CFB Coach Rankings

Powered by advanced analytics and our SABAN rating system

Coach Rankings

This table breaks down the individual offensive and defensive metrics contributing to our SABAN rating. While stronger offensive performance shows up as higher numbers, effective defensive performance works in the opposite direction—lower values indicate greater defensive strength. As a result, we measure a coach’s net effect by taking their Offensive Rating and subtracting their Defensive Rating. This approach keeps the final scoring intuitive: a higher net rating means a coach is raising the team’s overall level of play more significantly.

For more details on these calculations, including how we use EPA-over-expectation and other advanced analytics, see our Methodology section.

Our analysis includes data for the past 10 years and includes all coaches who have overseen at least 500 plays. Consequently, this gives us the ability to compare individuals who are no longer head coaches.

# Coach Name SABAN Rating (Total) Offensive Coaching Defensive Coaching Net Coaching Offensive Recruiting Defensive Recruiting Net Recruiting
1 Kirby Smart 0.426 0.125 -0.145 0.269 0.055 -0.102 0.157
2 Ryan Day 0.382 0.231 -0.13 0.361 0.013 -0.007 0.02
3 Nick Saban 0.35 0.189 -0.13 0.318 0.008 -0.023 0.031
4 Dan Lanning 0.341 0.209 -0.084 0.293 0.018 -0.03 0.048
5 Jim Harbaugh 0.31 0.14 -0.146 0.286 0.004 -0.021 0.025
6 Paul Chryst 0.283 0.104 -0.186 0.29 0.011 0.018 -0.007
7 Steve Sarkisian 0.253 0.12 -0.089 0.209 0.008 -0.036 0.044
8 Marcus Freeman 0.244 0.108 -0.143 0.251 0.007 0.014 -0.007
9 Josh Heupel 0.244 0.143 -0.062 0.205 0.021 -0.018 0.039
10 Lincoln Riley 0.231 0.222 0.008 0.214 0.011 -0.006 0.017
11 Luke Fickell 0.224 0.042 -0.109 0.15 0.028 -0.046 0.074
12 James Franklin 0.218 0.084 -0.147 0.23 -0.005 0.007 -0.012
13 Kyle Whittingham 0.214 0.053 -0.173 0.226 0.006 0.018 -0.012
14 Brent Venables 0.208 0.051 -0.08 0.13 0.024 -0.053 0.077
15 Dan Mullen 0.206 0.14 -0.04 0.181 0.005 -0.02 0.025
16 Dabo Swinney 0.205 0.058 -0.145 0.202 0.016 0.014 0.002
17 Curt Cignetti 0.203 0.098 -0.166 0.264 -0.022 0.038 -0.06
18 Chris Klieman 0.2 0.08 -0.091 0.171 0.012 -0.017 0.029
19 Brian Kelly 0.198 0.117 -0.056 0.173 0.018 -0.006 0.024
20 Major Applewhite 0.196 0.127 0.013 0.114 0.029 -0.052 0.082
21 Ed Orgeron 0.186 0.078 -0.064 0.142 0.009 -0.035 0.044
22 Jonathan Smith 0.185 0.101 0.01 0.091 0.023 -0.071 0.095
23 Spencer Danielson 0.184 0.138 -0.009 0.148 0.014 -0.022 0.036
24 Chris Petersen 0.181 0.057 -0.098 0.155 0.003 -0.023 0.026
25 Mario Cristobal 0.172 0.109 -0.042 0.152 0.006 -0.014 0.02
26 Sam Pittman 0.169 0.094 -0.057 0.151 -0.0 -0.017 0.017
27 Rhett Lashlee 0.164 0.091 -0.065 0.156 0.028 0.02 0.008
28 Jeff Brohm 0.159 0.079 -0.053 0.132 0.021 -0.006 0.028
29 Kalen DeBoer 0.155 0.12 -0.054 0.174 0.002 0.021 -0.019
30 Kirk Ferentz 0.145 -0.041 -0.153 0.112 0.006 -0.026 0.033
31 Pat Narduzzi 0.144 0.004 -0.101 0.105 0.022 -0.017 0.039
32 Matt Campbell 0.142 0.055 -0.087 0.142 0.013 0.012 0.0
33 Mark Richt 0.142 -0.06 -0.198 0.139 -0.002 -0.006 0.003
34 Mike Norvell 0.139 0.07 -0.022 0.092 0.009 -0.039 0.047
35 Jon Sumrall 0.138 0.054 -0.123 0.177 -0.034 0.005 -0.039
36 Lane Kiffin 0.137 0.101 -0.046 0.147 0.004 0.013 -0.01
37 Bret Bielema 0.137 0.031 -0.08 0.111 0.002 -0.024 0.026
38 Shawn Clark 0.13 0.05 -0.004 0.054 0.015 -0.061 0.075
39 Jimbo Fisher 0.128 0.039 -0.108 0.147 0.01 0.03 -0.019
40 Mike Elko 0.128 0.074 -0.055 0.129 0.007 0.008 -0.001
41 Kerry Coombs 0.123 0.032 -0.082 0.114 0.001 -0.009 0.01
42 Gus Malzahn 0.12 0.061 -0.071 0.133 0.012 0.024 -0.012
43 Justin Wilcox 0.119 -0.006 -0.067 0.061 0.001 -0.056 0.057
44 Brent Key 0.119 0.044 -0.037 0.081 0.014 -0.023 0.038
45 Mack Brown 0.118 0.127 0.011 0.116 0.012 0.01 0.001
46 Matt Canada 0.113 0.024 -0.066 0.09 0.03 0.007 0.023
47 Manny Diaz 0.113 0.01 -0.064 0.074 0.025 -0.014 0.039
48 P.J. Fleck 0.11 0.068 -0.029 0.097 0.001 -0.012 0.013
49 Mike Leach 0.109 0.074 -0.056 0.129 -0.017 0.004 -0.02
50 Joey McGuire 0.106 0.044 -0.009 0.053 -0.006 -0.059 0.053
51 Dave Aranda 0.106 0.049 -0.007 0.056 -0.001 -0.052 0.05
52 Bryan Harsin 0.103 0.09 -0.051 0.141 -0.012 0.025 -0.038
53 Jamey Chadwell 0.099 0.081 0.049 0.033 0.043 -0.023 0.066
54 Andy Avalos 0.097 0.025 -0.037 0.062 0.019 -0.015 0.034
55 Kane Wommack 0.096 0.028 -0.028 0.055 0.021 -0.019 0.04
56 Kenny Dillingham 0.095 0.053 -0.043 0.096 0.011 0.012 -0.001
57 Chip Kelly 0.092 0.067 0.003 0.064 0.025 -0.004 0.029
58 Scott Frost 0.09 0.084 0.015 0.069 -0.009 -0.03 0.021
59 Billy Napier 0.089 0.104 0.002 0.101 -0.002 0.011 -0.012
60 Bryant Vincent 0.088 0.048 -0.033 0.081 0.019 0.011 0.008
61 Scott Satterfield 0.086 0.085 -0.023 0.108 -0.009 0.013 -0.022
62 Barry Odom 0.086 0.04 -0.044 0.083 -0.003 -0.005 0.003
63 Mark Stoops 0.082 -0.005 -0.076 0.072 0.011 0.0 0.011
64 Kalani Sitake 0.082 0.079 -0.042 0.121 -0.002 0.037 -0.039
65 Matt Rhule 0.079 0.036 -0.025 0.062 0.009 -0.008 0.017
66 Hugh Freeze 0.075 0.065 -0.037 0.103 -0.027 0.001 -0.028
67 Herm Edwards 0.075 0.081 -0.039 0.12 0.0 0.045 -0.045
68 Brent Pry 0.072 -0.009 -0.024 0.015 0.015 -0.042 0.057
69 Jeff Traylor 0.068 0.013 0.022 -0.009 0.012 -0.066 0.077
70 Ryan Silverfield 0.067 0.036 0.016 0.02 0.018 -0.029 0.047
71 Willie Fritz 0.065 0.043 -0.034 0.077 -0.012 -0.0 -0.012
72 Troy Calhoun 0.065 0.102 -0.041 0.143 -0.045 0.032 -0.078
73 Jedd Fisch 0.065 0.069 0.006 0.063 -0.011 -0.013 0.001
74 Bill Clark 0.064 0.014 -0.092 0.106 -0.041 0.001 -0.042
75 Jimmy Lake 0.063 0.005 -0.022 0.028 0.013 -0.022 0.035
76 Mike Locksley 0.063 0.029 -0.037 0.066 0.018 0.021 -0.003
77 Deion Sanders 0.061 0.04 -0.049 0.089 -0.002 0.026 -0.028
78 G.J. Kinne 0.054 0.081 0.001 0.08 0.012 0.038 -0.025
79 Jeff Tedford 0.054 0.022 -0.027 0.05 -0.012 -0.016 0.004
80 Mickey Joseph 0.054 -0.007 -0.043 0.035 -0.014 -0.033 0.018
81 Clay Helton 0.052 0.045 0.034 0.01 0.017 -0.025 0.042
82 Sonny Dykes 0.051 0.084 0.013 0.071 -0.009 0.011 -0.02
83 Neal Brown 0.051 0.016 -0.006 0.022 0.018 -0.011 0.029
84 Mel Tucker 0.05 0.023 -0.007 0.03 0.007 -0.012 0.02
85 Shane Beamer 0.048 0.038 -0.059 0.097 0.023 0.072 -0.049
86 Jeremy Pruitt 0.048 -0.015 -0.041 0.026 0.015 -0.007 0.022
87 Lance Leipold 0.045 0.101 0.034 0.067 -0.017 0.005 -0.022
88 Dave Doeren 0.045 -0.017 -0.038 0.021 0.015 -0.01 0.024
89 Will Muschamp 0.044 0.001 -0.028 0.03 -0.002 -0.017 0.015
90 Mike Gundy 0.04 0.029 -0.051 0.08 0.002 0.042 -0.04
91 Matt Wells 0.04 0.048 -0.02 0.068 -0.004 0.025 -0.028
92 Bronco Mendenhall 0.038 0.047 0.054 -0.007 0.011 -0.033 0.045
93 Jeff Monken 0.035 0.061 0.002 0.059 -0.012 0.012 -0.024
94 Charles Huff 0.034 -0.02 -0.079 0.059 -0.023 0.002 -0.025
95 Shaun Aguano 0.032 0.079 0.031 0.048 0.002 0.018 -0.016
96 Mark Dantonio 0.03 -0.092 -0.135 0.043 -0.007 0.007 -0.013
97 Dana Holgorsen 0.03 0.023 -0.01 0.033 0.021 0.024 -0.003
98 Matt Luke 0.027 0.069 0.015 0.054 -0.023 0.004 -0.027
99 David Shaw 0.027 0.007 0.008 -0.001 0.002 -0.026 0.027
100 Dino Babers 0.024 -0.031 -0.043 0.012 0.015 0.003 0.013
101 Ken Niumatalolo 0.024 -0.008 0.003 -0.011 0.031 -0.004 0.035
102 Kliff Kingsbury 0.024 0.061 -0.026 0.088 -0.018 0.046 -0.064
103 Nick Rolovich 0.022 0.082 0.069 0.013 0.003 -0.006 0.01
104 Tyson Helton 0.021 0.026 -0.026 0.051 -0.005 0.026 -0.03
105 Rich Rodriguez 0.021 0.003 -0.068 0.071 -0.019 0.031 -0.05
106 Gerad Parker 0.021 0.045 -0.005 0.05 -0.026 0.003 -0.029
107 Eli Drinkwitz 0.018 0.06 -0.013 0.073 0.005 0.06 -0.054
108 Todd Graham 0.01 0.043 0.015 0.028 -0.018 0.0 -0.018
109 Philip Montgomery 0.01 -0.029 -0.047 0.018 -0.003 0.004 -0.007
110 Jeff Hafley 0.009 -0.002 0.021 -0.022 0.036 0.005 0.031
111 Tom Allen 0.008 -0.018 -0.025 0.007 0.009 0.007 0.002
112 Tom Herman 0.007 0.028 0.007 0.022 -0.001 0.013 -0.015
113 Jake Dickert 0.007 0.06 -0.03 0.091 -0.031 0.052 -0.084
114 Zach Arnett 0.006 -0.054 -0.02 -0.034 -0.019 -0.059 0.04
115 Jason Candle 0.004 -0.008 0.019 -0.027 0.017 -0.013 0.03
116 Greg Schiano 0.003 -0.021 -0.025 0.004 -0.005 -0.004 -0.001
117 Kevin Sumlin 0.003 0.044 0.016 0.027 -0.018 0.007 -0.024
118 Steve Addazio 0.003 0.002 -0.02 0.022 -0.005 0.014 -0.019
119 Michael Desormeaux -0.001 0.025 0.037 -0.012 0.006 -0.006 0.012
120 Willie Taggart -0.004 -0.035 -0.041 0.006 -0.009 0.001 -0.01
121 Geoff Collins -0.007 -0.029 -0.017 -0.012 0.024 0.019 0.005
122 Paul Johnson -0.008 0.087 0.046 0.041 -0.027 0.022 -0.049
123 Brian Newberry -0.009 0.007 -0.079 0.086 -0.057 0.038 -0.095
124 Frank Solich -0.011 0.078 0.093 -0.015 -0.0 -0.004 0.004
125 Tim Lester -0.011 0.014 0.078 -0.063 0.011 -0.042 0.052
126 Chad Lunsford -0.012 -0.023 0.016 -0.039 0.001 -0.026 0.027
127 Tim Beck -0.015 0.023 0.016 0.007 -0.004 0.018 -0.022
128 Joe Moorhead -0.016 -0.026 -0.031 0.005 0.006 0.028 -0.021
129 Gary Patterson -0.016 -0.033 -0.067 0.034 -0.024 0.026 -0.05
130 Karl Dorrell -0.016 -0.059 0.029 -0.088 0.014 -0.058 0.072
131 Dave Clawson -0.018 0.014 0.036 -0.022 0.01 0.006 0.004
132 Ricky Rahne -0.021 -0.026 -0.018 -0.008 0.011 0.024 -0.013
133 Brady Hoke -0.022 -0.089 -0.043 -0.046 0.001 -0.024 0.024
134 Mike Houston -0.023 -0.032 0.031 -0.062 0.012 -0.028 0.04
135 Eric Morris -0.023 0.057 0.123 -0.066 0.014 -0.028 0.042
136 Rick Stockstill -0.027 -0.025 0.007 -0.033 -0.003 -0.009 0.006
137 Trent Dilfer -0.027 0.038 0.081 -0.042 0.027 0.012 0.015
138 David Braun -0.029 -0.064 -0.033 -0.03 -0.008 -0.01 0.002
139 Craig Bohl -0.029 -0.069 -0.07 0.001 -0.011 0.018 -0.03
140 Pat Fitzgerald -0.031 -0.074 -0.053 -0.021 -0.001 0.01 -0.01
141 Chip Lindsey -0.034 -0.035 -0.008 -0.027 0.019 0.026 -0.007
142 Blake Anderson -0.036 0.024 0.014 0.01 -0.019 0.026 -0.046
143 Bill Snyder -0.038 -0.034 -0.041 0.006 -0.011 0.033 -0.044
144 Rod Carey -0.038 -0.094 -0.025 -0.069 0.031 -0.001 0.031
145 Doc Holliday -0.039 -0.053 -0.045 -0.008 -0.018 0.013 -0.031
146 Justin Fuente -0.039 0.008 0.028 -0.02 0.002 0.021 -0.019
147 K.C. Keeler -0.041 -0.076 -0.039 -0.037 -0.007 -0.002 -0.005
148 Jerry Kill -0.044 0.062 0.053 0.009 -0.019 0.033 -0.053
149 Lovie Smith -0.044 -0.018 0.062 -0.08 0.011 -0.026 0.036
150 Seth Littrell -0.047 -0.005 0.064 -0.068 0.014 -0.008 0.022
151 Jay Norvell -0.047 -0.034 0.006 -0.039 0.007 0.014 -0.007
152 Chuck Martin -0.047 -0.062 -0.016 -0.046 -0.001 -0.0 -0.001
153 Tony Elliott -0.049 -0.091 0.012 -0.104 0.022 -0.033 0.055
154 Jay Hopson -0.051 -0.08 -0.071 -0.008 -0.01 0.032 -0.042
155 Donte Williams -0.053 0.048 0.119 -0.071 -0.007 -0.024 0.017
156 Brent Brennan -0.054 -0.041 0.033 -0.075 0.004 -0.016 0.02
157 Troy Taylor -0.06 -0.07 0.095 -0.165 0.028 -0.076 0.105
158 Shawn Elliott -0.06 -0.027 0.091 -0.117 0.017 -0.04 0.057
159 Rocky Long -0.061 -0.13 -0.07 -0.06 -0.002 -0.001 -0.001
160 Alex Golesh -0.065 -0.026 0.031 -0.057 -0.005 0.003 -0.008
161 Sean Lewis -0.065 0.012 0.086 -0.074 0.013 0.005 0.008
162 Skip Holtz -0.069 -0.038 0.029 -0.067 -0.01 -0.008 -0.002
163 Charlie Strong -0.073 -0.049 -0.007 -0.042 0.002 0.033 -0.031
164 Kevin Whitley -0.073 -0.052 0.08 -0.132 0.02 -0.039 0.059
165 Lance Taylor -0.076 -0.001 0.125 -0.127 0.013 -0.037 0.05
166 Les Miles -0.077 -0.061 0.016 -0.077 -0.006 -0.006 -0.0
167 Tim Albin -0.077 0.012 0.009 0.003 -0.029 0.051 -0.08
168 Jim Mora -0.081 -0.081 0.006 -0.088 0.004 -0.002 0.006
169 David Beaty -0.082 -0.041 -0.002 -0.039 -0.016 0.027 -0.042
170 Joe Moglia -0.084 0.011 0.151 -0.139 0.032 -0.024 0.056
171 Brad Lambert -0.084 -0.049 -0.005 -0.044 -0.021 0.019 -0.039
172 Ryan Walters -0.087 -0.024 0.032 -0.055 0.016 0.048 -0.031
173 Thomas Hammock -0.087 -0.021 0.063 -0.084 0.01 0.013 -0.003
174 Mark Whipple -0.093 0.015 0.116 -0.101 -0.015 -0.023 0.008
175 Gary Andersen -0.095 -0.059 0.0 -0.059 -0.017 0.019 -0.036
176 Jeff Scott -0.102 -0.025 0.077 -0.102 0.008 0.009 -0.0
177 Scot Loeffler -0.105 -0.107 0.039 -0.146 -0.019 -0.06 0.041
178 Larry Fedora -0.105 -0.043 0.074 -0.117 -0.012 -0.024 0.012
179 Sonny Cumbie -0.105 -0.088 0.041 -0.129 0.009 -0.015 0.024
180 Derek Mason -0.106 -0.042 0.091 -0.133 0.003 -0.024 0.026
181 Mike Neu -0.107 -0.053 0.075 -0.128 0.02 -0.001 0.021
182 Mike Bobo -0.114 -0.01 0.09 -0.1 -0.004 0.009 -0.014
183 Scottie Montgomery -0.115 -0.115 0.002 -0.116 0.016 0.014 0.002
184 Jim McElwain -0.121 -0.037 0.037 -0.074 -0.012 0.035 -0.047
185 Butch Davis -0.121 -0.045 0.101 -0.146 0.009 -0.016 0.025
186 Nunzio Campanile -0.122 -0.103 0.067 -0.17 0.036 -0.012 0.048
187 Harlon Barnett -0.123 -0.125 0.008 -0.133 -0.004 -0.014 0.01
188 Marcus Arroyo -0.124 -0.044 0.099 -0.144 0.005 -0.014 0.019
189 Steve Campbell -0.125 -0.111 0.046 -0.156 0.011 -0.021 0.031
190 Everett Withers -0.131 -0.116 0.03 -0.147 -0.019 -0.035 0.016
191 Biff Poggi -0.131 -0.132 0.019 -0.151 0.013 -0.006 0.019
192 Matt Viator -0.132 -0.054 0.107 -0.161 0.018 -0.011 0.028
193 Chad Morris -0.135 -0.092 0.053 -0.145 -0.0 -0.01 0.01
194 Tony Sanchez -0.144 -0.072 0.111 -0.183 0.024 -0.015 0.039
195 Butch Jones -0.144 -0.057 0.119 -0.176 0.0 -0.032 0.032
196 Mike Jinks -0.144 -0.01 0.114 -0.124 -0.016 0.004 -0.021
197 Chris Creighton -0.145 -0.048 0.046 -0.094 -0.006 0.045 -0.051
198 Chris Ash -0.145 -0.139 -0.024 -0.115 0.006 0.035 -0.03
199 Timmy Chang -0.145 -0.052 0.081 -0.133 -0.004 0.008 -0.012
200 Mike Bloomgren -0.146 -0.075 0.064 -0.139 -0.012 -0.006 -0.006
201 Mike Sanford -0.146 -0.111 0.034 -0.145 -0.003 -0.002 -0.002
202 David Cutcliffe -0.151 -0.094 0.037 -0.131 -0.001 0.019 -0.02
203 Jake Spavital -0.154 -0.075 0.073 -0.148 0.006 0.012 -0.006
204 Scotty Walden -0.155 -0.117 -0.016 -0.101 -0.032 0.021 -0.054
205 Clark Lea -0.156 -0.04 0.108 -0.148 0.0 0.008 -0.008
206 Dana Dimel -0.16 -0.068 0.028 -0.096 -0.03 0.035 -0.065
207 John Bonamego -0.163 -0.213 -0.045 -0.167 -0.01 -0.014 0.004
208 Maurice Linguist -0.173 -0.066 0.027 -0.094 -0.021 0.057 -0.079
209 Turner Gill -0.174 -0.054 0.061 -0.115 -0.025 0.034 -0.059
210 Bobby Wilder -0.176 -0.128 0.079 -0.206 0.003 -0.028 0.031
211 Paul Petrino -0.181 -0.022 0.068 -0.089 -0.057 0.034 -0.091
212 Terry Bowden -0.182 -0.107 0.013 -0.12 -0.018 0.043 -0.062
213 Will Healy -0.182 -0.001 0.153 -0.154 -0.001 0.027 -0.028
214 Don Brown -0.183 -0.089 0.111 -0.2 0.003 -0.013 0.017
215 Doug Martin -0.188 -0.082 0.116 -0.199 0.003 -0.008 0.01
216 Ken Wilson -0.194 -0.136 0.086 -0.222 -0.004 -0.032 0.028
217 Mike MacIntyre -0.197 -0.096 0.028 -0.124 -0.019 0.055 -0.074
218 Will Hall -0.202 -0.135 0.037 -0.172 -0.01 0.02 -0.03
219 Stan Drayton -0.209 -0.106 0.056 -0.163 0.005 0.051 -0.046
220 Bob Davie -0.224 -0.092 0.09 -0.182 -0.009 0.033 -0.042
221 Frank Wilson -0.225 -0.136 0.066 -0.201 -0.016 0.008 -0.023
222 Danny Gonzales -0.233 -0.115 0.051 -0.166 -0.043 0.024 -0.067
223 Kevin Wilson -0.237 -0.074 0.151 -0.226 -0.005 0.006 -0.011
224 Lou Spanos -0.258 -0.148 0.105 -0.253 -0.002 0.002 -0.004
225 Lorenzo Ward -0.285 -0.111 0.183 -0.294 0.003 -0.006 0.009
226 Tom Arth -0.323 -0.18 0.131 -0.311 -0.014 -0.002 -0.012
227 Kenni Burns -0.325 -0.159 0.163 -0.323 -0.006 -0.004 -0.003
228 Randy Edsall -0.344 -0.095 0.238 -0.333 0.001 0.012 -0.011
229 Walt Bell -0.469 -0.191 0.247 -0.438 -0.008 0.023 -0.031