensive play-caller during a 45-24 win over NC State, was promoted to defensive pass game coordinator earlier this year. Before Monken took over in 2014, the team had put forward just one seven-win season since 2000. PFF's 2021 College Football Preview Magazine. An ex-NFL defensive back who spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005 and 06. After feeling his way around early in his Bulls tenure, Leipold went 24-10 in his last three seasons before landing this Kansas job. It feels so long ago now, but Clemsoning was a real thing, and the program could never get over the hump. Is a highly respected and connected figure in south Florida. 4 in 2020 (398.5). While playing in eight games for Miami last season, he caught four passes for . Isaiah McDuffie (a sixth-round pick) ranked fifth nationally in. -- Ron Dugans signed a new deal in January; the $450,000 salary was his 2021 figure. Some value accomplishments on the field above all else, while others may give greater weight to recruiting prowess or the possibility of future success. Rushing was contacted about several jobs this past cycle, including Alabama and Georgia, but decided to remain with A&M. 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. 12-4. 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. Is assisting with Ohio States quarterbacks after previously working with Brian Hartline and the Buckeyes wide receivers unit. Is the eldest son of Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz, who also has been a head coach at UConn (1994-98), East Carolina (2005-09) and USF (2010-12). Zach has been FootballScoop's national columnist since 2012. From 2014 to 2017, the Gators offense ranked 120th in EPA per play that is not just bad, it is horrendous. Under Harris, FIU running back DVonte Price developed into one of the nations most productive running backs last season (116.2 yards per game) and a potential early-round 2022 NFL Draft pick. Was a four-year starter at safety for Texas (2008-11) and a two-time captain. They have played in 10 under Fitzgerald. The Cyclones' last four defenses rank eighth, 11th, 14th and 17th in EPA allowed per play among the 40 team seasons in the Big 12 since 2017. Helped Houston go from No. 1), kick-return average (No. The Blazers also have been in the top 10 nationally in pass defense each of the past two seasons No. Another Trojans cornerback, Olaijah Griffin, finished with the third-highest Pro Football Focus grade for 2020 among Pac-12 corners. Top 10 returning wide receivers in college football for the 2022 season. Was also on the radar as a possibility for multiple other teams with secondary coach openings, including LSU as the Tigers explored potentially hiring a safeties coach. Was promoted to associate head coach after last season. On this list for a second time, Duggan coached two of the ACC's best linebackers during his debut season with Boston College. Brian Hartline, Ohio State -- $600,000+ 7. That's right, Day has . His dad is legendary Florida high school coach Tim Ice Harris. 2023 On3 Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Ron Dugans, Florida State -- $450,00015. LSU paid Mickey Joseph $407,000 to coach its wide receivers in 2021. 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). Thomas Cahill enjoyed mild success in the mid-1960s, going 23-7. What college coaches look for in a wide receiver prospect Founded in 2009 by Dustin Smith and Ty Detmer. 20). Flying above or below program expectations was the most important point when putting this list together. Washington, who has known Ohio State coach Ryan Day since they were together at Boston College in 2003 and 04, joined the Buckeyes staff after Day became coach. As a player, Simpson was a starting cornerback at South Alabama in 2010 and 11, when current UAB coach Bill Clark was the Jaguars defensive coordinator. Let's rank the top 100 . Running backs coaches coach six to eight players on the roster and, on a down-to-down basis, they're responsible for just one. Has played a large role in setting up Texas A&M to have one of the best defenses in the country this season. Northwestern is not a historically good football program. In addition to the opportunity at Pitt, which is less than an hour from where Marion grew up in Greensburg, Pa., he also garnered interest for a Group of 5 coordinator opening this past cycle. 1. Cortez Hankton, LSU -- $850,000+ 2. He's led the program to four national championship games and two national Championship wins, a feat very few would have imagined all those years ago. Between Craig Cirbus, Jim Hofher, Turner Gill and Jeff Quinn, the team won 3.25 games per season on average. Kelly, who is widely known as one of the top innovators in the rise of the spread offense in college football, helped the Bruins rack up 503.6 yards per game and 7.01 yards per play, both of which . Was Greg Schianos first hire for his Rutgers staff. Coastal Carolina has only graced the FBS for four years, but it has improved every season, culminating in a ludicrous 11-1 record last fall thanks to a full-scale offensive transformation. Under Powledge, Baylor tied for first nationally last season with five kick returns of at least 40 yards. 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 Elite Quarterback Training Program. 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. 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. Led Mercers 2018 special teams operation to four top-12 rankings in the FCS net punting (No. Freakin superstar was the feedback from one LSU staffer. Williams coached Chris Steele to second-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2020. Liberty also was 15th in the country in average time of possession (32:58). After a slow 4-8 start in his first year, Fickell is now 31-6 in the last three seasons, rivaling Brian Kellys 33-6 three-year stretch. Other college support staffers or NFL staffers who received votes: Stephen Adegoke (Michigan); Max Bullough (Alabama); Jamar Chaney (Mississippi State); Steve Cooper (Nebraska); Zachary Crabtree (Oklahoma State); Ty Darlington (Oklahoma); Jon DeCoster (Cleveland Browns); Ross Douglas (New England Patriots); Declan Doyle (New Orleans Saints); Will Johnson (Oklahoma); Conner McQueen (Oklahoma); Nick Perry (Atlanta Falcons); Ryan Osborn (Michigan); Effrem Reed (Michigan State); Ronnie Regula (Miami); Zac Robinson (Los Angeles Rams); Spencer Whipple (Arizona Cardinals); Nick Williams (Texas A&M). Cortez Hankton, LSU -- $850,000+2. Cale Gundy, Oklahoma -- $535,000 3. #35 of 1,316. Has received NFL interest each of the past two years. 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. But that is not the program Jimbo Fisher inherited in 2010. 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. Meanwhile, Brown was 5 of 9 for 55.6%, 35 yards, 1 touchdown . Theyre listed alphabetically. Fisher quickly got the program back on track, though, winning 78% of his games and bringing home a National Championship. 3 nationally in rush defense. Chadwell arrived at Coastal Carolina from Charleston Southern, where he won two of the school's three conference championships and clinched the program's only two playoff berths. Promoted to defensive pass game coordinator earlier this year. In addition, Powledge coached Baylors only first-team All-Big 12 selection on either offense or defense in 2020 safety Jalen Pitre. One of the best WR in college football history is Torry Holt. The Top 25 Head Coaches in College Football History Was a linebacker at Georgia (2009-12) and made 17 career starts for the Bulldogs. -- Coordinators (or co-coordinators) not included in this list (because they're coordinators or co-coordinators): Clemson's Jeff Scott ($1 million), Michigan's Josh Gattis ($900,000), Nebraska's Troy Walters ($700,000), South Carolina's Bryan McClendon ($675,000), Mississippi State's Luke Getsy ($600,000), Florida's Billy Gonzales ($577,000) and NC State's George McDonald ($368,000). Brantley Transferring from Miami - Sports Illustrated College Football's Top 25 Wide Receiver Corps for 2022 The defense has improved by leaps and bounds under Allen, who came to the school as a defensive coordinator in 2016. Staggs had been set to join the Western Kentucky staff as an assistant coach. From Yale's Walter Camp to Alabama's Nick Saban, here are eight whose innovations or achievements have significantly impacted the sport over the past 15 decades. Its unfair, but its hard to hold two fluke comebacks against him not that hes totally off the hook for those two Bama losses but he has surpassed Mark Richts 74% win rate with his 79% win rate in six years. Bud Wilkinson. Was contacted by Boise State about a job with a bigger title this past coaching cycle. 2 nationally in total offense each of the past two seasons. Here are the 25 best college football coaches in America heading into the 2022 season. 7 in 2020 and No. LSU Football: Cortez Hankton listed as the top WR coach candidate Was the lead recruiter for the Trojans on five-star 2022 cornerback Domani Jackson, who committed to USC in January. Despite having to use different offensive line configurations in six of FSUs nine games last season, Atkins group paved the way for the Seminoles to post their highest rushing average since 2016 (199.9 yards per game). The Elite Quarterback & Wide Receiver Training Program | QBElite.com A Texas graduate, he is married with three children and lives outside Fort Worth, Texas. Under Merritt, James Madison running back Percy Agyei-Obese was a first-team all-conference selection each of the past two seasons. Coached one of the more productive tight ends in the SEC last season (Kenny Yeboah) after mentoring 2019 Freshman All-American Jalen Wydermyer at Texas A&M and Mackey Award finalist Albert Okwuegbunam at Missouri in 2018. Justin Stepp, South Carolina -- $475,00015. A 3-4 season in the Covid-shortened 2020 campaign put a slight damper on Fleck's progress, so 2021 is a big year for him. Kasey Dunn, Oklahoma State -- $800,000* 3. Wright, who was promoted to co-coordinator this offseason, previously led the way as the Roadrunners broke multiple school records during his first season at UTSA in 2019. 14) and interceptions (No. Sonny Dykes promoted Samples to associate head coach earlier this year. Taylor coached current NFL star Christian McCaffrey at Stanford and now has 2020 All-ACC running back Kyren Williams at Notre Dame. Considering those advancements were mostly made with other coaches' recruiting classes, those numbers are as impressive as it gets. Charlie Fisher, Arizona State -- $400,000 9. Was part of an Indiana staff that transformed the Hoosiers program from 23 losing records in a 24-year period to back-to-back winning seasons in 2019 and 20, including a 6-1 mark in Big Ten play last fall. Was one of the lead recruiters on nine BC signees, including four-star cornerback Clinton Burton. In addition to his work with the Colts and St. Thomas High, he has been a Nike Elite 11 quarterbacks coach. Saban is now at 88%. In fact, McMillan and Allen are the only two coaches in the program's history who can boast such win totals. In his second season as the offensive coordinator at St. Ambrose (an NAIA school in Davenport, Iowa), Drinkalls offense ranked No. Cale Gundy, Oklahoma -- $610,000+ 7. 2016 New England Patriots (QB Coach/O-Cord) 14-2 Won Super Bowl 51 over ATL. 1 thus far for the 2022 class. That 2019 Austin Peay defense ranked in the top 16 of the FCS in total defense (No. Strange circumstances brought Martin and Malzahn together, but now the pair are united for a second time. Two of Simpsons cornerbacks were named second-team All-Conference USA last season (Brontae Harris and TD Marshall). At Oregon in 2018, Williams cornerbacks group contributed to the Ducks posting 20 interceptions, which ranked second nationally. 11 in 2019 (467.5) to No. 1 nationally in blocked kicks (six) and blocked punts (five) in 2019. Went 42-17 in five seasons as coach at Kansas Wesleyan, an NAIA school located about two hours from the University of Kansas. Viewed as a rising star inside the Ohio State building and outside of it as well. He is repeatedly hitting home runs on the recruiting front and is breeding high-upside players into elite-level route-runners. The way hes been able to develop linemen at the FCS level and now at the Power 5 level speaks for itself.. Age: 60. Sure, there might be an inclination to not have them at No. Was a high school head coach at Friendship College Academy in Washington, D.C., for 10 seasons (2004-13). 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). The former offensive coordinator has produced the second-highest EPA per play figure in the Group of Five over the last two seasons, behind only UCF. Its always difficult to examine coaches through the prism of wins, losses and efficiency rankings. 1 because the turnaround he pulled with this Clemson program is almost unheard of. His 2020 Ole Miss special teams unit ranked 17th nationally in kick-return defense and 23rd in kick-return average. Made a big-time impression with people at LSU during his one season on the Tigers staff. Was the lead recruiter on five-star 2022 linebacker C.J. Holmon Wiggins, Alabama -- $575,000+11. Ranked as the sixth-best recruiter in the Pac-12 for the 2021 recruiting cycle. Power Rankings are PFFs NCAA power ratings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. Has mentored a first- or second-team All-Big 12 selection each of his first three season with the Cyclones. Was an FCS All-American linebacker at Stony Brook as a player (2006-10) and was named to the Big South Conference All-Decade Team. Led a special teams unit that ranked second in the SEC in kick-return average (28.0). We are now in Position 8 of 9 in our series examining the highest-paid position coaches in college football, and for just the second time we've found a position where the low end does not hit the $400,000 mark. The Rich Brooks era was longer yet still just as painful. 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. Turned down a Mountain West defensive coordinator job last year. The belief with some in the coaching world is that Samples could be this years Randall Joyner. Has secured commitments from five four-star recruits in the past two recruiting classes, including top-100 2022 prospect Derrick Moore. Part of that was Miami having to throw the football while being down, but it's still lower than what it probably should have been. Syndication: The Knoxville News-Sentinel. For what it's worth, Gattis made $525,000 while coaching the Crimson Tide's wide receivers in 2018. He was Auburns recruiting coordinator in 2019 in addition to being the Tigers secondary coach. In the 10 years leading up to the longtime head coach, the team had only won 55% of their games. If you haven't yet checked out our ranking of Power Five coaches outside the top 25, you can catch up here. Its hard to truly describe the offensive mess that Florida found itself in before Dan Mullen arrived in Gainesville. Kearis Jackson enters the year with Day 3 grades. College football recruiting: Ranking the top 10 recruiters that hauled In the past three years, four A&M defensive linemen have been selected in the first four rounds of the NFL draft. Has been the primary recruiter on five Virginia Tech 2022 commits, including four-star running back Ramon Brown and four-star cornerback Cam Johnson. Such is the all-encompassing importance of the quarterback position. Jan 18, 2022. Worked at West Georgia with three other current Flames coaches (defensive coordinator Scott Symons, defensive line coach Josh Aldridge and cornerbacks coach Rickey Hunley). Currently ranked among the nations top 15 recruiters for the 2022 recruiting class. 1 in the FCS. Thats not good enough at Notre Dame. Contributed to A&M improving from 29th nationally in total defense in 2019 to ninth in 2020. Rejoined Will Healy in 2019 after one season at Minnesota. Texas A&M ranked No. Jeff Monken, Army. The Rockets lurched back to 5-5-1 the year after under Gary Pinkel. Dabo has lifted whatever Clemsoning curse was put on the Tigers and has won 81% of his games so far. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. Had two All-Conference USA honorable mention selections in his first season at Louisiana Tech (Smoke Harris and Cee Jay Powell). Another stint in the NFL led to the Alabama job, where he has won six National Championships. Without further ado, the list: 1. The future looks bright, as well, as they currently sit 24th on PFF's preseason ELO rankings. (Running backs being the other.) (Part one in the series was on Group of 5 and FCS head coaches; part two was on nine non-Power 5 coordinators you need to know.). Shifted to wide receivers coach at USC in 2019 after spending 2018 as the Trojans tight ends coach. Toledo had gone 6-5 in 1989 before Saban took over for one year and led them to 9-2. Hall) was a three-time finalist for FCS Defensive Player of the Year. 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. Yes, Alabama claimed 12 championships before Saban's arrival, but it was a program going through turmoil and probation before he took the reins. Cortez Hankton, Georgia -- $550,000+ 6. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Was set to be FIUs offensive coordinator this season but decided to join Gus Malzahns staff at UCF. Has coached multiple all-conference and future NFL running backs, including Miles Sanders at Penn State and Charles Sims and Wendell Smallwood at West Virginia. A note: We limited the list to coaches under 45 and did not include anyone who is already an offensive or defensive co-coordinator at the Power 5 level, which is why you wont see guys such as Glenn Schumann (Georgia), Jon Sumrall (Kentucky) or Brian Williams (Maryland) despite their names coming up several times during the information-gathering process. The first three used the Bearcats as a stepping stone for Power Five jobs, but Fickell has outlasted each of them and now goes into his fifth season. Top 50 Wide Receiver Coaches In College Football - Twitter Jacob Peeler, Ole Miss -- $425,000 6. Under Cains watch, Oklahoma outside linebacker Nik Bonitto broke out as a second-team All-American in 2020 and enters this season as one of the nations top defensive players. 2 ranking nationally from USA Today and was a finalist for U.S. Army All-American National Coach of the Year. Kodi Burns, Auburn -- $350,000 10. 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. We might forget that Urban Meyer served as Utah's head coach for only two seasons, and while he may have started the Utes down this track, Whittingham has sustained a level of success the school has never even come close to enjoying before. 11 in the AAC in total defense in 2018 (496.8 yards per game) and No. Produced a first-team All-AAC selection in his first season at Memphis (OBryan Goodson). Kasey Dunn, Oklahoma State -- $410,000 7. 1. If this were 2013, when Mack Brown was hobbling to the end of his very successful stint as the head coach of Texas, theres no way he would be this high. With free agency around the corner, players rated how teams treated them off the field: for better or for worse.