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Ranking SEC football coaches 2024
Posted on 12/22/24 at 2:28 pm
Posted on 12/22/24 at 2:28 pm
Now, this isn’t my list. It’s a UK (Drew Holbrook) beat writer’s list. The title of the article is, “Ranking SEC football coaches: Where does Mark Stoops stand heading into year 13?”
It’s an interesting article aside from the ranking bc he proceeded to list Stoops, who is not on the hot seat, as the 15th best coach.
List below, do you guys agree?
It’s an interesting article aside from the ranking bc he proceeded to list Stoops, who is not on the hot seat, as the 15th best coach.
List below, do you guys agree?
quote:
As the 2024 college football season wraps up with the college football playoffs. It is time to take a look at the head coaches to see where they stand. Last season the SEC expanded to 16 teams with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma. Here's how each team's head coach ranks when compared to his peers.
1. Kirby Smart, Georgia Record: 105-18 since 2016. Achievements: Two national championships (2021, 2022), multiple SEC titles.Smart continues to dominate, with Georgia being a perennial powerhouse, showcasing exceptional recruiting, player development, and game management. No doubt number 1.
2. Steve Sarkisian, Texas
Record: 36-16 at Texas
Achievements: Took Texas to the College Football Playoff in 2023 and 2024. Sarkisian's offensive mind has revitalized Texas football, making them immediate threats in the SEC going forward.
3. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
Record: 34-15 mark at Ole Miss.
Achievements: Known for dynamic offenses and has led Ole Miss to their best seasons in recent years. Has occasional moments that make you scratch your head, but has really kept Ole Miss in the national conversation.
4. Brian Kelly, LSU
Record: 28-11 at LSU
Achievements: Kelly has revitalized LSU, leading the Tigers to significant victories and restoring their status as a powerhouse in the conference. A step back this year saw him drop a little but don't count out Kelly to get LSU back to the national title scene and soon.
5. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri
Record: 37–24 with Missouri
Achievements: Led Missouri to an 11-2 season in 2023, including a Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State, followed that up with a 9-3 regular season and chance to get 10 wins back to back.
6. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
Record: 9-3 in his first year
Achievements: Took Washington to the national championship game in 2023. Replacing Nick Saban is a daunting task, but DeBoer's track record suggests he's up to the challenge, even with a 3 loss season this year.
7. Josh Heupel, Tennessee
Record: 37–14 with the Vols
Achievements: Revived Tennessee's football program with a high-powered offense, and has 2 10 win seasons in 4 years. Currently in the playoffs and seems to be rising even higher.
8. Shane Beamer, South Carolina
Record: 29–21 at USC
Achievements: Notable for upsets against top teams and finally developed some consistency this year. Going 9-3 with a chance to get to 10 wins with a loaded defense.
9. Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
Record: 15–33 at Vanderbilt.
Achievements: Struggling to find consistent success but showing signs of improvement with a 6-6 year heading into the bowl game. Pavia will come back and the team looks like they are settling in to compete with the middle of the pack in the SEC.
10. Billy Napier, Florida
Record: 19–19 at Florida
Achievements: Yet to make a significant impact, with recruitment being his strong suit so far. Saw a way better second of 2024, and improvement in their bowl game. Could carry over the momentum through the next year as a team to watch.
11. Mike Elko, Texas A&M
Record: 8-4
Achievements: Strong defensive background and success at Duke carried over into an up and down first year with the Aggies.
12. Brent Venables, Oklahoma
Record: 22–16 at Oklahoma.
Achievements: Turned around from a 6-7 to a 10-3 season but then fell back to 6-6 in the SEC. Will need a big bounceback year next year to keep his job.
13. Sam Pittman, Arkansas
Record: 29–31 at Arkansas.
Achievements: A 9-4 season in 2021, but recent performance has declined. Will need to jump up to get the Hogs back in contention.
14. Hugh Freeze, Auburn
Record: 11-14 in his two seasons at Auburn.
Achievements: Known for success at Ole Miss and Liberty but still finding footing at Auburn. Will need a big season next season to keep his job. The only reason he is above Stoops is the win in Lexington this year when Kentucky had much more talent than Auburn.
15. Mark Stoops, Kentucky
Record: 67-73 at Kentucky.
Achievements: While Stoops has had moments of success with two 10-win seasons, one was vacated, and his recent performance has been underwhelming too many time, including a 1-7 record in 2024. Kentucky's performance has stagnated, and despite being the longest-tenured coach in the SEC, Stoops is much closer to the bottom than top.
16. Jeff Lebby, Mississippi State
Record: 2-10 in first year
Achievements: Offensive coordinator success at Oklahoma, UCF, and Ole Miss. Will take some time to get his players and his system implemented. Will the Bulldogs be patient enough to let it happen?
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Posted on 12/22/24 at 2:32 pm to JayAg
That Stoops ranking seems a little overreactive if you consider his body of work. 8 straight bowl games....winning 9-10 games at Kentucky....he's much better than 15th.
Lately the past two seasons though have been mediocre to put it nicely. UK fans finally have expectations thanks to Rich Brooks. We refuse to go backwards. Stoops has this coming season to fix it or he's gone. Jon Sumrall at Tulane, a former Wildcat, is the most likely replacement.
Lately the past two seasons though have been mediocre to put it nicely. UK fans finally have expectations thanks to Rich Brooks. We refuse to go backwards. Stoops has this coming season to fix it or he's gone. Jon Sumrall at Tulane, a former Wildcat, is the most likely replacement.
Posted on 12/22/24 at 2:40 pm to JayAg
he at least got 1 and 16 right, but hes all over the place
Posted on 12/22/24 at 2:44 pm to JayAg
I wouldn't trade coaches, but I could see the logic in flipping Kelly and Drinkwitz.
Posted on 12/22/24 at 2:45 pm to Warwick
I think some guys like Heupel too low, and guys like Lea too high. But yeah, for some coaches he puts more weight on what they did 2024, and others he seems to credit for what they have done in the past.
This post was edited on 12/22/24 at 2:46 pm
Posted on 12/22/24 at 2:51 pm to UKWildcats
quote:
That Stoops ranking seems a little overreactive if you consider his body of work. 8 straight bowl games....winning 9-10 games at Kentucky....he's much better than 15th.
No doubt he will want Stoops gone even if we were to win 8 or 9 games next year because he's convinced we should go undefeated and win the natty every year
Media dumping on Stoops is getting really old. Reads like he didn't pay attention to them at a press conference. "LET ME TELL YOU OUR WINNINGEST COACH EVER IS TRASH AND WE SHOULD REPLACE HIM RIGHT NOW!!!! >:("
Posted on 12/22/24 at 3:12 pm to wadewilson
quote:
I wouldn't trade coaches, but I could see the logic in flipping Kelly and Drinkwitz.
Meh, he's .600 at Mizzou. Sure he has less talent but he also plays a relatively weak schedule every year.
I wouldn't trade Kelly for either Kiffin or Drink.
Posted on 12/22/24 at 3:19 pm to JayAg
Beamer is top 4-5 imo. He built a very good South Carolina team.
Posted on 12/22/24 at 3:22 pm to BuckI
He was on the hot seat to start the year, he had a great year this year. Let’s see if he can build on it.
Posted on 12/22/24 at 3:35 pm to SidewalkTiger
quote:
I wouldn't trade Kelly for either Kiffin or Drink.
I can't speak for Kelly or Lane, but Drink does a great job of playing to his team's strengths. Which most seasons has been running the ball, fielding a respectable to very good defense, and good special teams.
And he still hasn't run what I consider to be his desired offense due to the limitations of Brady Cook. Drink still has potential upside.
Posted on 12/22/24 at 3:38 pm to JayAg
I agree that Kirby and Sark are the two best coaches in the conference.
After that, don't really care though will say Shane Beamer is a rising star that will continue to impress.
After that, don't really care though will say Shane Beamer is a rising star that will continue to impress.
Posted on 12/22/24 at 3:42 pm to Mizz-SEC
Brady Cook.
Mizzou last year had an explosive running game. You guys lost that scrappy back. This year, the lack of explosive plays there led to putting the pressure on Cook and the WRs.
Mizzou last year had an explosive running game. You guys lost that scrappy back. This year, the lack of explosive plays there led to putting the pressure on Cook and the WRs.
Posted on 12/22/24 at 3:45 pm to JayAg
quote:
Kelly has revitalized LSU, leading the Tigers to significant victories and restoring their status as a powerhouse in the conference
What the frick is he smoking
Posted on 12/22/24 at 4:05 pm to JayAg
quote:
Mizzou last year had an explosive running game. You guys lost that scrappy back. This year, the lack of explosive plays there led to putting the pressure on Cook and the WRs.
Noel and Cook getting injured impacted Mizzou on offense. I also think that Kirby Moore's offense play calling was not good at times this season especially in the red zone.
Posted on 12/22/24 at 4:18 pm to JayAg
In what world was Shane Beamer on the “hot seat”? Fans bitching because their team lost is not the “hot seat”.
Posted on 12/22/24 at 4:29 pm to jimlsu1
He was 20–18 going into this year, with a 5 win season last year. Like Lea, this year he made a significant jump.
Posted on 12/22/24 at 7:15 pm to JayAg
Neither Deboer nor Kelly has done anything at their current job, but Deboer does have a playoff win and Kelly does not.
So I'm going to argue it should be
1 - Smart (2 NC's, 3 SEC titles, 4 playoff appearances, 5 playoff wins)
2 - Sark (2 playoff appearances, 1 playoff win, 1 SECCG appearance, 1 Big 12 conference title)
3 - Deboer (1 playoff appearance, 1 playoff win, 1 Pac 12 conference title)
The above 3 have a playoff game win. Smart is #1 due to titles. Sark is #2 due to having actually made the SEC title game.
4 - Kelly (2 playoff appearances, 1 SECCG appearance, 1 BCS title game appearance, 2 Big East conference titles
5 - Heupel (1 playoff appearance)
The above 2 have playoff appearances but no wins. Kelly made a SECCG so he's ahead.
The the rest, none of whom have made a SECCG or a playoff.
So I'm going to argue it should be
1 - Smart (2 NC's, 3 SEC titles, 4 playoff appearances, 5 playoff wins)
2 - Sark (2 playoff appearances, 1 playoff win, 1 SECCG appearance, 1 Big 12 conference title)
3 - Deboer (1 playoff appearance, 1 playoff win, 1 Pac 12 conference title)
The above 3 have a playoff game win. Smart is #1 due to titles. Sark is #2 due to having actually made the SEC title game.
4 - Kelly (2 playoff appearances, 1 SECCG appearance, 1 BCS title game appearance, 2 Big East conference titles
5 - Heupel (1 playoff appearance)
The above 2 have playoff appearances but no wins. Kelly made a SECCG so he's ahead.
The the rest, none of whom have made a SECCG or a playoff.
This post was edited on 12/22/24 at 7:23 pm
Posted on 12/22/24 at 7:20 pm to DawginSC
quote:
1 - Smart
2 - Sark
3 - Deboer
DeBoer has a playoff win over Sark, and also beat Sark in the bowl game the year prior to that.
DeBoer is 2-0 against Sark.
Sark was also a former headcoach at Washington, where he earned the nickname 7 win Sark because that's how many games he won every year. DeBoer was at Washington beating Sark @ Texas.
Personally, I have 0 interest in having Sark instead of DeBoer.
Posted on 12/22/24 at 7:25 pm to 3down10
quote:
DeBoer has a playoff win over Sark, and also beat Sark in the bowl game the year prior to that.
DeBoer is 2-0 against Sark.
Sark was also a former headcoach at Washington, where he earned the nickname 7 win Sark because that's how many games he won every year. DeBoer was at Washington beating Sark @ Texas.
Personally, I have 0 interest in having Sark instead of DeBoer.
All well and good.
But this is primarily about the SEC. The other stuff doesn't factor in nearly as much.
Both are in their first year in the conference. Deboer got a team with more talent. Sark made the SECCG, made the playoff and has won a playoff game in his first year.
Deboer hasn't.
While their previous accomplishments do impact the list, their time in the SEC matters more.
Posted on 12/22/24 at 7:26 pm to JayAg
My list, based on who I would want as the HC of Alabama starting next year. If you just want to base them on how well they did this year, then just break out the team rankings.
1. Kirby
2. DeBoer
3. Sark
4. Kiffin
5. Beamer
6. Napier
7. Kelly
8. Bitchwitz
9. Venables
10. Elko
11. Stoops
12. Lea
13. Heupel
14. Freeze
15. Lebby
16. Pittman
1. Kirby
2. DeBoer
3. Sark
4. Kiffin
5. Beamer
6. Napier
7. Kelly
8. Bitchwitz
9. Venables
10. Elko
11. Stoops
12. Lea
13. Heupel
14. Freeze
15. Lebby
16. Pittman
This post was edited on 12/22/24 at 7:28 pm
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