re: Mount Rushmore of SEC Head Coaches in any sport. I will leave my original 4 names.

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John Calipari

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Never lost to Bear Bryant
- Bear Bryant said he learned everything from Neyland

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Bryant also supposedly said this about Neyland-

"People think I’m the greatest damn coach in the world, but Neyland taught me everything I know."

Neyland was a great coach and well acknowledged as a titan of his time.

Bryant was a gentleman and was an honorable man who gave credit to everyone. He was well known for this. For instance, he would build up teams that Alabama was about to face, who literally may not have been better than a high school team, and flatter them and their coaches to no end before a game.

In Neyland's case, much of the flattery was justified, but Bryant did not learn everything he knew about coaching from him.

Bryant learned the trade from Frank Thomas, both as a player and a line coach, who learned his technique from Knute Rockne. Red Sanders at Vanderbilt also contributed to Bear Bryant's coaching techniques and style.

Bryant lost to a very good coach in General Neyland during his tenure at Kentucky, but he certainly did not learn everything he knew about coaching from Neyland. He never even coached with him or shared notes, as far as anyone knows.

Bryant's comments on Neyland were the lost art of flattery, mixed with a genuine respect for someone who was, at that period in Bryant's career, a better and more accomplished coach.

Bryant
Rupp
Vaught
Whoever you prefer. Saban for me.