I know how bad this season is shaping up. But seeing everyone call for Narduzzi's head left me wondering - what other coaches had some long tenured "WTF?" seasons
So I went digging.
Now this isn't a comprehensive list, so there's others I have likely missed.
I'm also not COMPARING Narduzzi to these coaches. I am simply pointing out that even the absolute greats had some 'WTF' seasons pretty deep in, usually at some absolute powerhouse schools. Enjoy the list. And R-E-L-A-X
Active Coaches
James Franklin Year 7 PSU: 4-5
Brian Kelly Year 7 ND: 4-8
Kirk Ferentz Year 14: 4-8
Jim Harbaugh Year 6 Michigan: 2-4 (and would've been way worse if not for COVID cancelations)
Jimbo Fisher Year 8 FSU: 5-6
Mack Brown Year 13 Texas: 5-7 (Year 8 UNC 7-5)
Modern Era Coaches
Mark Dantonio Year 10 MSU: 3-9
Frank Beamer Year 6 VT: 2-8-1
Paul Johnson Year 8 GT: 3-9
Gary Patterson Year 13 TCU: 4-8
Jim Tressel Year 8 YSU: 3-8
Philip Fulmer Year 14 Tennessee: 5-6
Mark Richt Year 10 Georgia: 6-7
Bobby Bowden Year 6 FSU: 6-5
Bill Snyder Year 13 Kansas State: 6-6 then after a pair of 11 win years went 4-7
JoePa Years 8-12 Win Count: 5, 5, 9, 3, 4
80's to 90's
Terry Donahue Year 14 UCLA: 2-5-1
Barry Alvarez Year 6 Wisconsin: 4-5-2
Vince Dooley Year 6&7 Georgia: 5-5
Hayden Fry Year 11 Iowa: 5-6
Lou Holtz Year 9 Notre Dame: 6-5-1
All Timers
Woody Hayes Year 9 Ohio State: 3-5-1
Bo Schembechler Year 16 Michigan: 6-6
Bud Wilkinson Year 14 Oklahoma: 3-6-1
Frank Leahy Year 8 Notre Dame: 4-4-1
Knute Rockne Year 11 Notre Dame: 5-4
Frank Howard Year 7&8 Clemson: 4-5
Bear Bryant Year 12 Alabama: 6-5
Crawling with legends and National Champions. Let's not excuse the horrid year, but let's not crucify him either. Bad years happen to the greatest. Wait for the new OC hire to want his head.
So I went digging.
Now this isn't a comprehensive list, so there's others I have likely missed.
I'm also not COMPARING Narduzzi to these coaches. I am simply pointing out that even the absolute greats had some 'WTF' seasons pretty deep in, usually at some absolute powerhouse schools. Enjoy the list. And R-E-L-A-X
Active Coaches
James Franklin Year 7 PSU: 4-5
Brian Kelly Year 7 ND: 4-8
Kirk Ferentz Year 14: 4-8
Jim Harbaugh Year 6 Michigan: 2-4 (and would've been way worse if not for COVID cancelations)
Jimbo Fisher Year 8 FSU: 5-6
Mack Brown Year 13 Texas: 5-7 (Year 8 UNC 7-5)
Modern Era Coaches
Mark Dantonio Year 10 MSU: 3-9
Frank Beamer Year 6 VT: 2-8-1
Paul Johnson Year 8 GT: 3-9
Gary Patterson Year 13 TCU: 4-8
Jim Tressel Year 8 YSU: 3-8
Philip Fulmer Year 14 Tennessee: 5-6
Mark Richt Year 10 Georgia: 6-7
Bobby Bowden Year 6 FSU: 6-5
Bill Snyder Year 13 Kansas State: 6-6 then after a pair of 11 win years went 4-7
JoePa Years 8-12 Win Count: 5, 5, 9, 3, 4
80's to 90's
Terry Donahue Year 14 UCLA: 2-5-1
Barry Alvarez Year 6 Wisconsin: 4-5-2
Vince Dooley Year 6&7 Georgia: 5-5
Hayden Fry Year 11 Iowa: 5-6
Lou Holtz Year 9 Notre Dame: 6-5-1
All Timers
Woody Hayes Year 9 Ohio State: 3-5-1
Bo Schembechler Year 16 Michigan: 6-6
Bud Wilkinson Year 14 Oklahoma: 3-6-1
Frank Leahy Year 8 Notre Dame: 4-4-1
Knute Rockne Year 11 Notre Dame: 5-4
Frank Howard Year 7&8 Clemson: 4-5
Bear Bryant Year 12 Alabama: 6-5
Crawling with legends and National Champions. Let's not excuse the horrid year, but let's not crucify him either. Bad years happen to the greatest. Wait for the new OC hire to want his head.
