The American college football coach is an American institution. They’re sideline stalkers, mouthpieces for schools, and cornerstones of the community. There’s a stark difference between a professional American football coach and one at the college level.
In the NFL, those are adults and would like to be treated as such. But in college, these are still kids trying to find their way in the world. An American college football coach is just as much of a guide through life as they are a motivator or trainer.
It takes a very different skillset to be a college coach. You need to embed yourself with families during the recruiting process and portray yourself as someone worth trusting. You need to keep a bunch of 18–22-year-old kids from getting too distracted during the season. And you need to sell your vision of the team to boosters and collectives to earn more money.
Not everyone can do it, but these five coaches—and a few honorable mentions—are the best at it.
Honorable Mentions
In season number four Mario Cristobal finally was able to take his Miami Hurricanes to the College Football Playoff, and all the way to the national championship game. His team started humming at the perfect time to make a run, and if this list were about last season alone, he’d be on it. The issue is that Cristobal’s Miami teams have been far too inconsistent the last four years.
Steve Sarkisian did the impossible and brought Texas football “back.” The Longhorns continue to be competitive throughout the season, although they missed CFP this past year. His recruiting classes are among the best in the country, and has some big wins under his belt, just no national championship.
Dabo Swinney used to have a vice grip on the American college football landscape. He and his Clemson Tigers were positioned as the heir to the Nick Saban and Alabama Crimson Tide kingdom. He’s one of only two active American college football coaches with multiple national championships, but his teams have struggled to ascend back to the national stage in recent years.
#5 – Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
Freeman and the No. 4 coach on this list could easily be swapped, but I’m just a tad higher on the next coach. With that being said, Freeman might be the most likeable coach in American college football. His teams perform well (Notre Dame has never had fewer than nine wins with Freeman as the head coach) and are clearly well coached.
He slides in nicely as the “leader of men” coach archetype. It’s just a shame that he’s only had one year with real postseason success. A national title game appearance is nice, but that’s the Fighting Irish’s only CFP trip during Freeman’s tenure.
Part of this ranking—as with the next coach too—is projection. Freeman and Notre Dame are positioned for success this upcoming season and for the future in a way that very few teams are.
#4 – Dan Lanning, Oregon
The Ducks have enjoyed consistent success under Lanning. Four straight seasons with 10 or more wins is nothing to scoff at. The last three seasons have all been successes for Oregon—the 2023 team is incredibly underrated—but Lanning’s Achilles hell has been the CFP.
He’s made appearances in each of the last two years, but has been throttled each time. First by the Ohio State Buckeyes and then by the Indiana Hoosiers. Granted, both teams were buzzsaws on their way to national championships, but two straight no-shows don’t reflect well on Lanning.
This season may be his best chance yet. With quarterback Dante Moore coming back for another chance, Lanning could possibly leap a spot on this list if things go to plan.
#3 – Ryan Day, Ohio State
I wanted to put Day No. 4 or No. 5 so bad. He’s uninspiring as a coach. Year after year, Ohio State has arguably the best roster in the country. They’ve been an NFL factory that churns out first-rounder after first-rounder.
His lack of success against Michigan is a stain against him, as is the fact that his teams don’t necessarily rise to the occasion during the postseason. But Day has a national championship, which is something a lot of coaches don’t have.
Ohio State has been dominant with Day. They are regularly towards the top of the AP and CFP rankings and have been the best team in the Big Ten over the last half decade. Despite my hesitancy, it’s foolish to put Day any lower than No. 3.
#2 – Kirby Smart, Georgia
Smart is the measuring stick against which all other college coaches are measured. He filled the hole created by Nick Saban when he retired. His two national championships are a bit further in the rear-view mirror, but Georgia is still the most consistent team in the SEC.
Smart has been at Georgia for 10 years and has only lost more than 3 games once, and even that was in his first season. He has five CFP appearances and if expansion is coming, those numbers will only increase.
There’s only so much to say about Smart at this point. His dominance is without question. He’s been the best coach in the sport for years now and before last year, I would have told you that it would take a miracle to unseat him.
#1 – Curt Cignetti, Indiana
The Indiana Hoosiers winning a national championship is a miracle. Preposterous, ridiculous, and impossible. Cignetti took a school known for losing and turned them into an efficient, football-playing machine that chewed up and spit out opponents. Year one saw Cignetti announce his presence, and year two saw him stake his claim for the throne.
In terms of actual coaching, the Hoosiers rarely made mistakes—they were one of the least penalized teams in the country. Defenders filled the right gaps, and blockers always knew their assignments. It was a clinic every Saturday.
Cignetti’s eye for talent allowed him to execute one of the quickest turnarounds in history. He took undervalued athletes and turned them into star players.
Is it premature to vault Cignetti to the top spot when Smart has more sustained success and two national championships? Yes. Do I care? No.
Cignetti is the current king of American college football.
