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   Welcome to TSLMail #287 - Friday, July 13, 2007    
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   Tech Sports News


The ACC's Head Football and Basketball Coaches
by Will Stewart, TechSideline.com

Examining the coaching tenure, records, and championships won by the ACC's head football and basketball coaches will, for the most part, point to the giants of ACC coaching. Today's TSLMail takes a look at all of the ACC's head coaches and what they have accomplished since taking their present jobs.

In the following tables, we list each head coach, how long he has been at his current ACC job, his record at that school, and the number of ACC championships and national championships won at his current school. We'll start with the football coaches.

ACC Football Coaches, Records and Tenure, Current Team
(sorted by length of tenure)
School Coach Tenure Record Championships
ACC Nat'l
FSU Bobby Bowden 32nd year 293-80-4 12 2
VT Frank Beamer 21st year 146-79-2 1 0
Clemson Tommy Bowden 9th year 60-37 0 0
Virginia Al Groh 7th year 42-33 0 0
Wake Jim Grobe 7th year 37-35 1 0
Maryland Ralph Friedgen 7th year 50-24 1 0
GT Chan Gailey 6th year 37-27 0 0
Duke Ted Roof 4th year 5-34 0 0
BC Jeff Jagodzinski 1st year 0-0 0 0
Miami Randy Shannon 1st year 0-0 0 0
UNC Butch Davis 1st year 0-0 0 0
NC State Tom O'Brien 1st year 0-0 0 0
Note: Length of tenure refers to 2007 season, for example, 2007 will be
Frank Beamer's 21st season coaching VT; records are for current ACC
team only; national championships refer to championships won during
current ACC tenure, not previous coaching jobs.


This table illuminates how Bobby Bowden and Frank Beamer are truly the giants of ACC head football coaches. (You could argue that Bowden is on Tier 1, Frank is Tier 2, and everyone else is Tier 3.) Their 53 combined years at their two schools is more than the other 10 coaches combined (44 years). Beamer and Bowden have 439 victories at their current schools; the rest of the ACC's coaches, just 226.



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But because the table only includes years, records, and championships at their current schools, it gives short shrift to Tom O'Brien and Butch Davis, who have had successful college coaching careers but are entering their first seasons at their current jobs. Davis was 47-20 in six seasons at Miami (1995-2000), and his player recruitment and development paved the way for the great Miami teams of 2001 and 2002.

O'Brien, meanwhile, went 75-45 in 10 seasons as Boston College's head coach before taking the NC State job. Between Davis and O'Brien, that's 122 victories -- at current ACC schools, no less -- that aren't included in the table.

If you're looking for true newbies among the ACC head coaching ranks, they are Jeff Jagodzinski and Randy Shannon. Neither one has ever been a head coach at any level.

A look at a similar table for ACC basketball coaches reveals the same dynamic: Two guys at the top, similar to Bowden and Beamer, but with a caveat.

ACC Basketball Coaches, Records and Tenure, Current Team
(sorted by length of tenure)
School Coach Tenure Record Championships
ACC Nat'l
Duke Mike Krzyzewski 28th year 702-202 10 3
Maryland Gary Williams 19th year 378-200 1 1
BC Al Skinner 11th year 196-120 0 0
GT Paul Hewitt 8th year 127-95 0 0
Wake Skip Prosser 7th year 126-68 0 0
FSU Leonard Hamilton 6th year 87-71 0 0
Clemson Oliver Purnell 5th year 70-58 0 0
UNC Roy Williams 5th year 106-30 1 1
VT Seth Greenberg 5th year 67-56 0 0
Miami Frank Haith 4th year 46-49 0 0
Virginia Dave Leitao 3rd year 36-26 0 0
NC State Sidney Lowe 2nd year 20-16 0 0
Note: Length of tenure refers to 2007-08 season, for example, 2007-08 will
be Seth Greenberg's 5th season coaching VT; records are for current ACC
team only; ACC championships refer to tournament championships; national
championships refer to championships won during current ACC tenure, not
previous coaching jobs.


Like FSU's Bowden in football, there's one basketball coach (Mike Krzyzewski) who has been doing it longer than anyone else in the ACC, in dominating fashion. The similarity between the number of years coached at their schools (32 and 28), the number of ACC championships (12 and 10), and the number of national championships (2 and 3) is remarkable.

Gary Williams is the basketball equivalent of Frank Beamer, with roughly 20 years tenure at his school and a conference championship. The difference, of course, is that Williams has won a national championship, while Beamer has not. (Insert obligatory 1999, oh-so-close reference here.)

Beyond Coach K and Gary Williams, the comparison between football and basketball coaches starts to break down. Tommy Bowden and Al Skinner are similar in terms of length of tenure, but Skinner is much more secure at Boston College than Bowden is at Clemson.

In the middle of both lists are some solid coaches, guys who have had some success but might be at the end of their stay at their current schools: Al Groh in football and Skip Prosser in basketball are two guys who aren't exactly on the hot seat right now, but they haven't had their best seasons lately, and fans are watching for improvement. Guys like Jim Grobe and Ralph Friedgen in football and Paul Hewitt and Oliver Purnell in basketball might go on to have long, illustrious careers at their current jobs, or they may not. Time will tell.

Towards the bottom of the basketball list is a guy who really stands out: Roy Williams at UNC. Williams is a distinguished, decorated coach who won a lot of games at another school (418 wins at Kansas, where the Jayhawks were national runners-up twice) and who has already won a conference championship and a national championship in the ACC.

If you look for someone similar at the bottom of the football list, you can't find him. Williams is similar in one respect to football's Tom O'Brien -- both had long, successful stints at other schools before arriving at their current school -- but Williams achieved at a higher level than O'Brien.

One huge difference between the two lists are the number of head coaches new at their school in football (four) and the complete lack of coaching changes in basketball in the last year.

What will you see when you look at these lists again in 10 years? On the football side, Bobby Bowden and Frank Beamer will probably be gone. If either one still remains in a decade, it's huge news. The coaches most likely to be around, and be the new deans of the ACC, are Jim Grobe (who recently signed a 10-year extension), Ralph Friedgen (if his health holds up), and Tom O'Brien. I wouldn't be surprised, though, to see a completely clean slate on the football side.

On the basketball side, ten years from now Roy Williams will be 67, Mike Krzyzewski will be 70, and Gary Williams will be 72. Hard to believe, isn't it? As vibrant as all three seem now, they might all be retired by then. Al Skinner, who seems to be a good fit at his school, will be 65. Looking up and down the basketball list, it's hard to guess who, if anyone, will be around in ten years. Dave Leitao's got a chance, as does Sidney Lowe, but the guy who really might stay put is Paul Hewitt, a spring chicken who will be just 53 years old ten years from now.

More than likely, though, the college head coaching carousel will chew up and spit out all 24 coaches on these lists in the next ten years. Guys like Bowden, Beamer, and Krzyzewski, guys who spend more than ten years in one place, are a dying breed. It's the nature of college sports these days.

Heck, even TechSideline.com, which is eleven years old, might not be around in ten years. If it is, we'll revisit this topic at that time. Someone remind us, okay?

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   TechSideline.com Updates From the Past Week

Alvarez Moves Closer to Clearance

July 12, 2007
One of Virginia Tech's biggest - literally and figuratively - 2007 class recruits is well on his way to arriving in Blacksburg next month. 6-5, 315-pound William Alvarez is awaiting official word from the NCAA Clearinghouse but expects to gain clearance to enroll at Virginia Tech.
more

Krabbendam Leaving Basketball Team; J.T. Thompson Coming Early
July 12, 2007
It was good news-bad news for the Virginia Tech basketball team yesterday, as they learned that reserve center Robert Krabbendam will not be returning for the 2007-2008 season and will instead play professional basketball in Europe. On the bright side, 2008 recruit J.T. Thompson completed a required high school core course and is now eligible for next season. As a result, Thompson will enroll early at Tech, coming to Blacksburg this fall instead of waiting until the fall of 2008.
Also: Will Alvarez Looking Good for August Enrollment; Virginia Tech Unveils Memorial Patch
more

Whitley Decision Coming Soon
July 12, 2007
6-1, 175-pound defensive back Eddie Whitley has narrowed his list of schools to N.C. State and Virginia Tech. The Matthews (N.C.) star, one of three top rising senior defensive back recruits out of Butler High School, intends to announce his college intentions in the very near future.
more

The Latest on Ryan Williams
July 12, 2007
Stonewall Jackson (Manassas, VA) running back Ryan Williams has kept his recruitment quiet, but that doesn't mean he has not been busy. He has made unofficial visits to a handful of Division 1A programs, all of which have extended official scholarship offers. Stonewall Jackson head coach Loren Johnson provided the latest on the top tailback's recruitment.
more

Roberts Sets Decision Day
July 12, 2007
6-2, 190-pound Smithfield (VA) star Dyrell Roberts has sparked one of the most competitive in-state recruiting battles of the 2008 class. Roberts, who is being recruited as a wide receiver by Virginia and Virginia Tech, has set a timetable for his college decision. And it will happen later this month.
more

Painter Cuts List to 5
July 11, 2007
6-6, 315-pound OT/DL Vinston Painter, rated the #1 prospect in the state in TSL's Pre-Summer Top 30, has whittled his long list of schools to five. And this time it seems to be a final five. The Maury (Norfolk, VA) star is happy to have his list narrowed and continues to be focused towards his senior season.
more

Top OL Freeman Visits Virginia Schools
July 11, 2007
6-6, 270-pound offensive lineman Dalton Freeman, one of the most highly recruited offensive line prospects in the East, is fresh off visits to Virginia and Virginia Tech. The Pelion (S.C.) standout took some time to discuss his recent trips as well as what else lies ahead in his recruitment.
more

Hokie Hoops Roster in Turmoil
July 10, 2007
If you've followed Virginia Tech basketball long enough, you know that a picture of Cassell Coliseum can be found next to the word "attrition" in the dictionary. Jenis Grindstaff, Dennis Mims, Roland Roberts, Danny Gathings, Dimari Thompkins, Kenny Harrell and Marquie Cooke are just a few of the many players that have left the program without finishing their eligibility in the last 10 years. Despite the fun and excitement of the 2006-07 season, the offseason has been equally disappointing.
more

Rose Inching Closer to a Decision
July 10, 2007
6-1, 180-pound Amherst (VA) athlete Peter Rose has had a difficult time these past few weeks, trying to make a decision between his two finalists. Virginia and Virginia Tech have both impressed Peter and his family, but the talented standout could finally be closing in on a decision.
more

TSL Audio: The Len Martez Show, 7/9/07
July 10, 2007
TechSideline.com's Chris Coleman appeared on the inaugural broadcast of The Len Martez Show on ESPN Radio 1430 AM in Blacksburg yesterday. Chris and Len talked about Virginia Tech's basketball program (specifically Nigel Munson's status), College GameDay's upcoming visit to Blacksburg, and VT football in general. (WMA format, compatible with Windows Media Player and MP3 players, 2.8 MB, 11:57).
more

Boyce Expected in Blacksburg Saturday
July 9, 2007
6-4, 200-pound Landstown (Virginia Beach, VA) prospect Xavier Boyce is expected to be in Blacksburg this Saturday for Virginia Tech's second senior camp. Boyce may not participate, but just getting a visit is key for the Hokies as another program has emerged as the current favorite.
more

Top Ten Plays of the 2006 Football Season
July 9, 2007
Recently, a subscriber asked us if we had done a top ten plays article for the 2005 or 2006 season. We produced one for the 2004 season that was well received, but we hadn't done one for 2005 or 2006. A top ten article for the 2006 season sounded like a good idea, to help get past the memory of the Chick-fil-A Bowl collapse, so we went ahead with it.
more
 
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