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Are these the Top 10 greatest head coaches in SEC football history?
Posted on 5/4/26 at 9:57 am
Posted on 5/4/26 at 9:57 am
I asked Grok to rank them based on conference wins, conference winning percentage, conference championships, national championships, and major bowl wins.
1. Paul W. Bryant - Alabama/Kentucky/Texas A&M
2. Nick Saban - Alabama/LSU
3. Steve Spurrier - Florida/South Carolina
4. Robert Neyland - Tennessee
5. Johnny Vaught - Ole Miss
6. Kirby Smart - Georgia
7. Vince Dooley - Georgia
8. Urban Meyer - Florida
9. Frank Thomas - Alabama
10. Pat Dye - Auburn
1. Paul W. Bryant - Alabama/Kentucky/Texas A&M
2. Nick Saban - Alabama/LSU
3. Steve Spurrier - Florida/South Carolina
4. Robert Neyland - Tennessee
5. Johnny Vaught - Ole Miss
6. Kirby Smart - Georgia
7. Vince Dooley - Georgia
8. Urban Meyer - Florida
9. Frank Thomas - Alabama
10. Pat Dye - Auburn
16
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:00 am to RollTide1987
I got
Saban
Bryant
Lane
I would put Saban over Bryant. But, that is a good list.
Saban
Bryant
Lane
I would put Saban over Bryant. But, that is a good list.
This post was edited on 5/4/26 at 10:01 am
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:02 am to RollTide1987
It's honestly a pretty good list.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:03 am to RollTide1987
quote:
9. Frank Thomas - Alabama
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:09 am to RollTide1987
Stallings or Wade before Tie-Dye.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:10 am to RollTide1987
quote:
9. Frank Thomas - Alabama
no. Stallings, Fulmer, and Miles all get the nod over Thomas
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:11 am to BigAL Golesh
Setting aside Bama's bogus 1941 national championship claim, Frank Thomas has an extremely impressive resume despite coaching nearly a century ago. He won four conference championships and his 1934 team has a legitimate claim to the national championship (they went undefeated and won the Rose Bowl). He won 71 conference games and had a winning percentage of 78% in conference play. There are only a few who can claim better than that.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:12 am to VFL67
quote:
no. Stallings, Fulmer, and Miles all get the nod over Thomas
I could see Fulmer or Miles replacing Thomas.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:12 am to dstone12
quote:
Wade
Never coached an SEC game.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:14 am to Tornado Alley
I stand corrected. Apologies.
Stallings it is.
Stallings it is.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:15 am to RollTide1987
You forgot Pete Golding
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:15 am to BigAL Golesh
BigAL Golesh , welcome to the board friend !
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:21 am to BigAL Golesh
I don't know why you are laughing at Thomas being on this list. He won four conference championships, went undefeated and won the Rose Bowl in 1934 and 1945, while winning almost 80% of his in-conference games. How are you going to rank Fulmer or Stallings over that - especially when you consider Fulmer won two SEC titles and Stallings won one?
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:23 am to RollTide1987
Jackie Sherill had quite the impact at AtM & State. He could be in the conversation..
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:23 am to RollTide1987
Not sure I can rank Urban in the top 10, he had a great 4 year run but then totally flamed out in year 6 and chickened out of continuing on at Florida.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:38 am to ukraine_rebel
Why is Spurrier on the list? Won one natty and went out a bitch arse quiter at USC.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:38 am to RollTide1987
No Gene Chiznik. List is shite
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:41 am to wartiger2004
quote:
Why is Spurrier on the list?
He won the SEC six times. The only other coaches who won more were Bryant and Saban.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:41 am to wartiger2004
quote:
Why is Spurrier on the list?
My first reaction was to scoff...but it is a legit question.
So, what are the parameters? Just titles? Conference titles weigh more/less than NCs?
I'd throw Spurrier in off the cuff, but a deeper dive might disqualify him.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 11:10 am to wesfau
quote:
I'd throw Spurrier in off the cuff, but a deeper dive might disqualify him.
Under no circumstances is Steve Spurrier not in the top ten coaches in SEC history. Only Saban and Bryant have more SEC championships and more conference victories than him. He also revolutionized the conference's style of play, slinging the ball around the yard at a time before that was commonplace.
This post was edited on 5/4/26 at 11:11 am
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