Where former Florida football coach Urban Meyer ranks among the best of the 21st century

USA Today

10 hours ago

Where former Florida football coach Urban Meyer ranks among the best of the 21st century
A full quarter of the 21st century has already elapsed and the first 25 years of the new millennium have been an exciting one for college football. The first two-and-a-half decades have seen dynasties come and go, with many teams ebbing and flowing in the collegiate gridiron landscape.
Probably the most important part of a program is the head coach, who is responsible for every aspect of the school's student-athletes and is ultimately the one who receives the most credit (or blame) depending on the level of success. Many men have tried to succeed at the FBS level, but few have truly excelled.
The Athletic recently took a look at the top 25 head coaches since the turn of the century, with Urban Meyer — who helped lead the Florida Gators to not one but two national titles — landing second overall. Former UF coach Bob Stoops was also lauded for his success with the Oklahoma Sooners at No. 6, but we will focus on the one who served as the skipper during the Orange and Blue's golden years.
Breaking down Urban Meyer's accomplishments
Accomplishments: Three national championships, two additional undefeated seasons, seven conference championships, nine top-five finishes
"Only two coaches have won a national championship at multiple schools, and they top this list. Meyer won two at Florida in 2006 and 2008 before stepping away due to health concerns. He returned at Ohio State a few years later and opened with an undefeated season in 2012, though the Buckeyes were banned from the postseason due to the Tattoogate scandal under Tressel, but then won it all in 2014.
"Meyer also went undefeated at Utah in 2004 with Alex Smith at quarterback, as the Utes became the first program from outside a power conference to reach a BCS bowl. His 187-39 record is good for a winning percentage of 85%. It's one of the most impressive runs in history, behind only the guy who ended Florida's run (Nick Saban)."
The Athletic's top 25 college football coaches of 2000s
Nick Saban (LSU, Alabama) Urban Meyer (Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, Ohio State) Pete Carroll (USC) Kirby Smart (Georgia) Dabo Swinney (Clemson) Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) Jim Tressel (Ohio State) Jim Harbaugh (Stanford, Michigan) Mack Brown (Texas, North Carolina) Chris Petersen (Boise State, Washington) Ryan Day (Ohio State) Brian Kelly (Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, LSU) Jimbo Fisher (Florida State, Texas A&M) Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech) Gary Patterson (TCU) James Franklin (Vanderbilt, Penn State) Les Miles (Oklahoma State, LSU, Kansas) Mark Richt (Georgia, Miami) Kyle Whittingham (Utah) Lincoln Riley (Oklahoma, USC) Mark Dantonio (Cincinnati, Michigan State) Kirk Ferentz (Iowa) Bill Snyder (Kansas State) Chip Kelly (Oregon, UCLA) Mike Leach (Texas Tech, Washington State, Mississippi State)
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