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College football coach rankings: Has Dabo Swinney officially surpassed Nick Saban?

By Phil Poling

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers meets head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide at mid-field after his 44-16 win in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers meets head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide at mid-field after his 44-16 win in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Texas Christian head coach Gary Patterson prepares to lead his team onto the field against Stanford in the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017. (Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images)
Texas Christian head coach Gary Patterson prepares to lead his team onto the field against Stanford in the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017. (Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images) /

No. 6: Gary Patterson, TCU

Just outside our top five is TCU head coach Gary Patterson. The defensive-minded Patterson’s been in charge of the Horned Frogs since 2000 when he took over for the Mobile Alabama Bowl. Since then, he’s compiled a record of 167-63. Patterson’s winning percentage, .726, ranks fifth among active coaches.

Of Patterson’s 18 full seasons at the helm, the Horned Frogs won double-digit games 11 times, including back-to-back 12- and 13-win campaigns in 2009 and 2010. The ’10 team was Patterson’s most well-rounded squad, as the offense scored the fourth-most points per game (41.6) and their defense allowed the fewest points in the country (12.0).

The Horned Frogs routinely pull in good recruits nowadays, but Patterson’s classes in the 2000’s all ranked between 44 and 74, per 247Sports. Its obvious recruits have noticed the continued success in Fort Worth, as Patterson hasn’t had a single class since that ranked worse than 43rd.

Patterson’s bowl record is impressive at 11-6, but he only won a single BCS game (2010 Rose Bowl) during the era and his Horned Frogs have yet to reach the College Football Playoff. Success over time matters, though, and Patterson’s been able to sustain a good bit of it. TCU isn’t a football powerhouse like Alabama or Clemson by any means, but Patterson continues to turn the tide and pile up wins.