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Rank SEC coaches

Posted on 9/15/22 at 5:50 pm
Posted by themetalreb
Mississippi
Member since Sep 2018
6659 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 5:50 pm
1. Saban
2. Kirby
3. Kelly
4. Lane
5. Stoops
6. Pittman
7. Leach
8. Huepel
9. Harsin
10. Napier
11. Beamer
12. The A&M coach
13. Lea
14. Drinkwitz

4-8 could be named any which way, but it’s my fricking list so I’m putting my guy first. What’s yours?


Posted by SidewalkTiger
Midwest, USA
Member since Dec 2019
65851 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 5:52 pm to
Is this based on most accomplishments in the past or who I think is the best coach going forward?

Those lists look very different.
Posted by themetalreb
Mississippi
Member since Sep 2018
6659 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 5:53 pm to
This is an “at the moment” list
Posted by Jon Ham
Member since Jun 2011
29523 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 5:53 pm to
All I know is I wouldn’t trade Pittman for any of them.
Posted by dbeck
Member since Nov 2014
29454 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 5:55 pm to
quote:

I wouldn’t trade Pittman for any of them.

Not even Drink?
Posted by SidewalkTiger
Midwest, USA
Member since Dec 2019
65851 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 5:57 pm to
1. Saban
2. Kirby
3. Kelly
4. Lane
5. Stoops
6. Pittman
7. Huepel
8. Leach
9. Napier
10. Harsin
11. Beamer
12. Jimbo
13. Lea
14. Drinkwitz

My list is actually pretty similar to OP's, just switched a couple of guys around.

I will say that in LSU's specific situation, I'd take Saban, Kelly, then Pittman over Kirby and the rest.

Those guys have shown they can go into a bad situation, change the culture, and actually rebuild a program.
This post was edited on 9/15/22 at 5:59 pm
Posted by Trumansfangs
Town & Country
Member since Sep 2018
7773 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 6:01 pm to
Looks about right to me.
Posted by Bogg Hawg
Broken Bow, OK
Member since Jul 2017
7 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 6:02 pm to
1. Kirby
2. Saban
3. Stoops
4. Pittman
5. Lane
6. Leach
7. Huepel
8. Kelly
9. Beamer
10. Napier
11. Fisher
12. Harsin
13. Lea
14. Drinkwitz
Posted by RazorBroncs
Possesses the largest
Member since Sep 2013
15748 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 6:02 pm to

Honestly think Stoops is probably the 3rd best coach in the SEC right now, based on his effort to turn around a Kentucky program that was an afterthought to basketball for years.

We don't know anything about Kelly in the SEC yet, and Kiffin has a small sample size to work from so far. So does Pittman, Leach, and Heupel.

Harsin is a good coach but a dead man walking at Auburn, it just wasn't the right fit from the jump. Napier could prove to be one of the top coaches in the conference over time, he definitely has the pedigree and chops but just hasn't shown what he's capable of yet.

Beamer will never be a great coach (no offense Gamecocks, I generally like y'all), his personality just won't allow it and he'll never be a great recruiter because of it.

Fisher is washed up and past his prime, it's all downhill from here for him - especially if he stays stubborn and refuses to hire a legit OC. Those top recruiting classes won't last as long as they keep tanking and looking like an offensive system from 30 years ago.

Drinkwitz will be fired within the next season and a half, he just never had "it". He might be a bright mind but he doesn't have what it takes to recruit and compete in this league against the top of the top. He's much better suited for a smaller G5 type program that needs to rely on outwitting their opponents instead of out-physicaling them

In time Lea may turn out to be the next coach that gets poached from Vandy, but it's hard to tell with their talent and schedule
Posted by CNB
Columbia, SC
Member since Sep 2007
101032 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 6:05 pm to
quote:

his personality just won't allow it and he'll never be a great recruiter because of it.


This is an odd take to me because of how improved South Carolina's recruiting has been since Beamer, but sure.
Posted by themicah85
DALLAS TX
Member since Jul 2015
3509 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 6:06 pm to
quote:

All I know is I wouldn’t trade Pittman for any of them.


So you wouldn't trade Pittman for smart or saban?
Posted by meansonny
ATL
Member since Sep 2012
26028 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 6:11 pm to
quote:

Those guys have shown they can go into a bad situation, change the culture, and actually rebuild a program.

Kirby took over a team that went into overtime against Georgia Southern in their last home game under the previous coach.
Kirby took over a team with a 7 point win over 3-9 Georgia tech team.
Kirby took over a team that started faton bauta at QB against the Florida gators.

Kirby's first year only had 1 drafted player (junior Mecole hardman).
Kirby's first year only had 1 senior worth a damn (transfer from alabama, Maurice Smith).
Kirby's first year was 8-5.
Posted by AUreo
Member since Jul 2021
2344 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 6:22 pm to
[]
This post was edited on 9/15/22 at 6:24 pm
Posted by Clark14
Earth
Member since Dec 2014
26059 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 6:36 pm to
quote:

So you wouldn't trade Pittman for smart or saban?


I would not. Sam is a perfect fit for our program.

Would the other two excel with lesser talent?

Sam is an asset to our program and state and he’s brought our fanbase together.

No knock on the other two intended.
Posted by Partha
Member since Jan 2022
7637 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 6:39 pm to
Too many new coaches (with less than 3 years at their current program) for me to put together a list.

Saban and Kirby would be at the top without question.

All I can say is the SEC is pretty stocked with good coaches right now.
Posted by Referee
North Alabama
Member since Dec 2021
3010 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 6:43 pm to
Seriously, I could see Harsin making some serious progress at A@M. If ANYBODY could breathe life back into a program that died in 1939, he just might be the guy.
Posted by Cooterlane
Shreveport
Member since Sep 2022
1409 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 6:45 pm to
1. Saban
14. Jimbo
Posted by RazorBroncs
Possesses the largest
Member since Sep 2013
15748 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 6:48 pm to
quote:

This is an odd take to me because of how improved South Carolina's recruiting has been since Beamer, but sure.


I'll admit I haven't paid much attention to him on the recruiting trail, I'm just going off what I've seen when it comes to the actual games. He's very tightly wound and angry on the sidelines and coaches like it. I don't see the social media divas of this age taking to that very well over time, but I'll concede that it's not a very well informed opinion.

That being said, he should be lumped in with the other SEC coaches we don't know much about long term yet. Pittman, Heupel, Kiffin, Harsin, Beamer, and even Leach have yet to prove that they can "restock" the talent at their programs.

They may be on the upswing right now, but they're all benefiting from COVID super seniors, seniors, redshirt juniors, and even some juniors the previous staffs recruited. It's yet to be shown that their progress can be maintained on their own merits, and history tells us that most SEC coaches not named Saban or Smart will come out unsuccessful in the long run
Posted by dchog
Pea Ridge
Member since Nov 2012
26661 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 6:49 pm to
If this was a younger Saban before Alabama then yes but now he just wouldn't be motivated to take on a rebuilding job and this is why Pittman is a better fit.
Posted by SidewalkTiger
Midwest, USA
Member since Dec 2019
65851 posts
Posted on 9/15/22 at 6:51 pm to
quote:

Kirby took over a team that went into overtime against Georgia Southern in their last home game under the previous coach.
Kirby took over a team with a 7 point win over 3-9 Georgia tech team.
Kirby took over a team that started faton bauta at QB against the Florida gators.

Kirby's first year only had 1 drafted player (junior Mecole hardman).
Kirby's first year only had 1 senior worth a damn (transfer from alabama, Maurice Smith).
Kirby's first year was 8-5


Georgia won 10 or more games in 4 of the 5 seasons leading to Kirby being hired.

That wasn't a rebuild.
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