Top College Coaches All-Time

Our guest in this episode is author and historian Matthew DiBiase and he joins us in the Pigpen to discuss one of his books on college football's best sideline bosses titled, Lords of the Gridiron I: College Football's Greatest Coaches

Matthew DiBiase is the host of The Packaged Tourist Show podcast and author of some fabulous books on gridiron history including Lords of the Gridiron: College Football's Greatest Coaches, and Lords of the Gridiron II: Pro Football's Greatest Coaches

Matthew has taken the time over years of experimentation, research, and study to craft a formula that determines the top coaches of a sport. The secret recipe compiles items such as winning percentage, championships taken, and games won, and then also has subtractors such as losing seasons, losing a title game, and other negatives to give an analytical and schematic score for ranking purposes. The system is much more in-depth than this and Mr Dibiase covers his research formula in much greater detail in his book, but I can tell you it is really quite interesting.

One key element to remember is that to be in consideration as a Legend of the Gridiron, these collegiate coaches must have a minimum of 10 years of experience in the position of head coach in college. It is quite interesting really brings the side line bosses you would expect to the forefront but it also elevates our attention to some guys that might not have been thought of.

You will of course see names like Bear Bryant, Nick Saban, Pop Warner, Joe Paterno, Urban Myer, Tom Osborne, Barry Switzer, Bud Wilkinson, and more but the order of their rankings and the detailed write-up of their respective career bios and reasons for their ranking levels are some added icing to this cake! I will not ruin the book for you on where coaches stand in the rankings and will leave it for you to enjoy in your reading of the book.

So please listen to our guest in the podcast provided above and then pick up a copy of his book, Lords of the Gridiron: College Football's Greatest Coaches. The use of the Amazon links on this page have some affiliation to helping Pigskin Dispatch with costs as well as we are an Amazon Affiliate. Thank you on behalf of Matthew Dibiase and of Pigskin Dispatch for your purchase. I think you will enjoy it!

The banner photo is of Bear Bryant (1977) Original Photographs, Photographer: Malcolm W. Emmons. Scanning auction house: Heritage Auctions. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

A Very Special thanks to information obtained from Matthew DiBiase and his great book!