That means we are around 40-45 in the country. Hard to argue. Hoping LK can raise our level. I put the article in the spoiler but for the TLDR crowd here is what Tier 4 means and the other schools in that tier. Thoughts?
Tier 4 jobs: Recruiting or resource restrictions that make player development a focal point; strong facilities but average overall infrastructure in their conferences; limitations with administrative/fan support; a consistent bowl team that competes for division titles, league titles and New Year's Six bowls a few times per decade.
TIER 4: Arkansas, Cal, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Carolina, NC State, Northwestern, Ole Miss, Pitt, Purdue, South Carolina, Texas Tech, Virginia, Washington State, West Virginia
Tier 4 jobs: Recruiting or resource restrictions that make player development a focal point; strong facilities but average overall infrastructure in their conferences; limitations with administrative/fan support; a consistent bowl team that competes for division titles, league titles and New Year's Six bowls a few times per decade.
TIER 4: Arkansas, Cal, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Carolina, NC State, Northwestern, Ole Miss, Pitt, Purdue, South Carolina, Texas Tech, Virginia, Washington State, West Virginia
Tier 1 jobs: Great location with excellent access to elite regional and national recruits; strong infrastructure and commitment from university and athletic administration; few financial limitations on assistant coach and staff hires; history as a top-5 program (recent or long term).
Tier 2 jobs: Very good location and/or access to top 300 recruits; no major limitations around facilities, coaching salaries or support staff; the ability to win a national title occasionally and compete regularly for conference championships; consistent top-20 finishes (recent or long term).
Tier 3 jobs: Good location and/or access to regional recruits; solid facilities and salary pool for assistants and support staff; adequate administrative/fan support with occasional challenges; a place that should regularly contend for division titles and occasionally win the league with a College Football Playoff appearance as a realistic ceiling.
Tier 4 jobs: Recruiting or resource restrictions that make player development a focal point; strong facilities but average overall infrastructure in their conferences; limitations with administrative/fan support; a consistent bowl team that competes for division titles, league titles and New Year's Six bowls a few times per decade.
Tier 5 jobs: Limited recruiting reach that requires a developmental approach; decent and functional facilities; some administrative and booster support with realistic expectations; a job where bowl eligibility is still typically celebrated, and the occasional 10-win season, division title or major bowl appearance is a big deal.
TIER 1: Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, USC
Ranking the best college football coaching hires since 1995: Saban, Dabo and who else?
Texas: Although Texas hasn't performed like a Tier 1 program for a very long time, coaches still view it as a premier job. Facilities improvement and a strong athletic director (Chris Del Conte) enhance the appeal. Texas is in a great location and has the resources and national recruiting reach to consistently compete for the CFP.
USC: Insular thinking has long been the big problem at USC. Perhaps that changes under athletic director Mike Bohn, who has enhanced neglected areas of the program. Coaches remember what Pete Carroll did and know that with the right alignment, few programs can match USC's mix of location and championship history.
TIER 2: Auburn, Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Texas A&M, Washington
Brian Kelly is showing Notre Dame can contend for national titles, although there's clearly a step left to take. Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire
Closest to moving up: Florida State
Biggest underachiever: Texas A&M
Auburn: Coaches know the deal on the Plains. "It's the worst best job in America," a former SEC assistant once told me. "It's SEC, big-time resources, but God, how do you make those people happy?" Despite outsized expectations, Auburn has enough support and recruiting access to regularly challenge in the SEC West.
Florida State: FSU's financial issues are not new and move what otherwise would be a Tier 1 job down a notch. But what FSU lacks in program infrastructure and overall support, it makes up for with incredible access to talent and a history of ACC and national success. The right coach can have the Seminoles in the CFP mix soon.
Michigan: The Wolverines clearly have an Ohio State problem, but coaches still view the job positively, given the power the U-M brand still wields. The Schembechler Hall renovations add sizzle, and Michigan has increased coach pay and other support. But can Michigan compete nationally with one title since 1948?
Notre Dame: Brian Kelly is showing Notre Dame can contend for national titles, although there's clearly a step left to take. A new indoor practice facility helps and financial resources typically aren't lacking. Notre Dame still has national recruiting reach, but some coaches question the school's overall commitment to winning big.
Oregon: A limited local recruiting base is the obvious drawback, but Oregon also has unique advantages with its Nike connection and the luxuries it provides. Mario Cristobal is elevating Oregon's bar for regional recruiting. A bad night in the desert kept the Ducks from the CFP last season, but coaches know they can get it done here.
Penn State: The modernization of recruiting and other elements under James Franklin has made this a more appealing job. A $69 million renovation of the football operations building is moving forward despite the coronavirus pandemic. PSU's location creates some logistical headaches, but the program is close to a CFP breakthrough.
Texas A&M: Throwing gobs of money at everything doesn't equate to championships: Texas A&M has one league title since 1993 and no national titles since 1939. But coaches love having incredible resources and support, not to mention the talent-stocked Houston recruiting market 90 miles away.
Washington: There's a good debate whether Washington or its archrival Oregon is the No. 2 job in the Pac-12. Washington has a better location for recruiting and more long-term tradition (four national titles, 17 league titles). Facilities and fan support are strong, and Chris Petersen undoubtedly improved the job with his recent run.
TIER 3: Arizona State, Baylor, Iowa, Louisville, Miami, Michigan State, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Stanford, TCU, Tennessee, UCLA, Utah, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin
Jeremy Pruitt is showing Tennessee's ability to recruit as well as anyone. Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire
Closest to moving up: Miami
Biggest underachiever: UCLA
Wisconsin's position underscores the differences between most successful programs and best jobs. The Badgers boast 13 top-20 finishes since 1993. But coaches must embrace the Wisconsin way, which means winning without many nationally ranked recruits, over-the-top facilities or limitless financial resources. ... Stanford is another job with recent on-field success and several clear pluses (location, first-class athletic department, finances) but also drawbacks (limited recruiting pool, small fan base). ... Other solid, stable programs fueled by player development include Utah, Iowa, Oklahoma State and Michigan State. All four have contended for the CFP or BCS title game, with Michigan State reaching the CFP in 2015. Also, all four either have long-tenured coaches or, in MSU's case, just had one retire.
Miami, Nebraska and Tennessee once were Tier 1 jobs, but all three are struggling for relevancy in their leagues. Miami has tremendous access to talent, but dysfunction and financial issues have led to a mostly forgettable 15-year stretch. Nebraska's infrastructure is strong and getting stronger with a $155 million facility on the way, but the national recruiting is no longer there for a program with only one division title since joining the Big Ten. Tennessee can recruit with the big boys, as Jeremy Pruitt is showing (and Butch Jones did for a while), and boasts strong facilities and fan support, but also a recent run of administrative turmoil. ... TCU and Baylorhave financial backing and good locations for recruiting. The post-Gary Patterson era will be interesting at TCU, a job he dramatically improved. Baylor, once one of the worst Power 5 jobs, boasts strong facilities, financial support, administrative leadership (AD Mack Rhoades) and five 10-win seasons since 2011.
UCLA should be a Tier 2 job with its location, a long overdue football facility and other financial upgrades. But it's hard to ignore no league titles and only one top-10 finish since 1998. Some I spoke to for this piece thought UCLA should be in Tier 4 (yikes). ... Louisville is emerging into a really good job. It has an appealing location, significant recent facilities investments and the ability to recruit a wide range of players, not only from the city and surrounding area. ... Virginia Tech has good tradition in football and strong support from fans and the administration, but the recruiting clout it carried during the best of the Frank Beamer era will be hard to recapture.
TIER 4: Arkansas, Cal, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Carolina, NC State, Northwestern, Ole Miss, Pitt, Purdue, South Carolina, Texas Tech, Virginia, Washington State, West Virginia
North Carolina has built momentum in recruiting under Mack Brown. Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
Closest to moving up: North Carolina
Biggest underachiever: Arkansas
The Arkansas job lately has fallen in prestige, as its recent coaching search showed, although there's still strong booster/fan support and decorated long-term history. ... The purple Wildcats, Kansas State and Northwestern, both have overcome long-term Tier 5 job status with sustained periods of success and major facilities upgrades. ... Several industry sources thought South Carolina should be Tier 3, as a new $50 million facility opened in 2019 and local support is strong. But other than 2010 to 2013 under Spurrier, the team hasn't challenged much in the SEC. ... Georgia Techis in one of the nation's best locations for recruits, but the school has long had financial limitations. Maryland and Cal also benefit in recruiting from their locations, but, like Georgia Tech, are limited in their program infrastructure and lack sustained on-field success.
North Carolina always will be a basketball school, but the football job could soon rise to Tier 3. There's momentum in recruiting under Mack Brown and some key facilities upgrades in 2019. ... NC State has traits of a Tier 3 job (large season-ticket base, good facilities, strong regional recruiting base), but the team has only one 10-win season and no top-10 finishes in its history. ... West Virginia boasts strong local support and eight Top 25 finishes since 2005, and admissions are rarely an obstacle. But the program also is a Big 12 outlier with some restrictions on resources. ... Minnesota and Kentucky both have been Tier 5 jobs, but both also have made important investments into facilities and coaching.
TIER 5: Arizona, Boston College, Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas, Oregon State, Rutgers, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest
Arizona lags behind in facilities and doesn't have much regional recruiting clout. Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire
Closest to moving up: Arizona
Biggest underachiever: Arizona
The Arizona job has really fallen off in recent years, as the school lags far behind in facilities and lacks much regional recruiting clout. .... Several Tier 5 programs, like Wake Forestand Duke, are enjoying periods of sustained success. Syracuse won 10 games in 2018 and Indiana last fall won eight games for the first time since 1993. ... I like the recent coaching hires in the group like Indiana's Tom Allen, Iowa State's Matt Campbell and Oregon State's Jonathan Smith, as well as new hires like Boston College's Jeff Hafley and Rutgers' Greg Schiano, but all of these programs have drawbacks, from location to resources to on-field history. ... The Northeast is one of the tougher areas to build college football programs in, which affects Boston College, Rutgers and Syracuse.
Tier 2 jobs: Very good location and/or access to top 300 recruits; no major limitations around facilities, coaching salaries or support staff; the ability to win a national title occasionally and compete regularly for conference championships; consistent top-20 finishes (recent or long term).
Tier 3 jobs: Good location and/or access to regional recruits; solid facilities and salary pool for assistants and support staff; adequate administrative/fan support with occasional challenges; a place that should regularly contend for division titles and occasionally win the league with a College Football Playoff appearance as a realistic ceiling.
Tier 4 jobs: Recruiting or resource restrictions that make player development a focal point; strong facilities but average overall infrastructure in their conferences; limitations with administrative/fan support; a consistent bowl team that competes for division titles, league titles and New Year's Six bowls a few times per decade.
Tier 5 jobs: Limited recruiting reach that requires a developmental approach; decent and functional facilities; some administrative and booster support with realistic expectations; a job where bowl eligibility is still typically celebrated, and the occasional 10-win season, division title or major bowl appearance is a big deal.
TIER 1: Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, USC
Ranking the best college football coaching hires since 1995: Saban, Dabo and who else?
Texas: Although Texas hasn't performed like a Tier 1 program for a very long time, coaches still view it as a premier job. Facilities improvement and a strong athletic director (Chris Del Conte) enhance the appeal. Texas is in a great location and has the resources and national recruiting reach to consistently compete for the CFP.
USC: Insular thinking has long been the big problem at USC. Perhaps that changes under athletic director Mike Bohn, who has enhanced neglected areas of the program. Coaches remember what Pete Carroll did and know that with the right alignment, few programs can match USC's mix of location and championship history.
TIER 2: Auburn, Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Texas A&M, Washington
Brian Kelly is showing Notre Dame can contend for national titles, although there's clearly a step left to take. Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire
Closest to moving up: Florida State
Biggest underachiever: Texas A&M
Auburn: Coaches know the deal on the Plains. "It's the worst best job in America," a former SEC assistant once told me. "It's SEC, big-time resources, but God, how do you make those people happy?" Despite outsized expectations, Auburn has enough support and recruiting access to regularly challenge in the SEC West.
Florida State: FSU's financial issues are not new and move what otherwise would be a Tier 1 job down a notch. But what FSU lacks in program infrastructure and overall support, it makes up for with incredible access to talent and a history of ACC and national success. The right coach can have the Seminoles in the CFP mix soon.
Michigan: The Wolverines clearly have an Ohio State problem, but coaches still view the job positively, given the power the U-M brand still wields. The Schembechler Hall renovations add sizzle, and Michigan has increased coach pay and other support. But can Michigan compete nationally with one title since 1948?
Notre Dame: Brian Kelly is showing Notre Dame can contend for national titles, although there's clearly a step left to take. A new indoor practice facility helps and financial resources typically aren't lacking. Notre Dame still has national recruiting reach, but some coaches question the school's overall commitment to winning big.
Oregon: A limited local recruiting base is the obvious drawback, but Oregon also has unique advantages with its Nike connection and the luxuries it provides. Mario Cristobal is elevating Oregon's bar for regional recruiting. A bad night in the desert kept the Ducks from the CFP last season, but coaches know they can get it done here.
Penn State: The modernization of recruiting and other elements under James Franklin has made this a more appealing job. A $69 million renovation of the football operations building is moving forward despite the coronavirus pandemic. PSU's location creates some logistical headaches, but the program is close to a CFP breakthrough.
Texas A&M: Throwing gobs of money at everything doesn't equate to championships: Texas A&M has one league title since 1993 and no national titles since 1939. But coaches love having incredible resources and support, not to mention the talent-stocked Houston recruiting market 90 miles away.
Washington: There's a good debate whether Washington or its archrival Oregon is the No. 2 job in the Pac-12. Washington has a better location for recruiting and more long-term tradition (four national titles, 17 league titles). Facilities and fan support are strong, and Chris Petersen undoubtedly improved the job with his recent run.
TIER 3: Arizona State, Baylor, Iowa, Louisville, Miami, Michigan State, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Stanford, TCU, Tennessee, UCLA, Utah, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin
Jeremy Pruitt is showing Tennessee's ability to recruit as well as anyone. Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire
Closest to moving up: Miami
Biggest underachiever: UCLA
Wisconsin's position underscores the differences between most successful programs and best jobs. The Badgers boast 13 top-20 finishes since 1993. But coaches must embrace the Wisconsin way, which means winning without many nationally ranked recruits, over-the-top facilities or limitless financial resources. ... Stanford is another job with recent on-field success and several clear pluses (location, first-class athletic department, finances) but also drawbacks (limited recruiting pool, small fan base). ... Other solid, stable programs fueled by player development include Utah, Iowa, Oklahoma State and Michigan State. All four have contended for the CFP or BCS title game, with Michigan State reaching the CFP in 2015. Also, all four either have long-tenured coaches or, in MSU's case, just had one retire.
Miami, Nebraska and Tennessee once were Tier 1 jobs, but all three are struggling for relevancy in their leagues. Miami has tremendous access to talent, but dysfunction and financial issues have led to a mostly forgettable 15-year stretch. Nebraska's infrastructure is strong and getting stronger with a $155 million facility on the way, but the national recruiting is no longer there for a program with only one division title since joining the Big Ten. Tennessee can recruit with the big boys, as Jeremy Pruitt is showing (and Butch Jones did for a while), and boasts strong facilities and fan support, but also a recent run of administrative turmoil. ... TCU and Baylorhave financial backing and good locations for recruiting. The post-Gary Patterson era will be interesting at TCU, a job he dramatically improved. Baylor, once one of the worst Power 5 jobs, boasts strong facilities, financial support, administrative leadership (AD Mack Rhoades) and five 10-win seasons since 2011.
UCLA should be a Tier 2 job with its location, a long overdue football facility and other financial upgrades. But it's hard to ignore no league titles and only one top-10 finish since 1998. Some I spoke to for this piece thought UCLA should be in Tier 4 (yikes). ... Louisville is emerging into a really good job. It has an appealing location, significant recent facilities investments and the ability to recruit a wide range of players, not only from the city and surrounding area. ... Virginia Tech has good tradition in football and strong support from fans and the administration, but the recruiting clout it carried during the best of the Frank Beamer era will be hard to recapture.
TIER 4: Arkansas, Cal, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Carolina, NC State, Northwestern, Ole Miss, Pitt, Purdue, South Carolina, Texas Tech, Virginia, Washington State, West Virginia
North Carolina has built momentum in recruiting under Mack Brown. Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
Closest to moving up: North Carolina
Biggest underachiever: Arkansas
The Arkansas job lately has fallen in prestige, as its recent coaching search showed, although there's still strong booster/fan support and decorated long-term history. ... The purple Wildcats, Kansas State and Northwestern, both have overcome long-term Tier 5 job status with sustained periods of success and major facilities upgrades. ... Several industry sources thought South Carolina should be Tier 3, as a new $50 million facility opened in 2019 and local support is strong. But other than 2010 to 2013 under Spurrier, the team hasn't challenged much in the SEC. ... Georgia Techis in one of the nation's best locations for recruits, but the school has long had financial limitations. Maryland and Cal also benefit in recruiting from their locations, but, like Georgia Tech, are limited in their program infrastructure and lack sustained on-field success.
North Carolina always will be a basketball school, but the football job could soon rise to Tier 3. There's momentum in recruiting under Mack Brown and some key facilities upgrades in 2019. ... NC State has traits of a Tier 3 job (large season-ticket base, good facilities, strong regional recruiting base), but the team has only one 10-win season and no top-10 finishes in its history. ... West Virginia boasts strong local support and eight Top 25 finishes since 2005, and admissions are rarely an obstacle. But the program also is a Big 12 outlier with some restrictions on resources. ... Minnesota and Kentucky both have been Tier 5 jobs, but both also have made important investments into facilities and coaching.
TIER 5: Arizona, Boston College, Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas, Oregon State, Rutgers, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest
Arizona lags behind in facilities and doesn't have much regional recruiting clout. Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire
Closest to moving up: Arizona
Biggest underachiever: Arizona
The Arizona job has really fallen off in recent years, as the school lags far behind in facilities and lacks much regional recruiting clout. .... Several Tier 5 programs, like Wake Forestand Duke, are enjoying periods of sustained success. Syracuse won 10 games in 2018 and Indiana last fall won eight games for the first time since 1993. ... I like the recent coaching hires in the group like Indiana's Tom Allen, Iowa State's Matt Campbell and Oregon State's Jonathan Smith, as well as new hires like Boston College's Jeff Hafley and Rutgers' Greg Schiano, but all of these programs have drawbacks, from location to resources to on-field history. ... The Northeast is one of the tougher areas to build college football programs in, which affects Boston College, Rutgers and Syracuse.
