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Ranking the top ten defensive coaches in college football

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Apr 18, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Kirby Smart talks to linebacker Walker Jones (35) during the A-day game at Bryant Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Kirby Smart talks to linebacker Walker Jones (35) during the A-day game at Bryant Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 18, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers defensive coordinator Will Muschamp watches his squad during the A-Day game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers defensive coordinator Will Muschamp watches his squad during the A-Day game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports /

We know things didn’t work out for Will Muschamp as the head coach of the Florida Gators, but he’s still the best defensive coach in college football today.

Even while the offense struggled in Gainesville, the defense was solid. Muschamp’s Florida defenses held opponents under 300 yards in 24 of his 49 games and the Gators held opponents to fewer than 100 yards 23 times.

The 2012 unit was Muschamp’s best at Florida. That season the Gators finished in the nation’s top five in scoring defense (14.5 points per game) and total defense (287.5 yards). Equally stingy against the run and the pass, Florida held opponents to only 94.5 yards per game and allowed just seven touchdown passes.

Last season, Florida ranked 13th nationally in rush defense (116.2 yards per game) and 15th in total defense. The Gators allowed only 4.55 yards per play, which ranged fifth in the country.

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Of course, Muschamp made his mark as a defensive coordinator before taking the head coaching job at Florida and led top-notch defenses everywhere he coached. In fact, in 12 years as either a head coach or defensive coordinator, Muschamp’s units ranked in the nation’s top ten statistically ten times.

As the coordinator at Texas in 2009, Muschamp’s unit ranked third in the nation in total defense. They allowed just 73 rushing yards per game, held opponents to a 26.5% conversion rate on third downs and forced 37 turnovers including 25 interceptions, all of which led the country. The Longhorns went 13-0, won the Big 12 and played in the BCS National Championship Game.

Muschamp’s No. 1 priority is to stop the run, and his units have excelled doing so. Texas had the nation’s best rushing defense over a three-season period from 2008-10.

Of course, the best defensive unit Muschamp ever coached was his 2003 LSU Tigers squad, which won the national title under head coach Nick Saban. That season, LSU led the nation by allowing only 252 total yards per game. The Tigers surrendered just 67 yards on the ground on average, which was the best performance by an SEC squad in the decade of the 2000s. LSU also set a school record with 44 sacks.

Muschamp left LSU for the NFL with Saban in 2005, but returned to college after one year as the defensive coordinator at Auburn. The Tigers allowed fewer than 300 yards per game from 2006-07.

With Muschamp taking over the defense on the Plains again prior to 2015, Auburn fans are hopeful he will turn around a unit that allowed 487.7 yards per game and 31 points or more across their last seven contests against FBS opponents.

It will be difficult, but don’t be surprised if Muschamp and his defensive coaching staff whip the Tigers into shape quickly. After all, he’s the best defensive coach in college football.

Next: The Top Ten Offensive Coaches in College Football

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