In the history of college football, only 18 coaches have ever won 200 or more games. Only three coaches have ever won 300 or more. And only one has ever eclipsed 400.
Here’s a look at the list, which I pulled from CFB Reference (I think it’s important to note that they only include coaches from programs that were considered major schools at the time when the coach was there — here is their definition of a major school).
Rank | Coach | Wins | Primary School |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Joe Paterno | 409 | Penn State |
2 | Bobby Bowden | 357 | Florida State |
3 | Bear Bryant | 323 | Alabama |
4 | Pop Warner | 311 | Carlisle |
5 | Amos Alonzo Stagg | 282 | Chicago |
6 | LaVell Edwards | 257 | Brigham Young |
7 | Tom Osborne | 255 | Nebraska |
8 | Lou Holtz | 249 | Notre Dame |
9 | Frank Beamer | 238 | Virginia Tech |
9 | Mack Brown | 238 | Texas |
11 | Bo Schembechler | 234 | Michigan |
12 | Hayden Fry | 230 | Iowa |
13 | Steve Spurrier | 228 | Florida |
14 | Nick Saban* | 225 | Alabama |
15 | Bill Snyder* | 211 | Kansas State |
16 | Woody Hayes | 205 | Ohio State |
17 | Don Nehlen | 202 | West Virginia |
18 | Vince Dooley | 201 | Georgia |
*Active coaches
Mike Gundy slides in at 121st on the list with 116 wins in his 14 years on the job in Stillwater.