Sporting News ranked the FBS coaches from 1-130, and now it's time to take a closer look at the Atlantic Coast Conference.
It's the only conference in the FBS with two national championship coaches in Clemson's Dabo Swinney and Florida State's Jimbo Fisher, and three coaches ranked in the Top 10 of our overall rankings. The depth in the coaching ranks is there, and that's why the ACC can make the argument it's the best conference now.
MORE: Ranking coaches 1-130
How do those coaches stack up? Here's a closer look. Record with current school is in parentheses if coach has multiple schools.
1. Dabo Swinney, Clemson
Overall: 3
Record: 89-28
Lowdown: We could have put Swinney at No. 2 overall, but we're holding off for now. Six straight double-digit win seasons and back-to-back championship appearances, not to mention a pair of head-to-head wins against the next coach, is a heck of a case. He's the top coach in the ACC, and you could make a concerted case to put him ahead of Ohio State's Urban Meyer at No. 2.
2. Jimbo Fisher, Florida State
Overall: 4
Record: 78-17
Lowdown: Fisher operates on a 10-wins-or-more standard, and that success helped elevate the entire profile of the ACC. Clemson has won the last two conference championships, but the Seminoles will be right back in the mix this season. Fisher also is a masterful recruiter who manages to hold off rivals on all sides in a Bowden-like fashion that deserves more praise.
3. Mark Richt, Miami, Fla.
Overall: 9
Record: 154-55 (9-4)
Lowdown: Richt is the third top-10 ACC coach on this list, a nod to the depth the conference has created. He had a successful first season at his alma mater, and it won't be long before they are competing for that elusive ACC championship. Perhaps no coach wins this much without being appreciated.
4. Bobby Petrino, Louisville
Overall: 13
Record: 109-43 (67-22)
Lowdown: We admittedly undervalued Petrino last year, an outstanding play-caller who helped mold Lamar Jackson into a Heisman Trophy winner. The Cardinals will be a factor again in the ACC Atlantic race, and it's on Petrino to get the program back to double-digit wins with that firepower.
MORE: SN Preseason Top 25
5. Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech
Overall: 23
Record: 36-27 (10-4)
Lowdown: Fuente's philosophy of “Hard, smart, tough” translated well in Blacksburg in his first season, and the ACC Coastal Division title and Belk Bowl comeback against Arkansas are solid building blocks. He's yet another solid hire that has added depth to the conference's coaching ranks.
6. Larry Fedora, North Carolina
Overall: 27
Record: 74-44 (40-25)
Lowdown: The Tar Heels have won 19 games the last two seasons and have reached the postseason four consecutive years, a track record of success that has followed Fedora from his days at Southern Miss. Can he take the next step with the program now?
7. David Cutcliffe, Duke
Overall: 32
Record: 96-90 (52-61)
Lowdown: Duke is coming off a down year, but the margin for error is thinner there and Cutcliffe continues to hand-craft a quality program that had winning seasons the previous three years.
8. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech
Overall: 35
Record: 115-77 (70-48)
Lowdown: Johnson pushed the Yellow Jackets back to the nine-win mark and has won nine or more games eight of the last nine seasons. He's solid, but Georgia Tech is still looking for an ACC championship after having the 2009 title vacated.
MORE: SN bowl projections
9. Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh
Overall: 36
Record: 16-10
Lowdown: Narduzzi's first two seasons at Pitt have been a success, and that should continue as he enters that all-important third season. The Panthers have found their ACC footing, but the next step is a division title.
10. Bronco Mendenhall, Virginia
Overall: 49
Record: 101-53 (2-10)
Lowdown: Mendenhall's first season with the Cavaliers was rough, but if you trust the overall track record from his time at BYU then that would indicate better times lie ahead.
11. Dave Doeren, N.C. State
Overall: 53
Record: 48-30 (25-36)
Lowdown: This is a critical year for Doeren, who has enjoyed three straight winning seasons but has lacked that statement victory. The Wolfpack are a chic sleeper in the ACC Atlantic, but don't we say that every year?
12. Dave Clawson, Wake Forest
Overall: 58
Record: 45-54 (13-24)
Lowdown: After two 3-9 seasons, Clawson helped the Demon Deacons emerge as a 7-6 team that won the Military Bowl last season. There's optimism around the program again as a result.
13. Dino Babers, Syracuse
Overall: 63
Record: 22-23 (4-8)
Lowdown: Babers took the lessons learned at Baylor and Bowling Green and has the Orange trending in the right direction after modest gains in his first season. He should get Syracuse back into the postseason next.
14. Steve Addazio, Boston College
Overall: 68
Record: 37-38 (24-27)
Lowdown: Addazio did lead the Eagles to a 7-6 season in 2016, but that's been the high point over the last four years. Boston College has won just 10 ACC games in that stretch.
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