By Marvin Moore on August 15, 2014
Top 10 Overrated College Football Coaches of 2014
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The 2014 NCAA football season promises to be one filled with peaks and valleys for some of the nation's top programs and head coaches. Here are 10 overrated coaches who need to have successful seasons to enhance their reputations or to save their jobs.
10. Bo Pelini, Nebraska Cornhuskers
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10. Bo Pelini, Nebraska Cornhuskers
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The Cornhuskers have fielded good teams with Pelini in charge, and the former LSU defensive coordinator is 58-24 in six seasons. But Nebraska is just 4-3 in bowl games and has seemingly lost the luster of being a big-time college football program. Good is just not good enough for football fans in Lincoln.
9. Brady Hoke, Michigan Wolverines
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9. Brady Hoke, Michigan Wolverines
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Hoke led the Wolverines to an 11-2 record in his first season and nipped Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. However, Michigan has stumbled the past two seasons, going a combined 15-11 after last year's 7-6 record, which saw the Wolverines capture just three wins in Big Ten action. Hoke has a career coaching record of 73-63 and needs a fast turnaround in Ann Arbor to save his job.
8. Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech Red Raiders
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8. Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech Red Raiders
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The youthful Red Raiders coach guided Texas Tech to a 7-0 start last year before the magic disappeared, resulting in a five-game losing streak. However, the Red Raiders topped No. 14 Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl to cap a successful rookie season. With a surprisingly strong recruiting class, Kingsbury will have to deliver an even better encore to prove his success is not a fad.
7. Mike London, Virginia Cavaliers
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7. Mike London, Virginia Cavaliers
Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
The promising head coach who averaged 12 wins in two seasons at Richmond is just 18-31 after four years at Virginia, including a 2-10 mark last season. London will be coaching for his job this season and the outlook does not appear to bright for a program with just six winning seasons since 2000.
6. Tim Beckman, Illinois Fighting Illini
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6. Tim Beckman, Illinois Fighting Illini
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The former Toledo coach won 14 of 16 MAC games during his final two seasons before jumping to the Big Ten. But, Beckman is just 1-15 in the Big Ten with an overall record of 6-18. Ouch! A quick fix is needed in a hurry or the Fighting Illini will be looking for a new coach in the near future.
5. Bret Bielema, Arkansas Razorbacks
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5. Bret Bielema, Arkansas Razorbacks
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Bielema had good success at Wisconsin (68-24) before taking the Razorbacks job and had the Arkansas' bandwagon rolling after a 3-0 start last season. But the wheels quickly fell off and the Hogs dropped their final nine games. The axe will not come down if Bielema can enginner anything that resembles a turnaround, but another long losing streak could changes things in a hurry in Fayetteville.
4. Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia Mountaineers
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4. Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia Mountaineers
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Once considered one of college football's top young coaches, Holgorsen has struggled mightily since guiding the Mountaineers to a 10-3 record in his 2011 rookie campaign. However, after winning their first five games to start the 2012 season, West Virginia is just 6-14 in its last 20 games.
3. Will Muschamp, Florida Gators
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3. Will Muschamp, Florida Gators
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The former top defensive coordinator endured an ugly, injury-marred 4-8 season last year and is just 22-16 heading into his fourth season at the helm of the Gators, which is just not good enough. Florida has installed a spread offense for this upcoming season and Muschamp's job might hinge on its success.
2. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern Wildcats
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2. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern Wildcats
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The Wildcats went just 1-7 in the Big Ten last year and Fitzgerald has an unimpressive 55-46 record heading into his ninth season. Northwestern has struggled against conference opponents and has won only 12 of 32 over the past four seasons. Another losing season could mark the end of Fitzgerald's tenure with the Wildcats.
1. Charlie Weis, Kansas Jayhawks
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1. Charlie Weis, Kansas Jayhawks
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The Jayhawks have posted a disappointing 4-20 record under Weiss in two seasons with wins over South Dakota, South Dakota State, Louisiana Tech and West Virginia. Weis, who averaged just five wins during his final three years at Notre Dame, seems to be more hype than results.
Marvin Moore is a Texas Rangers writer at RantSports. Follow him on Twitter at @SportsMarvin, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your circles on Google.