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SEC Analysis

SEC coach rankings

The SECFOOTBALL.CO Desk · ·2026 season

The SEC

  1. 1 Kirby Smart 93

    Georgia Bulldogs · FBS rank 2nd of 220

  2. 2 Steve Sarkisian 90

    Texas Longhorns · FBS rank 7th of 220

  3. 3 Kalen DeBoer 89

    Alabama Crimson Tide · FBS rank 10th of 220

  4. 4 Lane Kiffin 87

    LSU Tigers · FBS rank 14th of 220

  5. 5 Josh Heupel 84

    Tennessee Volunteers · FBS rank 37th of 220

  6. 6 Jon Sumrall 84

    Florida Gators · FBS rank 38th of 220

  7. 7 Eli Drinkwitz 82

    Missouri Tigers · FBS rank 48th of 220

  8. 8 Will Stein 81

    Kentucky Wildcats · FBS rank 53rd of 220

  9. 9 Clark Lea 79

    Vanderbilt Commodores · FBS rank 64th of 220

  10. 10 Mike Elko 79

    Texas A&M Aggies · FBS rank 65th of 220

  11. 11 Brent Venables 79

    Oklahoma Sooners · FBS rank 66th of 220

  12. 12 Pete Golding 79

    Ole Miss Rebels · FBS rank 67th of 220

  13. 13 Alex Golesh 78

    Auburn Tigers · FBS rank 76th of 220

  14. 14 Jeff Lebby 68

    Mississippi State Bulldogs · FBS rank 149th of 220

  15. 15 Shane Beamer 68

    South Carolina Gamecocks · FBS rank 150th of 220

  16. 16 Ryan Silverfield 67

    Arkansas Razorbacks · FBS rank 159th of 220

Where they rank in FBS

All 220 FBS head coaches by overall rating. The 16 SEC coaches are highlighted.

  1. 1 Curt Cignetti Indiana Hoosiers 93
  2. 2 Kirby Smart Georgia Bulldogs SEC 93
  3. 3 Dan Lanning Oregon Ducks 93
  4. 4 Carmen Cozza Yale Bulldogs 91
  5. 5 Kalani Sitake BYU Cougars 91
  6. 6 Marcus Freeman Notre Dame Fighting Irish 90
  7. 7 Steve Sarkisian Texas Longhorns SEC 90
  8. 8 Joey McGuire Texas Tech Red Raiders 90
  9. 9 Jack Meagher Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks 90
  10. 10 Kalen DeBoer Alabama Crimson Tide SEC 89
  11. 11 Mario Cristobal Miami Hurricanes 89
  12. 12 Jake Dickert Wake Forest Demon Deacons 88
  13. 13 Ryan Day Ohio State Buckeyes 87
  14. 14 Lane Kiffin LSU Tigers SEC 87
  15. 15 Morgan Scalley Utah Utes 87
  16. 16 Charley Moran Centre Colonels 87
  17. 17 Bob Chesney UCLA Bruins 87
  18. 18 Dick Sheridan Furman Paladins 87
  19. 19 Charles Huff Memphis Tigers 87
  20. 20 Billy Napier James Madison Dukes 87
  21. 21 James Franklin Virginia Tech Hokies 86
  22. 22 Collin Klein Kansas State Wildcats 86
  23. 23 Jason Eck New Mexico Lobos 86
  24. 24 Aldo Donelli Duquesne Dukes 86
  25. 25 Hank Foldberg Wichita State Shockers 86
  26. 26 Rey Dempsey Southern Illinois Salukis 86
  27. 27 Tim Polasek North Dakota State Bison 86
  28. 28 Jock Sutherland Lafayette Leopards 85
  29. 29 Kirk Ferentz Iowa Hawkeyes 85
  30. 30 George Brooke Swarthmore Garnet Tide 85
  31. 31 Rhett Lashlee SMU Mustangs 85
  32. 32 Len Casanova Santa Clara Broncos 85
  33. 33 Joe Kuharich San Francisco Dons 85
  34. 34 Rex Enright Georgia Pre-Flight Skycrackers 85
  35. 35 Willie Fritz Houston Cougars 85
  36. 36 Matt Entz Fresno State Bulldogs 85
  37. 37 Josh Heupel Tennessee Volunteers SEC 84
  38. 38 Jon Sumrall Florida Gators SEC 84
  39. 39 Eric Morris Oklahoma State Cowboys 84
  40. 40 Manny Diaz Duke Blue Devils 84
  41. 41 Mike Jacobs Toledo Rockets 84
  42. 42 Spencer Danielson Boise State Broncos 84
  43. 43 P.J. Fleck Minnesota Golden Gophers 83
  44. 44 Lincoln Riley USC Trojans 83
  45. 45 Jimmy Crowley Fordham Rams 83
  46. 46 Bill Oliver Chattanooga Mocs 83
  47. 47 Brian Hartline South Florida Bulls 83
  48. 48 Eli Drinkwitz Missouri Tigers SEC 82
  49. 49 Kenny Dillingham Arizona State Sun Devils 82
  50. 50 Blake Harrell East Carolina Pirates 82
  51. 51 Sonny Dykes TCU Horned Frogs 81
  52. 52 George Barclay Washington and Lee Generals 81
  53. 53 Will Stein Kentucky Wildcats SEC 81
  54. 54 JaMarcus Shephard Oregon State Beavers 81
  55. 55 Gus Dorais Gonzaga Bulldogs 81
  56. 56 Matt Campbell Penn State Nittany Lions 80
  57. 57 Jordan Olivar Loyola Marymount Lions 80
  58. 58 Paul Brown Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets 80
  59. 59 Jeff Brohm Louisville Cardinals 80
  60. 60 Jack Curtice California-Santa Barbara Gauchos 80
  61. 61 Jeff Monken Army Black Knights 79
  62. 62 Brian Newberry Navy Midshipmen 79
  63. 63 Jimmy Rogers Iowa State Cyclones 79
  64. 64 Clark Lea Vanderbilt Commodores SEC 79
  65. 65 Mike Elko Texas A&M Aggies SEC 79
  66. 66 Brent Venables Oklahoma Sooners SEC 79
  67. 67 Pete Golding Ole Miss Rebels SEC 79
  68. 68 J.R. Richards Colorado College Tigers 79
  69. 69 Carl Snavely Bucknell Bison 79
  70. 70 Homer Norton Centenary (LA) Gents 79
  71. 71 Lance Taylor Western Michigan Broncos 79
  72. 72 Dan Mullen UNLV Rebels 79
  73. 73 Bret Bielema Illinois Fighting Illini 78
  74. 74 Tony Elliott Virginia Cavaliers 78
  75. 75 Dabo Swinney Clemson Tigers 78
  76. 76 Alex Golesh Auburn Tigers SEC 78
  77. 77 John Bender Haskell Indians 78
  78. 78 Jim Miller Detroit Mercy Titans 78
  79. 79 Chick Meehan Manhattan Jaspers 78
  80. 80 Michael Desormeaux Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 78
  81. 81 Scott Frost UCF Knights 78
  82. 82 Jeff Traylor UTSA Roadrunners 78
  83. 83 Charles Kelly Jacksonville State Gamecocks 78
  84. 84 Kyle Whittingham Michigan Wolverines 77
  85. 85 James Baldwin Lehigh Mountain Hawks 77
  86. 86 Matt Rhule Nebraska Cornhuskers 77
  87. 87 Richard Colman Princeton Tigers 77
  88. 88 Eddie Cochems Saint Louis Billikens 77
  89. 89 Paul Davis Dickinson Red Devils 76
  90. 90 Dave Doeren NC State Wolfpack 76
  91. 91 Pat Narduzzi Pittsburgh Panthers 76
  92. 92 Jedd Fisch Washington Huskies 76
  93. 93 Mike Sheppard Long Beach State 49ers 76
  94. 94 Neil Wheelwright Colgate Raiders 75
  95. 95 Ott Romney Montana State Bobcats 75
  96. 96 Art Baker The Citadel Bulldogs 75
  97. 97 Neal Brown North Texas Mean Green 75
  98. 98 Jason Candle UConn Huskies 75
  99. 99 Jerry Mack Kennesaw State Owls 75
  100. 100 Parke Davis Amherst Mammoths 74
  101. 101 Joseph Yukica Dartmouth Big Green 74
  102. 102 Dave Aranda Baylor Bears 74
  103. 103 Charles Noble Mississippi College Choctaws 74
  104. 104 Brent Brennan Arizona Wildcats 74
  105. 105 William Elias George Washington Colonials 74
  106. 106 John Hauser Ohio Bobcats 74
  107. 107 Butch Jones Arkansas State Red Wolves 74
  108. 108 Sonny Cumbie Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 74
  109. 109 Ricky Rahne Old Dominion Monarchs 74
  110. 110 Clay Helton Georgia Southern Eagles 74
  111. 111 Rich Rodriguez West Virginia Mountaineers 73
  112. 112 James Phelan Saint Mary's (CA) Gaels 73
  113. 113 Edward Doherty Xavier Musketeers 73
  114. 114 Willie Simmons Florida International Panthers 73
  115. 115 G.J. Kinne Texas State Bobcats 73
  116. 116 Joseph Restic Harvard Crimson 72
  117. 117 Harrison Weeks Beloit Buccaneers 72
  118. 118 Chuck Martin Miami (OH) RedHawks 72
  119. 119 Major Applewhite South Alabama Jaguars 72
  120. 120 Ryan Carty Delaware Blue Hens 72
  121. 121 David Braun Northwestern Wildcats 71
  122. 122 Jim Mora Colorado State Rams 71
  123. 123 Brent Key Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 71
  124. 124 Will Hall Tulane Green Wave 71
  125. 125 Jack Hagerty Georgetown Hoyas 71
  126. 126 Homer Smith Davidson Wildcats 71
  127. 127 Tosh Lupoi California Golden Bears 71
  128. 128 Red Drew Birmingham-Southern Panthers 71
  129. 129 Warren Woodson Hardin Simmons Cowboys 71
  130. 130 Pete Lembo Buffalo Bulls 71
  131. 131 Matt Drinkall Central Michigan Chippewas 71
  132. 132 Luke Fickell Wisconsin Badgers 70
  133. 133 John Anderson Brown Bears 70
  134. 134 Fran Brown Syracuse Orange 70
  135. 135 Paul Petrino Idaho Vandals 70
  136. 136 J.W. Hancock Northern Colorado Bears 70
  137. 137 Troy Calhoun Air Force Falcons 70
  138. 138 Dowell Loggains App State Mountaineers 70
  139. 139 Gerad Parker Troy Trojans 70
  140. 140 Zach Kittley Florida Atlantic Owls 70
  141. 141 Tyson Helton Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 70
  142. 142 Tre Lamb Tulsa Golden Hurricane 69
  143. 143 Pat Fitzgerald Michigan State Spartans 69
  144. 144 Marchy Schwartz Creighton Bluejays 69
  145. 145 Tony Gibson Marshall Thundering Herd 69
  146. 146 Sean Lewis San Diego State Aztecs 69
  147. 147 Jamey Chadwell Liberty Flames 69
  148. 148 Bob Blackman Cornell Big Red 68
  149. 149 Jeff Lebby Mississippi State Bulldogs SEC 68
  150. 150 Shane Beamer South Carolina Gamecocks SEC 68
  151. 151 Andrew Kerr Washington & Jefferson Presidents 68
  152. 152 K.C. Keeler Temple Owls 68
  153. 153 Rudy Lavik Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 68
  154. 154 Scott Satterfield Cincinnati Bearcats 68
  155. 155 Timmy Chang Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors 68
  156. 156 Alex Mortensen UAB Blazers 68
  157. 157 Lance Leipold Kansas Jayhawks 67
  158. 158 Neil Wheelwright Holy Cross Crusaders 67
  159. 159 Ryan Silverfield Arkansas Razorbacks SEC 67
  160. 160 Walter Johnson Presbyterian Blue Hose 67
  161. 161 Walter Steffen Carnegie Mellon Tartans 67
  162. 162 Bill Yung West Texas Buffaloes 67
  163. 163 Bill Belichick North Carolina Tar Heels 66
  164. 164 Bob Higgins Washington St. Louis Bears 66
  165. 165 Chuck Shelton Pacific Tigers 66
  166. 166 Mike Norvell Florida State Seminoles 66
  167. 167 Ken Niumatalolo San José State Spartans 66
  168. 168 Mark Carney Kent State Golden Flashes 66
  169. 169 Blake Anderson Southern Miss Golden Eagles 66
  170. 170 Ryan Beard Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 66
  171. 171 Deion Sanders Colorado Buffaloes 65
  172. 172 Casey Woods Missouri State Bears 65
  173. 173 Bronco Mendenhall Utah State Aggies 64
  174. 174 Tavita Pritchard Stanford Cardinal 64
  175. 175 John Maulbetsch Phillips Haymakers 64
  176. 176 Lou Holtz William & Mary Tribe 64
  177. 177 Ted Shipkey Montana Grizzlies 64
  178. 178 Chris Creighton Eastern Michigan Eagles 64
  179. 179 Joe Moorhead Akron Zips 64
  180. 180 Bill O'Brien Boston College Eagles 63
  181. 181 Chuck Shelton Drake Bulldogs 63
  182. 182 Kirby Moore Washington State Cougars 63
  183. 183 Aldo Donelli Boston University Terriers 63
  184. 184 Greg Schiano Rutgers Scarlet Knights 62
  185. 185 Ernest Bearg Washburn Ichabods 62
  186. 186 Jay Sawvel Wyoming Cowboys 62
  187. 187 Mal Elward Grinnell Pioneers 62
  188. 188 Charles Bernier Hampden Sydney Tigers 62
  189. 189 Tony Sanchez New Mexico State Aggies 62
  190. 190 Tom Harp Indiana State Sycamores 62
  191. 191 Derek Mason Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 62
  192. 192 Amos Alonzo Stagg Springfield Pride 61
  193. 193 Choc Kelly Carlisle Indians 61
  194. 194 Frank Murray Marquette Golden Eagles 61
  195. 195 Frank Kimbrough North Carolina Pre-Flight Cloudbusters 61
  196. 196 Mike Uremovich Ball State Cardinals 61
  197. 197 Alonzo Carter Sacramento State Hornets 61
  198. 198 Scott Abell Rice Owls 60
  199. 199 John McKenna VMI Keydets 60
  200. 200 Joe Harasymiak Massachusetts Minutemen 59
  201. 201 Mike Locksley Maryland Terrapins 59
  202. 202 Jeff Choate Nevada Wolf Pack 59
  203. 203 Eddie George Bowling Green Falcons 59
  204. 204 Dell McGee Georgia State Panthers 59
  205. 205 Ralph Glaze Colorado School of Mines Orediggers 58
  206. 206 Jim Weaver Villanova Wildcats 58
  207. 207 Aldo Donelli Columbia Lions 57
  208. 208 John Roning Denver Pioneers 57
  209. 209 Edwin Merrick Richmond Spiders 57
  210. 210 Gene Murphy Cal State Fullerton Titans 57
  211. 211 Phil Longo Sam Houston Bearkats 57
  212. 212 Barry Odom Purdue Boilermakers 56
  213. 213 Scotty Walden UTEP Miners 56
  214. 214 John Van Liew Western Colorado Mountaineers 55
  215. 215 Hugh Devore New York University Violets 55
  216. 216 Rob Harley Northern Illinois Huskies 55
  217. 217 Bryant Vincent UL Monroe Warhawks 55
  218. 218 Clark Shaughnessy Chicago Maroons 54
  219. 219 Jerry Berndt Pennsylvania Quakers 54
  220. 220 Tim Albin Charlotte 49ers 53

How these rankings work

Each coach's overall rating is built from weekly, stats-based coaching grades, recalculated through the season, and is the same number shown on every coach profile. It is a read on results and in-game management, not a career-legacy ranking. For the team-by-team picture, see the SEC power rankings and the live conference standings.

The 16 SEC head coaches ranked by overall rating, and where each of them sits among all 220 FBS head coaches. Refreshed weekly through the 2026 season.

About the author and reviewer

Written by

The SECFOOTBALL.CO Desk

Conference Newsroom · Independent SEC coverage since 2026

The house desk of SECFOOTBALL.CO - independent researchers tracking every SEC game, stat and storyline.

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Fact & Data Review · Primary-source verification

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the top-rated head coach in the SEC in 2026?

Kirby Smart of Georgia Bulldogs tops the SEC with an overall rating of 93, and ranks 2nd among all 220 FBS head coaches.

How are these coach ratings calculated?

Each coach carries a single overall rating built from weekly, stats-based coaching grades (offensive and defensive scheme, game planning, situational management, comeback factor and more), recalculated through the season. The same number appears on every coach profile.