Coaches Rank Their Most Overrated/Underrated Colleagues

[Cortez55403]

Standford has some past success prior to Harbaugh’s arrival, true, it were awful under Buddy Teevens and Walt Harris. Harris was 1-11 his last season. Tyrone Willingham made them competitive. He was 44-36, 1-3 in bowls, and his best year was 1999 when we won an outright PAC-10 title, the program’s first since 1970 (the Jim Plunkett era).

Harbaugh beat #1 USC on the road as a 41-point underdog. Went 3-1 vs USC and Pete Carroll. He inherited a 1-11 team left four years later as a 11-1 and Top 5 ranked program.

I think Shaw is an elite coach and he’s excelled after Harbaugh left. I’ll correct my earlier statement that it remains to be seen if Shaw can keep Stanford an annual PAC12 contender. He has won three conference championships. Fortunately for Stanford he seems like a lifer.

NOTE: I’d love to see Miami schedule a home-and-home with Stanford.

Agree that Shaw is a perfect fit for Stanford. I’m going to see his squad play USC right after I get home from the Canes game in Dallas. Great start to the season.

At Stanford, word is that Shaw will stay there until his kids graduate from high school. Then, he’s likely NFL bound. He has NFL coaching experience and his dad (Willie Shaw) coached in the NFL for many years.

 

[the storm]

The Pittsburgh paper writer alludes to Franklin's shady/bad mouthing recruiting tactics. Don't think the writer can stand him either.

 

[the storm]

Why does Harbaugh’s record at Stanford before recruiting Andrew Luck make Harbaugh overrated? Stanford was 1-11 the year prior to Harbuagh’s arrival, and the program was dismal for a number of prior seasons. Harbaugh’s job was to recruit players like Luck and win. His last and fourth season’s record was 11-1 and ranked in the Top 5, with a quarterback he recruited selected #1 overall in the draft. He went 3-1 against USC and Pete Carroll, including a win as a 41-point road underdog.

His failing at Michigan is to recruit the same level of QB, win the Big 10, and beat Ohio State. Urban Meyer has outclassed or out-coached him three out of three times. He admittedly needs a rebound season from last year. I also think his antics are wearing a bit thin.

Lane Kiffin is the overrated one. 7–6 his one season at Tennessee, and disappointment at USC. Yes, there were NCAA sanctions but he was making a number of bad coaching decisions. Too big a job too early. Dropping down to OC for Saban for three seasons and taking a G5 job like FAU were good ideas. Kiffin was suffering from the same narcissism as Harbaugh, but without the success. He should build a foundation at FAU before trying to jump back up to a P5 program. And no, not the Maryland job. The program is in chaos. Coaching in the same division as Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and Ohio State is a no-win situation. He’d be better off waiting for FSU or UF to open back up, or a Big 12 school, where he can run his offense.

FSU would never hire Kiffin (total attention seeking show boat) but I can see where LSU might if Big O gets the ax.

 

[gcane44]

Peterson (Washington) seems to get the most out of the talent he recruits every year. Even at boise, the guy coached his *** off. Dont know why bigger schools havent come calling for him cause he seems to do well wherever he goes.

I believe bigger schools have come calling, but he never opted to leave. Something to do with his son's illness. He finally made the move to Washington because he saw a fit that satisfied all his personal preferences. IDK specifics, but I do know many Canes fans spent a lot of time talking about Peterson every time we had a HC vacancy. I believe he consistently turned down overtures from bigger programs

 

[gcane44]

Chryst went to Pitt, where he lost his first game to an FCS opponent, and never finished better than .500 in conference play. Even the guy after Bielema averaged 10 wins a season. I think he's a pretty good coach, but wouldn't put him ahead of the guys I mentioned.

Barry Alvarez (AD and former HC) is the real secret behind Wisconsin's consistent success. He understands Wisconsin football, runs the football program accordingly, and knows how to spot talented coaches that also mesh with the Wisconsin system.

Not taking anything away from Chryst because he is definitely a quality coach, but just wanted to point out that Barry Alvarez is the foundation of their success.

 

[gcane44]

I also think Lane Kiffen is a pretty good coach. He's had success as a head coach and an OC but I think he's constantly moving from job to job because he's a prick and not a company man.

Kiffen used to be the most overrated coach in CFB during his days at Tenn and USC. He was the poster boy for failing up.

However, I do believe he has grown tremendously and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him succeed at a major program now

 

[Captain Uberpants]

Franklin is recruiting very well, PSU will be a good team for as long as he’s there. Not sure if NC worthy, but we’ll see this year without Barkley and Moorehead if Franklin is all that.

 

[ddann]

I believe bigger schools have come calling, but he never opted to leave. Something to do with his son's illness. He finally made the move to Washington because he saw a fit that satisfied all his personal preferences. IDK specifics, but I do know many Canes fans spent a lot of time talking about Peterson every time we had a HC vacancy. I believe he consistently turned down overtures from bigger programs

Plus, Petersen is a west coast guy. I think he got exactly what he wanted when he signed on with U-Dub.

 

[Waffle Honcho]

Barry Alvarez (AD and former HC) is the real secret behind Wisconsin's consistent success. He understands Wisconsin football, runs the football program accordingly, and knows how to spot talented coaches that also mesh with the Wisconsin system.

Not taking anything away from Chryst because he is definitely a quality coach, but just wanted to point out that Barry Alvarez is the foundation of their success.

I agree, he's a big reason why that job is not too difficult and both of Chryst's predecessors had success. I mean it's not like after 3 years of mediocrity at Pitt something finally clicked for him (or maybe it did, stranger things have happened). The fact that he was so bad at Pitt and has had this success now is a real testament to the Wisky AD.

 

[Waffle Honcho]

Plus, Petersen is a west coast guy. I think he got exactly what he wanted when he signed on with U-Dub.

He did. He turned down USC for UW. The guy is so criminally underrated by the media, he could have any job he wants if it became available.

 

[Memnon]

Most overrated coaches imo are Brian Kelly, Kirk Ferentz & Jim Harbaugh.

Most underrated coaches: Gary Patterson, David Shaw & Paul Chryst.

Gary Patteson is one of the top 3-5 coaches in college football imo.
Also, people sleep on David Shaw because they say Harbaugh created the foundation, but Harbaugh hasn't been at Stanford since 2011 & he was only 29-21 there, so it's not like Shaw is winning with a bunch of Harbaugh recruits. Shaw is 73-22 since becoming HC & has won 3 Pac-12 titles while putting multiple great players in the NFL despite handing out the least amount of offers of any D1 program.

Maybe people forgot, but Stanford wasn't built by Harbaugh, they were a viable program during the Bill Walsh era & came back on the scene during the Tyrone Willingham era, Harbaugh does deserve credit for his 3 years there no doubt, but he gets a little too much credit.

Harbaugh has secured the Most Overrated HC Championship Title belt from Brian Kelly!

 

[TemplarCane]

Harbaugh has secured the Most Overrated HC Championship Title belt from Brian Kelly!

Harbaugh just cannot recruit a top QB, like he did with Luck at Stanford.

 

[RickRollU]

Harbaugh just cannot recruit a top QB, like he did with Luck at Stanford.

Harbaugh QB whisperer reputation comes all from Luck... that’s weak sauce. Not many students of the game like Luck nowadays.

Branden Peters was the 6th pro style QB of his class. Shea Patterson was a 5* and looked better at Ole Miss. Dylan McCaffrey was the th pro style.
He has recruited highly ranked QB, just couldn’t develop them.

 

[Memnon]

 

[Memnon]

Harbaugh just cannot recruit a top QB, like he did with Luck at Stanford.

Stanford being a great school & Oliver Luck had more to do with Andrew going there than Harbaugh did.

He's a NFL coach, his best success was with the Niners, he's never going to win anything worthwhile in college football.

 

[TemplarCane]

Stanford being a great school & Oliver Luck had more to do with Andrew going there than Harbaugh did.

He's a NFL coach, his best success was with the Niners, he's never going to win anything worthwhile in college football.

True, but he wore out his welcome in SF quick. Power struggle?

 

[Memnon]

True, but he wore out his welcome in SF quick. Power struggle?

I believe so, he wanted autonomy in player personnel in terms of picking all his own players & the front office in San Fran at the time had had enough of him lol.

Harbaugh is a maniac & wants everything his way, Michigan is a cushy job for him because it's his alma mater & they worship him because he's the best HC they've had since Lloyd Carr so their boosters are willing to pay him whatever he wants to keep him, but the jokes on them because Harbaugh will never make the return on the investment lol.

He gets to legally rob them blind because he's a halfway decent coach, but Mich is never winning the B1G as long as he's there.

 

[TemplarCane]

I believe so, he wanted autonomy in player personnel in terms of picking all his own players & the front office in San Fran at the time had had enough of him lol.

Harbaugh is a maniac & wants everything his way, Michigan is a cushy job for him because it's his alma mater & they worship him because he's the best HC they've had since Lloyd Carr so their boosters are willing to pay him whatever he wants to keep him, but the jokes on them because Harbaugh will never make the return on the investment lol.

He gets to legally rob them blind because he's a halfway decent coach, but Mich is never winning the B1G as long as he's there.

Never understood NFL coaches who want 100% control when they’re on the cusp of championships. SF almost won one with Harbaugh. At least Jim’s brother John is smarter.

 

[dbcanes]

Harbaugh had great Coordinators during his run in San Fran. Vic Fangio's and Greg Roman's are hard to find in the NFL let alone college ball. I think this issue alone has alot to do with his current state he finds himself in.

 

[Deleted member 16870]

I believe so, he wanted autonomy in player personnel in terms of picking all his own players & the front office in San Fran at the time had had enough of him lol.

Harbaugh is a maniac & wants everything his way, Michigan is a cushy job for him because it's his alma mater & they worship him because he's the best HC they've had since Lloyd Carr so their boosters are willing to pay him whatever he wants to keep him, but the jokes on them because Harbaugh will never make the return on the investment lol.

He gets to legally rob them blind because he's a halfway decent coach, but Mich is never winning the B1G as long as he's there.

So if it was up to you and you get rid of Harbaugh, who would you look to hire at Michigan? Whether it’s NFL guy or college.