Here is the 2010 ranking of the SEC’s coaches.
1. NICK SABAN, ALABAMA — Back in the top spot for the first time since his last season at LSU in 2004. He is also No. 1 in the nation. He is the first coach in modern times to win national championships at two schools — LSU in the 2003 season and Alabama last season. He also recruited most of the players who won the 2007 national title at LSU. He has not lost a regular season game since Nov. 24, 2007.
The scary thing is, he’s not leaving, and he has Alabama where he had LSU when he left — with gobs of talent entering, exiting and throughout the program.
2. URBAN MEYER, FLORIDA — Down from the No. 1 position a year ago, but probably the No. 2 college coach in America as well. It’s amazing how much Meyer won the last two years — 26-2 with a 15-1 SEC mark — while unhealthy.
3. HOUSTON NUTT, OLE MISS — Laugh all you want, but Nutt has averaged nine wins a year the past four seasons at second-tier programs Arkansas and Ole Miss. If he was at a program with the resources of an Alabama, LSU or Florida, he would be winning 11 or 12 a year. Nutt has not always fared well when he is highly ranked entering a season like last year.
4. MARK RICHT, GEORGIA — Last season the Bulldogs dropped to 8-5, but he would have to have another subpar season to get on a hot seat. Richt was 22-5 in 2007 and 2008 and has been close to getting into a national championship game or two.
5. BOBBY PETRINO, ARKANSAS — He has not been able to get Arkansas to the top as quickly as he got Louisville there, but he’s coming. Look for a breakout year.
6. LES MILES, LSU — Down one spot. His record is still gaudy — 51-15 (.773) and 27-13 (.675) in the SEC. But the fact is he gradually has turned an elite program — 22-4 (.846) and 13-3 (.812) in the SEC the two years before his arrival — to an average one with a 17-9 (.653) and 8-8 (.500) record the past two seasons. In 2008 and 2009, LSU lost four games by six points or less.
7. STEVE SPURRIER, SOUTH CAROLINA — When Spurrier’s entire career is judged, he will go down as one of the best ever. But lately, he just doesn’t have it.
8. DAN MULLEN, MISSISSIPPI STATE — State came close to going 7-5 in Mullen’s first season after inheriting a 4-8 program. Mullen probably got more out of what he had than most other league coaches last season.
9. GENE CHIZIK, AUBURN — He started fast with a 5-0 record but fizzled to 8-5. His last season at Iowa State was eerily similar. He started out 2-0 and finished 2-10.
10. DEREK DOOLEY, TENNESSEE — Dooley and Chizik must have the same agent. Dooley got a high-profile job, too, after going 4-8 at Louisiana Tech!
11. ROBBIE CALDWELL, VANDERBILT — Caldwell edged Kentucky’s Joker Phillips with the best SEC Media Days performance in history. No one has ever channeled his inner Hee Haw better.
12. JOKER PHILLIPS, KENTUCKY — The best first name for a head coach since Bum Phillips. — Monroe News Star
