The SEC West is home to some of the highest paid coaches in the entire country. All seven make at least $4 million, but only one can top the power rankings.
The 2015 season has concluded and it looks like all 7 coaches in the SEC West will be returning in 2016. LSU head coach Les Miles appeared to be fired but managed to survive, largely due to public support. Mississippi State’s head man Dan Mullen has been linked to countless jobs but he appears to be staying put for at least one more season.
But who doesn’t love a good power ranking? We’re going to be power ranking the $4 million dollar club, better known as the SEC West’s head coaches. Just because your coach isn’t in the top 2 or 3 doesn’t mean we think he should be on the hot seat. The power ranking will be strictly based on what each SEC West coach has accomplished while at his respective school and where the program projects next season.
Without further adieu, let’s get this party started.
7. Bret Bielema- Bielema’s Razorbacks have come on strong for at least 7 wins the last 2 seasons and the program projects in a great direction under Bielema. It remains to be seen if Bielema can turn the Razorbacks into a contender rather than an annual dark horse, however. Bielema still has a losing record overall (17-20) and can’t raise higher than 7th until he boasts a winning conference record.
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6. Dan Mullen- If Mullen’s entire tenure was equal to what he had accomplished in the last 2 seasons (18 wins and an Orange Bowl appearance), he would be much higher on this list. Mississippi State looks like it may slip a bit in 2016, however, after losing one of the winning-est senior classes in school history. What keeps Mullen near the bottom of this list, however, is not his 54-35 record overall. He gets to play Kentucky every year and is still 4 games below .500 (26-30) in the conference. Once that changes, we’ll talk about his ranking changing.
5. Kevin Sumlin- After seeing his win total decline in each of his years at Texas A&M, Sumlin has at least matched his 2014 win total with 8 victories. The program doesn’t appear to be in a place that will get far beyond 8 wins in 2016, though, which keeps Sumlin this low on the list. If this were recruiting only, Sumlin would be top 3. Sumlin has already won an SEC Coach of the Year Award (2012) but the Aggies haven’t felt like a threat to win the conference since Johnny Manziel was taking snaps at quarterback.
4. Gus Malzahn- Guz Malzahn won 5 different national coach of the year awards in 2013. O my how things have changed. After winning the SEC West, SEC and playing for a national championship in 2013, the Tigers have fallen hard in back to back years. Auburn won 8 games in 2014 and had to scratch and claw their way to bowl eligibility in 2015. Maybe Malzahn can win his bowl this year, something he has yet to do in his time at Auburn. Having won the SEC and playing for a national championship are the only things keeping Malzahn from falling further down this list.
Betsided
3. Hugh Freeze- Yes. Freeze belongs in the top 3. Hugh Freeze has brought a team that won 2 games the year before he arrived to 33 wins and a 17-15 record in the SEC. Let’s not forget that he has led the program to back-to-back New Year’s Six Bowls (not the Houston Nutt January One Bowls either). While the studs of his infamous 2013 recruiting class are likely headed to the NFL, he has recruited well enough in his other seasons to keep the Rebels competitive in the SEC West. The two coaches ahead of him, however, lead programs that are considered the favorites to win the SEC almost year in and year out.
2. Les Miles- Sure Les Miles almost got fired in 2015. But let’s be honest, no one else on this list aside from the man ahead of him can hold a candle to his body of work. Miles sends impact players to the NFL like it is commonplace, owns 3 SEC West titles, 2 SEC titles, 1 national championship (and played for another) and has averaged slightly better than 10 wins a season in his time in Baton Rouge. Why was he almost fired? Not reaching 10 wins in back to back seasons is the main reason. If he fails to reach 10 wins in 2016, another program would still happily snatch him up.
1. Nick Saban- As impressive as Miles’ body of work has been, Nick Saban’s even puts his to shame. Since coming to Tuscaloosa in 2007, the Tide have arguably been more impressive than “Bear” Bryant’s time ruling the SEC. The fact that he has done it all in the SEC West makes it even that much more impressive. Saban has collected at least 10 wins every year since 2008, 6 SEC West titles, 4 SEC Conference Championships, 4 National Championships and 10 coach of the year awards. Nick Saban may be nearing the end of his coaching days but he still rules the roost when it comes to the $4 million dollar club in the SEC West.
Next: Alabama Football: Pruit to Alabama Just Makes Sense
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