Who's your favorite non-Michigan football coach?
I have been watching the SEC media days this week at work with a co-worker who happens to be a Buckeyes fan, and we got into a discussion about who our favorite coaches are, excluding anyone from Michigan or Ohio State.
This discussion mostly started because of Steve Spurrier and his ability to take subtle jabs at other coaches without causing a lot of hostility. He mentioned how Saban was the greatest recruiter ever, and did not mention him as being a great coach. Some people took that as a jab at Saban for not winning more champioships with all that talent. I found it pretty funny.
We just got on the topic of other coaches we enjoy, whether it be for their personality, passion, demeanor, X's and O's, ability to get the most out of their player, etc.
Personally, I have quite a few coaches that I really like. The ones that stand out to me the most are Chris Peterson, Kevin Sumlin, Charlie Strong, Mike Leach, Dabo Swinney, Kliff Kingsbury, and David Shaw.
Obviously coach Hoke is #1, but I wanted to switch things up, and was just curious to see who, if any, you fellow mgobloggers enjoyed or followed as far as a coach goes outside of the Michigan football program.
I like Pelini, too. He's a tough SOB, and obviously has a good personality. Don nailed it though, he basically gave a big middle finger to everyone affiliated with Nebraska and they gave him a new contract. That's impressive.
A certain local athletic director could take some pointers from Mr. Pelini on how to be prickly yet get away with it.
Would have to be, and honestly I'm thinking in terms of how much I'd love if they were the U-M coach:
HC - Bob Stoops, James Franklin, or Steve Spurrier
OC - Chad Morris (Clemson)
DC - Kirby Smart (Alabama)
ANY Harbaugh
that is as "non" Michigan as I care to get.
but if it's got to be a college coach, I'd go with anyone who runs the wishbone.
VERY,entertaining on sideline during games. Never forget look on his face after Lions 5-0,playoff loss to Dallas Cowboys...
That wasn't Wayne Fontes—it was Joe Schmidt who was coaching the Lions that season (1970).
Fontes actually was the coach for the last Lions playoff victory, the 38-6 thrashing of the Cowboys in 1991.
At the time, there were plenty of people who thought the Lions were the team of the future, not the Cowboys, who were coached by Jimmy Johnson and were returning to the playoffs for the first time after several years.
Despite all the tirades, purple faces and antics and respect Brian Kelly and his ability to coach. He has won consistently at every level thus far. David Shaw is another HC I really enjoy. Love his/Harbaugh's philosophy. Gus Malzahn has developed an amazing scheme that is fun to watch. As well as Noel Mazzone over at UCLA. There are a few others that I love to listen to but I try to always arch these guys.
Mark Richt. He's who every leader should be.
...Yah, and Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer, but the world has never seen either one.
I've always admired what Mack Brown did at UNC. Eight straight winning seasons, 3 10-win seasons at a school that has historically underachieved in football. Maybe he should have won more at Texas, but he still got his NC there and, outside of a few other coaches or teams, his record at Texas is better than anyone else over the same period.
But the guy I find really the most intriguing is Duke's David Cutcliffe. As head coach at Ole Miss he had a record of 44-29 (25-23 in the SEC) over 7 years, but was fired (because he wouldn't fire his assistants) after his only losing season there. At Ole Miss! Just 1 losing season out of 7. At Duke, he presently has a 31-44 (15-33 in the ACC) over 6 years. Let that sink in... he is almost .500, at Duke! And his teams are also kind of fun to watch (a lot more than last year's Michigan team, that is for sure).
Good pick. Cutcliffe has been outstanding. Only a matter of time before he gets offered a much bigger job.
David Shaw, CFB Division
Jim Harbaugh, NFL Division
John Beilein and Red Berenson
Jerry Kill.
He's so easy to cheer for and it's fun to see his program sticking by him as it has.
John Cooper is my #2.
He gave me one the best rants ever. " This ain't intramurals, brother!"
Ha, largely as a result of his -- and his successor's -- ineptitude, I've really come to like current Colorado coach Mike Macintyre. He seems like a good person, and as a CU alum myself, it's so nice to have a coach that at least appears to know what he's trying to do. Now, if only he can actually succeed at it, we may be on to something.
I like Les Miles. I know a lot don’t for various reasons.
I think if he ended up as Michigan’s head coach instead of RR or if that was even possible, this program would be in a much better place. I’m not saying Hoke can’t get the job done, I think he can, it’s just that I think with Miles there wouldn’t have been much down times in the program.
I know, I know, ethics and all that but I think we would have piled up a lot of wins from then until now.
coaches, because I don't think either would be on the top of any list. Hell, I bet the buckeye fans hate Meyer for having the audactity to get beat in their final two outing of last year. What's a 24 game streak matter if you don't collect the entire sock full of marbles?
As to the coach that could get Michigan back to being Michigan in the manner everyone seems to want them to be, you would have to go with someone who has proven he can take a bunch of 2 and 3 stars, even some walk-ons and put together a running game that was usually the nation's best while at WI. He, too, now belongs to the SEC. He simply followed the blueprint left by Barry who followed the blueprint designed by Tom Osbourne.
My favorite though would have to be Chris Petersen.
Hawkins is hilarious. He's on the siriusxm college football station from time to time and doesnt disappoint.
Good man, great motivator. Probably would have won 1-2 Super Bowls if he didn't happen to play in the same division as maybe the greatest NFL dynasty ever in the 70s Steelers.
As far as active coaches...
Dick LeBeau, Hall of Fame Lions DB and longtime Steelers DC. His innovative defenses set the standard in the NFL for a couple of decades. I choose to not recognize the fact he played for Woody Hayes.
But I've always had a soft spot for John Cooper.
This is the only answer
Wayne Fontes?
/ducks
Wayne Fontes?
/ducks
The guy who posted right before you did. Interestingly, he also ducked immediately after posting.
he built a program based on kids who were tough and smart. And pwned Pete Carroll in the process.
Bennett Presser because of this gem...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EChnZTJicw
I logged in for the first time in like a year to post that video, and you beat me to it!
*David Bennett of Coastal Carolina
lol that was great. I also forgot about that one.
The Harbaughs and Les Miles.
I root for RR as well
If it has to be a college guy i like Richt for a lot of the same reasons. Spurrier as well for his track record (so many USC guys in the nfl now!).