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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1 Jan 1997: Brigham Young Cougars head coach Lavell Edwards looks on during the Cotton Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. BYU won the game, 19-15. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport
1 Jan 1997: Brigham Young Cougars head coach Lavell Edwards looks on during the Cotton Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. BYU won the game, 19-15. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport /

Utah: LaVell Edwards

While BYU is among the nation’s most consistent programs, Edwards brought the Cougars to unmatched heights during a tenure in Provo that spanned nearly three decades.

Edwards was born in Orem and stayed near home for his collegiate playing career as an offensive lineman with Utah State between 1949 and 1951. After starting in the high school coaching ranks, Edwards spent nearly a decade as a BYU assistant under head coach Tommy Hudspeth, who achieved only moderate success.

The Cougars promoted Edwards to head coach in 1972, a decision that would change the trajectory of the program forever. Edwards installed an innovate offense that allowed his quarterbacks to put up unheard of numbers in an era dominated by the ground game, helping BYU improve to 9-3 by 1976.

BYU won at least eight games every season between 1976 and 1993, a remarkable run of consistency for a program that had not reached a bowl prior to Edwards’ arrival. Behind Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Ty Detmer, the Cougars won their lone national championship in 1984, and came close once again with a 14-1 mark in 1996, four years before Edwards’ lengthy tenure came to an end.

With a career mark of 257-101-3 and 19 conference championships, Edwards is one of the most accomplished head coaches in college football history. BYU has remained successful enough over the past decade plus while rival Utah has been home to a pair of terrific coaches in Urban Meyer and Kyle Whittingham, but nobody can match Edwards’ prolific career in the Beehive State.

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