For the last week or so I've been taking a look back at all the coaching changes that have taken place in the SEC over the last 15 years. I looked up how each new hire fared and tried to categorize them as either good hires, bad hires, or incomplete, which means they weren't there or haven't been there long enough to be given a fair grade.
Some of the names in each category are debatable depending on who you ask. For example, I think Houston Nutt was a good hire for Arkansas in 1997, but a bad one for Ole Miss in 2007. I think Hal Mumme was a good hire for Kentucky even though he finished with a losing record, because he got them to back-to-back bowl games and raised the expectations during his four-year stay. I think Gene Chizik has proven to be a bad hire for Auburn even though he's got that national title, etc. Some stuff like that will be debatable and the categories I placed them in are by my opinion only.
I will say that I was somewhat surprised to see how well the up-and-comer head coaches from lower level schools have done. Obviously every school wants one of the experienced proven winners, but guys like Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier and Bobby Petrino are hard to come by.
Take a look at what I found and feel free to debate.
Experienced head coach with winning record (G: 7, B: 1, I: 2)
Dennis Franchione, Alabama - INCOMPLETE
Mike Price, Alabama - INCOMPLETE
Nick Saban, Alabama - GOOD HIRE
Bobby Petrino, Arkansas - GOOD HIRE
Tommy Tuberville, Auburn - GOOD HIRE
Nick Saban, LSU - GOOD HIRE
Les Miles, LSU - GOOD HIRE
Houston Nutt, Ole Miss - BAD HIRE
Lou Holtz, South Carolina - GOOD HIRE
Steve Spurrier, South Carolina - GOOD HIRE
Experienced head coach with losing record (G: 1, B: 2)
Gene Chizik, Auburn - BAD HIRE (hot seat)
Derek Dooley, Tennessee - BAD HIRE (hot seat)
Rich Brooks, Kentucky - GOOD HIRE
Inexperienced up-and-comer coordinator/assistant/former assistant (G: 3, B: 6, I: 3)
Mike DuBose, Alabama - BAD HIRE
Mike Shula, Alabama - BAD HIRE
Sylvester Croom, Miss. State - BAD HIRE
Dan Mullen, Miss. State - GOOD HIRE
David Cutcliffe, Ole Miss - GOOD HIRE
Ed Orgeron, Ole Miss - BAD HIRE
Ron Zook, Florida - BAD HIRE
Will Muschamp, Florida - INCOMPLETE
Mark Richt, Georgia - GOOD HIRE
Guy Morriss, Kentucky - INCOMPLETE
Joker Phillips, Kentucky - BAD HIRE (hot seat)
James Franklin, Vanderbilt - INCOMPLETE
Up-and-comer head coach at lower level/NFL (G: 4, B: 0, I: 2)
Houston Nutt, Arkansas - GOOD HIRE
Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss - INCOMPLETE
Urban Meyer, Florida - GOOD HIRE
Hal Mumme, Kentucky - GOOD HIRE
Lane Kiffin, Tennessee - INCOMPLETE
Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt - GOOD HIRE
Promoted as interim head coach (G: 0, B: 2)
John L. Smith, Arkansas - BAD HIRE
Robbie Caldwell, Vanderbilt - BAD HIRE
Here's the breakdown of each school's coaching changes since 1997:
ALABAMA
1997: Gene Stallings (97-61-2) retired as head coach following the 1996 season.
Alabama hires Mike DuBose, who played for Alabama and served as a defensive line coach for seven seasons under Stallings. No head coaching experience.
1997-2000: Dubose goes 24-23 overall (4-7, 7-5, 10-3, 3-8). Fired after 2000 season.
Alabama hires experienced head coach in Dennis Franchione, who was 25-10 in three seasons at TCU.
2001-2002: Franchione goes 17-8 (7-5, 10-3); Leaves for Texas A&M job after two seasons.
Alabama hires Mike Price from Washington State (83-78 there). Fired before first game.
Alabama hires former player Mike Shula, who was serving as quarterbacks coach for the Miami Dolphins.
2003-2006: Shula goes 26-23 (4-9, 6-6, 10-2, 6-6); Fired after 2006 season.
Alabama hires Nick Saban, who was 92-41-1 with a national championship as a college coach before going 15-17 as the Miami Dolphins' head coach.
2007-present: Saban goes 61-12 (7-6, 12-2, 14-0, 10-3, 12-1, 6-0) with two national championships.
1997: Danny Ford fired after back-to-back 4-7 seasons.
Arkansas hires Houston Nutt, a former player who had gone 31-16 at Murray State and 5-6 in his first season at Boise State.
1998-2007: Nutt goes 75-48 (9-3, 8-4, 6-6, 7-5, 9-5, 9-4, 5-6, 4-7, 10-4, 8-4). Resigned/forced out after final game of 2007 regular season.
Arkansas hires Bobby Petrino, who was 41-9 at Louisville before going 3-10 with the Atlanta Falcons.
2008-2011: Petrino goes 34-17 (5-7, 8-5, 10-3, 11-2); Fired for off-the-field reasons.
Arkansas hires interim coach John L. Smith, who was 132-85 as a college head coach before spending three seasons as an assistant under Petrino at Arkansas.
2012: Smith is 3-4.
AUBURN
1998: Terry Bowden fired after 1998 season.
Auburn hires Tommy Tuberville, who had gone 25-20 at Ole Miss.
1999-2008: Tuberville goes 85-40 (5-6, 9-4, 7-5, 9-4, 8-5, 13-0, 9-3, 11-2, 9-4, 5-7); Resigned after 2008 season.
Auburn hires Gene Chizik, who was 5-19 as Iowa State's head coach.
2009-present: Chizik has gone 36-34 (8-5, 14-0, 8-5, 1-5) and is on the hot seat.
LSU
1999: Gerry DiNardo fired after 2-8 start in 1999 regular season. Hal Hunter coached finale.
LSU hires Nick Saban, who was 34-24-1 at Michigan State.
2000-2004: Saban goes 48-16 (8-4, 10-3, 8-5, 13-1, 9-3) including a national title; Leaves for NFL job.
LSU hires Les Miles, who was 28-21 at Oklahoma State.
2005-present: Miles goes 81-19 (11-2, 11-2, 12-2, 8-5, 9-4, 11-2, 13-1, 6-1) including two national championship appearances.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
2003: Jackie Sherrill retired with a 75-75-2 record after the 2003 season. MSU hires Sylvester Croom, a longtime assistant at Alabama and in the NFL.
2004-2008: Croom goes 21-38 (3-8, 3-8, 3-9, 8-5, 4-8); Retired after the 2008 season.
MSU hires Dan Mullen, longtime offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach under Urban Meyer.
2009-present: Mullen is 27-17 (5-7, 9-4, 7-6, 6-0).
OLE MISS
1998: Tommy Tuberville leaves for Auburn job. Ole Miss hires longtime Tennessee assistant/offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe before the 1998 bowl game.
1998-2004: Cutcliffe goes 44-29 (1-0, 8-4, 7-5, 7-4, 7-6, 10-3, 4-7); Fired after 2004 season.
Ole Miss hires Ed Orgeron, longtime recruiting coordinator/defensive line coach at USC.
2005-2007: Orgeron goes 10-25 (3-8, 4-8, 3-9); Fired after 2007 season.
Ole Miss hires Houston Nutt, who went 75-48 at Arkansas.
2008-2011: Nutt goes 24-26 (9-4, 9-4, 4-8, 2-10); Fired during 2011 regular season.
Ole Miss hires Hugh Freeze, a former Ole Miss assistant who was 10-2 at Arkansas State in 2011.
2012-present: Freeze is 4-3 this season.
FLORIDA
2001: Steve Spurrier leaves for NFL. Florida hires former Florida assistant Ron Zook, who was coaching with the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 season.
2002-04: Zook goes 23-15 (8-5, 8-5, 7-5); Fired before end of 2004 season.
Florida hires Urban Meyer, up-and-coming head coach (17-6 at Bowling Green; 22-2 at Utah).
2005-10: Meyer goes 65-15 (9-3, 13-1, 9-4, 13-1, 13-1, 8-5) with two national championships; Resigned for personal reasons.
Florida hires Will Muschamp, long-time DC at LSU, Miami Dolphins, Auburn and Texas. No head coaching experience.
2011-present: Muschamp is 13-6 (7-6, 6-0).
GEORGIA
2000: Jim Donnan fired after going 40-19 through five seasons.
Georgia hires Mark Richt, longtime up-and-coming offensive coordinator under Bobby Bowden at Florida State.
2001-present: Richt has gone 111-39 (8-4, 13-1, 11-3, 10-2, 10-3, 9-4, 11-2, 10-3, 8-5, 6-7, 10-4, 5-1) with two SEC championships and five division titles.
KENTUCKY
1996: Bill Curry (26-52) resigned after 1996 season.
Kentucky hires Hal Mumme, an up-and-comer who had gone 40-17-1 at Valdosta State.
1997-2000: Mumme goes 20-26 (5-6, 7-5, 6-6, 2-9); Resigned facing NCAA sanctions.
Kentucky promoted Guy Morris, an inexperienced head coach who served as assistant head coach and offensive line coach under Mumme.
2001-02: Morris goes 9-14 (2-9, 7-5); Left to take Baylor job.
Kentucky hires Rich Brooks, longtime Oregon head coach (91-109-4) who also worked in NFL.
2003-09: Brooks goes 39-47 (4-8, 2-9, 3-8, 8-5, 8-5, 7-6, 7-6).
Kentucky promotes Joker Phillips, an inexperienced head coach who served on Brooks' staff
2010-present: Phillips has gone 12-20 (6-7, 5-7, 1-6) and is on the hot seat.
TENNESSEE
2008: Phil Fulmer (152-52, national title) fired after two 5-win seasons in last three years.
Tennessee hires Lane Kiffin, up-and-comer who was 5-15 as Oakland Raiders head coach.
2009: Kiffin goes 7-6, leaves for 'dream job' at USC.
Tennessee hires Derek Dooley, up-and-coming head coach at Louisiana Tech.
2010-present: Dooley has gone 14-17 (6-7, 5-7, 3-3) and is on the hot seat.
SOUTH CAROLINA
1998: Brad Scott (23-32-1) fired after 1-10 season.
South Carolina hires Lou Holtz, a proven winner at Arkansas, Minnesota and Notre Dame, where he won a national title.
1999-2004: Holtz goes 33-37 (0-11, 8-4, 9-3, 5-7, 5-7, 6-5); Resigned after 2004 season.
South Carolina hires Steve Spurrier, a proven winner at Florida before taking an NFL job.
2005-present: Spurrier has gone 61-36 (7-5, 8-5, 6-6, 7-6, 7-6, 9-5, 11-2, 6-1).
VANDERBILT
2001: Woody Widenhofer (15-40) after 2001 season.
Vanderbilt hires up-and-comer Bobby Johnson, an up-and-comer who had gone 60-36 at Furman.
2002-09: Johnson goes 29-66 (2-10, 2-10, 2-9, 5-6, 4-8, 5-7, 7-6, 2-10); Retired after 2009 season.
Vanderbilt promotes longtime assistant Robbie Caldwell as interim head coach.
2010: Caldwell went 2-10; Resigned after season
Vanderbilt hires up-and-comer coordinator James Franklin, who had no head coaching experience.
2011-present: Franklin has gone 8-11 (6-7, 2-4).
Some of the names in each category are debatable depending on who you ask. For example, I think Houston Nutt was a good hire for Arkansas in 1997, but a bad one for Ole Miss in 2007. I think Hal Mumme was a good hire for Kentucky even though he finished with a losing record, because he got them to back-to-back bowl games and raised the expectations during his four-year stay. I think Gene Chizik has proven to be a bad hire for Auburn even though he's got that national title, etc. Some stuff like that will be debatable and the categories I placed them in are by my opinion only.
I will say that I was somewhat surprised to see how well the up-and-comer head coaches from lower level schools have done. Obviously every school wants one of the experienced proven winners, but guys like Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier and Bobby Petrino are hard to come by.
Take a look at what I found and feel free to debate.
Experienced head coach with winning record (G: 7, B: 1, I: 2)
Dennis Franchione, Alabama - INCOMPLETE
Mike Price, Alabama - INCOMPLETE
Nick Saban, Alabama - GOOD HIRE
Bobby Petrino, Arkansas - GOOD HIRE
Tommy Tuberville, Auburn - GOOD HIRE
Nick Saban, LSU - GOOD HIRE
Les Miles, LSU - GOOD HIRE
Houston Nutt, Ole Miss - BAD HIRE
Lou Holtz, South Carolina - GOOD HIRE
Steve Spurrier, South Carolina - GOOD HIRE
Experienced head coach with losing record (G: 1, B: 2)
Gene Chizik, Auburn - BAD HIRE (hot seat)
Derek Dooley, Tennessee - BAD HIRE (hot seat)
Rich Brooks, Kentucky - GOOD HIRE
Inexperienced up-and-comer coordinator/assistant/former assistant (G: 3, B: 6, I: 3)
Mike DuBose, Alabama - BAD HIRE
Mike Shula, Alabama - BAD HIRE
Sylvester Croom, Miss. State - BAD HIRE
Dan Mullen, Miss. State - GOOD HIRE
David Cutcliffe, Ole Miss - GOOD HIRE
Ed Orgeron, Ole Miss - BAD HIRE
Ron Zook, Florida - BAD HIRE
Will Muschamp, Florida - INCOMPLETE
Mark Richt, Georgia - GOOD HIRE
Guy Morriss, Kentucky - INCOMPLETE
Joker Phillips, Kentucky - BAD HIRE (hot seat)
James Franklin, Vanderbilt - INCOMPLETE
Up-and-comer head coach at lower level/NFL (G: 4, B: 0, I: 2)
Houston Nutt, Arkansas - GOOD HIRE
Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss - INCOMPLETE
Urban Meyer, Florida - GOOD HIRE
Hal Mumme, Kentucky - GOOD HIRE
Lane Kiffin, Tennessee - INCOMPLETE
Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt - GOOD HIRE
Promoted as interim head coach (G: 0, B: 2)
John L. Smith, Arkansas - BAD HIRE
Robbie Caldwell, Vanderbilt - BAD HIRE
Here's the breakdown of each school's coaching changes since 1997:
ALABAMA
1997: Gene Stallings (97-61-2) retired as head coach following the 1996 season.
Alabama hires Mike DuBose, who played for Alabama and served as a defensive line coach for seven seasons under Stallings. No head coaching experience.
1997-2000: Dubose goes 24-23 overall (4-7, 7-5, 10-3, 3-8). Fired after 2000 season.
Alabama hires experienced head coach in Dennis Franchione, who was 25-10 in three seasons at TCU.
2001-2002: Franchione goes 17-8 (7-5, 10-3); Leaves for Texas A&M job after two seasons.
Alabama hires Mike Price from Washington State (83-78 there). Fired before first game.
Alabama hires former player Mike Shula, who was serving as quarterbacks coach for the Miami Dolphins.
2003-2006: Shula goes 26-23 (4-9, 6-6, 10-2, 6-6); Fired after 2006 season.
Alabama hires Nick Saban, who was 92-41-1 with a national championship as a college coach before going 15-17 as the Miami Dolphins' head coach.
2007-present: Saban goes 61-12 (7-6, 12-2, 14-0, 10-3, 12-1, 6-0) with two national championships.
1997: Danny Ford fired after back-to-back 4-7 seasons.
Arkansas hires Houston Nutt, a former player who had gone 31-16 at Murray State and 5-6 in his first season at Boise State.
1998-2007: Nutt goes 75-48 (9-3, 8-4, 6-6, 7-5, 9-5, 9-4, 5-6, 4-7, 10-4, 8-4). Resigned/forced out after final game of 2007 regular season.
Arkansas hires Bobby Petrino, who was 41-9 at Louisville before going 3-10 with the Atlanta Falcons.
2008-2011: Petrino goes 34-17 (5-7, 8-5, 10-3, 11-2); Fired for off-the-field reasons.
Arkansas hires interim coach John L. Smith, who was 132-85 as a college head coach before spending three seasons as an assistant under Petrino at Arkansas.
2012: Smith is 3-4.
AUBURN
1998: Terry Bowden fired after 1998 season.
Auburn hires Tommy Tuberville, who had gone 25-20 at Ole Miss.
1999-2008: Tuberville goes 85-40 (5-6, 9-4, 7-5, 9-4, 8-5, 13-0, 9-3, 11-2, 9-4, 5-7); Resigned after 2008 season.
Auburn hires Gene Chizik, who was 5-19 as Iowa State's head coach.
2009-present: Chizik has gone 36-34 (8-5, 14-0, 8-5, 1-5) and is on the hot seat.
LSU
1999: Gerry DiNardo fired after 2-8 start in 1999 regular season. Hal Hunter coached finale.
LSU hires Nick Saban, who was 34-24-1 at Michigan State.
2000-2004: Saban goes 48-16 (8-4, 10-3, 8-5, 13-1, 9-3) including a national title; Leaves for NFL job.
LSU hires Les Miles, who was 28-21 at Oklahoma State.
2005-present: Miles goes 81-19 (11-2, 11-2, 12-2, 8-5, 9-4, 11-2, 13-1, 6-1) including two national championship appearances.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
2003: Jackie Sherrill retired with a 75-75-2 record after the 2003 season. MSU hires Sylvester Croom, a longtime assistant at Alabama and in the NFL.
2004-2008: Croom goes 21-38 (3-8, 3-8, 3-9, 8-5, 4-8); Retired after the 2008 season.
MSU hires Dan Mullen, longtime offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach under Urban Meyer.
2009-present: Mullen is 27-17 (5-7, 9-4, 7-6, 6-0).
OLE MISS
1998: Tommy Tuberville leaves for Auburn job. Ole Miss hires longtime Tennessee assistant/offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe before the 1998 bowl game.
1998-2004: Cutcliffe goes 44-29 (1-0, 8-4, 7-5, 7-4, 7-6, 10-3, 4-7); Fired after 2004 season.
Ole Miss hires Ed Orgeron, longtime recruiting coordinator/defensive line coach at USC.
2005-2007: Orgeron goes 10-25 (3-8, 4-8, 3-9); Fired after 2007 season.
Ole Miss hires Houston Nutt, who went 75-48 at Arkansas.
2008-2011: Nutt goes 24-26 (9-4, 9-4, 4-8, 2-10); Fired during 2011 regular season.
Ole Miss hires Hugh Freeze, a former Ole Miss assistant who was 10-2 at Arkansas State in 2011.
2012-present: Freeze is 4-3 this season.
FLORIDA
2001: Steve Spurrier leaves for NFL. Florida hires former Florida assistant Ron Zook, who was coaching with the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 season.
2002-04: Zook goes 23-15 (8-5, 8-5, 7-5); Fired before end of 2004 season.
Florida hires Urban Meyer, up-and-coming head coach (17-6 at Bowling Green; 22-2 at Utah).
2005-10: Meyer goes 65-15 (9-3, 13-1, 9-4, 13-1, 13-1, 8-5) with two national championships; Resigned for personal reasons.
Florida hires Will Muschamp, long-time DC at LSU, Miami Dolphins, Auburn and Texas. No head coaching experience.
2011-present: Muschamp is 13-6 (7-6, 6-0).
GEORGIA
2000: Jim Donnan fired after going 40-19 through five seasons.
Georgia hires Mark Richt, longtime up-and-coming offensive coordinator under Bobby Bowden at Florida State.
2001-present: Richt has gone 111-39 (8-4, 13-1, 11-3, 10-2, 10-3, 9-4, 11-2, 10-3, 8-5, 6-7, 10-4, 5-1) with two SEC championships and five division titles.
KENTUCKY
1996: Bill Curry (26-52) resigned after 1996 season.
Kentucky hires Hal Mumme, an up-and-comer who had gone 40-17-1 at Valdosta State.
1997-2000: Mumme goes 20-26 (5-6, 7-5, 6-6, 2-9); Resigned facing NCAA sanctions.
Kentucky promoted Guy Morris, an inexperienced head coach who served as assistant head coach and offensive line coach under Mumme.
2001-02: Morris goes 9-14 (2-9, 7-5); Left to take Baylor job.
Kentucky hires Rich Brooks, longtime Oregon head coach (91-109-4) who also worked in NFL.
2003-09: Brooks goes 39-47 (4-8, 2-9, 3-8, 8-5, 8-5, 7-6, 7-6).
Kentucky promotes Joker Phillips, an inexperienced head coach who served on Brooks' staff
2010-present: Phillips has gone 12-20 (6-7, 5-7, 1-6) and is on the hot seat.
TENNESSEE
2008: Phil Fulmer (152-52, national title) fired after two 5-win seasons in last three years.
Tennessee hires Lane Kiffin, up-and-comer who was 5-15 as Oakland Raiders head coach.
2009: Kiffin goes 7-6, leaves for 'dream job' at USC.
Tennessee hires Derek Dooley, up-and-coming head coach at Louisiana Tech.
2010-present: Dooley has gone 14-17 (6-7, 5-7, 3-3) and is on the hot seat.
SOUTH CAROLINA
1998: Brad Scott (23-32-1) fired after 1-10 season.
South Carolina hires Lou Holtz, a proven winner at Arkansas, Minnesota and Notre Dame, where he won a national title.
1999-2004: Holtz goes 33-37 (0-11, 8-4, 9-3, 5-7, 5-7, 6-5); Resigned after 2004 season.
South Carolina hires Steve Spurrier, a proven winner at Florida before taking an NFL job.
2005-present: Spurrier has gone 61-36 (7-5, 8-5, 6-6, 7-6, 7-6, 9-5, 11-2, 6-1).
VANDERBILT
2001: Woody Widenhofer (15-40) after 2001 season.
Vanderbilt hires up-and-comer Bobby Johnson, an up-and-comer who had gone 60-36 at Furman.
2002-09: Johnson goes 29-66 (2-10, 2-10, 2-9, 5-6, 4-8, 5-7, 7-6, 2-10); Retired after 2009 season.
Vanderbilt promotes longtime assistant Robbie Caldwell as interim head coach.
2010: Caldwell went 2-10; Resigned after season
Vanderbilt hires up-and-comer coordinator James Franklin, who had no head coaching experience.
2011-present: Franklin has gone 8-11 (6-7, 2-4).