School soccer coaches should put on many hats. They recruit, coach, mentor and develop. It’s a tough job that deserves recognition when performed properly. With that, listed below are the highest 25 faculty soccer coaches.
Word: First-year FBS coaches won’t be included on the record. Regardless of how promising they appear.
Listed here are
final yr’s rankings.
25-21
25. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Final 12 months’s Rank: 16
There have been a number of expectations for Gundy’s Cowboys in 2024, as they returned a number of starters from a 10-win workforce the yr earlier than. They received simply three video games, which has him drop down the record. He nonetheless has loads of profession accomplishments and a 169-88 document, however there are some questions of whether or not he, or the varsity, tailored to the NIL period rapidly sufficient.
24. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa Hawkeyes
Final 12 months’s Rank: 20
Ferentz is the longest tenured coach in faculty soccer. In 27 years at Iowa, Ferentz has a 204-124 document. He has been eligible for 13 straight bowl video games and has been the mannequin of consistency. The offense hasn’t at all times been fairly, however the protection has been elite.
23. Mike Elko, Texas A&M Aggies
Final 12 months’s Rank: 24
Elko went 8-5 in his first season with the Aggies. That got here after a profitable stint at Duke the place he had a 16-9 document over two seasons. The protection has to exchange a number of influence gamers who left for the NFL Draft and the offense must take a step ahead, however Elko has performed extra with much less throughout his head teaching profession.
22. Shane Beamer, South Carolina Gamecocks
Final 12 months’s Rank: N/A
Beamer went from seven wins to eight to 5 then as much as 9 final season. He has a 29-22 general document and is now trending the correct method. South Carolina has good star energy this season in quarterback LaNorris Sellers and edge rusher Dylan Stewart, however will want a number of key gamers to step as much as attain their targets.
21. Jeff Brohm, Louisville Cardinals
Final 12 months’s Rank: 21
After having success at Western Kentucky after which Purdue, Brohm joined his alma mater in 2023. In his time with the varsity, he has a 19-8 document and has performed a tremendous job working with quarterbacks to get essentially the most out of them. Louisville ought to be capable of compete within the ACC this yr, which can assist him transfer up the rankings.
20-16
20. Mike Norvell, Florida State Seminoles
Final 12 months’s Rank: 4
Norvell could have been the toughest coach to rank. He had an undefeated common season in 2023, then received simply two video games final season. He drops 16 spots from final yr and might want to flip issues round rapidly. Norvell has utilized the switch portal closely once more, which has produced combined outcomes, however might want to enhance highschool recruiting to have extra sustained success.
19. Lincoln Riley, USC Trojans
Final 12 months’s Rank: 9
Riley sees an enormous drop on this yr’s rankings after underperforming at USC. Since successful 11 video games in his first season with the Trojans, they received eight video games in 2023 and simply seven final yr. Extra outcomes will probably be wanted for Riley to maneuver again up the rankings, as he’s removed from the coach he was only a few years in the past.
18. Mario Cristobal, Miami Hurricanes
Final 12 months’s Rank: N/A
Miami went from 5 wins in Cristobal’s first season to seven in his second. In his third, that they had a document of 10-3 and had the very best offense within the sport. The expansion has been spectacular, however the protection will must be higher for Miami to make the postseason.
17. Matt Campbell, Iowa State Cyclones
Final 12 months’s Rank: 23
His general document of 64-51 at Iowa State is nice contemplating the form this system was in when he took the job. In seven of the final eight years, the Cyclones have made a bowl sport, however final season was their greatest but. They received 11 video games and made the Large 12 Championship Recreation. Now he’ll attempt to preserve the momentum going.
16. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri Tigers
Final 12 months’s Rank: 25
Drinkwitz has made a bowl sport in 4 straight seasons and has two 10-win seasons that got here in a back-to-back style. Doing that within the SEC isn’t straightforward and he has gone out and added transfers in hopes of one other profitable season this yr.
15-11
15. Curt Cignetti, Indiana Hoosiers
Final 12 months’s Rank: N/A
Simply Google him and Cignetti’s stats will present a coach who wins. He received eight video games in his first season at JMU, then received 11 in his second. Coach Cig took the Indiana job in 2024, helped them win 11 video games and make the CFP. The schedule was simpler, however that turnaround for Indiana wasn’t seen coming. Now, he’ll should show it once more.
14. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State Solar Devils
Final 12 months’s Rank: N/A
Dillingham orchestrated probably the greatest turnarounds in faculty soccer. In his first season, Arizona State received simply three video games. They had been picked to complete final within the Large 12 in 2024, however ended up successful the convention and making the CFP with a 11-3 general document. He introduced again a number of items from final yr’s workforce, so one other good season ought to be in retailer for Arizona State.
13. Rhett Lashlee, SMU Mustangs
Final 12 months’s Rank: N/A
Lashlee went 7-6 in his first season at SMU, then rattled off two 11-win seasons. Final season, he not solely helped SMU make the CFP, but additionally helped them make the ACC Championship Recreation of their first yr within the convention. SMU soccer and Lashlee’s inventory is wanting up.
12. Kyle Whittingham, Utah Utes
Final 12 months’s Rank: 11
Whittingham had only a five-win season final yr, however was coping with an injured quarterback. His 167-86 document in 22 years is spectacular and a bounce again season ought to be had this season.
11. Josh Heupel, Tennessee Volunteers
Final 12 months’s Rank: 13
Heupel continues to place up huge seasons at Tennessee, as final season he received 10 video games and made the CFP. At Tennessee, his document is 37-15, which is excellent. This season, issues could also be harder, as a number of key gamers from final yr’s workforce exited and within the case of Nico Iamaelava, did so at an ungainly time of the offseason making him arduous to exchange.
10-6
10. James Franklin, Penn State Nittany Lions
Final 12 months’s Rank: 10
Franklin received 13 video games final season and made the CFP semifinal. Total, he has a 101-42 document as a head coach, however has been criticized for not successful many huge video games. Final season, he nonetheless didn’t beat elite opponents, however the run within the CFP was an excellent effort. This yr, he has a workforce that has sufficient high quality to win the nationwide championship.
9. Brian Kelly, LSU Tigers
Final 12 months’s Rank: 8
Kelly has a 29-11 document at LSU, which is strong, however not ok for LSU’s lofty requirements. As a head coach, he has a 195-73 document. This season will must be higher for the Tigers, as they’ve the roster to compete for a CFP spot and possibly extra.
8. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Rebels
Final 12 months’s Rank: 8
Kiffin put up a 9-3 document final common season, which left his workforce on the surface wanting in of the CFP. He has a 44-18 document at Ole Miss and is doing an ideal job, however for him to maneuver up the rankings, he’ll should make the CFP.
7. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Crimson Tide
Final 12 months’s Rank: 2
DeBoer had success at Fresno State, Washington and final season at Alabama, though extra is anticipated from the Crimson Tide. He made the Nationwide Championship Recreation two years in the past at Washington and has a 46-13 document general. A brand new quarterback higher fitted to his system might assist him have extra success this season.
6. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame Combating Irish
Final 12 months’s Rank: N/A
Freeman received 9 video games then 10 video games in his first two seasons with the Combating Irish, which had been strong, however marred by dangerous losses. That continued final season, as they misplaced to Northern Illinois, however they rebounded and made the Nationwide Championship Recreation. He has a 33-10 general document on the college and may have them contending on the prime of the game once more this season.
5-1
5. Dan Lanning, Oregon Geese
Final 12 months’s Rank: 12
Dan Lanning makes an enormous bounce after going undefeated via the Large Ten Championship Recreation final season. He has a 35-6 general document in three seasons on the college. To maneuver up subsequent season, he’ll have to have extra postseason success, because the Geese misplaced their CFP sport to Ohio State.
4. Steve Sarkisian, Texas Longhorns
Final 12 months’s Rank: 6
Sark has turned Texas round after making two straight CFP semifinals. His 38-17 document at Texas is introduced down by the primary two seasons on the college and now they’re perennial contenders.
3. Dabo Swinney, Clemson Tigers
Final 12 months’s Rank: 5
His 180-47 document general at Clemson remains to be excellent. He has two nationwide championships and has had constant good soccer over his tenure. Though they haven’t received a nationwide championship shortly, he did make the CFP final season and may make a return this yr.
2. Ryan Day, Ohio State Buckeyes
Final 12 months’s Rank: 3
Day should battle with beating Michigan, however he did overcome that to go win a nationwide championship final season. He has a 70-10 document throughout his tenure. With the championship below his belt, this system has a number of momentum, and a few star gamers again for this season.
1. Kirby Good, Georgia Bulldogs
Final 12 months’s Rank: 1
Georgia had a down yr, by their requirements, in 2024, however Kirby Good retains the highest spot. He’s been at Georgia for 10 seasons with two nationwide championships and a 105-19 document. He’s the one coach with a number of nationwide championships and may have a rebound season in retailer for Georgia.
Additionally in Consideration
Dave Aranda, Baylor Bears
Aranda went from being on the new seat to successful eight video games final season after a turnaround.
Bret Bielema, Illinois Combating Illini
Bielema has a 125-80 document general. He bounced again from a five-win season in 2023 to win 10 video games in 2024. One other good season, which is feasible given the returning expertise, will vault him into the rankings.
Fran Brown, Syracuse Orange
Brown received 10 video games in his first season as Syracuse’s head coach. That wasn’t straightforward, however he’ll have to stack extra good seasons to make the rankings.
Spencer Danielson, Boise State Broncos
After going 3-1 because the interim head coach and successful the MWC, Danielson received 12 video games with Ashton Jeanty final season and made the CFP.
Dave Doern, NC State Wolfpack
Doern was on the record final yr and went 6-6. He seemingly produces good seasons when expectations are decrease, so a bounce again into the record isn’t out of the query.
Sonny Dykes, TCU Horned Frogs
Dykes went to the Nationwide Championship Recreation three years in the past, then received 5 video games, however rebounded with 9 wins final season.
Luke Fickell, Wisconsin Badgers
Fickell drops out of the record after successful simply 5 video games. The schedule appears to be like powerful this yr, so an instantaneous rebound could also be arduous.
Jedd Fisch, Washington Huskies
Fisch rotated Arizona, then received six video games in his first season as Washington’s head coach. It could be an excellent wager to say he’ll stand up the ranks this season.
P.J. Fleck, Minnesota Gophers
Fleck has made 4 straight bowl video games at Minnesota and that isn’t straightforward. He simply hasn’t had top-tier seasons but.
Willie Fritz, Houston Cougars
Fritz received 12 video games after which 11 video games in his final two years at Tulane. He received simply 4 video games at Houston and might want to enhance this season to rejoin the rankings.
Brent Key, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Key has an 18-16 general document at Georgia Tech and is 7-6 in every of the final two seasons. He has performed an excellent job, however not fairly ok to make the record but.
Chris Kliemann, Kansas State Wildcats
Klieman has been at Kansas State since 2019 and has a 48-28 document. He was on the record final season and was on the cusp of it this yr, however might want to compete extra within the Large 12.
Lance Leipold, Kansas Jayhawks
Leipold made two straight bowl video games at Kansas, however missed one final season, when the expectations had been a bit increased. One other good season ought to have him transfer up the record.
Joey McGuire, Texas Tech Pink Raiders
McGuire has received eight, seven, then eight video games once more over three seasons at Texas Tech. He has performed an excellent job and this yr has a workforce that would push via for extra.
Jeff Monken, Military Black Knights
Since 2016, Monken has only one season with fewer than six wins, which is spectacular for the restrictions positioned on him at a service academy. Final season he received 12 video games and retains getting so much out of his expertise.
Deion Sanders, Colorado Buffaloes
Sanders took over a troublesome scenario and received 4 video games in his first season at Colorado. He improved to 9 wins final season, however now should present what he can do with out his son Shedeur at quarterback and Heisman-winner Travis Hunter.
Kalani Sitake, BYU Cougars
In 9 years as head coach of BYU, Sitake has made seven bowl video games. He had an enormous rebound final season to win 11 video games, however this season is somewhat murkier for the Cougars.
Jon Summrall, Tulane Inexperienced Wave
Summerall is likely to be the very best coach not in an influence 4 convention. He had a 12-win season adopted by an 11-win season in two seasons at Troy. In his first season at Tulane, he received 9 video games and has a roster that may compete for a CFP spot this season.
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