SEC coach rankings: Gus Malzahn is gunning for Nick Saban's crown
Steven Lassan
Athlon Sports
MAY 07, 2015 2:19p ET
RANKING THE SEC'S FOOTBALL COACHES FOR 2015
1. Nick Saban, Alabama
Record at Alabama: 91-17 (8 years)
Career record: 182-59-1 (19 years)
Maintaining a place among college football's elite every year is no easy task. However, as long as Alabama has Saban, the
Crimson Tide will factor into the playoff mix and remain among the nation's top threats to win the national championship every season. In Saban's eight years in Tuscaloosa, Alabama has won 10 games at least seven times and has not lost more than one game in SEC play in four years. And of course, we can't forget about the three national championships during the BCS era. Additionally, the Crimson Tide has seven consecutive finishes inside of the top 10 in the final Associated Press poll. Recruiting and developing talent is another strength of the program under Saban, as Alabama has reeled in the No. 1 recruiting class over the last five seasons and 48 players have been drafted since 2009.
2. Gus Malzahn, Auburn
Record at Auburn: 20-7 (2 years)
Career record: 29-10 (3 years)
In just three seasons as a head coach, Malzahn has already entrenched his name among the best in the nation. After a 9-3 record at
Arkansas State in 2012 (his first as a head coach on the FBS level), Malzahn has guided Auburn to a 20-7 mark over the last two years. The
Tigers played for the 2013 national championship and finished No. 2 in the final Associated Press poll after the loss to
Florida State. Auburn slipped to 8-5 last year, but Malzahn should have this team back in contention for the SEC title in 2015. Prior to being a head coach on the FBS level, Malzahn was one of the nation's top offensive coordinators at Auburn and
Tulsa, with a one-year stop at
Arkansas in 2006. He's also known for his stint as a high school coach at Springdale High School in Arkansas from 2001-05. Malzahn is one of the game's top Xs and Os tacticians on offense and upgraded his defense with the addition of Will Muschamp as his new coordinator.