Fansided

College football’s 20 best coaches not named Nick Saban

By Connor Muldowney

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)
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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COLLEGE PARK, MD – NOVEMBER 11: Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh during a college football game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Michigan Wolverines on November 11, 2017, at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium, in College Park, Maryland. Michigan defeated Maryland 35-10 (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD – NOVEMBER 11: Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh during a college football game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Michigan Wolverines on November 11, 2017, at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium, in College Park, Maryland. Michigan defeated Maryland 35-10 (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

This may be a controversial rank for Jim Harbaugh. No, it’s not too low, but some may argue that he’s a bit overrated, especially considering he hasn’t finished higher than third place in the Big Ten East in his three seasons with the Michigan Wolverines.

Before coming to Michigan, though, Harbaugh was a turnaround specialist. The former Michigan quarterback made a name for himself in the coaching ranks by leading San Diego to a 29-6 record in three seasons and Stanford came knocking on his door. He transformed the Cardinal from a Pac-10 laughing stock to Orange Bowl champs in just three years.

In Harbaugh’s first season with Stanford, he finished just 4-8. In his final season with the Cardinal, he led them to a 12-1 record with an all-everything quarterback in Andrew Luck putting the program on the map again.

Harbaugh left for the NFL, leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl — facing his brother John and the Baltimore Ravens — in 2012 and made three straight NFC Championship Games. He wore out his welcome, though, and eventually accepted the Michigan job in 2015.

Despite not owning a Big Ten title in three seasons, he holds a 28-11 overall record with an 18-8 mark in conference play. He’s still winning, even if it’s not in big games.