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SEC Football: Power Ranking the SEC East’s New Coaches

By John Richardson

Dec 4, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; The SEC trophy on display before the SEC coaches press conference with Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; The SEC trophy on display before the SEC coaches press conference with Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 31, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers defensive coordinator Will Muschamp speaks to an official during the second quarter against the Mississippi Rebels at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers defensive coordinator Will Muschamp speaks to an official during the second quarter against the Mississippi Rebels at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports /

#1.  Will Muschamp

Will Muschamp had all the same advantages Kirby Smart has entering his first chance at leading an SEC football team.  He learned under legends like Nick Saban and Mack Brown.  His defenses were some of the best ever.  He was an elite recruiter and was coaching at a program rich in football tradition and upcoming prospects.

And he failed.

That’s part of the reason I have to put Smart at #2.  Too many defensive coordinators have failed recently in their first attempts at being head coaches.  Muschamp was ousted at Florida after winning 10 games — combined — in his last two years.  He knew he didn’t leave the cupboards bare, though, and he let it be known.  It’s a large reason why Jim McElwain was able to win an SEC East title in his first year as coach of the Gators.

Muschamp led the Gators to 11 wins in 2012 and a season-high ranking of #3.  That was obviously the high point, but let’s be fair about 2013.  An unnatural and unfair injury bug hit the Gators hard, causing 23 players to miss games.  While accumulating only 4 (2013) wins is unacceptable at a place like Florida, they improved to 6 in 2014 and I think they were already on the right track.  He set McElwain up with an easy job.

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Call me crazy, but I think Muschamp and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper could have won the SEC East in 2015 as well.  I don’t know if Muschamp will be able to have the same success recruiting at a place like South Carolina, but Kurt Roper has rejoined him and I think they’ll be one of the better coached teams in SEC football.  Then again…he did only win 4 games at Florida one year.  4 wins.  Florida.  Not Vandy.  To be honest, this list could be flipped completely.  But only one coach has prior experience and a double digit win season under his belt.

Who knows, but it sure will be fun to watch.  Get here SEC football.

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