Top 10 SEC Head Coaches Of All Time

“….he even coached the legendary basketball figure Pat Riley.”

Since its inception in 1933, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) has had it’s fair share of great coaches in all collegiate sports. Legendary coaches on the hardwood, gritty coaches on the gridiron and strategic coaches on the diamond have all been a part of this storied conference.

It’s only fitting to try and create a list of the top 10 SEC head coaches of all time. It was not an easy list to create, but by analyzing coaching records, personalities and player performance, this list gives each coach a fair shot to claim a spot a in the top 10.

Let’s get started.

10. Philip Fulmer, Head Football Coach, Tennessee (1992-2008), Overall:152-52: Where do we begin with Fulmer? How about a resumé that boasts a national title (1998), two SEC titles (1997-98), and nine 10-win seasons. Fulmer worked his way up to head coach after spending 13 long years as an assistant under coach Johnny Majors. He coached a guy named Peyton Manning, and won a national title the year after Manning left for the NFL. During his tenure, Fulmer set the standard for consistency in the conference.

9. Nolan Richardson, Head Basketball Coach, Arkansas (1985-2002), 508-206: Nolan Richardson is the ONLY college basketball coach to win a junior college championship (1980 with Western Texas), NIT championship (1981 Tulsa) and NCAA title (1994 Arkansas). He coached the Razorbacks to three Final Four appearances: 1990, 1994 and 1995. As a player, Richardson starred at Texas Western (now UTEP). He played for legendary coach, Don Haskins. His coaching philosophy was the subject of an “ESPN 30 for 30” , titled “40 Minutes Of Hell”. Nolan Richardson joins Roy Williams, Denny Crum, Jim Boeheim, and Tubby Smith as coaches to win 365 games in less than 15 seasons.

8. Sarah Patterson, Head Gymnastics Coach, Alabama (1979-2014), 384-88-2: For 35 years, Patterson set the standard of excellence for all gymnastics coaches in the country. During her tenure, Patterson’s coached her teams to six national championships, eight SEC championships and 29 regional titles. Patterson has been named Women’s Gymnastics Coach Of The Year four times. She was inducted to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. Patterson has coached 23 NCAA individual champions, 40 SEC Individual champions, and 4 NCAA Top VIII Award winners.

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7. Skip Bertman, Head Baseball Coach, LSU (1984-2001), 870-330-3:

Skip Bertman started his coaching career at the University of Miami, but spent the bulk of his career coaching the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge. Bertman won five College World Series titles with LSU (1991,1993, 1996-97, and 2000). He also won seven SEC titles during his time at LSU. From 1996 to 2001, Tigers fans led the nation in season attendance.

Bertman even served as the US Olympic team’s coach in 1996, leading his squad to a Bronze finish. A poll conducted by Baseball America named Bertman the second best baseball coach of the 20th century, behind Rod Dedeaux of USC. Skip served as LSU’s Athletic Director, from 2001-2008.

6. Steve Spurrier, Head Football Coach, Florida (1990-2001), South Carolina (2005-15) Overall:228-89-2: Would this really be a list of all-time great SEC coaches if we didn’t include the Ol’ Ball Coach? As a player at Florida, Spurrier cemented his legacy by winning the 1966 Heisman Trophy. His “Fun n’ Gun” offense at Florida caused headaches for opposing SEC opponents. He won a national championship in 1996 with the Gators.

At Florida, Spurriers teams managed to take home six SEC titles (1991, 1993-96, 2000). He was named SEC Coach Of The Year seven times. Did we mention that Spurrier is second all time in wins amongst SEC coaches? At South Carolina, Spurrier led the Gamecocks to three 11-win seasons, and an SEC East title in 2010.

5. Pat Summitt, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Tennessee (1974-2012) 1,098-208: Tragedy struck the sporting world when Pat Summitt passed away on June 28. Summitt’s storied career at Tennessee is one filled with numerous accolades, including: Eight NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championships, 16 SEC Championshps, eight SEC Coach Of The Year awards, and seven NCAA Coach Of The Year awards.

Summitt was also named the Naismith Coach of The 20th Century. In 2012, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Summitt’s 1,098 wins are the most in both women’s and men’s basketball history. Her Lady Vols set the standard of excellence in women’s college hoops, reaching the Final Four 22 times. On Sports Center, fellow Tennessee icon, Peyton Manning, reflected on Summitt’s impact at Tennessee:

"“I just always appreciated Pat’s friendship and support. I was always impressed with how all of her former players spoke about her. You speak to people like Tamika Catchings or Chamique Holdsclaw and they just talk about the role that Pat played in all their lives on and off the court. You can just tell the impact that she had on those players. It would have been a great experience to play for her. She could have coached any team, any sport, men’s or women’s. It wouldn’t have mattered because Pat could flat out coach. I will miss her dearly and I am honored to call her my friend. My thoughts and prayers are with Tyler and their entire family.”"

4. Nick Saban, Head Football Coach, LSU (2000-04), Alabama (2007-present), Overall Record: 190-60-1: Love him or hate him, you can’t deny Nick Saban’s greatness (unless you’re a disgruntled Miami Dolphins fan, or Auburn fan). Four out of the last seven years, Alabama has won the National Championship. In the past five seasons, Saban’s Crimson Tide have only lost seven games. Add in his national title from LSU, and Saban has five titles overall, just one shy of another great Alabama coach. The argument for Saban’s greatness could have taken up the rest of this article, but we’ll save you the hassle of having to read that if you’re not an Alabama fan. Just check this info out here.

3. Robert Neyland, Head Football Coach, Tennessee (1926-34, 36-40, 46-52) Overall Record: 173–31–12: A US Army Veteran, Neyland is one of the most influential figures not only in the SEC, but in all of college football. Neyland coached the Vols for 21 years, splitting time between serving his country and mentoring his team. He would coach the Vols to seven conference titles, and four national titles. His record against legendary coach Bear Bryant was 5-0-2 (Bryant coached at Kentucky during those years). Neyland’s Volunteers would post six undefeated seasons under him. In 1939, the Volunteers shutout every regular season opponent they faced. Tennessee honored Robert Neyland’s legacy by naming their stadium after him, which is the fifth largest college football stadium in the country.

2. Adolph Rupp, Head Basketball Coach, Kentucky (1930-72), Overall Record: 876-190: Adolph Rupp is regarded as one of the greatest college basketball coaches to ever step foot on the hardwood. The Kansas native took over the Wildcats basketball program in 1930, and never looked back. During his 42 year tenure at Kentucky, he made the NCAA tournament 20 times. He would reach the Final Four 6 times, and win 4 national championships. Rupp was named National Coach Of The Year 4 times, and SEC Coach Of The Year 7 times. His 876 wins place him fourth on the all-time wins list. Rupp was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969. The Wildcats won an impressive 13 SEC tournament titles under Rupp, and he even coached the legendary basketball figure Pat Riley.

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1.Paul “Bear” Bryant, Head Football Coach, Kentucky (1946-53) Alabama (1958-82), Overall Record: 323-85-17: Perhaps the most recognized figure in SEC history, Bear Bryant’s legacy is one that changed a sport, conference and university forever. As a player, Bryant won a champion at Alabama, playing under legendary coach Frank Thomas. Bryant’s first coaching job in the SEC was at Kentucky, where he led the Wildcats to an SEC Title in 1950. He also led Kentucky to their first bowl appearance.

He would go on to coach the Texas A&M Aggies (where he also served as athletic director). The summer spent with his team in Junction, TX would go down in history, due to the grueling work he put his players through. Those who made it through the camp earned the title of “the junction boys”. One of Bryant’s “junction boys” is former Crimson Tide coach Gene Stallings, who won a national championship in 1992.

Bryant turned around the Aggies football program, and decided to head back home to Alabama. At Alabama, Bryant put together a career that led many to regard him as the best college football coach of all time. During his tenure at Alabama he won 6 national titles, 14 SEC titles, and named SEC Coach Of The Year 12 times. The list of accolades goes on forever. His houndstooth cap became a cultural pattern for a small town in west Alabama, which is one of many memories that live on in every way, shape and form on the University of Alabama’s campus.

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