With Bob Stoops tying Barry Switzer this weekend for most victories by a S
ooners head coach, it got us thinking about some of the larger-than-life head men in college football history. Using Mr. Switzer as a segue, here’s our list of the ten most iconic college football head coaches ever:
10) Barry Switzer – Three national titles for the son of a bootlegger. Oklahoma (Head Coach 1973-1988): 157-29-4
9) Tom Osborne
– Three national titles and so popular in Nebraska he was elected to Congress (with 83% of the vote). Nebraska (Head Coach 1973-1997) 255-49-3
8) Darrell Royal – Three national titles and in 20 years at UT never had a losing season. Mississippi State/Washington/Texas (Head Coach 1953-1976): 184-60-5
7) Bobby Bowden – Two national titles and had 12 wins removed from his record due to ineligible player participation. Samford/West Virginia/Florida State (Head Coach 1959-2009): 377-129-4
6) Joe Paterno – Two national titles and most years at a division one institution as head coach. Personal legacy was severely tarnished by the Jerry Sandusky scandal, but his time on the sidelines endures. Penn State (Head Coach 1966-2011): 298–136–3 (was the winningest Division 1 coach of all time until 111 wins were vacated due to the scandal)
5) Woody Hayes – Three national titles, a fierce temper and a punch to Clemson’s Charlie Bauman’s throat. 
Dennison/Miami (OH)/Ohio State (Head Coach 1946 – 1978): 238-72-10
4) Eddie Robinson – Fifty-six years at one school, and besides Grambling, what other I-AA schools can you even name? Grambling State (Head Coach 1941-1997): 408-168-15
3) Glenn Scobey “Pop” Warner – Four national titles and youth football programs for over 400,000 kids annually named after him. Georgia/Cornell/Carlisle/Pitt/Stanford/Temple (Head Coa
ch 1895-1938): 318-106-32
2) Knute Rockne – Five national titles and a movie about him starring Ronald Reagan as the Gipper. Notre Dame (Head Coach 1918-1930): 105-12-5
1) Paul “Bear” Bryant – Six national titles and that trademark houndstooth hat. Maryland/Kentucky/Texas A&M/Alabama (Head Coach 1945-1982): 323-85-17
