Ranking the Opposing Head Coaches FSU Will Face in 2017

Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher has established himself as one of the best in the business, but throughout college football and the ACC, there are plenty of good coaches.

Looking at the regular season schedule for FSU, the Seminoles will face a lot of very good head coaches. Here’s a look at where opposing coaches that Florida State will face rank from worst to first:

12. Kenny Carter, Delaware State
College Coaching Record: 1-21
Notable Accomplishments: None
After going 1-10 in his first season as a head coach, Kenny Carter failed to win a game in year No. 2. Carter was successful as an FBS assistant, but hasn’t had many things go his way as a head man at Delaware State. His team will visit Doak Campbell Stadium on Nov. 18.

11. Matt Viator, Louisiana-Monroe
College Coaching Record: 82-41
Notable Accomplishments: 5 FCS playoff appearances
In Matt Viator’s first year as a head coach, Louisiana-Monroe doubled its win total from the previous year, but finished just 4-8. Viator led McNeese State to five FCS playoff appearances in 10 years. He’ll lead the Warhawks into Doak Campbell Stadium on Sept. 9.

10. Dave Clawson, Wake Forest
College Coaching Record: 103-103
Notable Accomplishments: 3 FCS playoff appearances, 4 bowl appearances, 1 MAC championship
It’s been a slow process, but in year No. 3, Dave Clawson got Wake Forest to a bowl game and a victory over American Athletic Conference champion Temple. In eight seasons as a FBS head coach, Clawson has four winning seasons. The Seminoles visit Clawson and the Demon Deacons on Sept. 30.

9. Steve Addazio, Boston College
College Coaching Record: 37-38
Notable Accomplishments: 4 bowl appearances
Steve Addazio has had a winning record in four of his six seasons as a head coach, but has won more than seven games just once. Addazio has only had a winning record in conference play once and that came in 2011 — his first season at Temple. Addazio’s Eagles will host FSU on Oct. 27.

8. Dino Babers, Syracuse
College Coaching Record: 41-24
Notable Accomplishments: 2 FCS playoff appearances, 2 bowl appearances, 1 MAC championship
After four productive seasons — two each at Eastern Illinois and Bowling Green — Dino Babers suffered through his first losing season as a head coach in 2016. Babers is known as a great offensive mind, but his team managed just four wins in his first season at Syracuse. The Orange visit FSU on Nov. 4 this season.

7. Dave Doeren, N.C. State
College Coaching Record: 48-30
Notable Accomplishments: 5 bowl appearances, 1 major bowl appearance, 2 MAC championships
Although he left for N.C. State before coaching the Orange Bowl at the conclusion of the 2012 season, Dave Doeren is one of just three ACC Atlantic division coaches to lead his team to a BCS or New Year’s Six bowl. After a disappointing first season in Raleigh, Doeren has led the Wolfpack to three straight winning seasons, but is just 9-23 for his career in ACC play. The Wolfpack visit FSU this season on Sept. 23.

6. David Cutcliffe, Duke
College Coaching Record: 96-90
Notable Accomplishments: 8 bowl appearances, 1 ACC division title
You could make the argument that David Cutcliffe should be higher on this list, given the way he has brought perennial bottom-dweller Duke to respectability. In 15 seasons as a Power 5 head coach, Cutcliffe has two 10-win seasons and has coached his teams to eight bowl games. In 2013, Cutcliffe coached Duke to the ACC Coastal division title — something once not thought possible. Duke hosts FSU on Oct. 14.

5. Jim McElwain, Florida
College Coaching Record: 41-24
Notable Accomplishments: 4 bowl appearances, 2 SEC division titles
After a successful 3-year stint at Colorado State that culminated in a 10-win season, Jim McElwain has led Florida to the SEC East crown in each of his first two seasons in Gainesville. The only knock on McElwain at this point appears to be his inability to get over the hump against FSU and Alabama. McElwain and the Gators will host FSU on Nov. 25.

4. Bobby Petrino, Louisville
College Coaching Record: 109-43
Notable Accomplishments: 10 bowl appearances, 2 major bowl appearances, 1 Conference USA title, 1 Big East title
Say what you will about Bobby Petrino, but his coaching resume’ speaks for itself. In 12 years as an FBS head coach, Petrino has coached his team to at least 10 wins four times. He’s also taken two different schools to BCS bowls. Petrino and Louisville visit FSU this season on Oct. 21.

3. Mark Richt, Miami
College Coaching Record: 154-55
Notable Accomplishments: 16 bowl appearances, 3 major bowl appearances, 4 SEC division titles, 2 SEC titles
In his 16 seasons as a college head coach, Mark Richt has never not led his team to a bowl game. Over those 16 seasons, Richt’s teams have won at least 10 games nine times. In 15 seasons at Georgia, Richt won a pair of SEC titles and led the Bulldogs to seven top-10 finishes. In his first season at Miami, Richt coached the Hurricanes to their most victories in seven years and their first bowl win in a decade. A former FSU assistant, Richt will make his first trip back to Doak Campbell Stadium on Sept. 16.

2. Dabo Swinney, Clemson
College Coaching Record: 89-28
Notable Accomplishments: 9 bowl appearances, 4 major bowl appearances, 4 ACC division titles, 3 ACC titles, 1 national title
A midseason replacement for Tommy Bowden in 2008, Dabo Swinney has made Clemson a perennial national power. Swinney has coached the Tigers to a major bowl in each of his nine seasons, which includes four BCS and New Year’s Six bowls and two appearances in the National Championship, winning one. Clemson hosts FSU this season on Nov. 11.

1. Nick Saban, Alabama
College Coaching Record: 205-61-1
Notable Accomplishments: 19 bowl appearances, 10 major bowl appearances, 8 SEC titles, 5 national titles
When it comes to college coaches, there is no one better than Nick Saban. Saban has won national championships at two different schools and five total. Over his last nine years in Tuscaloosa, Saban has lost more than two games just once.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson