20 best college football coaches without a national championship
By Brad Weiss
R.C. Slocum
, Texas A&M
R.C. Slocum did much more for the Texas A&M program than just win football games. When he took over the program back in 1989, he was tasked with really cleaning up a mess. From the time he left A&M in 2002, he had done that and more, finishing up his time at the school as the winning-est coach in the history of the program.
After taking over in 1989, Slocum had some work to do, but it did not take him long to do it. By the 1991 season, he had established the Aggies as the best team in the SWC, and they went on a run of three-straight conference titles. In fact, during his entire career with the Aggies, Slocum never had a losing season, which is an incredible stat in itself.
The Aggies were not only a powerhouse in the SWC, but also in college football, as they finished in the top-25 10 times. A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Slocum finished his coaching career with a win-loss line of 123-47-2, thanks to his incredible coaching, and his “Wrecking Crew” defense. When the Aggies joined the Big 12, he went out and won that conference too, picking up a conference title in 1998.
Texas A&M never won a national title during Slocum’s run, but it certainly was not for a lack of trying. He led the team to three straight Cotton Bowls, although they failed to win it in each of those seasons. Still, he left his mark on the University, and is still one of the best college coaches to never win a national title.