Being a head coach in college football is never easy regardless of program, coach, or sub-division. Unlike CFB, the NFL has thirty-two head coaches that get the same level of economic funding and an entire scouting department to help them pick the best players applying for the NFL Draft. College coaches have to scour the entire nation and in some cases beyond, to put together the best teams possible. Some coaches get more advantages than their contemporaries based on where they are employed, therefore expectations for each coach vary. In layman's terms, some coaches just do more with less. Here is a list of coaches who may not receive the accolade they deserve.
Brent Key - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Key was hired a month into the 2022 season after his predecessor Geoff Collins was fired. The Yellow Jackets saw immediate elevated play as their first two games under Key resulted in wins over Pitt and Duke. After a couple of losses, Tech would win two of their final ACC games against Virginia Tech and North Carolina, both on the road. The following season, Georgia Tech achieved its first winning record, both overall and conference since 2018. This upcoming season, Key will return his leading passer, rusher, and three receivers.
David Braun - Northwestern Wildcats
There wasn’t a coach that had a bigger disadvantage than Braun. In the summer, reports of a sexual misconduct hazing scandal broke out surrounding Northwestern. After seventeen seasons, former alum and longtime coach Pat Fitzgerald was terminated with cause. In steps, David Braun, with only two months before the season begins to keep the program afloat; outdid many expectations externally and probably internally as well. He more than quadrupled the previous year’s win total with eight, including five conference wins and a bowl win vs NC State.
Dave Doeren - NC State Wolfpack
Dave Doeren has been in charge since 2013 and he has only two losing records in Raleigh. After a dismal 3-9 record in his first year, he rattled off five winning records consecutively. A down year in 2019, then responds with four consecutive seasons averaging eight wins or more.
Lance Leipold - Kansas Jayhawks
The 2010s decade for the team in Lawrence, Kansas may just be the worst decade for any Power Five program in the history of this sport. College football will be 155 years old this fall, I could live to that age and I will never see a run as bad as this one. Twelve, yes twelve, consecutive seasons of three wins or less for the Jayhawks. Including one winless year in 2020.
Granted Leipold was asked to charge for one of the worst programs in the nation at the time he was hired. Luckily, KU has crawled out of the slums and saw the program grow each year. From two wins, to six, to nine this past year with their first bowl win since 2008.
Jeff Traylor - UTSA Roadrunners
Texas-San Antonio has not been around for a long time. Only twelve years to its history. Traylor has seen his name be circulated in head coaching searches, especially for Texas A&M which is only three hours away from the Roadrunners. Four consecutive winning seasons featuring back-to-back double-digit win records. He could be one of the big hires in the 2024 postseason.
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