30 best college football coaches of all time, ranked

10. Barry Switzer, Oklahoma 1973-1988

Barry Switzer is a legend in Norman. He was with the Oklahoma Sooners for more than 20 years, spending eight years as the team’s offensive coordinator, then becoming their head coach for the next 15 seasons. During his time as a coordinator, he became known for his wishbone offense, and that put him on the map nationally. They were a record-setting offense under Switzer, and he bided his time to get the Oklahoma job instead of taking other jobs that likely came calling.

Under Switzer, Oklahoma had success for the better part of a decade. They had at least a part of the Big Eight title from 1973 to 1980. He led a team that was full of talent. During his time at Oklahoma, he coached 54 players to All-American status. Oklahoma won three national titles under Switzer. The team was a dominant force in the Big Eight.

Switzer’s tenure was not without controversy. The Sooners were placed on probation by the NCAA for violations and scandals which included player arrests. Switzer decided to step down from his role, and he eventually went on to coach the Dallas Cowboys to the Super Bowl.

Switzer is one of the few coaches who could dominate the college and professional world of football. Only Switzer, Pete Carroll, and Jimmie Johnson have championships in both college and professional football. There is a reason for that. Switzer was one of the best in the history of the sport.