Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 11
Next
Dec 31, 2014; Atlanta , GA, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Gary Patterson reacts during the second quarter against the Mississippi Rebels in the 2014 Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2014; Atlanta , GA, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Gary Patterson reacts during the second quarter against the Mississippi Rebels in the 2014 Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

The second head coach on our list, TCU’s Gary Patterson should be considered one of the top ten defensive coaches in college football not only for his teams’ success, but also for his role in the rise of the 4-2-5 defense, which is commonly used today to defend against the rise of spread offenses.

Patterson began his coaching career back in 1982 as a graduate assistant at Kansas State, and hopped around seven times until he became a full-time position coach at the Division 1-A level at Utah State in 1992. He spent three years with the Aggies and one at Navy until joining Dennis Franchione as the defensive coordinator at New Mexico in 1996. Patterson followed Franchione to TCU in 1998 and was promoted to head coach in 2000.

Since then, TCU has led the nation in total defense six times (2000, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2010), which is not only more than any school over that time period, but also more than any program in college football history since such statistics were kept beginning in 1937.

In both 2009 and 2010, Patterson led the Horned Frogs to undefeated regular seasons and BCS bowl games. TCU won ten games or more eight times in Patterson’s first eleven seasons as head coach, which helped them raise the school’s prestige enough to join the Big 12 in 2012.

Last season, TCU’s third in the league, the Horned Frogs put together an impressive 12-1 record, a share of the conference title, and nearly made it to the inaugural College Football Playoff. Patterson was named the AFCA and AP Coach of the Year, the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year and the Walter Camp Coach of the Year (the second time he won each award). He was also the Big 12 Coach of the Year, the Home Depot Coach of the Year and won the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award.

Even though the Horned Frogs allowed more yards last season than they would have liked (341.8 yards per game, which ranked 18th nationally), TCU was among the nation’s best in forcing turnovers. The unit ranked second nationally with 40 turnovers in 2014, just two behind Louisiana Tech, who had 42 but also played in one more game. The Horned Frogs intercepted 26 passes last year and recovered 14 fumbles.

TCU was also one of the best in the nation in terms of tackles for loss. The Horned Frogs accumulated 8.6 TFLs per game in 2014, which ranked second nationally, and had 112 tackles for loss overall, which was fourth. Patterson’s rush defense also ranked in the nation’s top ten and allowed just 108.9 yards per game on the ground – the best mark in the Big 12.

In addition to Patterson, much of the success should be attributed to TCU defensive coordinator Dick Bumpas, who joined the Horned Frogs in 2004 and has helped lead the school to No. 1 ranked defenses three times.

Next: 5. Bud Foster

Home/College Football