College coaches do not succeed as an NFL head coach. At least that’s a popular misnomer among fans and media alike. Many are still fixated on Bobby Petrino and Steve Spurrier along with the perceived failure of Nick Saban as the head coach in Miami.
With respect to Spurrier, he simply did not want to put in the necessary work it takes to win in the NFL. Petrino was a conniving individual who always had his pole in the water — figuratively and literally. Saban spent two years with the Dolphins where he went a combined 15-17. A year prior to his arrival the Dolphins were 4-12, a year after his departure they were 1-15. Who knows how the story would have played out had he stayed in the NFL?
Former NFL players use their connections to transition from a playing career to coaching in the pros. Most aspiring coaches do not have that luxury – in fact, many of the greatest coaches ever either had little or no NFL playing experience. Those that did not make it to the big stage, especially if they were aware of their athletic shortcomings early on, were astute in their preparation which led to a keen understanding of the game.
The biggest concern with college coaches moving to the professional ranks is dealing with grown men – many with diva tendencies not to mention yenta agents – and the heavy workload that is required. However, there have been a multitude of successful NFL coaches who at one point coached in the college ranks. Certainly, the argument can be made that college assistants and/or college head coaches are better served to put in time as assistants in the NFL prior to being elevated to an NFL head coaching position.
No matter, college coaches can and have been successful in the pro ranks. Given the spread influences in today’s NFL, the transition is somewhat easier compared to the more physical game of years past.
Following is a list of coaches (not exhaustive but a snapshot) of NFL coaches past and present who spent time coaching in college. Spoiler alert – my upcoming coaching candidate rankings will include several that are currently CFB head coaches.
Bruce Arians – Variety of positions including HC at Temple
Paul Brown – HC at Ohio State
Pete Carroll – Variety of positions including secondary coach at Ohio State and DC at NC State and HC at USC
Blanton Collier – HC at Kentucky
Don Coryell – Variety of positions including HC at San Diego State
Tom Coughlin – Variety of positions including HC at Rochester Institute of Technology
Weeb Ewbank – Variety of positions including HC at Washington University (MO)
Joe Gibbs – Offensive line coach at four schools before the NFL
Jerry Glanville – DC at Western Kentucky – DEs/LB coach at Georgia Tech
Dennis Green – HC at NW and Stanford
Jon Gruden – TE coach at Pacific
John Harbaugh – Variety of positions in college over 14 seasons
Mike Holmgren – QB Coach at San Francisco State and BYU
Jimmy Johnson – National Championship HC at Miami
Matt LaFleur – Four colleges culminating with an OC position at Ashland
Marv Levy – HC at New Mexico, California and William & Mary
Vince Lombardi – Assistant at Fordham and Army before becoming OC with the Giants
John Madden – HC at Allan Hancock College – DC at San Diego State
Doug Marrone – Variety of positions including HC at Syracuse
Bill O’Brien – Variety of positions including HC at Penn State
Sean Payton – Variety of positions including OC at Miami (OH)
Bill Parcells – Variety of positons including HC of Air Force
Andy Reid – O-line coach at several schools
Bobby Ross – HC at Maryland and Georgia Tech prior to the Chargers
John Robinson – HC at USC
Mike Shanahan – Variety of positions including OC at Minnesota at Florida
Hank Stram – Assistant for Purdue, SMU, Notre Dame and Miami
Mike Tomlin – WR and DB coach
Dick Vermeil – Variety of positions including HC of UCLA
Bill Walsh – Variety of positions including HC at Stanford
Sam Wyche – Variety of positions including HC at Indiana
Mike Zimmer – Variety of positions including DC at Washington State
The list is grand. Make no mistake, Lincoln Riley (current Oklahoma HC) and Matt Rhule (Baylor) will be in high demand this offseason.
