CFB Kings Coach of the Year

It’s Time for Awards Season here on CFB Kings. Since there are still a few games to be played, we will hold off on some of the player awards that we feel are still in question. So, we will start it off with the Coach of the Year.

For us, when we’re picking coaches of the year, it’s not about the glamour and glitz. And it’s not necessarily about going undefeated or going to a BCS Bowl game. It’s about what coach we think actually did the best job "coaching". Hence the reason you wont see Chris Peterson, Gary Patterson, or Gene Chizik on our list. Yes, those 3 gentlemen are great coaches and yes their teams are great. But Boise, TCU, and Auburn are stock piled with talent and were expected to do well.

Here at CFB Kings we like to reward the Coaches who exceeded expectations with less talent than the usual powerhouses.

Here are the Top 5 Coaches of the year (in order):

1. Art Briles, Baylor - The Baylor Bears are going bowling for the first time since 1994. Under the direction of Briles, Baylor also ended a 12-game losing streak against Texas and won at Texas for the first time in 19 years.

2. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma St. - The Cowboys were almost unanimously picked to finish dead last in the Big 12 South. Going into this weeks Bedlam matchup against the Sooners, Oklahoma State is 10-1 and leading the Big 12 South. They are also currently the highest ranked team in the conference. And oh, by the way… he’s 43 now!!!

3. Jim Harbaugh, Stanford - He has taken a dormant monster in Stanford and turned the Cardinal into the class of the Pac-10. Hard nosed, sound fundamental football has given way to a 10-1 season thus far and a #6 ranking. The Rose Bowl is just around the corner.

4. Rich Ellerson, Army - In just his 2nd year, Ellerson has guided the Black Knights to a bowl game for the first time in 14 years. Re-installing the triple option and infecting his team with a “we ARE good enough to win” attitude has paid quick dividends.

5. Dan Mullen, Miss St. - In the toughest division in the entire country (SEC West), Mullen has coached the Bulldogs out of the cellar and into the SEC fray. With a 7-4 record, the Bulldogs are going bowling… but even more impressively, consider the fact that Auburn’s closest game of the year so far was a 17-14 escape from Starkville.