We have had some fun looking at the top returning coaches this summer. We’ve looked at the Big 12, Big Ten, and Pac-12. We now head east to look at the ACC’s top returning coaches. While realignment uncertainties loom, the ACC’s Grant of Rights is an impenetrable fortress, preventing teams from seeking alternative opportunities. Nevertheless, schools within the ACC have been inquiring with their league council and exploring options with other conferences. Despite the contentment with 14 teams, the league needs a revitalizing spark.
Both on and off the field, the ACC lags behind its peers in the SEC and Big Ten. The ACC’s current media deal generates approximately $36 million annually and expires in 2036. In contrast, teams in the SEC and Big Ten are earning $54 million and $46 million annually, respectively. Moreover, both of these conferences have the flexibility to renegotiate and potentially secure even more significant financial gains before the ACC gets its opportunity in 2036. The ACC must address this disparity to remain competitive.
The league has been further hurt by being left out of the College Football Playoff the last two seasons. Florida State was in the first playoff. Then Clemson became a mainstay the first seven years of the playoff. The league earned “two” teams in 2020, with Clemson and Notre Dame earning spots. But with Clemson falling outside the Top 10, the ACC has largely been left out of the postseason conversation the last two years. They will look to their top returning coaches to help turn the tide in 2023.
ACC’s Top Returning Coaches
Jeff Brohm and Brent Key weren’t considered for our list because they were hired during the offseason. That left us evaluating 12 coaches for five spots. Researching and speaking with people around the leave, there was agreement that the other 12 coaches fall into three categories: those at the top, those with questions, and those underwhelmed or on the hot seat. Boston College, Syracuse, West Virginia, Virginia, and Virginia Tech fall into the last category. Hokies head coach Brent Pry might be the best, while the other four might be looking for new jobs.
The middle-tier coaches are exciting and full of questions. Are the programs on the rise or declining? Mike Elko had a solid first year in Durham, but we need to see more before he makes the top list. Dave Doren is good for eight or nine wins a year but will be looking to replace his quarterback this season. Mack Brown‘s biggest recruiting win was keeping Drake Maye from heading west to Tuscaloosa. Mario Cristobal is supposed to be bringing The U back. A 5-7 season, replacing both coordinators and an uncertain NIL backer leaves more questions than answers in Coral Gables. That leaves four men who make the grade of the ACC’s top returning coaches.
#4 Mike Norvell- Florida State
Mike Norvell is just 18-16 in his first two years in Tallahassee. After two losing seasons, Norvell and the Noles finished with a 10-3 season in 2022. Florida State is the trendy pick to win the ACC in 2023. Florida State emerges as the fashionable choice to conquer the ACC in 2023. Norvell’s success hinges on the talented Jordan Travis, who will be entrusted to minimize errors and elevate the Noles to new heights. The stage is set for a statement-making showdown in Week 1, as Florida takes on LSU in a thrilling clash at the Bounce House.
#3 Pat Narduzzi- Pittsburgh
Pat Narduzzi‘s picture appears on Wikipedia when you search “salty football coach.” Not really, but few coaches in college football display more passion than Narduzzi. Narduzzi is 62-41 in eight seasons at Pitt with just one losing season. Pitt’s 34 victories since 2019 are the second most in the ACC. Big East football fans can reminisce and look forward to Weeks 2 and 3 when Pitt plays Cincinnati and West Virginia in back-to-back weeks.
#2 Dave Clawson- Wake Forrest
Picking the top coach in the ACC was no easy task, but Dave Clawson stands out as an exceptional football coach and leader. Wake Forrest is the sixth-smallest school in FBS in terms of undergraduate enrollment. Clawson enters his 10th year in Winston-Salem and has slowly and steadily built the Demon Deacons into one of the top schools in the ACC. Clawson has been in the running for several high-profile jobs but has chosen to stay at Wake Forest. With Northwestern opening in the wake of the Pat Fitzgerald situation, that might be one that all should keep an eye on.
#1 Dabo Swinney- Clemson
Dabo Swinney transformed Clemson into a national powerhouse and the ACC’s preeminent team. The Tigers have dominated in the ACC, winning seven of the last conference titles and two national championships. Dabo created a standard that saw him considered equal to Nick Saban. However, recent recruiting efforts have fallen short of the top ten, and Clemson has missed out on the College Football Playoff in the past two seasons. Additionally, their lackluster out-of-conference schedule, featuring matchups against Florida Atlantic, Charleston Southern, and South Carolina, leaves much to be desired. With the rising challenge from Florida State, Dabo faces mounting pressure to maintain Clemson’s dominance and keep the Tigers on top. The stage is set for a captivating battle in the ACC.
