Yesterday the bottom half of the Pac-12 coaches was discussed (12-7) and some great coaches were left out of the top half. That is life in the Pac-12. All 12 men can coach with the best of them and, arguably, eight of the coaches could make a case to be the best coach. Once again, this list is not based solely on records, but who would you want to start up your football program. Lets take a look at the top coaches in the Pac-12 conference.
Ranking Pac-12 Coaches: 6-1
6. Mike Riley- Oregon St. (88-73 at OSU and career record)
Mike Riley is the guy who has done the most with the least. Having to deal with recruiting against their rivals at Oregon, the Beavers continue to compete with every team in the Pac-12. Riley, year in and year out, has one of the worst rosters in the conference and still finds ways to lead them to winning records and bowl games. If Riley can figure out how to beat some more ranked teams he could be one of the better coaches in the nation, not just the conference.
5. Jim Mora- UCLA (19-8 at UCLA and career record)
Labeled as a strictly NFL guy, Jim Mora is proving that he is a very good college coach. Mora has proven to be a strong recruiter, with three straight top 20 classes, and is able to mold young guys into better, more mature players. He has led UCLA to an 18-9 mark in two seasons and has them poised to make a championship run in 2014. If the Bruins take the next step this season, winning a Pac-12 title and making the playoffs, Mora may find himself up a few spots higher on this list next season.
4. Mike Leach- Washington St. (9-16 at WSU/93-59 career record)
Mike Leach might be the top offensive mind in college football and he is the perfect guy to lead the Cougars. Washington State is the toughest job in the Pac-12, but Leach is the guy who will allow them to be competitive every year. In just his second season at the helm, he led the Cougars to their first bowl game since 2003 and improved their previous season’s win total by three games. Look for Leach and the Cougars to be competing with the big boys in the Pac-12 in a few years.
3. Todd Graham-Arizona St. (18-9 at ASU/67-38 career record)
Todd Graham has led the Sun Devils to an 18-9 record in two seasons, rebounding nicely from his issues at Pittsburgh. Arizona State has made a commitment to Graham and his staff, and the renovations of the Tempe facilities show how committed the athletic department is. Coming off a Pac-12 South championship, with improved facilities and top assistants, Graham and the Sun Devils look to be long-term contenders.
2. David Shaw- Stanford (34-7 at Stanford and career record)
At the end of last season David Shaw was probably the best coach in the Pac-12, but that is not the case with a new addition to the Pac-12 coaching fraternity. However, Shaw is a great coach. He has led the Cardinal to a 34-7 record in his three years, as well as three BCS bowl appearances and two top-10 finishes in the final AP poll. 2014 might be Shaw’s toughest coaching job yet, so it will be interesting to see just how well he does with all the talent he lost.
1. Chris Petersen- Washington (First Year at Washington/92-12 career record)
The best coach in the Pac-12 is the new guy in town. Chris Petersen will be taking over a Washington Huskies team is on the upswing. There is no denying that what Petersen did at Boise State was remarkable and he will look to continue his success in the Pac-12. Petersen would be the first Boise State coach to move to a big-time BCS school and thrive, but all signs point to him doing just fine.
There is some serious star power when it comes to coaches on this list and all six can make a case for being called the best in the conference. With these 12 coaches and the talent in the conference, the Pac-12 will be fun to watch all season long.
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