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Ranking The Top Ten Offensive Coaches in College Football

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn talks with the offense in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn talks with the offense in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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January 10, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator Scott Frost addresses the media during Media Day for the College Football Playoff National Championship at Dallas Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 10, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator Scott Frost addresses the media during Media Day for the College Football Playoff National Championship at Dallas Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Sure, Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich and offensive coordinator Scott Frost stepped into a pretty nice situation when Chip Kelly left for the NFL, but that doesn’t mean at least one of them isn’t among the best offensive coaches in college football.

In 2012, Kelly’s last in Eugene, the Ducks scored an average of 49.6 points and amassed 537.3 yards per game. In Helfrich’s first season after being promoted from offensive coordinator, and Frost stepping into his shoes as OC, Oregon scored 45.5 points and gained 565 yards on average.

Last year, with Frost calling the plays for the second time, the Ducks lit up the scoreboard for 47.2 points (which ranked second nationally) and a robust 552.9 yards per game. They also made it to the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship Game and quarterback Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy.

As for Frost, the former national champion quarterback has one of the most sparkling resumes in all of football. He actually began his college playing career with Bill Walsh at Stanford before transferring to home Nebraska to play for Hall of Famer Tom Osborne. Selected in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, Frost played defensive back under head coach Bill Parcells. His defensive coordinator? Bill Belichick. After two years in Green Bay, Frost even spent some time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003, with DC Monte Kiffin and head coach Jon Gruden.

Simply put, you won’t find a much more complete group of coaches to play for than Scott Frost had.

Of course, then Frost himself began a well-rounded coaching career. After serving as a graduate assistant at Nebraska and Kansas State, Frost was the linebackers coach at Northern Iowa in 2007 and added the title of co-defensive coordinator there in 2008. The following year, he was hired to coach wide receivers for Kelly.

Coaching (and playing) on both sides of the football is rare and it provides Frost with a unique perspective that makes him not only one of the best offensive coordinators in the nation, but also a surefire head coaching candidate.

Next: Chad Morris

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