No. 13 – (Russo) Jim Harbaugh; (Evans) P.J. Fleck. If I added Harbaugh to a list, it would be the ‘most overrated’ CFB coaches in the nation. If Fleck can recruit well enough, he will prove to be among the top three B1G coaches. Career Winning – Harbaugh 66.1 percent; Fleck 58.9 percent.
No. 14 – (Russo) Matt Campbell; (Evans) Kirk Ferentz. Campbell is an excellent young coach who needs a bigger stage to prove himself. Ferentz has never reached ‘great coach’ status but he has been solid for a long time. Career Winning – Campbell 60.4 percent; Ferentz 60.9 percent.
No. 15 – (Russo) Pat Fitzgerald, Career Winning 55.6 percent; (Evans) Ken Niumatolo. I can’t agree with the Fitzgerald pick because he has only three strong seasons, out a 14-year career. Cut him some slack maybe because he is at Northwestern, but his team won three games last season. Even though Niumatolo’s 2018 Navy team won only three games, the rest of his time at Annapolis has been solid. He could win anywhere. Career Winning 62 percent.
No. 16 – (Russo) Mack Brown; (Evans) Matt Campbell. Mack deserves to be on the list. However, if I was looking to build a down program, I would pick Campbell ahead of Mack. Career Winning – Brown 66.5 percent; Campbell 60.4 percent.
No. 17 – (Russo) P.J. Fleck; (Evans) Paul Chryst. Chryst has been competitive despite tough B1G schedules. Career Winning 67 percent
No. 18 – (Russo) David Shaw; (Evans) Mack Brown. A couple of seasons ago I would have rated Shaw in the top 10 or 12 head coaches. He seems to have slipped as the game went away from power football. Mack’s second season in Chapel Hill will define if he is still a top coach. Career Winning – Shaw 71.7 percent; Brown 66.5 percent.