An interesting off-season post by @CBSSports ranks all 65 Power Five college football coaches.
Where did the ACC Coaches end up?
From that article…Do you agree on the ranking and the order?
#2 Dabo Swinney: While discussing these rankings on the “Cover 3 Podcast,” I asked my two co-hosts (and fellow voters) Chip Patterson and Barton Simmons what it would take for them to rank Swinney ahead of Saban. They both had the same answer I did. If Swinney wins another national title before Saban does, it would be hard not to place him higher. Swinney’s story isn’t all that dissimilar to the one we just saw play out with Orgeron at LSU. He took over as an interim coach in 2008, and when Clemson gave him the job full-time, the most common reaction was “really?!” It turns out it was a really good decision.
His Clemson teams have more seasons with at least 14 wins (four) than they do with fewer than 10 (two). Swinney’s done such a fantastic job at Clemson that we assume it’s going to win the ACC every year and reach the playoff. The only thing in doubt is whether it’ll win a national title. 2019 rank: 2 (EVEN)
#20 Mack Brown: He is one of the most interesting cases out there. First, you have to determine whether you’re ranking him based on what he accomplished in the main part of his career at North Carolina and Texas … or where you think he is now. All of which makes for a surprising result in our poll. Last year, Brown was ranked No. 33. This year, he climbs 13 spots to No. 20. Leading the Tar Heels to a 7-6 mark a year after they went 2-9 is commendable, but if you felt he was No. 33 last year, is it enough to justify this climb? Particularly in relation to what he has already accomplished? 2019 rank: 33 (+13)
#23 Bronco Mendenhall: This is a ranking that may surprise some, but Mendenhall deserves to be this high. He’s only 25-27 in four seasons at Virginia, but the program’s trajectory matters more than the overall record. He’s improved the team each season, going from 2-10 his first year to 9-5 last year. The Cavaliers won the AAC Coastal in 2019, and it was the first time Virginia had won nine games in a season since 2007. The team’s Orange Bowl appearance was the first time the Cavs had played in a BCS/New Year’s Six bowl game during the BCS/CFP era. 2019 rank: 26 (+3)
#26 David Cutcliffe: A regular in the top 25 of our rankings for the last few years, it’s clear our panel respects Cutcliffe. That said, it’s expected to see him drop five spots and out of the top 25 after a mark of 24-26 the last four years. Duke can do better and has seen better seasons. When the Blue Devils rise again, so will Cut. 2019 rank: 21 (-5)
#29 Mike Norvell: It’s a sign of respect for everything that Norvell accomplished at Memphis that he begins his tenure at Florida State ranked so highly. He went 38-15 in four seasons, 24-8 in conference play with the Tigers. Now, he finds himself at a program that needs a little rehab but has all the potential to compete for national titles. Clearly, our voters believe the Seminoles made a smart hire. 2019 rank: N/A
#31 Scott Satterfield: I have high hopes for Satterfield at Louisville. Considering the powerhouse he built at Appalachian State, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic. He climbs six spots in the rankings to No. 31 after helping Louisville jump from 2-10 in 2018 to 8-5 last season. 2019 rank: 37 (+6)
#32 Dave Clawson: He has been a model of consistency at Wake Forest. After going 6-18 in his first two seasons, the Demon Deacons are 30-22 the last four years. They’ve never won more than eight games or lost more than six in those four seasons. As a result, you get the sense there’s a ceiling to what Clawson can do in Winston-Salem, and that ceiling appears to be the range of 28-35 in our rankings. 2019 rank: 29 (-3)
#37 Justin Fuente: I’ve already written about why I’m optimistic about Virginia Tech in 2020, but I understand why Fuente’s momentum in our rankings has stalled out. He was No. 26 in 2018, just on the cusp of top-25 coachdom, but fell to No. 34 after a 6-7 season. Now an 8-5 campaign dropped him three more spots. If the Hokies take another step in 2020, he could bounce back into the top half. 2019 rank: 34 (-3)
#40 Pat Narduzzi: He is always one of the more difficult coaches for me to rank. I love so much about Narduzzi’s personality and his team’s identity. I also have serious questions about some of his decisions on game days. In other words, I like him, but even I wonder if I like him too much. Apparently not, though, because I had him at No. 38, and he finished at No. 40 overall.
Let’s see if he builds on that 8-5 season and upset win vs. UCF. 2019 rank: 46 (+6)
#48 Dino Babers: Speaking of coaches taking big falls, the 21 spots Babers tumbled this year was the second-biggest drop. Dino’s been a roller coaster, which reflects his team’s win-loss record. After two 4-8 campaigns to start his tenure, the Orange jumped to 10-3 in 2018 and entered the 2019 season ranked in the top 25. A 5-7 season didn’t keep them there long. 2019 rank: 27 (-21)
#49 Dave Doeren: Only two coaches fell further in the rankings than NC State’s Doeren. You have to have been ranked reasonably high in the first place to fall far, but did Doeren truly deserve to fall from No. 32 to No. 49? I had him at No. 43 on my ballot and felt that was fair enough. Others felt different. He’d gone 18-8 the previous two seasons, but one 4-8 campaign derailed that in the eyes of our voters. 2019 rank: 32 (-17)
#57 Geoff Collins: He began his tenure at Georgia Tech ranked No. 55 and dropped two spots this season after going 3-9. Clearly, our voters understand the rebuilding project he has in front of him and didn’t want to punish him for the slow start after transitioning from the triple option. 2019 rank: 55 (-2)
#58 Manny Diaz: He entered the rankings for the first time at No. 57 last year and dropped only a spot after a 6-7 season at Miami. Of course, I’m not sure that’s much comfort considering five of the seven coaches below Diaz weren’t in the Power Five last season. With a retooled coaching staff and D’Eriq King coming in, let’s see where he sits next year. 2019 rank: 57 (-1)
#63 Jeff Hafley: He is widely respected for his work as a defensive coordinator, but Boston College will be his first attempt as head coach. A common theme amongst the names at the bottom of the list. 2019 rank: N/A
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