Fansided

Best college football coach in history from each state

By Nathaniel Reeves

TUSCALOOSA, AL - CIRCA 1958-1982: Paul Bryant, head coach of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team observes the play during a game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Alabama) (Photo by University of Alabama/Collegiate Images/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - CIRCA 1958-1982: Paul Bryant, head coach of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team observes the play during a game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Alabama) (Photo by University of Alabama/Collegiate Images/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBIA, MO – OCTOBER 29: Two Missouri Tigers football helmets rest on the turf during the first half of a NCAA football game against the Kentucky Wildcats on October 29, 2016, at Memorial Stadium in Columbia Missouri. (Photo by Scott Kane/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO – OCTOBER 29: Two Missouri Tigers football helmets rest on the turf during the first half of a NCAA football game against the Kentucky Wildcats on October 29, 2016, at Memorial Stadium in Columbia Missouri. (Photo by Scott Kane/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Missouri: Dan Devine 

While perhaps better known for leading Notre Dame to a national title, Devine enjoyed a terrific run at Missouri to go down as a Show Me State legend.

A star quarterback in high school, Devine excelled in both football and basketball at Minnesota Duluth before quickly jumping into the coaching ranks as an assistant at Michigan State under Munn. Devine earned his first head coaching gig in 1955 with Arizona State and complied a 27-3 record with one of the best offenses in the nation before heading off the Missouri after three years in Tempe.

The Tigers had endured several years of mediocrity prior to Devine’s arrival but went 6-5 with an appearance in the Orange Bowl in his debut campaign. One year later, Missouri rose to national prominence with a 10-1 mark, a No. 5 finish in the AP Poll, and first bowl victory in school history.

Missouri would finish in the top 11 four more times under Devine, including a Sugar Bowl win in 1965 and a 9-2 campaign in 1969. Missouri did not earn another 10-win season until 2007 after declining rapidly in the post-Devine era, and his .704 winning percentage is easily the best for the program in the modern era.

Devine left for the Green Bay Packers in 1971 following his only losing season with the Tigers and later went on to etch his name in Notre Dame lore with a title in 1977. Gary Pinkel finally returned the program to respectability in the 2000s and owns the school record for wins, but Missouri’s best seasons all came under Devine.

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