Ranking all Big Ten coaches by career wins

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College football is arguably the most difficult sport to be a coach in. Not only do you have to manage an entire roster of players and coaching staff, but you also have to answer to an athletic director and board of trustees, recruit players, and build relationships with families — all while game planning for the next opponent.

It’s why there are so many highly-paid college coaches and also why some of them get such a long leash. Some coaches have been in the Big Ten for more than 20 years and some of them will be entering their first season in the conference. There are plenty of young coaches, but there are a few who are grey in the beard as well. Big Ten coaches come in all forms, so now let’s take a look at how many wins each of them have accumulated up to this point in their careers.

18. David Braun​

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Team: Northwestern

Record: 19-19

One of the youngest coaches in college football, it’s no surprise David Braun has some of the least experience, and the least amount of wins in the Big Ten.

17. Bob Chesney​

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Team: UCLA

Record: 21-6

This will be Bob Chesney’s first season in the conference and he will have a big responsibility to get UCLA back up to their standards.

16. Jedd Fisch​

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Team: Washington

Record: 32-33, 15-11 with Washington

Jedd Fisch hasn’t been a head coach for a very long time, but he’s had some decent success with Washington, leading them to a 15-11 record in his first two seasons.

15. Mike Locksley​

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Team: Maryland

Record: 39-75, 37-49 with Maryland

Mike Locksley has accumulated a solid number of wins in his career, but it’s taken him far too long to do it.

T. 13 Barry Odom​

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Team: Purdue

Record: 46-43, 2-10 with Purdue

Purdue is still an up-and-coming team, so Barry Odom may be stuck around 46 wins for a couple more years.

T-13. Curt Cignetti​

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Team: Indiana

Record: 46-6, 27-2 with Indiana

Curt Cignetti is a force that has taken over college football in the last few years. Expect him to continue shooting up this list.

12. Dan Lanning​

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Team: Oregon

Record: 48-8

Dan Lanning, like Braun, is one of the youngest coaches in the country. He has nearly 50 wins in four seasons in arguably the best conference in the nation, so he should rise fast up this list like Cignetti.

11. Matt Rhule​

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Team: Nebraska

Record: 66-62, 19-19 with Nebraska

One of the most experienced coaches on the list, Matt Rhule lands near the middle of the pack with 66 wins.

10. Luke Fickell​

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Team: Wisconsin

Record: 80-46, 17-21 with Wisconsin

Luke Fickell is one of the most respected coaches in the country, but he hasn’t been able to deliver any success to Wisconsin yet.

9. Ryan Day​

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Team: Ohio State

Record: 82-12

With more than 80 wins before the age of 50, there’s a good chance Ryan Day could become the all-time coaching wins leader if he sticks around long enough.

8. Lincoln Riley​

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Team: USC

Record: 90-28, 35-18 with USC

Arguably the most famous coach on this list, Lincoln Riley has built a strong résumé in his short career. He and Day could be competing for the all-time wins record for decades to come if they want to.

7. P.J. Fleck​

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Team: Minnesota

Record: 96-66, 66-44 with Minnesota

P.J. Fleck has brought a ton of stability to Minnesota, leading them to a 66-44 record in his nine seasons with the team.

6. Greg Schiano​

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Team: Rutgers

Record: 99-108

One of the longest-tenured coaches in the sport, Greg Schiano will finally get his 100th career win this season barring a catastrophe.

5. Matt Campbell​

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Team: Penn State

Record: 107-70, 0-0 with Penn State

New Nittany Lions head man Matt Campbell already has the fifth-most wins of all Big Ten coaches, although this will be his first year in the conference.

4. Pat Fitzgerald​

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Team: Michigan State

Record: 110-101

Pat Fitzgerald makes his triumphant return to the Big Ten this year and will look to keep building on his 110 wins.

3. Bret Bielema​

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Team: Illinois

Record: 134-84, 37-26 with Illinois

Bret Bielema has been back in the Big Ten for quite a few years now and will try to extend his cushion on Fitzgerald.

2. Kyle Whittingham​

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Team: Michigan

Record: 177-88, 0-0 with Michigan

Before coaching one game, Kyle Whittingham enters with the second-most wins of anyone in the conference.

1. Kirk Ferentz​

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Team: Iowa

Record: 213-128

Kirk Ferentz, the 70-year-old coaching legend, will begin his 28th season with Iowa and look to extend his comfortable lead on Whittingham.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Ranking all Big Ten coaches by career wins

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