Elite and steady
Upper-left is the premium zone: strong average results without much season-to-season swing.
Coaches Research Hub
Explore college football coaches by peak, consistency, and identity.
Turn coach-season records into career arcs, school-by-school tenures, style profiles, and side-by-side comparisons.
Peak finder
Jump from the broad landscape to the highest single-season ceilings.
Tenure story
See where coaches built, inherited, or stabilized a program.
Compare mode
Stack up to four coaches on the same profile and arc surfaces.
Current Research Window
These totals update with every filter so the discovery visuals and the table below stay on the same coach universe. Start from the recommended sample, then tighten the field around identity, school, time span, or quality.
3+ seasons
1271
Coaches in view
1786 indexed coaches available
11703
Coach-seasons
12402 total coach-season rows
14/51
Page position
1271 coaches in the current filtered result set
Summary and Filtering
Filter and rank coaches
Coach search stays primary, then school, archetype, time span, and quality sharpen the list. The recommended starting point is 3+ seasons.
Primary Discovery
One clear lens at a time.
Start with career shape or flip to identity. Either way, the chart, the coach summary, the outlier list, and the table context all stay synchronized.
Success vs Volatility
Start with the simplest question: who paired real strength with a repeatable week-to-week shape?
250 coaches shown
Elite and steady
Elite but volatile
Lower ceiling but stable
Lower ceiling and unstable
Mike Knoll
Volatility: 4.22 • Average SRS: -30.12
9.1% win rate • -25.6 peak SRS
Volatility
Average SRS
Hover or focus a point to isolate it. Click a coach to carry that selection into the results table.
Average SRS reads overall strength. Volatility is the spread of season-to-season SRS, so lower values mean a steadier profile.
Career shape lens
Mike Knoll
This is the clearest first-pass view for peak versus stability. It is the best place to start browsing.
BalancedBalanced
Mike Knoll is currently highlighted in the success vs volatility view.
- Volatility
- 4.22
- Average SRS
- -30.12
- Career Win %
- 9.1%
- Peak SRS
- -25.6
Active chart outliers
These callouts update with the active discovery mode and filtered coach set.
Highest peak
John Corbett
Single-season ceiling leader in the current filtered set.
17.1 peak SRSMost consistent elite coach
Craig Fertig
High average strength without the season-to-season swing.
-5.12 avg SRS • 4.96 volatilitySteadiest floor
Mike Sanford Jr
Lowest volatility in the view. Lower is more stable.
0.21 volatilityElite but volatile
Todd Monken
Big ceiling, but the weekly shape moved around more than the steady tier.
12.13 volatility
Top Career Peaks
Keep the ceiling board in view, but as a support module for the active lens, not the main destination.
- 46.5
1. Harry Hughes
1916
- 44.1
2. Red Blaik
1945
- 44.0
3. Nelson Norgren
1916
- 42.5
4. Henry Williams
1905
- 42.2
5. Amos Alonzo Stagg
1905
Elite but volatile
Upper-right still reaches major heights, but the shape was less repeatable.
Lower ceiling but stable
Lower-left profiles stayed steady even if the absolute ceiling never reached the very top tier.
Lower ceiling and unstable
Lower-right is where the career shape had neither a high average peak nor reliable steadiness.
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Supporting Insights
Quick leaderboards, grouped on purpose.
These are shortcuts into the same table below. Performance leads the stack, while stability and longevity stay visible without competing with the main chart.
Performance
Primary leaderboard shortcuts
The fastest path into peak and results leaders.
Highest Peak SRS
Single-season ceiling leaders.
1. Harry Hughes
1916 Colorado State (6-0-1)
46.52. Red Blaik
1945 Army (9-0)
44.13. Nelson Norgren
1916 Utah (3-2)
44.04. Henry Williams
1905 Minnesota (10-1)
42.55. Amos Alonzo Stagg
1905 Chicago (11-0)
42.2
Best Career Win %
Who won the most across a meaningful sample.
1. Walter Camp
5 seasons
97.1%2. Knute Rockne
1924 Notre Dame (10-0)
88.1%3. Ryan Day
2019 Ohio State (13-1)
87.5%4. Frank Leahy
1946 Notre Dame (8-0-1)
86.4%5. Jesse Harper
1913 Notre Dame (7-0)
86.3%
Most Top 10 Finishes
Coaches who stacked elite endings.
1. Bear Bryant
1971 Alabama (11-1)
222. Joe Paterno
1994 Penn State (12-0)
223. Tom Osborne
1995 Nebraska (12-0)
184. Nick Saban
2016 Alabama (14-1)
185. Bo Schembechler
1973 Michigan (10-0-1)
16
Stability
Stability shortcuts
Who stays in control year after year.
Most Consistent
Low-volatility coaches with enough sample.
1. Parke Davis
1897 Lafayette (9-2-1)
0.02. DM Balliet
1901 Purdue (4-4-1)
0.03. Mike Sanford Jr
2022 Colorado (1-6)
0.24. Henry Shenk
1943 Kansas (4-5-1)
0.55. Jerry Baldwin
2001 Louisiana (3-8)
0.5
Longevity
Longevity shortcuts
Long arcs, big samples, and durable careers.
Longest Careers
Big careers and long arcs.
1. John Anderson
1976 Brown (8-1)
64 years2. Paul Davis
1963 Mississippi State (7-2-2)
59 years3. Amos Alonzo Stagg
1905 Chicago (11-0)
53 years4. George Barclay
1951 Washington and Lee (6-4)
48 years5. Joe Paterno
1994 Penn State (12-0)
46 years
Results Table
Coach results table
1271 filtered coaches in view. Lower rank numbers are better. Lower volatility means more stable. Lower SP Def numbers are better on the identity chart.
1271 filtered coachesSuccess vs Volatility activeSorted by Identity ascending
| Compare | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bob Williams 21-19-6 • 1906-1926 | Clemson | 6 | 46 | 21 | 19 | 52.2% | -9.2 | -1.9 1915 peak | 7.4 | — | — | — | 0 | Balanced Longevity Coach | |
Rip Scherer 22-44 • 1995-2000 | Memphis | 6 | 66 | 22 | 44 | 33.3% | -5.2 | 6.0 1999 peak | 5.4 | 20.4 | 25.9 | — | 0 | Defense-First Defense-First | |
Jack Green 7-29-4 • 1963-1966 | Vanderbilt | 4 | 40 | 7 | 29 | 22.5% | -1.6 | 1.9 1964 peak | 3.6 | — | — | — | 0 | Balanced — | |
Shawn Elliott 42-49 • 2015-2024 | Georgia State, South Carolina | 9 | 91 | 42 | 49 | 46.2% | -7.9 | 1.9 2020 peak | 6.5 | 26.7 | 34.3 | — | 0 | Offense-First Offense-First | |
Jim Brakefield 40-45-3 • 1972-1979 | App State | 8 | 88 | 40 | 45 | 47.2% | -9.1 | 3.8 1976 peak | 9.6 | 23.6 | 29.9 | — | 0 | Balanced Volatile Builder | |
Jay Hopson 28-23 • 2016-2020 | Southern Miss | 5 | 51 | 28 | 23 | 54.9% | -9.0 | -4.9 2019 peak | 3.4 | 23.7 | 27.8 | — | 0 | Defense-First Defense-First | |
Alton Kircher 13-25-2 • 1952-1955 | Washington State | 4 | 40 | 13 | 25 | 35.0% | -4.1 | 3.3 1952 peak | 4.5 | — | — | — | 0 | Balanced — | |
Sam Robertson 29-34-2 • 1980-1985 | Louisiana | 6 | 65 | 29 | 34 | 46.2% | -7.1 | 0.6 1984 peak | 4.9 | 19.1 | 26.8 | — | 0 | Defense-First Defense-First | |
Mike Locksley 34-62 • 2009-2025 | Maryland, New Mexico | 10 | 96 | 34 | 62 | 35.4% | -6.9 | 8.4 2023 peak | 11.6 | 24.6 | 29.4 | — | 0 | Balanced Volatile Builder | |
William Jennings 15-34-1 • 1957-1961 | Nebraska | 5 | 50 | 15 | 34 | 31.0% | -3.1 | 3.0 1960 peak | 6.7 | — | — | — | 0 | Balanced — | |
Sylvester Croom 21-38 • 2004-2008 | Mississippi State | 5 | 59 | 21 | 38 | 35.6% | -4.8 | 4.7 2007 peak | 5.2 | 18.7 | 23.0 | — | 0 | Defense-First Defense-First | |
William Saunders 49-36-9 • 1920-1938 | Colorado, Denver +2 | 12 | 94 | 49 | 36 | 56.9% | -12.5 | 0.9 1933 peak | 9.2 | — | — | — | 0 | Balanced Longevity Coach | |
John Blake 12-22 • 1996-1998 | Oklahoma | 3 | 34 | 12 | 22 | 35.3% | -3.3 | 1.4 1998 peak | 3.5 | 27.9 | 31.6 | — | 0 | Offense-First Offense-First | |
Gary Tranquill 20-34-1 • 1982-1986 | Navy | 5 | 55 | 20 | 34 | 37.3% | -3.9 | 2.5 1985 peak | 7.4 | 23.6 | 30.2 | — | 0 | Balanced — | |
William Dietz 17-19-3 • 1917-1926 | Purdue, Washington State +1 | 5 | 39 | 17 | 19 | 47.4% | -11.1 | 8.1 1921 peak | 11.8 | — | — | — | 0 | Balanced — | |
Joe Novak 63-76 • 1996-2007 | Northern Illinois | 12 | 139 | 63 | 76 | 45.3% | -8.3 | 6.0 2005 peak | 11.2 | 27.9 | 34.8 | — | 0 | Offense-First Volatile Builder | |
Rick Stockstill 113-111 • 2006-2023 | Middle Tennessee | 18 | 224 | 113 | 111 | 50.4% | -8.3 | 0.3 2009 peak | 5.1 | 23.5 | 32.5 | — | 0 | Balanced Longevity Coach | |
Mike Michalske 18-18-3 • 1942-1946 | Iowa State | 5 | 39 | 18 | 18 | 50.0% | -8.0 | 0.8 1944 peak | 7.2 | — | — | — | 0 | Balanced — | |
Tim Lester 37-32 • 2017-2022 | Western Michigan | 6 | 69 | 37 | 32 | 53.6% | -8.0 | -4.4 2017 peak | 3.5 | 25.9 | 30.9 | — | 0 | Offense-First Offense-First | |
Joker Phillips 13-24 • 2010-2012 | Kentucky | 3 | 37 | 13 | 24 | 35.1% | -3.4 | 3.2 2010 peak | 4.7 | 24.4 | 27.3 | — | 0 | Defense-First Defense-First | |
Dennis Fitzgerald 18-16 • 1975-1977 | Kent State | 3 | 34 | 18 | 16 | 52.9% | -7.9 | -3.5 1976 peak | 3.1 | 24.7 | 26.3 | — | 0 | Defense-First Defense-First | |
Albert Exendine 13-25-5 • 1923-1935 | Oklahoma State, Washington State | 5 | 43 | 13 | 25 | 36.0% | -3.4 | 2.9 1925 peak | 6.0 | — | — | — | 0 | Balanced Longevity Coach | |
Chuck Martin 65-67 • 2014-2025 | Miami (OH) | 12 | 132 | 65 | 67 | 49.2% | -7.4 | -0.1 2024 peak | 6.0 | 21.0 | 26.9 | — | 0 | Defense-First Longevity Coach | |
Dick Bestwick 16-49-1 • 1976-1981 | Virginia | 6 | 66 | 16 | 49 | 25.0% | -3.9 | 9.5 1979 peak | 6.5 | 15.8 | 23.8 | — | 0 | Defense-First Defense-First | |
Tom Craft 19-29 • 2002-2005 | San Diego State | 4 | 48 | 19 | 29 | 39.6% | -3.2 | -0.6 2005 peak | 2.8 | 25.7 | 29.3 | — | 0 | Balanced — |
About This Data
How to read the page
Filtered state
Every number, chart callout, and leaderboard on this page reflects the current filter state, not the full indexed universe.
Metric framing
Lower volatility means more stable. Lower finish rank numbers are better. On identity, lower SP Def numbers indicate stronger defense.
Research flow
Use the active chart to form a hypothesis, then drop into the table to sort, compare, and export the exact slice you are studying.
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