Methodology for ranking head coaches (August 3, 2022)

The goal of the head coach rankings is to balance winning performance with program improvement. Only coaches with Power 5 experience are ranked. The exceptions are teams soon to join Power 5 conferences. If a coach moved from one Power 5 school to another Power 5 school, the rating is based on the performance of the prior school.

The total points available is 1,000 with a 100 point bonus for coaches that have won a national championship at any time during their careers. Here is the breakdown of points:

1) Performance Points, 35%: This looks at the performance of the coach for up to ten recent years. For more information on performance ranking, refer to the this methodology page.

2) Change in Performance, 35%: This compares the average 5 year performance of the school prior to the coaching taking over versus the performance of the coach as stated in the first criteria. For high longevity coaches, the algorithm only compares the last ten years of performance for relevancy.

3) Winning Season Percentage, 10%: This divides the number of winning seasons by the overall seasons coached. This is done for a maximum of the ten most recent years. This provides a snapshot of winning consistency and stability.

4) Bowl Winning Percentage Per Season, 10%: This divides the number of seasons with a bowl or CFP win by the number of seasons coached. This provides insights into the ability to get to the post season and to win big games with extra preparation time.

5) Years at Current Job, 10%: This looks at the number of years in the current job to help understand loyalty, longevity, and the ability to work with the administration.