There have been a number of outstanding college coaches in the 21st century. There have been several excellent programs over the years since 2000, and they've all, for the most part, been led by elite coaches. None of them are Nick Saban, though. If the Alabama icon were to return today after a year away, he'd undoubtedly still be the best coach in the sport.
Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde knows this, and Forde decided not to get cute when ranking the best coaches since 2000. The answer is Saban, proving that the simplest answer is the right one.
"There are many difficult choices to make in these 21st century lists. This isn’t one of them," Forde said. "The guy who won seven national championships from 2003 to ’20 stands head and shoulders and straw safari hat above his peers."
Saban was good at so much. He recruited like no other, which is why Alabama was a perennial power under him. He was an elite tactician and organizational mastermind. Defense was his calling card, but he did other things well, too.
"He is the greatest defensive coach in college football history, but he adapted to changes in the game and oversaw some of the most prolific offenses of the last 25 years as well," Forde said. The 2011 Crimson tide yielded just 8.2 points per game, which is the lowest mark since 1988. On offense, the 2020 team’s absurd 48.5 points scored per game is the highest since 2013. He could coach it all.