College football's 20 best coaches not named Nick Saban

College football’s 20 best coaches not named Nick Saban

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney talks into his AT&T headset during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers on January 1, 2018, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly reacts while with his daughter Grace Kelly following the Citrus Bowl against the LSU Tigers on January 1, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. Notre Dame won 21-17. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

The hot seat had Brian Kelly’s name written all over it heading into the 2017 season, but it took a herculean effort from his team to remove it completely.

Notre Dame went from 4-8 with a head coach who had his days numbered to 10-3 with a Citrus Bowl win. You could say he needed a 10-win season to keep his job, and he did just that by changing his coaching style ever so slightly. He was no longer throwing his players under the bus but rather praising them for their quality play and football was fun again in South Bend.

Still, he needs to prove he can do more in South Bend before he moves up on this list. He’s here because of his rise in the ranks from Grand Valley to Central Michigan to Cincinnati and now with the Fighting Irish. He’s won everywhere he’s been.

In fact, he went 118-35 with two Division II national titles with Grand Valley State from 1991-2003, 19-16 with a bowl appearance with Central Michigan (turning the Chippewas around), 34-6 with two BCS bowl berths at Cincinnati and now he’s 48-34 at Notre Dame.

Winning consistently at Notre Dame could put him in the top-five nationally, but right now, he’ll hover around the 9-10 spot.