Big XII Coaches Ranked

This post was inspired by Blaylock's comment under the Maintenance and Future Posts entry. Here are my rankings of the Big XII coaches.

12. Paul Rhoads (ISU) - The reason Rhoads is last on this list is simply because he hasn't been a head coach yet. He was the defensive coordinator at Pittsburgh from 2000-2007 and held the same position with Auburn in 2008. In the last two years as a defensive coordinator, Rhoads defense was ranked #5 ('07) and #29 ('08). Even though the season has yet to start, positive things are coming from the players about Rhoads. The only Big XII coaches with a defensive background are Rhoads, Bob Stoops, and Bo Pelini. I think Paul Rhoads is a good fit with Iowa State and the Cyclones will play with more attitude with him.

11. Mike Sherman (A&M) - In his first year with the Aggies, Sherman went 4-8 (team went 7-6 in '07). Mike Sherman is definitely on the hot seat even though he has just been at A&M for one season. If he struggles again and is last in the South, he might not get a chance at a third season.

10. Dan Hawkins (CU)- Hawkins was at Boise State from 2001-2005. He compiled a record of 53-11, won the WAC Championship four out of five years, and was voted the WAC Coach of the Year two times. He then took the Colorado job and things haven't been nearly as smooth. In his three years as a Buffalo, Hawkins record is 13-24 and he has had three straight losing seasons. He has been more known for his quotes, "Go play intramurals brother" and "10 wins and no excuses," than anything on the field while in Boulder. Colorado is looked at as a darkhorse in the North this year, Hawkins needs a good season, otherwise patience will start to wear thin.

9. Art Briles (BU) - Art Briles went 34-28 (18-8 final two seasons) as the Houston Head Coach. Even though Baylor only went 4-8 in Briles first year as head coach of the Bears, Baylor is getting noticed. Baylor was 0-3 last year in games decided by 7 points or less (28-31 against UConn and Missouri, and 28-35 at Texas Tech) and was leading at Nebraska at haftime (20-17). Baylor hasn't been to a bowl game since 1994, but are being picked by some to end that streak this season.

8. Bo Pelini (NU) - In his first full year as the Husker Coach, he went 9-4. Pelini did coach Nebraska to a win against Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl to end the 2003 season. Expectations are high to build on last years success and the fans are fully back into football after the Pederson/Callahan fiasco.

7. Mike Gundy (OSU) - His record with Oklahoma State is 27-23. Gundy's team has been improving over the four years he has been coach, going 4-7 his first year, 7-6 in his second and third year, and 9-4 last season. The expectations are very high in his fifth year as the Cowboys coach. This year's team is expected to have similar success as Texas Tech did last season. There is no arguing the success his program has had on offense, however the defensive side of the ball will have to improve for his team to take it to the next level.

6. Bill Snyder (KSU) - He has been one of the most successful coaches ever. He went 136-68-1 in his 17 years at Kansas State ('89-'05). When Bill Snyder became the head coach at Kansas State, the Wildcats had been to one bowl game. That is not a misprint, one bowl game! Snyder went to 11 bowls in 17 years with the Wildcats. If Bill Snyder was so successful, why don't I have him closer to first? Well, in Snyder's last two years, KSU went 9-13. Also, Snyder will turn 70 years old and has been away from the game the last three years. If anyone can prove me wrong, it will be Bill Snyder.

5. Gary Pinkel (MU) - Pinkel went 73-37-3 in ten years with Toledo. Since he has been with Missouri, he has gone 59-41 in eight seasons. Pinkel had losing seasons in three of his first four years, but has had four straight winning seasons since and has won the North division the last two seasons. Pinkel seems to believe his program is at the stage where they can replace talented players, we will find out if that is true this year.

4. Mike Leech (TT) - He has been very consistent with Texas Tech. His record is 76-39 in nine seasons with the Red Raiders, going to bowl games every year. In his first eight seasons, his team won 7-9 games. Then last year, his team went 11-2. He is considered such an offensive guru, that no matter who is at Quarterback, the position produces some of the most gaudy numbers in all of football.

3. Mark Mangino (KU) - He has compiled a record of 45-41 at Kansas in seven years. In his first three years KU was 12-24 (under .500 each season). Since then the Jayhawks have been at least .500 every year and are 20-6 the last two seasons. Before Mangino came to Kansas, the program had gone to eight bowl games and never more than two in any decade. Mangino has guided the Jayhawks to four bowls this decade. His KU team is expected to be a major player in the Big XII North race.

2. Mack Brown (TX) - This will be Mack Brown's 12th year at Texas, the longest tenure of any coach currently in the Big XII. Brown came from North Carolina in 1998 and has gone 115-26 with Texas. His Longhorn team has won or shared the South title six times, however have only won the Big XII Championship twice. Texas won the National Championship in 2005.

1. Bob Stoops (OU) - Nationally, Bob Stoops and Oklahoma have taken a hit because of five straight losses in BCS games (three straight National Title loses). However, Stoops' title of "Big Game Bob" still applies to his program during Big XII play. Before Stoops came to Oklahoma, Jon Blake had three straight losing seasons (3-8, 4-8, and 5-6). Stoops has been over .500 every season, has a record of 109-24 in ten years with the program, won six Big XII Titles, and a National Championship in his second season with the Sooners. In this decade (2000-2009), Oklahoma has the most wins of any FBS team.

Anyone have any different takes on how the Big XII Coaches rank? Post your rankings in the comment section.