Which college football coach had the highest career Academic Progress Rating score?
If your first inclination was Chip Kelly, you’re wrong. It’s not Mike Riley either.
In fact, it’s not even a Pacific-10 Conference Institution. That rules out some coaches at very good academic schools, such as Jim Harbaugh at Stanford. For that matter, it’s not David Cutcliffe (Duke) or Robbie Caldwell (Vanderbilt; Caldwell, an interim coach at the beginning of the season, has resigned from the position).
Actually, this is a trick question. As of this writing, the head coach in question does not have a job. But his old job makes this all the more significant.
The correct answer is Randy Shannon, formerly of the Miami Hurricanes. A former linebacker at The U who won national titles as both a player and as an assistant coach, Shannon was relieved of his duties last week after winning 28 games and losing 22 in four years. His Hurricanes went 16-16 in the Atlantic Coast Conference over that span, with no conference championships.
And, detractors will point out, no national championships. That’s a black mark against any Miami head coach.
Shannon’s greatest accomplishment as head coach was not a singular win or loss but a career APR score of 977. His players studied, and graduated, and held firm to their commitments to the program. Obvious as this may seem, it cannot be understated.
An APR score of 977. At The U.
Do we even need to bring up Billy Corben and his documentary? The under-the-table payments? The unlawful access to 21-and-over clubs? The car stereo theft?
Or we can focus on the critical detail: the swagger. The U is above everyone else in football, playing the game on a higher level. Hurricanes are the gods of the gridiron, and they act like it — on and off the field.
At least, they did in the ‘80s. A lot of criticism directed toward Shannon centered on the Hurricanes’ distinct lack of “swagger.” The list of coaching candidates with acceptable swagger ratings has to be short. (Barry Switzer is almost certainly at the top.)
Shannon was profiled by Sports Illustrated in September of 2007 by Gary Smith. The profile revealed an intensely private man with an extremely troubled past – all four of his siblings became drug addicts, and three died of AIDS. Difficult as Shannon was to pin down by his players, he was nevertheless regarded as a caring and compassionate individual.
In college football, being a standout individual cannot save your job. But it ought to question where priorities lie.
I thought of Chip Kelly as I revisited the profile on Shannon.
Kelly has not lost a game since January 1. As a head coach, he has lost exactly three games in his brief career, and none at Autzen Stadium. He might not lose a game for the rest of the calendar year.
Oregon has been plagued with a spate of off-field issues this past offseason, and its APR record is hardly sterling. Nonetheless, Kelly is highly liked and trusted by players, assistant coaches and athletic department personnel. His personality does not take well to grandstanding and promotional campaigns, but he goes along with them in good humor.
As of right now, it’s hard to argue that Kelly is anything but the perfect head football coach for the Oregon Ducks.
My only question is: What happens when he loses a game?
Oregon is going to lose a game of football. Eventually. It is the mathematically feasible outcome as the universe goes about itself. Almost equally likely is the probability that the Ducks will lose more than one game. Maybe even three. All these losses could even take place within the same season.
In the midst of a special season, it bears repeating: This run is wonderful for all even tangentially involved, but let’s not fall over ourselves looking for scapegoats.
Otherwise, an honest and well-meaning individual might lose something valuable.
Perhaps even his job.
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