Best Head Coach of all Time

[ponyte]

Matty Bell was 77-40-8 with a National Championship.

Sonny Dykes is 15-11 which is a .577 winning average. That is the best since Bobby Collins and better than other winning coaches prior to the DP like Ron Meyer, Dave Smith, and Ray Morrison.

Collins is by far the most winning with a .750 average.

Of 21 Head coaches, only 7 have a winning record at SMU.

Let the debate begin.

[mustangxc]

1. Matty Bell
2. Ray Morrison
3. Ron Meyer
4. Hayden Fry
5. Sonny Dykes
6. June Jones
7. Bobby Collins
8. Chad Morris
9. Dave Smith

[PonyTime]

Know I will take heat for this - but what Tom Rossley was able to do with very little might just put him on my top 5 list. I think he was easily a better coach than June Jones and Chad Morris. Take a look at what Chad did in SEC at Arky - how would he have done at SMU in the SWC coming off the DP?

Rossley had to compete in the SWC and had A&M, UT, TT, Baylor on schedule - there was never an easy game. Some of the more recent coaches got to compete in the WAC, CUSA, etc.

Rossley's non conference games were against Pac 10, Big 8, ACC, SEC teams - I recall UCLA, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Mizzou and others on the schedule. And we were in just about every one of those games into the 4thQ, when we would always run out of gas.

[Charleston Pony]

Agree that Rossley might have been a good one if he had stayed a long time and wasn't working with significant restrictions. Hayden was special at SMU for bringing in Levias, but had a heck of a career at both NTSU and Iowa after leaving SMU

[redpony]

IMO- Matty Belll. Wasn't Rusty Russell also a pretty successful coach?

[mustangxc]

Know I will take heat for this - but what Tom Rossley was able to do with very little might just put him on my top 5 list. I think he was easily a better coach than June Jones and Chad Morris. Take a look at what Chad did in SEC at Arky - how would he have done at SMU in the SWC coming off the DP?

Rossley had to compete in the SWC and had A&M, UT, TT, Baylor on schedule - there was never an easy game. Some of the more recent coaches got to compete in the WAC, CUSA, etc.

Rossley's non conference games were against Pac 10, Big 8, ACC, SEC teams - I recall UCLA, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Mizzou and others on the schedule. And we were in just about every one of those games into the 4thQ, when we would always run out of gas.

At the same time, he led us into the WAC and did not capitalize on beating up on inferior competition.

[Charleston Pony]

Know I will take heat for this - but what Tom Rossley was able to do with very little might just put him on my top 5 list. I think he was easily a better coach than June Jones and Chad Morris. Take a look at what Chad did in SEC at Arky - how would he have done at SMU in the SWC coming off the DP?

Rossley had to compete in the SWC and had A&M, UT, TT, Baylor on schedule - there was never an easy game. Some of the more recent coaches got to compete in the WAC, CUSA, etc.

Rossley's non conference games were against Pac 10, Big 8, ACC, SEC teams - I recall UCLA, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Mizzou and others on the schedule. And we were in just about every one of those games into the 4thQ, when we would always run out of gas.

At the same time, he led us into the WAC and did not capitalize on beating up on inferior competition.

There were actually teams that were "inferior" to SMU in those days? We may have played in the SWC after the death penalty, but certainly did not have a roster capable of competing at that level.

[EastStang]

Matty Bell certainly gets the nod for both longevity and winning. Ray Morrison is #2. I'd put Ron Meyer #3 for his energy, creativity and recruiting. Those skills gave Bobby Collins the tools he needed to win a tough SWC, so he gets #4. Then Hayden Fry who gets points for LeVias. However, the flying wishbone loses points. I'll put Sonny #6, and if he stays, move him up. #7 Would be Chad because he stocked the shelf. After that, its all a blur. Rosseley, Cavan, Bennett, Jones, Smith. I'll note the greatest assistant coach was probably Bum Phillips.

[redpony]

I'll second the Bum Phillips comment. Always loved Bum. Remember him from the 'Luv ya Blue" days in Houston as well.

[mustangxc]

Know I will take heat for this - but what Tom Rossley was able to do with very little might just put him on my top 5 list. I think he was easily a better coach than June Jones and Chad Morris. Take a look at what Chad did in SEC at Arky - how would he have done at SMU in the SWC coming off the DP?

Rossley had to compete in the SWC and had A&M, UT, TT, Baylor on schedule - there was never an easy game. Some of the more recent coaches got to compete in the WAC, CUSA, etc.

Rossley's non conference games were against Pac 10, Big 8, ACC, SEC teams - I recall UCLA, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Mizzou and others on the schedule. And we were in just about every one of those games into the 4thQ, when we would always run out of gas.

At the same time, he led us into the WAC and did not capitalize on beating up on inferior competition.

There were actually teams that were "inferior" to SMU in those days? We may have played in the SWC after the death penalty, but certainly did not have a roster capable of competing at that level.

The WAC being inferior to the SWC.

[docabel]

No love for Forrest Gregg?

[peruna81]

Bell
Morrison
Fry
Meyer
Gregg
Dykes
Rossley
Used Car Guy

[EastStang]

Gee, how could I forget Gregg. He should come in at #5 not for winning, but for stepping up when we needed credibility the most and for running up the score on Houston.

[PoconoPony]

Gee, how could I forget Gregg. He should come in at #5 not for winning, but for stepping up when we needed credibility the most and for running up the score on Houston.

You are getting old.

[PonyPower]

Forrest Gregg got a couple of wins out of a team that was made up almost exclusively of freshmen, many of whom didn't even get a look from any other schools.

One of the greatest coaching jobs in the history of sports.

To me, he's the best.