Mountain West Analysis

Mountain West coach rankings

The Mountain West

1. 1 Jason Eck 87

   New Mexico Lobos · FBS rank 16th of 220

2. 2 Tim Polasek 81

   North Dakota State Bison · FBS rank 58th of 220

3. 3 Dan Mullen 78

   UNLV Rebels · FBS rank 80th of 220

4. 4 Troy Calhoun 75

   Air Force Falcons · FBS rank 99th of 220

5. 5 Timmy Chang 70

   Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors · FBS rank 137th of 220

6. 6 Jay Sawvel 69

   Wyoming Cowboys · FBS rank 145th of 220

7. 7 Ken Niumatalolo 67

   San José State Spartans · FBS rank 160th of 220

8. 8 Jeff Choate 59

   Nevada Wolf Pack · FBS rank 198th of 220

9. 9 Scotty Walden 56

   UTEP Miners · FBS rank 211th of 220

10. 10 Rob Harley 55

    Northern Illinois Huskies · FBS rank 215th of 220

Where they rank in FBS

All 220 FBS head coaches by overall rating. The 10 Mountain West coaches are highlighted.

1. 1 Curt Cignetti Indiana Hoosiers 93
2. 2 Kirby Smart Georgia Bulldogs 92
3. 3 Joey McGuire Texas Tech Red Raiders 92
4. 4 Carmen Cozza Yale Bulldogs 91
5. 5 Mario Cristobal Miami Hurricanes 91
6. 6 Ryan Day Ohio State Buckeyes 90
7. 7 Jake Dickert Wake Forest Demon Deacons 90
8. 8 Dan Lanning Oregon Ducks 90
9. 9 Jack Meagher Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks 90
10. 10 Marcus Freeman Notre Dame Fighting Irish 89
11. 11 Kalani Sitake BYU Cougars 89
12. 12 Bob Chesney UCLA Bruins 89
13. 13 Billy Napier James Madison Dukes 88
14. 14 Morgan Scalley Utah Utes 87
15. 15 Charley Moran Centre Colonels 87
16. 16 Jason Eck New Mexico Lobos Mountain West 87
17. 17 Dick Sheridan Furman Paladins 87
18. 18 Aldo Donelli Duquesne Dukes 86
19. 19 Hank Foldberg Wichita State Shockers 86
20. 20 Willie Fritz Houston Cougars 86
21. 21 Rey Dempsey Southern Illinois Salukis 86
22. 22 Jock Sutherland Lafayette Leopards 85
23. 23 Kirk Ferentz Iowa Hawkeyes 85
24. 24 Steve Sarkisian Texas Longhorns 85
25. 25 James Franklin Virginia Tech Hokies 85
26. 26 George Brooke Swarthmore Garnet Tide 85
27. 27 Will Stein Kentucky Wildcats 85
28. 28 JaMarcus Shephard Oregon State Beavers 85
29. 29 Rhett Lashlee SMU Mustangs 85
30. 30 Len Casanova Santa Clara Broncos 85
31. 31 Joe Kuharich San Francisco Dons 85
32. 32 Rex Enright Georgia Pre-Flight Skycrackers 85
33. 33 Spencer Danielson Boise State Broncos 85
34. 34 Lane Kiffin LSU Tigers 84
35. 35 Lincoln Riley USC Trojans 84
36. 36 Mike Jacobs Toledo Rockets 84
37. 37 Kalen DeBoer Alabama Crimson Tide 83
38. 38 Josh Heupel Tennessee Volunteers 83
39. 39 Jon Sumrall Florida Gators 83
40. 40 Manny Diaz Duke Blue Devils 83
41. 41 Jimmy Crowley Fordham Rams 83
42. 42 Bill Oliver Chattanooga Mocs 83
43. 43 Jeff Traylor UTSA Roadrunners 83
44. 44 Jeff Monken Army Black Knights 82
45. 45 Kenny Dillingham Arizona State Sun Devils 82
46. 46 Charles Huff Memphis Tigers 82
47. 47 John Hauser Ohio Bobcats 82
48. 48 Jason Candle UConn Huskies 82
49. 49 Charles Kelly Jacksonville State Gamecocks 82
50. 50 Bret Bielema Illinois Fighting Illini 81
51. 51 P.J. Fleck Minnesota Golden Gophers 81
52. 52 George Barclay Washington and Lee Generals 81
53. 53 Eric Morris Oklahoma State Cowboys 81
54. 54 Gus Dorais Gonzaga Bulldogs 81
55. 55 Neal Brown North Texas Mean Green 81
56. 56 Jeff Brohm Louisville Cardinals 81
57. 57 Brian Hartline South Florida Bulls 81
58. 58 Tim Polasek North Dakota State Bison Mountain West 81
59. 59 Eli Drinkwitz Missouri Tigers 80
60. 60 Brent Venables Oklahoma Sooners 80
61. 61 Sonny Dykes TCU Horned Frogs 80
62. 62 Jordan Olivar Loyola Marymount Lions 80
63. 63 Paul Brown Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets 80
64. 64 Matt Entz Fresno State Bulldogs 80
65. 65 Jack Curtice California-Santa Barbara Gauchos 80
66. 66 Tony Elliott Virginia Cavaliers 79
67. 67 Pete Golding Ole Miss Rebels 79
68. 68 J.R. Richards Colorado College Tigers 79
69. 69 Carl Snavely Bucknell Bison 79
70. 70 Homer Norton Centenary (LA) Gents 79
71. 71 Pete Lembo Buffalo Bulls 79
72. 72 John Bender Haskell Indians 78
73. 73 Collin Klein Kansas State Wildcats 78
74. 74 Jedd Fisch Washington Huskies 78
75. 75 Jim Miller Detroit Mercy Titans 78
76. 76 Brent Brennan Arizona Wildcats 78
77. 77 Chick Meehan Manhattan Jaspers 78
78. 78 Lance Taylor Western Michigan Broncos 78
79. 79 Sonny Cumbie Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 78
80. 80 Dan Mullen UNLV Rebels Mountain West 78
81. 81 James Baldwin Lehigh Mountain Hawks 77
82. 82 Richard Colman Princeton Tigers 77
83. 83 Dabo Swinney Clemson Tigers 77
84. 84 Mike Elko Texas A&M Aggies 77
85. 85 Eddie Cochems Saint Louis Billikens 77
86. 86 Blake Harrell East Carolina Pirates 77
87. 87 Paul Davis Dickinson Red Devils 76
88. 88 Alex Golesh Auburn Tigers 76
89. 89 Mike Sheppard Long Beach State 49ers 76
90. 90 Scott Frost UCF Knights 76
91. 91 G.J. Kinne Texas State Bobcats 76
92. 92 Kyle Whittingham Michigan Wolverines 75
93. 93 David Braun Northwestern Wildcats 75
94. 94 Brian Newberry Navy Midshipmen 75
95. 95 Matt Rhule Nebraska Cornhuskers 75
96. 96 Neil Wheelwright Colgate Raiders 75
97. 97 Ott Romney Montana State Bobcats 75
98. 98 Art Baker The Citadel Bulldogs 75
99. 99 Troy Calhoun Air Force Falcons Mountain West 75
100. 100 Chuck Martin Miami (OH) RedHawks 75
101. 101 Gerad Parker Troy Trojans 75
102. 102 Parke Davis Amherst Mammoths 74
103. 103 Joseph Yukica Dartmouth Big Green 74
104. 104 Dave Aranda Baylor Bears 74
105. 105 Rich Rodriguez West Virginia Mountaineers 74
106. 106 Charles Noble Mississippi College Choctaws 74
107. 107 William Elias George Washington Colonials 74
108. 108 Butch Jones Arkansas State Red Wolves 74
109. 109 Major Applewhite South Alabama Jaguars 74
110. 110 Shane Beamer South Carolina Gamecocks 73
111. 111 Dave Doeren NC State Wolfpack 73
112. 112 James Phelan Saint Mary's (CA) Gaels 73
113. 113 Edward Doherty Xavier Musketeers 73
114. 114 Dowell Loggains App State Mountaineers 73
115. 115 Michael Desormeaux Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 73
116. 116 Clay Helton Georgia Southern Eagles 73
117. 117 Joseph Restic Harvard Crimson 72
118. 118 Will Hall Tulane Green Wave 72
119. 119 Clark Lea Vanderbilt Commodores 72
120. 120 Harrison Weeks Beloit Buccaneers 72
121. 121 Jamey Chadwell Liberty Flames 72
122. 122 Matt Campbell Penn State Nittany Lions 71
123. 123 Jimmy Rogers Iowa State Cyclones 71
124. 124 Jack Hagerty Georgetown Hoyas 71
125. 125 Pat Narduzzi Pittsburgh Panthers 71
126. 126 Homer Smith Davidson Wildcats 71
127. 127 Red Drew Birmingham-Southern Panthers 71
128. 128 Warren Woodson Hardin Simmons Cowboys 71
129. 129 Ryan Carty Delaware Blue Hens 71
130. 130 Luke Fickell Wisconsin Badgers 70
131. 131 John Anderson Brown Bears 70
132. 132 Lance Leipold Kansas Jayhawks 70
133. 133 Bill Belichick North Carolina Tar Heels 70
134. 134 Paul Petrino Idaho Vandals 70
135. 135 J.W. Hancock Northern Colorado Bears 70
136. 136 Tony Gibson Marshall Thundering Herd 70
137. 137 Timmy Chang Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors Mountain West 70
138. 138 Alex Mortensen UAB Blazers 70
139. 139 Zach Kittley Florida Atlantic Owls 70
140. 140 Tyson Helton Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 70
141. 141 Ricky Rahne Old Dominion Monarchs 70
142. 142 Jerry Mack Kennesaw State Owls 70
143. 143 Jim Mora Colorado State Rams 69
144. 144 Brent Key Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 69
145. 145 Jay Sawvel Wyoming Cowboys Mountain West 69
146. 146 Marchy Schwartz Creighton Bluejays 69
147. 147 Bob Blackman Cornell Big Red 68
148. 148 Fran Brown Syracuse Orange 68
149. 149 Jeff Lebby Mississippi State Bulldogs 68
150. 150 Andrew Kerr Washington & Jefferson Presidents 68
151. 151 Tre Lamb Tulsa Golden Hurricane 68
152. 152 Rudy Lavik Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 68
153. 153 Scott Satterfield Cincinnati Bearcats 68
154. 154 Willie Simmons Florida International Panthers 68
155. 155 Neil Wheelwright Holy Cross Crusaders 67
156. 156 Ryan Silverfield Arkansas Razorbacks 67
157. 157 Walter Johnson Presbyterian Blue Hose 67
158. 158 Walter Steffen Carnegie Mellon Tartans 67
159. 159 Bill Yung West Texas Buffaloes 67
160. 160 Ken Niumatalolo San José State Spartans Mountain West 67
161. 161 Sean Lewis San Diego State Aztecs 67
162. 162 Bill O'Brien Boston College Eagles 66
163. 163 Tosh Lupoi California Golden Bears 66
164. 164 Bob Higgins Washington St. Louis Bears 66
165. 165 Tavita Pritchard Stanford Cardinal 66
166. 166 K.C. Keeler Temple Owls 66
167. 167 Chuck Shelton Pacific Tigers 66
168. 168 Matt Drinkall Central Michigan Chippewas 66
169. 169 Casey Woods Missouri State Bears 66
170. 170 Greg Schiano Rutgers Scarlet Knights 65
171. 171 Bronco Mendenhall Utah State Aggies 65
172. 172 Derek Mason Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 65
173. 173 Ryan Beard Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 65
174. 174 John Maulbetsch Phillips Haymakers 64
175. 175 Lou Holtz William & Mary Tribe 64
176. 176 Ted Shipkey Montana Grizzlies 64
177. 177 Tony Sanchez New Mexico State Aggies 64
178. 178 Mike Norvell Florida State Seminoles 64
179. 179 Mark Carney Kent State Golden Flashes 64
180. 180 Mike Uremovich Ball State Cardinals 64
181. 181 Chuck Shelton Drake Bulldogs 63
182. 182 Aldo Donelli Boston University Terriers 63
183. 183 Joe Moorhead Akron Zips 63
184. 184 Deion Sanders Colorado Buffaloes 62
185. 185 Ernest Bearg Washburn Ichabods 62
186. 186 Mal Elward Grinnell Pioneers 62
187. 187 Charles Bernier Hampden Sydney Tigers 62
188. 188 Chris Creighton Eastern Michigan Eagles 62
189. 189 Tom Harp Indiana State Sycamores 62
190. 190 Amos Alonzo Stagg Springfield Pride 61
191. 191 Choc Kelly Carlisle Indians 61
192. 192 Pat Fitzgerald Michigan State Spartans 61
193. 193 Frank Murray Marquette Golden Eagles 61
194. 194 Frank Kimbrough North Carolina Pre-Flight Cloudbusters 61
195. 195 Blake Anderson Southern Miss Golden Eagles 61
196. 196 John McKenna VMI Keydets 60
197. 197 Kirby Moore Washington State Cougars 59
198. 198 Jeff Choate Nevada Wolf Pack Mountain West 59
199. 199 Eddie George Bowling Green Falcons 59
200. 200 Dell McGee Georgia State Panthers 59
201. 201 Barry Odom Purdue Boilermakers 58
202. 202 Scott Abell Rice Owls 58
203. 203 Ralph Glaze Colorado School of Mines Orediggers 58
204. 204 Jim Weaver Villanova Wildcats 58
205. 205 Aldo Donelli Columbia Lions 57
206. 206 Joe Harasymiak Massachusetts Minutemen 57
207. 207 Mike Locksley Maryland Terrapins 57
208. 208 John Roning Denver Pioneers 57
209. 209 Edwin Merrick Richmond Spiders 57
210. 210 Gene Murphy Cal State Fullerton Titans 57
211. 211 Scotty Walden UTEP Miners Mountain West 56
212. 212 Alonzo Carter Sacramento State Hornets 56
213. 213 John Van Liew Western Colorado Mountaineers 55
214. 214 Hugh Devore New York University Violets 55
215. 215 Rob Harley Northern Illinois Huskies Mountain West 55
216. 216 Tim Albin Charlotte 49ers 55
217. 217 Phil Longo Sam Houston Bearkats 55
218. 218 Clark Shaughnessy Chicago Maroons 54
219. 219 Jerry Berndt Pennsylvania Quakers 54
220. 220 Bryant Vincent UL Monroe Warhawks 54

How these rankings work

Each coach's overall rating is built from weekly, stats-based coaching grades, recalculated through the season, and is the same number shown on every coach profile. It is a read on results and in-game management, not a career-legacy ranking. For the team-by-team picture, see the Mountain West power rankings and the live conference standings.

The 10 Mountain West head coaches ranked by overall rating, and where each of them sits among all 220 FBS head coaches. Refreshed weekly through the 2026 season.

About the author and reviewer

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More Mountain West analysis

• Power rankingsAll 10 programs, ranked from the data.Read more
• QB rankingsThe Mountain West starting quarterbacks, ranked.Read more
• Mountain West standingsThe live conference table.Read more
• Mountain West teamsAll 10 team hubs.Read more