College football truly has become pretty much a business and what have you done for me lately. We can see this through the NIL, online gambling, etc. Coaching roles have evolved into something much different over the years to what it is today: the philosophy, the schemes, the recruiting, ability to send players to the next level, working the transfer portal/NIL deal, etc. Here's a quick subjective look at the Big 12 coaching rankings for 2023.
1. Chris Kliemen, Kansas State-Wildcat fans/players have embraced his blue collar work ethic. Klieman posted the first 10 win season in over a decade with Kansas State and Chris comes with a solid resume (102-33 record as head coach and four FCS national championships at ND State) replacing the legend Bill Snyder. Not bad for someone initially hired as a defensive backs coach.
2. Sonny Dykes, TCU-the youngest son of former TX Tech head coach Spike Dykes inherited a sub 500 Horned Frog team taking TCU to the national championship game. Quite a performance for year one. Can he build upon the success? Many names are gone but plenty of talent remains.
3. Lance Leipold, Kansas-Coach Leipold has helped turn around the Jayhawk program getting them to their first bowl game in over a decade. As a result, he is getting more national attention as one of the top coaches in all of the Power 5. In a recent CBS Sports panels Leipold came in at number 23 ranked nationally.
4. Gus Malzahn, UCF-Coach Malzahn has won everywhere he has been. Gus was 9-3 in his first year as head coach at Arkansas State. In 8 seasons at Auburn he went 67-35. Coach Malzahn looks as possibly the most poised team entering the Big 12 to make a splash.
5. Kalani Sitake, BYU-Excluding the 2017 season Kalani has been a model of consistency compiling a 52-25 over those seasons. That's averaging nearly 9 wins per season with a post season bowl game each of the schedules. When most teams were not playing during the 2020 Covid year Sitake was able to coach the team to an 11-1 record highest ranking since 1996. With a defensive coaching staff overhaul and influx of transfer portal talent the cougars have a great shot at making some noise as they enter the Big 12.
6. Dave Aranda, Baylor-Coach Aranda's time in Waco has been rather intriguing. Started rough in 2020, but that was the Covid year for everyone. He came back strong in 2021 leading the Bears to their best season in school history. Last season was a bit of a struggle. Dave took care of some staff changes with a OL rebuild. Look for Baylor to rebound in 2023.
7. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State-Mike is certainly the longest tenured coach in the Big 12 conference. He has been rather consistent over the years since 2006 when he took the helm (156-75 overall). Gundy won a Big 12 championship in 2011 and has been the coach of the year twice (2010, 2021). However, 2022 was a step back at 7-6. This fall his coaching seat could become hot if things don't improve.
8. Joey McGuire, Texas Tech-Coach McGuire might not be as notable as other former Red Raider coaches (Mike Leach/RIP, Kliff Kingsbury, Tommy Tuberville, etc). However, he sure is off to an exceptional start. Last season the Red Raiders beat Texas and Oklahoma in the same season for the first time in school history giving Texas Tech the best record in 13 years.
9. Steve Sarkisian, Texas-Coach Sark certainly has a great offensive mind. He been in programs with loads of talent (Washington, USC and Texas now). However, Sark has only produced three 8 win seasons in 9 years. He has gathered some of the best talent Texas has seen in years. Longhorns claim to be back every year but is this really the year?
10. Brent Venables, Oklahoma-Coach Venables has built quite a reputation coming from Clemson replacing Lincoln Riley. However, his first season was pretty much laying an egg in what Sooner fans normally expect finishing with a 6-7 record. The defense was basically a disaster giving Oklahoma its worst season in years. The Sooners should be undefeated (5-0) heading into Dallas when they play Texas.
11. Matt Campbell, Iowa State-Ames Iowa hasn't exactly been a location that many coaches have succeeded with. However, Coach Campbell was named the Big 12 coach of the year twice. In 2021 the Cyclones were selected for the Fiesta Bowl (first major bowl appearance in school history) and beat Oregon 34-17 finishing ninth in both major polls (also the highest final ranking in school history). Although, in 2022 they pretty much face planted with a 4-8 record. This next season should be intriguing to see which way Iowa State trends.
12. Dana Holgorsen, Houston-He has been a head coach for 12 seasons. Although, his first two seasons for Houston was pretty much ho hum. However, these last two years the Cougars were 12-2 in 2021 and 8-5 in 2022. There is certainly a huge difference from the AAC and the Big 12. How long will it take the Cougars to adjust is the big question.
13. Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati-Coach Satterfield becomes the 43rd head coach in Bearcat history. Following Luke Fickell (although Kerry Coombs was named interim after Fickell left for Wisconsin) may be a tough task to follow. New to Cincy fans, he has coached for 10 years at Louisville and Appalachian State with a 4-1 record in bowl games. Job security with Cincinnati shouldn't be an issue for a few years as they transition into the Big 12.
14. Neal Brown, West Virginia-To say winning is urgent for West Virginia may be an understatement. Since taking the coaching reins in 2019 Coach Brown has only had one winning season. Back in November 2022 the Mountaineers parted ways with it's athletic director Shane Lyons which certainly doesn't help. Barring a massive turnaround it doesn't appear that Brown's days in Morgantown might not last much longer.
