Most irreplaceable coaches in college footballl

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Coaches come and go. It’s a part of not only football, but sports in general. But there are some teams that suffer more when a successful head coach exits the program.

I didn’t give as much credit to coaches at national powerhouses such as Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, and USC due to the fact that they can attract recruits based on their brand name alone. It doesn’t necessarily matter who’s leading the team. This isn’t true with every coach as we’ve seen all of these universities struggle in recent memory. But in the overall picture of things, they have no problem finding a new man to step in.

Instead, I looked at the coaches who have taken their teams to a level they have never been before or hardly ever get to – coaches who are a direct cause of their teams’ success. The personality of these coaches is reflected in their players. Let’s take a look at who made the list.

 

Frank Beamer: Virginia Tech

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I believe there is no question that head coach Frank Beamer IS Virginia Tech football, and that this program would be nowhere close to where it is today if it wasn’t for him. He has been the head coach here since 1987 and his career record here is an amazing 209-97-2.The Hokies manage to be a contender for the ACC title every year, even when they’re not “supposed” to. They have recorded double-digit wins in 11 of the past 13 seasons. How do they do it? Beamer Ball. Strong defense and special teams. It’s been a staple for the Hokies ever since Beamer arrived.

 

Chip Kelly: Oregon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oregon head coach Chip Kelly took a good program and turned it into an elite one. Two Rose Bowl appearances and a national championship game appearance in three years. He led the Ducks to their first Rose Bowl win since 1917 and three straight conference championships. Did I mention that he’s only been head coach for three years? Not too many coaches can say they built a resume like that in such a short period of time. Kelly is also arguably the greatest offensive mind in the game. Oregon’s vaunted offense has been flying high as one of the best in the country ever since Kelly became offensive coordinator in 2007. Since being named head coach, the Ducks have soared to the next level and won’t be dropping anytime soon as long as he remains head honcho.

 

Mark Dantonio: Michigan State

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dantonio has been able to do what many other Spartan coaches have failed to do and that is having sustained success. For many years, Michigan State football hasn’t been able to take its program to the next level. There would often be one strong season, followed by a fall back to mediocrity. Under Dantonio, the Spartans have gone 22-5 over the past two seasons, sharing the Big Ten crown in 2010 and barely losing in the inaugural conference championship this past season. The team has made bowl appearances in all five years Dantonio has been coach. He has changed the entire culture of the MSU football program, and that is how a coach makes his mark.

 

Chris Peterson: Boise State

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Possibly the most irreplaceable out of all these men is Boise State head coach Chris Peterson. He helped put Boise State on the map in his first year as head coach after an unforgettable victory over Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. He is the main reason the Broncos have become a national powerhouse instead of a one-year wonder. His record is an unbelievable 73-6 over his six seasons leading the Broncos – a .924 winning percentage. Under his command, the Broncos have finished undefeated twice with both seasons culminating with BCS bowl victories. Boise State is climbing the football power ladder, having already jumped from the WAC to the Mountain West Conference and will soon be joining a major conference in the Big East. Petersen is the definition of a “class act” and deserves a bulk of the credit for where Boise State football is today.

 

Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last, but certainly not least, is Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy. Similar to the job Dantonio has done at MSU, Gundy has helped build a strong football program in spite of having to compete against one of the most successful schools of all-time (Oklahoma). Gundy has led the Cowboys to new heights, winning 23 games over the past two seasons, including their first Big 12 championship and a win in their first ever BCS bowl appearance. He’s helped transform the Oklahoma State offense into one of the most dangerous in the nation. With Gundy leading the way, the Cowboys now have the ability to challenge the Sooners year-in and year-out.

Other Candidates: Gary Patterson (TCU), Gary Pinkel (Missouri)

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