Ranking the Big 12: Coaches

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Published: August 10, 2008

Big 12 Insider John Helsley ranks the league's coaches:

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1. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
It comes down to championships and Stoops has got 'em.

2. Mack Brown, Texas
Plenty to like, but that 2005 title looking more and more like Vince Young's doing.

3. Mike Leach, Texas Tech
It ain't easy recruiting to Lubbock, so the coaching must be big-time.

4. Gary Pinkel, Missouri
Once on the hot seat, Pinkel is building something special at Mizzou.

5. Mark Mangino, Kansas
12-1 and Orange Bowl champs, 'nuff said.

6. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
After cleaning house early, Gundy is steadily building a winner in Stillwater.

7. Dan Hawkins, Colorado
The Hawk is real, which is refreshing; and he's a year away from making a major move in the North.

8. Ron Prince, Kansas State
Inconsistency has him on the hot seat, despite recent extension.

9. Mike Sherman, Texas A&M
Did well in NFL head-coaching stint, but will it translate to college players?

10. Gene Chizik, Iowa State
Decent first season; now it's time to take a bigger step.

11. Bo Pelini, Nebraska
First-time head coach status prevents higher billing, but appears a good fit in a good spot.

12. Art Briles, Baylor
Did a good job at Houston, but must question intelligence for taking this gig.


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Jason, Norman, I agree with you about T-Tech, but I did put a lot of stock in last years final standings. But I do think there will be some big surprises in the Big 2 Little 10 this year. Nebraska or Kansas in the North. And another Big 12 title for OU.
Dude, Love - Aug 11, 2008 3:53 PM
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Cucumber Sammich, I think a big part of ranking a coach is to imagine you're another coach and asking yourself if you wanna play so-and-sos team and coach against them. Bob Stoops/Mack Brown have newish NC rings that are scarest of all, and anyone who says the monstrosity that is the T-Tech offense doesn't scare them more than anything/one else on that list is a liar. A flat out liar. (N.C. rings when you were a coordinator don't count...)
Jason, Norman - Aug 11, 2008 2:39 PM
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You know what Richard, you are worse than the Sooner fans. I'm not going to argue with you. You must be right about Miles. He was the perfect coach, and only brought quality kids to the team. I mean look at his QB from last year, that kid is the gold standard of morals. And Prentiss Elliot? Its just too bad he wasn't at OSU when he was involved in a drive-by shooting. I am aware that we have had great kids on the team. However, I do always enjoy your almanac knowledge. Any possibility you can run the stats on how many times you've complained?
OSU fan, Tulsa - Aug 11, 2008 12:25 PM
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Hawkins should be 12th. He was just a big fish in a small pond in the WAC. He's done nothing but lose since he arrived in the big leagues.
Rufus, spencer - Aug 11, 2008 10:18 AM
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Pelini should be 6th. Piknel should be 3rd. Mangino should be 4th. Leach should be 5th. Chizik should be 11th. Gundy should be 10th. The rest are ok.
Dude, Love - Aug 10, 2008 7:32 PM
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Here's the thing, Richard. You claim you are a huge OSU fan but yet you never say anything optimistic about OSU. I see tons of negative Gundy comments but where are any positive comments when it comes to articles about players or the school itself? Or do you look for ways to spin those articles into hate laced tirades as well? Yes, we get that his record is 18-19 thus far. No, it is not admirable. But rather than state that fact over and over again (as you seem to have nothing else to say), how about you accept for at least this year he is the head coach and try to be supportive of the team? Seeing how as you are such a big fan, right?
Mike, tulsa - Aug 10, 2008 7:11 PM
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Richard...why all the hate? Who pissed in your cheerios this morning? Why take offense and go on the attack at everyone who sees things differently than you? Not sure what perfect world you live in, but seems like the sun probably never shines. Step away from your computer, go outside, take deep breath, notice how the earth spins around the sun, not around you. I know...it is shocking...but sometimes that glass actually is half full, not empty. Try putting on your big boy pants and having an actual discussion and not turn everything into an agruement. Alright...now tee of on me. I know you are sitting there hitting refresh on this page every couple seconds just waiting for your chance to attack someone...man, you are so tough trolling these anynomous (sp?) comment boards.
Greg, Oklahoma - Aug 10, 2008 1:23 PM
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It's ignorance, Greg.
richard, Stillwater - Aug 10, 2008 1:05 PM
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"will prove to be the best football coach ever at OSU." ---------------------------------------------------------- and that wild unsupported speculation is based on... on... Boone's facilities???? His visor? His sun glasses? Because Robert Allen said so? It's sure not based on his losing record.
richard, Stillwater - Aug 10, 2008 1:03 PM
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will prove to be the best football coach ever at OSU.
Jonathon, Panhandle - Aug 10, 2008 12:47 PM
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MIKE GUNDY
Jonathon, Panhandle - Aug 10, 2008 12:46 PM
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Richard is a pi$$ ant. That is all.
Jonathon, Panhandle - Aug 10, 2008 12:46 PM
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Richard...I can't tell if this comment is laced with sarcasm or ignorance...please elaborate. "When manufacturing a desired reality, only a very select set of facts are worthy."
Greg, Oklahoma - Aug 10, 2008 12:17 PM
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"Miles didn't exactly recruit high-class kids." - OSU fan, Tulsa -------------------------------------------------------- Miles recruited, Brandon Pettigrew, Nathan Peterson, Martel VanZant, Jeray Chatham, David Washington, Corey Hilliard, Marque Fountain, Victor DeGrate, Donovan Woods, D’Juan Woods, Lawrence Pinson, Darnell Smith, Pagitte McGee, Daniel McLemore, Darrent Williams, and Vernon Grant. Just what are you implying? BTW, Joe DeForest was Miles Recruiting Coordinator. Joe DeForest is ALSO Gundy’s Recruiting Coordinator. Slow down on the Kool-Aid.
richard, Stillwater - Aug 10, 2008 12:04 PM
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"character issues"???? You mean like Alex Odiari or Bowman's drugs or do you mean more like Chris Collins? BTW, I love oSu. That's why I'm NOT happy about our change in direction (from winning to losing). I really can't understand those who claim to be oSu fans lauding it as something good.
richard, Stillwater - Aug 10, 2008 11:47 AM
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Richard, we get it. You hate everything about OSU. Point made. You exhaust the rest of us. If you will notice, Stoops did not come into OU and kick off a bunch of guys due to character issues, like Gundy did. Miles didn't exactly recruit high-class kids. Anyway, I think listing Leach at 3 is a stretch. Recruiting kids to most of the Big 12 towns is difficult, that's a given.
OSU fan, Tulsa - Aug 10, 2008 11:25 AM
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"I don't think you can compare NFL wins and non-BCS conference wins to what coaches have done in the Big 12." -------------------------------------------- Of course not, Greg. When manufacturing a desired reality, only a very select set of facts are worthy.
richard, Stillwater - Aug 10, 2008 11:20 AM
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Gundy and Stoops have a lot in common. As first time head coaches, both turned the direction of their respective programs around… a change of direction if you will. Uo’s 3 year cumulative record prior to Bob Stoops: 12-22 (losing). Bob Stoops record his first 3 years as uo’s head coach: 31-7 (winning). oSu’s 3 year cumulative record prior to Mike Gundy: 24 – 14 (winning). Mike Gundy’s record his first 3 years as oSu’s head coach: 18-19 (losing).
richard, Stillwater - Aug 10, 2008 11:11 AM
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I don't think you can compare NFL wins and non-BCS conference wins to what coaches have done in the Big 12. The NFL is a different game where the front office has just as much to do with a coaches success as the coach does...it comes down to money. And for Briles and Hawkins, how many top 25 teams did they play every year? Their victory counts are loaded with cup cakes. Until they prove themselve in the Big 12, how can you rank them above Mangino and Pinkel? Winning games in CUSA and the WAC doesn't hold a candle to Pinkle who had the #1 ranked team in the land last year and Mangino who took a nobody to a BCS victory. Now the trick is for MU and KU to sustain their level of success, but if BU and CU surpass them in the conference then you can move Briles and Hawkins up this list. IMO...Pelini will move up to third on this list pretty quick.
Greg, Oklahoma - Aug 10, 2008 10:58 AM
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"not a higher level of competition" ???? Have you ever been to a NFL stadium, Mark? You're probably right though. NFL coaches probably strive to drop to the college level and college coaches strive to drop to the High School level. The really good coaches end up in Pop Warner... right? LOL!
richard, Stillwater - Aug 10, 2008 10:47 AM
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not a higher level of competition, richard...a higher level of athleticism. Whish has not a thing to do with coaching. Just keep on twisting semi-facts for your Gundy axe-grinding, we all know and semi-ignore you anyway. Go Pokes!
Mark, Skikda, Algeria - Aug 10, 2008 9:52 AM
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Richard in Stillwater, you are forgetting the bowl game win that Pelini got before Callahan came in. Got to rank Pelini at the top, at 100%.
tom, Lawton - Aug 10, 2008 9:48 AM
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Right, Zach. The NFL is a much lower level of competition than college is.
richard, Stillwater - Aug 10, 2008 8:54 AM
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Sherman's never coached college before so his record doesn't exist. He was an assistant at A&M before though.
Zach, Perkins - Aug 10, 2008 8:50 AM
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not to affect them*
Zach, Perkins - Aug 10, 2008 8:48 AM
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And Danny...maybe you should crawl back under your rock. Baylor is in the Big 12...building it into a power in a major conference? I think Baylor by then will attract enough recruits and a fair coach for the loss of Briles to affect them some 6 years down the road.
Zach, Perkins - Aug 10, 2008 8:48 AM
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BY THE NUMBERS (Records as a head coach): ……………
Bob Stoops: 97-22, 82% winning percentage …………………
Dan Hawkins: 100-40-1, 71% winning percentage ……………
Mack Brown: 189-99-1, 66% winning percentage ……………
Mike Leach: 65-37, 64% winning percentage …………………
Gary Pinkel: 122-74-3, 62% winning percentage ……………
Mike Sherman: 59-43, 58% winning percentage ………………
Art Briles: 34-28, 55% winning percentage ……………………
Mark Mangino: 37-36, 51% winning percentage ………………
Bo Pelini: 0-0, 50% winning percentage ………………………
Mike Gundy: 18-19, 49% winning percentage …………………
Ron Prince: 12-13, 48% winning percentage …………………
Gene Chizik: 3-9, 25% winning percentage ……………………
richard, Stillwater - Aug 10, 2008 8:47 AM
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I mean, we are ranking coaches, not their teams, right?
Zach, Perkins - Aug 10, 2008 8:46 AM
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I think both Bo Pelini and Art Briles should be up the list further. I think OSU fans would agree given what the Briles-coached Houston team did to OSU in Houston two years ago. He's definately a winner. And I'm not sure Mangino and Pinkel should be up the list after a single successful season. Hawkins and Briles have both proved themselves at other places. Who can forget what Hawkins turned BSU into? And how he's recruited in Boulder? I don't think anyone doubts what Pelini, a defensive mastermind, will do at Nebraska. All things considered I'd say that the first 3 at on the dot, but I think the following three should be Hawkins, Briles, then Pinkel and Mangino, followed by Pelini (given how well everyone agrees he'll preform), then Gundy and at the end of the list Prince, Sherman, and Chizik.
Zach, Perkins - Aug 10, 2008 8:45 AM
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Looks like a pretty fair list to me. Go Pokes!
James, New Milford - Aug 10, 2008 8:01 AM
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Art Briles will attract some attention at Baylor, then move on when a bigger name comes calling.
Man, I'd hate to be a Baylor football fan.
Danny, Vail - Aug 10, 2008 5:30 AM
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