The (Revised) Definitive Rankings Of Coaches Who Wear Visors

The (Revised) Definitive Rankings Of Coaches Who Wear Visors

Ranking college football coaches who wear visors.

Nov 27, 2017 by Kolby Paxton
The (Revised) Definitive Rankings Of Coaches Who Wear Visors

This summer, on the heels of Bob Stoops’ sudden retirement, we were left wondering aloud who would carry the torch for visor-wearing coaches sans Big Game Bob.

With the regular season in our rearview mirror, we’ve revised our preseason visor rankings, and Stoops’ replacement — both in this ridiculous rankings system and in real life — is the same guy.

How convenient.

Without further ado, we present to you "The (Revised) Definitive Rankings Of Coaches Who Wear Visors."


15. Larry Fedora, North Carolina

(Previous rank: 7)

It was a rough go of it for Fedora and his visor in 2017. His headwear has hit the ground more than once during a 3-9 campaign that included six straight losses. On the bright side, the Tar Heels do have five four-star commitments from the ’18 class, so help is on the way.


14. Mike Sanford, Western Kentucky

(Previous rank: 14)

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It wasn’t the smoothest of inaugural campaigns for Sanford at Western Kentucky, but the Hilltoppers battled — which is a compliment to the man in the visor. The offense wasn’t what we’re used to seeing at WKU; however, Sanford's team showed a propensity for winning close games en route to bowl eligibility.


13. Troy Calhoun, Air Force

(Previous rank: 10)

After 10 wins in two of the past three seasons, Calhoun and the Air Force Academy endured a 5-7 campaign, narrowly missing bowl season thanks to consecutive losses to Army, Wyoming, and Boise State. Troy’s still our boy, but a slight slide in the rankings was in order.


12. Kevin Sumlin

(Previous rank: 9)

We said before the season began that Sumlin was on the hot seat at Texas A&M. A few months later, he is a handsomely paid free agent. Still, Sumlin is a solid coach who fell victim to outsized expectations in College Station, and his visor will still be appropriate on the golf course.


11. Chad Morris, SMU

(Previous rank: 13)

Morris is one of the best coaches in the country — which is exactly what it took to bring SMU back from the depths of college football to bowl bound following a season in which the Mustangs were a contender in the AAC as recently as a few weeks ago. But will his visor have a new logo on it next fall?


10. Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia

(Previous rank: 8)

Holgorsen doesn't always go to the crown-less cap, but when he does, he's a perfect match. The visor has long been synonymous with points and personality, and the head Mountaineer provides us with plenty of both — particularly when Will Grier is lined up behind center.


9. Willie Taggart, Oregon

(Previous rank: 7)


After just one season in the northwest part of the country, Taggart is already being rumored as the next coach in line at various SEC schools. Whether or not he’ll abandon the Ducks so soon remains to be seen — but a 3-1 finish after a 4-4 start left Oregon fans wanting more.


8. Ken Niumatalolo, Navy

(Previous rank: 4)

After a 5-0 start, a 1-5 run wasn’t exactly what Niumatalolo and the Midshipmen had in mind — so a drop in the rankings was inevitable. Still, a victory over Army in two weeks on a national stage would leave a sterling complexion on a season that will already end with Navy in a bowl game yet again.


7. Lane Kiffin, Florida Atlantic

(Previous rank: 12)


Lane’s gonna Lane — and he Lane’d so hard in 2017. When he wasn’t subtweeting Nick Saban, Florida Atlantic’s football coach was winning a whole bunch of games at a place that has no history of doing that. FAU led Conference USA in scoring (39.8 PPG) and rushing (283.4 YPG) and running back Devin Singletary led the nation in rushing touchdowns (26).


6. Gary Patterson, TCU

(Previous rank: 5)

Patterson has taken TCU from a Group of Five curiosity to a perennial Power Five conference contender. The Frogs once won with defense. Today, they're an offensive power. Along the way, the one constant has been Patterson's preference for partially covering his head on game days.


5. Dan Mullen, Florida

(Previous rank: 2)

Dan Mullen’s run of overachievement at Mississippi State has come to an end after an 8-4 season in Starkville that was highlighted by a widely witnessed demolition of LSU and a near miss at the hands of Alabama. The new Florida coach is a perfect fit in Gainesville, where he’ll be charged with reviving a program that nosedived in 2017.


4. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State

(Previous rank: 1)


When it comes to rocking a visor, Mike Gundy's lettuce might as well be a PED. Business in the front, party in the back, Gundy's mullet is the best reason to opt for headwear that shades the brow while letting the hair flow freely. That said, OSU's 45-40 loss to Kansas State on Nov. 18 was an insult to injury during a 9-3 campaign that fell short of the lofty aspirations the Cowboys had back in September.


3. Kirby Smart, Georgia

(Previous rank: 11)

Smart went to the visor more frequently than we were used to seeing this season, and he won a whole bunch of games while he was at it. The Bulldogs are, without question, on an upward trajectory with Smart — a former Georgia defensive back — at the helm. The SEC Championship awaits, with a handful of the nation’s top prospects set to join the program on signing day.


2. Gus Malzahn, Auburn

(Previous rank: 3)

Just a month ago, Malzahn’s job security at Auburn was in question. That seems like years ago at this point. Auburn knocked off a pair of No. 1-ranked teams — Georgia and Alabama — in the span of three weeks. Meanwhile, Malzahn, who will take the Tigers back to the SEC Championship game on Saturday, is a suddenly hot commodity who’s being openly courted by Arkansas.


1. Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma

(Previous rank: 15)


Back in August, we asked Riley for a road victory at The Shoe. He delivered that — and 10 more wins — on the way to an 11-1 regular season and a spot in the Big 12 Championship. On the way, he remained true to the lidless brim, and his quarterback emerged as one of the surest Heisman bets we’ve ever seen. Riley has gone from rising to risen, and Oklahoma is a very real national title contender — now and in the future.