Dixie Fried Sports The South's Best Sports WebSite
Your Subtitle text
Ranking 1st Year Coaches
Johnson's option attack caught many off guard this season
Who Did Best Their First Year on the Job?
12/1/2008
It's a tough job when deciding who did a great job in their first year at a new school. Many times coaches are changing offensive and defensive systems, so the W/L record isn't always that impressive. Many first year coaches inherit great situations(see Larry Coker's first year), other inherit messes(Sly Croom at MSU). Year 1 doesn't always mean much in a coaches career and shouldn't always be used to judge the direction of the program.
1. Paul Johnson(Georgia Tech 9-3 5-3 in ACC)-This was an easy one selecting Johnson as #1. What he did at Georgia Tech is amazing. Johnson took an offensive system that few run now days and made it work in a BCS conference. Tech improved as the season went along and was even able to upset its rival Georgia in Athens.
How does the future look?
Georgia Tech is a tough place to win. Academic requirements are tough and competing against Georgia instate is never easy. Miami and FSU won't stay down forever in the ACC and when they rise again it will only be that much tougher for Tech to win the league. Still, Johnson is a great coach and there is no reason to not expect the bowl streak at Tech to continue for many seasons.
2. Bo Pelini(Nebraska 8-4 5-3 in Big XII)- Pelini should be in year 5 at Nebraska. The hiring of Bill Callahan is one of the worst this decade. An OT loss to 11-1 Texas Tech kept the Huskers out of the Big XII championship game and another close loss to Virginia Tech hurt Nebraska. Yet, the Huskers still earned a share of the Big XII North Title(Mizzou wins tie breaker).
How does the future look?
The future at Nebraska looks great. In a conference filled with great offenses, someone has to play great defense. Pelini will have Nebraska back on top of the Big XII North and competing for BCS games sooner than later.
3. Houston Nutt(Ole Miss 8-4 5-3 in SEC)-In the preseason at had Nutt going 6-6 in his first season, so he did better than I expected. Nutt inherited a talented group of Rebs from Coach O and won big games against LSU and Florida on the road.
How does the future look?
In order for the Rebs to become a legit contender for the SEC Championship Nutt has to recruit better. This isn't a championship program and Nutt isn't a championship coach. He'll keep the Rebs winning more than they lose. Will that be enough? By the way is there a such thing as a Rebel that isn't wild? I mean aren't all Rebels by nature wild?
4. Jerry Kill(Northern Illinois 6-6 5-3 in MAC)-The job Kill did in season 1 is going to get overlooked by most. He inherited a 2-10 team from a season ago and kept NIU competetive all season. 4 point losses on the road to Minnesota and Tennessee showed NIU could compete with the big boys and a 5-3 record in the a better than average MAC West was also impressive
How does the future look?
Kill had some good teams at Southern Illinois and he'll have good teams at Northern Illinois. He's not going to make this a Boise State, but he'll keep the Huskies in the top half of the MAC for most seasons.
5. Dabo Swinney(Clemson 4-2 3-2 in ACC)- "DatBoy" as he was called as a kid gets on the list depite coaching only 6 games. Dabo took over a Clemson team in shambles after Tommy Bowden left and brought energy to the program. Kissing "Howard's Rock" and Chest bumping Brad Scott(and what a big chest he has) fired up his team and his fans. Clemson now appears to be headed to the Gator Bowl, when 6 games ago it appeared they would spend the Holidays at home.
How does the future look?
Honestly I don't see Clemson doing any better with Swinney as its coach. Bowden couldn't win an ACC championship and Dabo won't either. He'll have a problem putting together a good staff and in a few seasons Tiger fans will be calling for his head. A good job in 6 games, but it won't end pretty. College football agent Jimmy Sexton said many wanted this job, but Clemson failed to take advantage of the oppurtunity to land a big name.
6. Bobby Petrino(Arkansas 5-7 2-6 in SEC)- Petrino took over a tough situation. DMac and Felix left for the NFL and his first choice as DC(Ellis Johnson) left after less than 2 weeks on the job. Teaching Casey Dick his 4th offense in 4 seasons was also a tough assignment. The team certainly improved as the season progressed, but some tough losses to MSU, UK, and Ole Miss kept Petrino out of the top 5
How does the future look?
Great! In his first 2 seasons recruiting Petrino will bring in 2 classes better than any of Nutt's 10 classes. This isn't including big time transfers Ryan Mallet(QB Michigan) and Broderick Green(RB USC). This season the Hogs played lots of freshmen and DJ Williams emerged as a potential all american. The Hogs return 20 starters in 09. In a division where powers LSU and Auburn seem to be on the way down, Petrino will have the Hogs competing for a division championship as early as 2009.
7. Larry Fedora(Southern Miss 6-6 4-4 in CUSA)-I was one of the few that found no problem with Bower being dismissed last season. The program had grown stale and a change was needed. Much like Petrino, Fedora was brought in to bring some excitement to the offensive side of the ball. Early on it was tough, but 4 straight wins to put the Golden Eagles in a bowl shows this program made the right move.
How does the future look?
Southern Miss has traditionally been one of the best Non BCS programs. Fedora's first recruiting class was the best of Non BCS schools and some would argue he out recruited Nutt and Croom instate. This program is on the rise and will be back among the best Non BCS schools.
8. Art Briles(Baylor 4-8 2-6 in Big XII)- Most would question a 4-8 coach being this high, but keep in mind this is the Baylor job. Briles was able to finish ahead of A&M in the Big XII South and nearly knocked off Texas Tech, Missouri, and UConn. The Bears even played Texas close in a 45-21 loss.
How does the future look?
If Briles stays long enough he'll put Baylor in a bowl game. Problem is will he stay that long? Briles is an offensive mastermind and he proved that at Houston. Bigger jobs will call if he gets the Bears in a bowl.
9. David Cutcliffe(Duke 4-8 1-7 in ACC)-I just love these 4-8 teams I guess. Again, this is a program not used to much success. Cutcliffe kept Duke competetive in most games and whipping Virginia was very impressive as was a win over Navy.
How does the future look?
Cutcliffe will get Duke into a bowl within 4 seasons. The recruiting job he's doing is nothing short of amazing.
10. Ken Niumatalo(Navy 7-4 with 1 game left)- If Niumatalolo loses Saturday to Army he might deserve to be lower. Following Paul Johnson who brought Navy back to its winning ways was tough, but year one went well. Wins over Air Force and Wake Forest highlighted the season.
How does the future look?
Navy should stay ahead of Army, but it will be tough to accomplish what Paul Johnson was able to do. Just keep Navy bowling and Niumatalolo will do a fine job.
11. Kevin Sumlin(Houston 7-5 6-2 in CUSA)- Briles left some talent with the Coogs for Sumlin to work with. 2 close losses to Air Force and Colorado State might have pushed Sumlin down this low. He might deserve to be higher, but what Briles did was so impressive that it makes one wonder if Sumlin is just winning off what Briles built
How does the future look?
Sumlin should keep the Coogs near the top of CUSA. This program has always been ahead of most with its offense, but becoming one of the top Non BCS schools will depend on whether Sumlin can put together a top level defense.
12. Greg McMakin(Hawaii 7-5 5-3 in WAC)- Keep in mind Hawaii went 12-1 last season, so 5 less wins than a season ago isn't going to get you in the top 10. Still, this wasn't the same team McMakin inherited that June Jones led to the Sugar Bowl. McMakin did a good job of getting the Warriors to a #2 finish in the WAC and to a bowl game. The best win was a 32-29 OT thriller over Fresno State.
How does the future look?
Hawaii will always be tough at home and they will always be able to attract recruits. June Jones left because he felt the University didn't support athletics well enough. It will be interesting to see if Hawaii steps it up and get McMakin what he needs to win.
13. Rick Neuheisel(UCLA 4-7 3-5 in PAC 10 with 1 game left)- The Bruins' 2008 season has had its ups and downs. A Labor Day win over Tennessee showed Neuheisel can win big games, but some awful losses to Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State, and BYU showed us that there is still more worn needed at UCLA
How does the future look?
UCLA has always been a sleeping giant in college football. All it takes is the right man to lead this program to glory. Neuheisel is that right man and he will have the Bruins in the BCS within 5 years.
14. Bill Stewart(West Virginia 7-4 4-2 in Big East with 1 game left)-This hire was an emotional one after WVU won a BCS game. Stewart's first season got off to a rocky start by losing to East Carolina and has been shaky since. There wasn't a quality win this season(sorry Auburn isn't quality) and WVU would've won 10 games with a good coaching job
How does the future look?
Not a good hire and it will begin to show in a couple seasons. WVU would've had a shot at Brian Kelly or Jim Grobe, but went with the popular assistant. History says going with the popular assistant rarely works(do you hear that Clemson?)
15. June Jones(SMU 1-11 0-8 in CUSA)- Usually a 1 win season will put you at the bottom of a list, but Jones took over a tough situation and is trying to put in his Run N Shoot system. Many thought that in 1 season Jones could turn the Ponies around like he did Hawaii in 1999, but that was just unrealistic given the talent he had to work with.
How does the future look
SMU put up some big bucks to lure Jones away from Hawaii. THis is a program that is ready to get back on the map for the first time since the Death Penalty. It might take a couple seasons, but given the talent in the State of Texas, don't be shocked to see SMU at the top of the CUSA West in a few seasons.
16. Mike Sherman(Texas A&M 4-8 2-6 in Big XII)- You won't win over fans when your first game is a loss to Arkansas State. You also won't win them over by beating Army by 4, New Mexico by 6, and losing to Baylor by 20. Sherman did an awful job of coaching and I doubt many Aggies will argue with that.
How does the future look
The hiring of Sherman was a strange one. Along with Callahan being hired by Nebraska and Zook by Florida, this is probably the worst hire by a big name program this decade. A&M is a program loaded with instate talent and has the best homefield in college football. Aggie fans deserve better and should demand more.
17. Rich Rodriguez(Michigan 3-9 2-6 in Big 10)-Entering the 2008 season only 3 programs had never had 8 losses or more in a season. Entering the 2009 season there will be 2. How do you lose 9 games at Michigan? Seriously, this is without a doubt one of the top 3 jobs in the country. You can blame it on lack of players if you'd like, but Michigan has more talent than 50% of the schools it lost to. Blame it on the lack of a QB if you want, but Rich Rod ran off Ryan Mallet. This was a poor coaching job and the West Virginia Circus was just sad
How does the future look?
It's going to get better, only because at Michigan it can't get worse. Some guys just don't fit certain programs. Rodriguez doesn't fit Michigan. Rodriguez is a great coach, but this isn't a good fit.
How Did Others Do in Year 1 ?
Just to show you that year 1 isn't always a good indicator at how a coach will do in future years, I give you this list.
The Good-Coaches that weren't great in year 1, but became great coaches.
Nick Saban- First year at Michigan State 6-5-1, First year at LSU 8-4, First year at Bama 7-6
Tommy Tuberville-First year at Auburn 5-6
Pete Carroll-First year at Southern Cal 6-6
Bob Stoops-First year at Oklahoma 7-5
Bobby Bowden-First year at FSU 5-6
Frank Beamer-First year at Virginia Tech 2-9
The Bad-Coaches that looked great in year 1, but would be fired in a few seasons
Larry Coker-First year at Miami 12-0 and a national championship
Mike Archer-First year at LSU 10-1-1
Frank Solich-First year at Nebraska 9-4
Bill Doba-First year at Washington State 10-3
Tyron Willingham-First year at Notre Dame 10-3
Matt Barber
dixiefriedsports@gmail.com
dixiefriedsports@gmail.com
