25 biggest villains in college football history

9

Barry Switzer

Head Coach, Oklahoma

Before there was Nick Saban at Alabama, there was Barry Switzer at Oklahoma. Switzer was the head coach of one of the better teams in the history of college football, as his Sooner ballclubs were annually regarded as one of the best teams in the country. He was the main man behind a cast of characters that will forever be remembered, including the No. 1 villain on our list.

For Switzer, his ascension to the top of the Oklahoma food chain was a long one. He started off as the team’s running back coach, before being promoted to offensive coordinator. When Chuck Fairbanks left the school to be the head coach of the New England Patriots, Switzer took over, going undefeated during his first two seasons at the helm. It was quite a beginning to a career that would have its fair share of lows.

Switzer was the head coach of the Sooners from 1973-88, before leaving the school on bad terms. In 1989, the school was placed on probation due to NCAA violations, which included player Charles Thomson soliciting cocaine to undercover FBI agents. The Sooners had several scandals at the time, and Switzer decided it was best to resign his post after 16 years leading the team. He won three national titles during his time at Oklahoma, and still calls Norman home today.

In 1994, Switzer was named the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, helping lead the team to a Super Bowl championship. He is one of only three coaches to ever win both a national title, and a Super Bowl, joining Pete Carroll and Jimmy Johnson. His teams were hated during his time at Oklahoma, especially by the University of Texas, and it lands him in the top-10 of our rankings.