You are hiring a coach today : rank the SEC Football Coaches

Stoops should potentially be higher and Kiffen lower but that list is hard to argue with. Jimbo maybe lower. Good job.

Stoops should ABSOLUTELY be higher. 10th? Get real man.

I might argue Stoops a little higher.

1. Saban
2. Kirby
3. Kelly
4. Stoops

I have Kirby at 2 because of championships but I put character in the scenario. I really like what Kelly is doing on that end. If Kelly had a natty he’d be above Kirby.

Saban is the Goat, but hiring today, my number 2 pick isn't someone turning 72 this season. Even if he comes back the following season, you are going to get two years out of him.

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Saban is the Goat, but hiring today, my number 2 pick isn't someone turning 72 this season. Even if he comes back the following season, you are going to get two years out of him.

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I'd agree with almost anyone else on planet earth, but if you get 3-4 years of Saban you get an entire organization and recruiting apparatus built to world class standards that you can then use to get the next guy and has proven at a precious stop to be pretty idiot proof for a solid 4-5 years.

That's the only reason I'd keep him at 2 at this point is the future value he gives your program even after he's gone (assuming you get 3 years or so) and the fact that there isn't a clear national title guy right behind him, though Kelly is very close.

Looking at the list, job security no longer is a thing in the SEC. Aside from Saban and Stoops, who else has been at their current job more than 5 years?

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1. Kirby
2. Saban
3. Kelly
4. Heupel
5. Freeze
6. Kiffin
7. Beamer
8. Pittman
9. Sark
10. Stoops
11. Jimbo
12. Napier
13. Venables
14. Lea
15. Drinkwitz
16. Arnett

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Saban too high if I am considering a long-term hire. I'd take Beamer over Kiffin. Freeze not on my list.

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He's 17-22 in the SEC the last 5 years in the weaker division. Kentucky plays nobody OOC. They rarely beat Top 25 level opponents. He's only beaten 4 teams in 10 seasons that finished ranked.

I like him a lot and he's done great work at UK, but I'd bet on upside (Beamer, Heupel, Freeze) if I was hiring a coach today.

JMHO

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Stoops is 5-1 at home against the west in the last 5 seasons.
0-6 on the road against the west in the last 5 seasons.

The 1 home loss was covid year to Ole Miss.

Pretty much middle of the road.

I am not buying the upside with Beamer.
Good coach. I don't see upside though (this is mostly seen through the eyes of a coach who spent time at UGA).

And I know that Heupel is showing upside after 2022. But I don't see the recruiting in the trenches. Pruitt's players leave and he may be seeing a downside. Especially if his qb system doesn't evolve.

Freeze scares me with his potential upside. Auburn is a dumpster fire to coach at. But freeze can flat coach.
He's the only one I grab before Stoops in terms of upside.

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I really like what Kelly is doing on that end. If Kelly had a natty he’d be above Kirby.

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So let me get this straight…

Even if Brian Kelly did have a Natty, you’re saying you’d pick a guy who has one natty and zero major bowl wins who’s in his 20th year at age 62 over a guy who has two Natties and 7 major Bowl wins in Year 7 at age 47.

I would love to hear the reasoning for this one.