ACC Analysis

ACC coach rankings

The ACCFOOTBALL.CO Desk ·Updated October 7, 2026 ·2026 season

The ACC

1 Mario Cristobal 89

Miami Hurricanes · FBS rank 11th of 220
2 Jake Dickert 88

Wake Forest Demon Deacons · FBS rank 12th of 220
3 James Franklin 86

Virginia Tech Hokies · FBS rank 21st of 220
4 Rhett Lashlee 85

SMU Mustangs · FBS rank 31st of 220
5 Manny Diaz 84

Duke Blue Devils · FBS rank 40th of 220
6 Jeff Brohm 80

Louisville Cardinals · FBS rank 59th of 220
7 Tony Elliott 78

Virginia Cavaliers · FBS rank 74th of 220
8 Dabo Swinney 78

Clemson Tigers · FBS rank 75th of 220
9 Dave Doeren 76

NC State Wolfpack · FBS rank 90th of 220
10 Pat Narduzzi 76

Pittsburgh Panthers · FBS rank 91st of 220
11 Brent Key 71

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets · FBS rank 123rd of 220
12 Tosh Lupoi 71

California Golden Bears · FBS rank 127th of 220
13 Fran Brown 70

Syracuse Orange · FBS rank 134th of 220
14 Bill Belichick 66

North Carolina Tar Heels · FBS rank 163rd of 220
15 Mike Norvell 66

Florida State Seminoles · FBS rank 166th of 220
16 Tavita Pritchard 64

Stanford Cardinal · FBS rank 174th of 220
17 Bill O'Brien 63

Boston College Eagles · FBS rank 180th of 220

Where they rank in FBS

All 220 FBS head coaches by overall rating. The 17 ACC coaches are highlighted.

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

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 ACC power rankings and the live conference standings.

The 17 ACC head coaches ranked by overall rating, and where each of them sits among all 220 FBS head coaches. Refreshed weekly through the 2026 season.

Written by

The ACCFOOTBALL.CO Desk

Conference Newsroom · Independent ACC coverage since 2026

The house desk of ACCFOOTBALL.CO - independent researchers tracking every ACC game, stat and storyline.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the top-rated head coach in the ACC in 2026?

Mario Cristobal of Miami Hurricanes tops the ACC with an overall rating of 89, and ranks 11th among all 220 FBS head coaches.

How are these coach ratings calculated?

Each coach carries a single overall rating built from weekly, stats-based coaching grades (offensive and defensive scheme, game planning, situational management, comeback factor and more), recalculated through the season. The same number appears on every coach profile.