FSU football: Ranking all the top coaches in the ACC
By Kelvin Hunt
![BLACKSBURG, VA - OCTOBER 09: A view of the pylon with an ACC logo on the field during the game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Lane Stadium on October 9, 2021 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) BLACKSBURG, VA - OCTOBER 09: A view of the pylon with an ACC logo on the field during the game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Lane Stadium on October 9, 2021 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/a4496de2089da948d7db9ee0b2f5606b8a9f4bd692af197321f267b8b93cfe9e.jpg)
FSU football head coach Mike Norvell was near the bottom of most ACC coaching rankings going into his first season, despite a solid record at Memphis.
As he enters his fourth season at FSU, that will no longer be the case, as he has the Noles trending upward. Ironically, there are several new coaches in the ACC looking to make a name for themselves.
A few just completed their first year in the league, and a couple of new coaches joined after last season. How would I rank the best and worst coaches in the ACC?
You came to the right place:
- No. 14 Tony Elliot (Virginia)
- No. 13 Jeff Hafley (Boston College)
- No. 12 Brent Pry (Virginia Tech)
- No. 11 Brent Key (Georgia Tech)
Elliot, Pry, and Key(interim) just completed their very first year as head coaches. All three have complete rebuilds on their hands, with Key taking over mid-season and improving Georgia Tech’s level of play on the way to a 4-4 finish.
That’s why I ranked him higher than the rest in this group. Jeff Haffley has never impressed me, although some folks swore Boston College would be good the past couple of years.
I don’t think any of these programs have the resources to become very good again, aside from a one-off year where they may win nine games or something in that neighborhood.