BEST COLLEGE COACH EVER

What are the things that a coach can bring to a school that are desirable? Well, the obvious one is winning, and there have been a lot of coaches who have done that. But, winning comes in different degrees. If you're Jim Tressell and you're coaching Ohio State, it's possible that you can go 9-2, have a winning season, and still be a total letdown. The same 9-2 record by, let's say, Florida A&M is a season for the record books. So winning in and of itself isn't enough.

So, what else could be used to measure the greatness of a coach? Character. You are presenting not just a school, but a city, all of your alumni, and also a region of the country. Don't think for a second that the folks in Ann Arbor, Michigan are hanging there heads high. And whenever I think about two of the three Florida schools (Miami and Florida State) I can't help but think about the criminals that the school produces.

So when I think about the greatest coaches of all time, I'm thinking about winning, and winning with good people. There's one more thing that I'd like to include in the criteria, and that's the impact that you have on the program. In other words, are you taking over a program that has a long tradition of winning and just filling the role, or are you turning that school into a program. Using these criteria, I'll count down the top five

5. Bear Bryant.
He didn't just win at Alabama, but that's were he is beast known for his success. Given the changes that have happened to the college game (with early entrants, TV, bigger contracts for coaches) he's the only one of the old-time coaches that I'm going to rate in the top five. So, I apologize to the frontiers of the game, but ranking the best coaches in any sport has to be weighed against how the game is played today. Bear could adjust to the passing game (He did have Joe Namath)I don't think that Hayes or Schembechler could.

4. Steve Spurrier
I know, I know, you think I'm nuts. But, look at it this way. He won with good people at Florida. In a state with two other major Universities, who would run over their mother to get the next big thing. Spurrier won without going after the hardcases the Seminoles had on their sideline. If he hadn't left for the NFL he would've had more titles. And let's not forget, he WON at DUKE

3. Eddie Robinson
There's a good reason to leave him off of this list, and that's because he coached at a small school in Grambling. But, there's a lot more reason to

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