Being a good coach takes a lot more than what most people think–especially at the college level since you have to work with players and their rigorous schedules as they are simultaneously taking classes (and eventually possibly navigating the NFL Draft). Coaching Power Five football takes high levels of empathy, compassion, communication, and knowledge for the game. With that in mind, here are the top 3 football coaches in the PAC-12 entering this upcoming season.
3. Chip Kelly (UCLA)
Chip Kelly starts off my list at number three, and he might not be a popular pick. This choice may cause some controversy, but I think that Kelly has a lot to offer the Bruins in this upcoming season–namely, he's a veteran coach who has had both experience at the college level and the professional level in the NFL. Before coaching the Bruins, Kelly was able to lead the Oregon Ducks to three PAC-12 championships and the Eagles to the playoffs. One thing that Kelly excels at is developing and setting up his running backs to succeed. He also tries to be a very transparent coach with his players, which I think will bring up team morale and chemistry.
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2. Kyle Whittingham (Utah)
Whittingham has been with his program for a good amount of time now. He has been able to establish himself as the head coach of the Utah program and is very underrated considering all of his accomplishments. Whittingham has a .670 winning percentage, which ranks high among coaches who have had their jobs for over five years, and managed to win the PAC-12 Championship in the 2021 season. He has done a phenomenal job at developing players and with that in mind I only see the Utah program continue to get even better. Don't be surprised to see Utak in the top 25 this season, continuing to add to Whittingham's amazing accomplishments.
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1. Lincoln Riley (USC)
Lincoln Riley taking the top spot on this list should come as no surprise. He has been one of the most successful college football coaches in the past decade, being able to make the college football playoffs 3 out of the 5 seasons he coached in Oklahoma. Riley is an offensive genius and has been able to produce 2 Heisman Trophy winners in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray and also a runner up in Jalen Hurts. He is able to adapt to what is going on in games and make quick decisions. It will be interesting to see how USC can perform this season with a huge upgrade to the head coach position and I think we will see continued improvement over the next few years.
These coaches stand out because of their dedication to the development of their players and programs. They have found different ways to improve their teams and it shows in how successful they have been throughout their careers.
Image Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports and Vanquish The Foe
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* Originally published on September 14, 2022, by Royce Linder
