Dan McGugin has the most wins as Commodores' head coach with 198.
The Vanderbilt Commodores college football team represents Vanderbilt University in the East Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Commodores compete as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision . The program has had 27 head coaches since it began play during the 1890 season .[ 1]
The team has played more than 1,150 games over 121 seasons of Vanderbilt football.[ 1] In that time, five coaches have led the Commodores to postseason bowl games : Arthur Guepe , Steve Sloan , George MacIntyre , Bobby Johnson and James Franklin .[ 2] [ 3] Four other coaches won conference championships: R. G. Acton , Walter H. Watkins , James H. Henry and Dan McGugin . Between them, the coaches won eleven Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships; McGugin led the team to an additional two titles as a member of the Southern Conference .[ 4]
McGugin is the leader in seasons coached and games won, with 198 victories during his 30 years at Vanderbilt.[ 1] E. H. Alley has the highest winning percentage with 1.000.[ 1] Robbie Caldwell has the lowest winning percentage with .167.[ 1] Of the 27 different head coaches who have led the Commodores, McGugin,[ 5] Ray Morrison ,[ 6] Henry Russell Sanders ,[ 7] and Bill Edwards [ 8] have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend , Indiana .
Key to symbols in coaches list
General
Overall
Conference
Postseason[ A 1]
#
Order of coaches[ A 2]
GC
Games coached
CW
Conference wins
PW
Postseason wins
DC
Division championships
OW
Overall wins
CL
Conference losses
PL
Postseason losses
CC
Conference championships
OL
Overall losses
CT
Conference ties
PT
Postseason ties
NC
National championships
OT
Overall ties[ A 3]
C%
Conference winning percentage
Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
O%
Overall winning percentage [ A 4]
Coaches [ edit ]
List of head football coaches showing season(s) coached, overall records, conference records, postseason records, championships and selected awards[ A 5]
#
Name
Term
GC
OW
OL
OT
O%
CW
CL
CT
C%
PW
PL
PT
DC
[ A 6]
CC
NC
Awards
1
Jones, Elliott Elliott Jones
1890–1892
7001130000000000000♠ 13
7000800000000000000♠ 8
7000500000000000000♠ 5
5000000000000000000♠ 0
6999615000000000000♠ .615
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
2
Keller, W. J. W. J. Keller
1893
7000700000000000000♠ 7
7000600000000000000♠ 6
7000100000000000000♠ 1
5000000000000000000♠ 0
6999857000000000000♠ .857
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
3
Thornton, Henry Worth Henry Worth Thornton
1894
7000800000000000000♠ 8
7000700000000000000♠ 7
7000100000000000000♠ 1
5000000000000000000♠ 0
6999875000000000000♠ .875
7000200000000000000♠ 2
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
7000100000000000000♠ 1.000
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
4
Upton, C. L. C. L. Upton
1895
7000900000000000000♠ 9
7000500000000000000♠ 5
7000300000000000000♠ 3
7000100000000000000♠ 1
6999611000000000000♠ .611
7000300000000000000♠ 3
7000100000000000000♠ 1
5000000000000000000♠ 0
6999750000000000000♠ .750
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
5
Acton, R. G. R. G. Acton
1896–1898
7001200000000000000♠ 20
7001100000000000000♠ 10
7000700000000000000♠ 7
7000300000000000000♠ 3
6999574990000000000♠ .575
7000500000000000000♠ 5
7000200000000000000♠ 2
5000000000000000000♠ 0
6999714000000000000♠ .714
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
7000100000000000000♠ 1
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
6
Crane, James L. James L. Crane
1899–1900
7001180000000000000♠ 18
7001110000000000000♠ 11
7000600000000000000♠ 6
7000100000000000000♠ 1
6999639000000000000♠ .639
7000600000000000000♠ 6
7000300000000000000♠ 3
7000100000000000000♠ 1
6999650000000000000♠ .650
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
7
Watkins, Walter H. Walter H. Watkins
1901–1902
7001170000000000000♠ 17
7001140000000000000♠ 14
7000200000000000000♠ 2
7000100000000000000♠ 1
6999853000000000000♠ .853
7000800000000000000♠ 8
7000100000000000000♠ 1
7000100000000000000♠ 1
6999850000000000000♠ .850
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
7000100000000000000♠ 1
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
8
Henry, James H. James H. Henry
1903
7000800000000000000♠ 8
7000600000000000000♠ 6
7000100000000000000♠ 1
7000100000000000000♠ 1
6999813009999900000♠ .813
7000500000000000000♠ 5
7000100000000000000♠ 1
7000100000000000000♠ 1
6999786000000000000♠ .786
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
2999900000000000000♠ —
7000100000000000000♠ 1
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
9
McGugin, Dan Dan McGugin
1904–1917
1919–1934
7002272000000000000♠ 272
7002198000000000000♠ 198
7001550000000000000♠ 55
7001190000000000000♠ 19
6999763000000000000♠ .763
7002104000000000000♠ 104
7001340000000000000♠ 34
7001130000000000000♠ 13
6999732000000000000♠ .732
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
7001110000000000000♠ 11
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
10
Morrison, Ray Ray Morrison
1918
1935–1939
7001530000000000000♠ 53
7001290000000000000♠ 29
7001220000000000000♠ 22
7000200000000000000♠ 2
6999565999999900000♠ .566
7001180000000000000♠ 18
7001150000000000000♠ 15
7000100000000000000♠ 1
6999544000000000000♠ .544
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
SEC Coach of the Year (1937)[ 13]
11
Sanders, Henry Russell Henry Russell Sanders
1940–1942
1946–1948
7001600000000000000♠ 60
7001360000000000000♠ 36
7001220000000000000♠ 22
7000200000000000000♠ 2
6999617000000000000♠ .617
7001150000000000000♠ 15
7001200000000000000♠ 20
7000200000000000000♠ 2
6999432000000000000♠ .432
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
SEC Coach of the Year (1941)[ 13]
12
Alley, E. H. E. H. Alley
1943
7000500000000000000♠ 5
7000500000000000000♠ 5
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
7000100000000000000♠ 1.000
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ .000
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
13
Bartling, Doby Doby Bartling
1944–1945
7001130000000000000♠ 13
7000600000000000000♠ 6
7000600000000000000♠ 6
7000100000000000000♠ 1
6999500000000000000♠ .500
7000200000000000000♠ 2
7000400000000000000♠ 4
5000000000000000000♠ 0
6999333000000000000♠ .333
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
14
Edwards, Bill Bill Edwards
1949–1952
7001420000000000000♠ 42
7001210000000000000♠ 21
7001190000000000000♠ 19
7000200000000000000♠ 2
6999524000000000000♠ .524
7001110000000000000♠ 11
7001170000000000000♠ 17
7000100000000000000♠ 1
6999397000000000000♠ .397
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
15
Guepe, Arthur Arthur Guepe
1953–1962
7002100000000000000♠ 100
7001390000000000000♠ 39
7001540000000000000♠ 54
7000700000000000000♠ 7
6999425000000000000♠ .425
7001190000000000000♠ 19
7001430000000000000♠ 43
7000600000000000000♠ 6
6999324000000000000♠ .324
7000100000000000000♠ 1
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
SEC Coach of the Year (1955)[ 13]
16
Green, John John Green
1963–1966
7001400000000000000♠ 40
7000700000000000000♠ 7
7001290000000000000♠ 29
7000400000000000000♠ 4
6999225000000000000♠ .225
7000200000000000000♠ 2
7001190000000000000♠ 19
7000300000000000000♠ 3
6999145990000000000♠ .146
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
17
Pace, Bill Bill Pace
1967–1972
7001630000000000000♠ 63
7001220000000000000♠ 22
7001380000000000000♠ 38
7000300000000000000♠ 3
6999373000000000000♠ .373
7000500000000000000♠ 5
7001270000000000000♠ 27
7000100000000000000♠ 1
6999167000000000000♠ .167
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
18
Sloan, Steve Steve Sloan
1973–1974
7001230000000000000♠ 23
7001120000000000000♠ 12
7000900000000000000♠ 9
7000200000000000000♠ 2
6999564999999900000♠ .565
7000300000000000000♠ 3
7000800000000000000♠ 8
7000100000000000000♠ 1
6999291990000000000♠ .292
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
7000100000000000000♠ 1
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
19
Pancoast, Fred Fred Pancoast
1975–1978
7001440000000000000♠ 44
7001130000000000000♠ 13
7001310000000000000♠ 31
5000000000000000000♠ 0
6999295000000000000♠ .295
7000200000000000000♠ 2
7001220000000000000♠ 22
5000000000000000000♠ 0
6998830000000000000♠ .083
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
20
MacIntyre, George George MacIntyre
1979–1985
7001780000000000000♠ 78
7001250000000000000♠ 25
7001520000000000000♠ 52
7000100000000000000♠ 1
6999327000000000000♠ .327
7000800000000000000♠ 8
7001330000000000000♠ 33
7000100000000000000♠ 1
6999202000000000000♠ .202
5000000000000000000♠ 0
7000100000000000000♠ 1
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
UPI SEC Coach of the Year (1982)[ 13]
SEC Coach of the Year (1982)[ 13]
21
Brown, Watson Watson Brown
1986–1990
7001550000000000000♠ 55
7001100000000000000♠ 10
7001450000000000000♠ 45
5000000000000000000♠ 0
6999182000000000000♠ .182
7000400000000000000♠ 4
7001290000000000000♠ 29
5000000000000000000♠ 0
6999121000000000000♠ .121
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
22
DiNardo, Gerry Gerry DiNardo
1991–1994
7001440000000000000♠ 44
7001190000000000000♠ 19
7001250000000000000♠ 25
5000000000000000000♠ 0
6999432000000000000♠ .432
7000900000000000000♠ 9
7001220000000000000♠ 22
5000000000000000000♠ 0
6999289990000000000♠ .290
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
23
Dowhower, Rod Rod Dowhower
1995–1996
7001220000000000000♠ 22
7000400000000000000♠ 4
7001180000000000000♠ 18
5000000000000000000♠ 0
6999182000000000000♠ .182
7000100000000000000♠ 1
7001150000000000000♠ 15
5000000000000000000♠ 0
6998630000000000000♠ .063
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
24
Widenhofer, Woody Woody Widenhofer
1997–2001
7001550000000000000♠ 55
7001150000000000000♠ 15
7001400000000000000♠ 40
2999900000000000000♠ —
6999273000000000000♠ .273
7000400000000000000♠ 4
7001360000000000000♠ 36
2999900000000000000♠ —
6999100000000000000♠ .100
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
25
Johnson, Bobby Bobby Johnson
2002–2009
7001950000000000000♠ 95
7001290000000000000♠ 29
7001660000000000000♠ 66
2999900000000000000♠ —
6999305000000000000♠ .305
7001120000000000000♠ 12
7001520000000000000♠ 52
2999900000000000000♠ —
6999188000000000000♠ .188
7000100000000000000♠ 1
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
SEC Coach of the Year (2008)[ 13]
26
Caldwell, Robbie Robbie Caldwell
2010
7001120000000000000♠ 12
7000200000000000000♠ 2
7001100000000000000♠ 10
2999900000000000000♠ —
6999167000000000000♠ .167
7000100000000000000♠ 1
7000700000000000000♠ 7
2999900000000000000♠ —
6999125000000000000♠ .125
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
27
Franklin, James James Franklin
2011–2013
7001390000000000000♠ 39
7001240000000000000♠ 24
7001150000000000000♠ 15
2999900000000000000♠ —
6999615000000000000♠ .615
7001110000000000000♠ 11
7001130000000000000♠ 13
2999900000000000000♠ —
6999458000000000000♠ .458
7000200000000000000♠ 2
7000100000000000000♠ 1
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
28
Mason, Derek Derek Mason
2014–present
7001120000000000000♠ 12
7000300000000000000♠ 3
7000900000000000000♠ 9
2999900000000000000♠ —
6999250000000000000♠ .250
5000000000000000000♠ 0
7000800000000000000♠ 8
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ .000
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
5000000000000000000♠ 0
2999900000000000000♠ —
^ Although the first Rose Bowl Game was played in 1902 , it has been continuously played since the 1916 game , and is recognized as the oldest bowl game by the NCAA. "—" indicates any season prior to 1916 when postseason games were not played.[ 9]
^ A running total of the number of head coaches, with coaches who served separate tenures being counted only once. Interim head coaches are represented with "Int" and are not counted in the running total. "—" indicates the team played but either without a coach or no coach is on record. "X" indicates an interim year without play.
^ Overtime rules in college football were introduced in 1996, making ties impossible in the period since.[ 10]
^ When computing the win–loss percentage, a tie counts as half a win and half a loss.[ 11]
^ Statistics correct as of the end of the 2011–12 college football season .
^ Divisional champions have advanced to the SEC Championship Game since the institution of divisional play beginning in the 1992 season . Since that time, Vanderbilt has competed as a member of the East Division of the SEC.[ 12]
References [ edit ]
General
Specific
^ a b c d e 2011 Football Fact Book , p. 109
^ 2011 Football Fact Book , pp. 128–129
^ "Kickoff return TD sparks Cincinnati past Vanderbilt in Liberty Bowl" . ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 31, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2012 .
^ 2011 Football Fact Book , pp. 110–117
^ "Hall of Famers: Dan McGugin" . National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 8, 2011 .
^ "Hall of Famers: Ray Morrison" . National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 8, 2011 .
^ "Hall of Famers: Red Sanders" . National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 8, 2011 .
^ "Hall of Famers: Bill Edwards" . National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 8, 2011 .
^ National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) (2011). Bowl/All-Star Game Records (PDF) . Indianapolis, Indiana: NCAA. pp. 5–10. Archived from the original on August 22, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011 .
^ Whiteside, Kelly (August 25, 2006). "Overtime system still excites coaches" . USA Today (McLean, Virginia). Archived from the original on November 24, 2009. Retrieved September 25, 2009 .
^ Finder, Chuck (September 6, 1987). "Big plays help Paterno to 200th" . The New York Times (New York City). Archived from the original on October 22, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2009 .
^ Harwell, Hoyt (November 30, 1990). "SEC sets division lineups" . The Tuscaloosa News . p. 1C. Retrieved March 8, 2011 .
^ a b c d e f 2011 Football Fact Book , p. 129
Vanderbilt Commodores head football coaches
Venues
Bowls & rivalries
Culture & lore
People
Seasons