Top 10 football coaches of the past 20 years

Pete Carroll, USC: Sure, he ***

Mike Bellotti, Oregon (with an assist from Rich Brooks): Since taking over for Brooks following the 1994 season, Bellotti has won eight games or more seven times. His program, with its sustained success, awesome facilties, and community support, is the model for the schools not located in recruiting hotbeds of Los Angeles and Seattle. Yes, the Ducks have gotten a ton of help from Nike in the latter part of the 1990s and early 00s, but guess what: Much of that help came as a result of Bellotti ***

Don James, Washington: And yes, I dinged James ***

Jeff Tedford, Cal: Tedford ***

Mike Price, Washington State: During his long tenure in the Palouse (1989-02), Price, a first-rate offensive coach, took WSU to the Rose Bowl twice ***

Tyrone Willingham, Stanford and Washington: Obviously, Willingham isn ***

Bruce Snyder, Cal and Arizona State: One of the true ***

Dennis Erickson, Washington State, Oregon State and Arizona State: One of a handful of men to be named conference coach of the year at multiple schools (WSU and OSU), Erickson is now trying to elevate Arizona State. His on-field success in two difficult locations warrants a higher placement, but I can ***

Dick Tomey, Arizona: The knock on Tomey ***

Larry Smith, USC: Yes, Smith struggled in his final seasons ***