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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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Dartmouth College mugs are displayed for sale at a store on campus the day before a Republican presidential debate sponsored by Bloomberg via Getty Images and The Washington Post held at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, U.S., on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. The event presents the first debate of the 2012 political season focused solely on the economy. Photographer: Scott Eells/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Dartmouth College mugs are displayed for sale at a store on campus the day before a Republican presidential debate sponsored by Bloomberg via Getty Images and The Washington Post held at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, U.S., on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. The event presents the first debate of the 2012 political season focused solely on the economy. Photographer: Scott Eells/Bloomberg via Getty Images /

New Hampshire: Bob Blackman

While New Hampshire is currently enjoying its best period in program history, Blackman’s Dartmouth squads remain the greatest college football accomplishment in the history of the state.

Blackman was named the captain of the freshman team at USC as a promising defensive end in 1937, only to see his playing career cut short by polio. The Trojans named Blackman an assistant coach shortly after despite the fact that he was an undergraduate student, and he took his first head coaching job at Pasadena City College in 1949.

Following a quick stop at Denver, Blackman was named head coach of Dartmouth for the 1955 season. Dartmouth was one of the original teams in college football but had not won a single conference title in nearly 60 years prior to Blackman’s arrival.

The Indians improved to 7-2 by Blackman’s third season while winning the Ivy League, and went on to post three undefeated seasons prior to his departure for Illinois in 1971. Blackman finished his Dartmouth career with a record of 104-37-3 and won seven conference championships, including a perfect 1970 campaign and No. 14 finish in the AP Poll.

Dartmouth has been a consistent Ivy League contender for long stretches since, but no Big Green coach has matched the success of Blackman. While longtime New Hampshire coach Sean McDonnel is at least in the conversation with a 141-83 record and 13 straight playoff appearances, he’s yet to match the highs of the Blackman era at Dartmouth.

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