12. Robbie Caldwell - Vanderbilt Commodores - I'm still not sure if I'm supposed to feel sorry for this guy or not. Yeah, sure, he got his first major head coaching after 35 years, but it's taking over for Bobby Johnson at Vanderbilt with a team that went 2-10 overall and 0-8 in the SEC last year. Why does taking over for BJ matter? BJ took Vandy to their 2nd bowl game in history 2 years ago, and when he resigned recently, word is all 12 Vandy fans were speaking as if the had just lost the Bear in Nashville. Suddenly Commodore fans feel as if they deserve a bowl game every now and then. Now there's no grace period for Caldwell. God speed and good luck Robbie. I'll be surprised if Vandy reaches more than 1 win in '10.
11. Joker Phillips - Kentucky Wildcats - Although Phillips has equal coaching experience as Caldwell, the Joker has been the head coach in waiting for some time now in Lexington, therefore he gets the nod at #11. Joker was Rich Brooks OC for the past 5 seasons and brings back a couple of playmakers in Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke, as well as Mike Hartline and Morgan Newton, both with experience under center. The Joker will need to pull a few tricks from up his sleeve if he wants to add to 4 consecutive bowl invites for the Wildcats.
10. Derek Dooley - Tennessee Volunteers - If you were to look at Dooley's overall record, which stands at 17-20 at Louisiana Tech in the WAC, you'd be forced to wonder why Tennessee looked to him to return the once proud program to glory. First off, Dooley comes from outstanding pedigree. His father, Vince Dooley, coached at UGA for 25 years winning over 200 games, 6 SEC Championships, and 1 National Championship. Second off, Dooley has coached and learned under his father and current Alabama coach Nick Saban at LSU and the Miami Dolphins from '00-'06. These things don't directly translate to wins, but the Rocky Top faithful are sure praying they do, but with road games at LSU, Georgia, and South Carolina and Oregon, Florida, and Alabama marching into Knoxville, Derek Dooley's record may fall a game or two more under .500.
9. Dan Mullen - Mississippi St. Bulldogs - Nick Saban may have been named the '09 SEC Coach of the Year, but Dan Mullen did one hell of a job his first season in Starkville. Mullen took a Bulldogs teams with far less talent than the rest of the SEC and came up 1 yard short of making a bowl game while trudging through the nation's toughest schedule. For 8 years Mullen was current Florida head coach Urban Meyer's (who you'll see much later in this list) right hand man at Bowling Green, Utah, and Florida as QBs coach and OC. Apparently he learned a lot with Meyer, and if he continues to build up the Mississippi St. program, he won't be too far under him on this list in year's to come.8. Gene Chizik - Auburn Tigers - When Auburn pulled the quick trigger on Tommy Tuberville after the '08 season many Tiger fans were stunned. When Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs returned after meeting with Tuberville's successor, Gene Chizik, many Tiger fans were not too pleased, and a few made sure he knew it. Chizik's hire was quite the shock. Although many Tiger fans knew Chizik as the man who led the defense from '02-'04, including the magical 13-0 year that didn't equate to a National Championship, they also knew him as the guy that left to accept the same role at Texas the vrey next year and had led the Iowa St. Cyclones to a 5-18 record the previous 2 seasons. Opposing fans laughed at the state of Auburn football, and the national, and Crimson Tide, media had quite the field day with the story. However, amidst the hoopla, Chizik put together a great staff and pulled out an 8-5 season capped off by an Outback Bowl victory. During the offseason he also brought in a top 5 recruiting class.
7. Bobby Petrino - Arkansas Razorbacks - Petrino is a guy that could find himself a few notches higher on this ladder if he can lead the Razorbacks to the type of season Hogs fans and media members are expecting. Arkansas will feature a high powered offensive attack led by preseason Heisman contender QB Ryan Mallett, but if the Razorbacks want to make it a special season they have to patch the large holes on the defensive side of the ball. Petrino was left with a rather empty cupboard in Fayetteville by predecessor Houston Nutt, but his players are now older, more mature, and potentially ready to breakthrough. If Petrino can take Arkansas to its first ever BCS game, he will never high to buy another drink in the state. That is, unless he leaves for greener pastures as most would say his reputation would have him do.
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