John T. Curtis, Robert Hyland headline list of active high school football coaches with over 300 career wins

Three active high school football coaches have over 500 career wins and two more could join the list in 2025. That according to our list of the winningest active coaches, which includes 68 entries all with 300 victories or more.

Jim Roth of Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.) joined the 500-win club last year and moved past Mike Smith of Hampton (Va.) into fourth place on the all-time list with 506 career wins. Roth ranks third among active coaches behind John T. Curtis of John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.) with 630 and Robert Hyland of St. Mary's Springs (Fond du Lac, Wis.) with 522.

Two more coaches could go over 500 wins this year. Gary Rankin, who spent most of his career at Alcoa (Tenn.) but is now at Boyd-Buchanan (Chattanooga, Tenn.), needs two wins for his 500th career victory.

Tommy Knotts of Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) will need to reach the postseason in order to reach win No. 500. That shouldn't be a problem, however, since Knotts has one of the nation's highest career winning percentages at .873 (489-71-0).

Unfortunately, another coach primed to reach the 500-win plateau will not accomplish the feat. Philip Haywood of Belfry (Ky.) tragically died in a car accident in January. He is Kentucky's all-time wins leader with a record of 490-161-0.

A total of five coaches reached the 400-win milestone last year, including Dwight Lundeen of Becker (Minn.) with 412, Gary Swenson of Valley (West Des Moines, Iowa) with 408, Robbie Pruitt of Williston (Fla.) with 405, Lou Marinelli of New Canaan (Conn.) with 404 and Ken LaChapelle of Northbridge (Whitinsville, Mass.) with 401.

Three coaches joined the 300-win club last season. Tom Tice of Farmington (Ark.) came out of retirement and now has 301 wins. Wiley Allred of Royal (Royal City, Wash.), who has the highest winning percentage of all active coaches over 300 wins at .915, now has a record of 300-28-0. Mike Reading of Mansfield (Mass.) earned his 300th win and is at 300-102-3.

One retired coach returns to the active ranks in Bill DiNardo, the second all-time winningest coach in Delaware, returning to coach at St. Mark's (Wilmington, Del.). He retired from Salesianum (Wilmington, Del.) after the 2022 season with 306 wins.

It should be noted that John T. Curtis is listed by MaxPreps with 630 career wins while the NFHS record book lists him with 600 wins. This is due to a bookkeeping policy. MaxPreps recognizes 30 wins John Curtis Christian had to forfeit between 2013-15. While MaxPreps recognizes the on-the-field wins as part of the legendary coach's career total, the NFHS does not.

Record: 630-86-6 (.877)
Years: 1969-2024, 56 years
Schools: John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.)

2. Robert Hyland — 522
Record: 522-118-2 (.815)
Years: 1971-2024, 54 years
Schools: St. Mary's Springs (Fond du Lac, Wis.)

3. Jim Roth — 506
Record: 506-73-2 (.873)
Years: 1984-2024, 41 years
Schools: Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.)

4. Gary Rankin — 498
Record: 498-84-0 (.856)
Years: 1982-2024, 43 years
Schools: Smith County (Carthage, Tenn.) (1982-89); Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) (1990-05); Alcoa (Tenn.) (2006-21); Boyd-Buchanan (Chattanooga, Tenn.) (2022-present)

5. Tommy Knotts — 489 
Record: 489-71-0 (.873)
Years: 1983-2003; 2005-24, 41 years
Schools: Harding University (Charlotte, N.C.) (83-88); West Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.) (1989-99); Independence (Charlotte, N.C.) (2000-03; 05-09); Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) (2010-present)

6. Jerry Sinz — 484
Record: 484-92-0 (.840)
Years: 1975-2024, 50 years
Schools: Edgar (Wis.)

7. Jim Hightower — 482
Record: 482-138-1 (.778)
Years: 1975-2024, 50 years
Schools: Catholic of Pointe Coupee (New Roads, La.) (1975-86); St. Thomas More (Lafayette, La.) (1987-present)

8. Randy Allen — 460
Record: 460-97-6 (.822)
Years: 1981-2024, 44 years
Schools: Ballinger (Texas) (1981-85); Brownwood (Texas) (1986-90); Cooper (Abilene, Texas) (1991-98); Highland Park (Dallas, Texas) (1999-present)

9. Jerry Pezzetti — 455
Record: 455-185-1 (.711)
Years: 1961-2024, 64 years
Schools: Murray (Iowa) (1961); Melcher-Dallas (Iowa) (1962-68); Ankeny (Iowa) (1969-2012); Ankeny Centennial (Iowa) (2013-present)

10. Alan Chadwick — 445
Record: 445-81-0 (.846)
Years: 1985-2024, 40 years
Schools: Marist (Atlanta)

11. Dudley Hilton — 443
Record: 443-137-0  (.764)
Years: 1974-2010, 2014-24, 47 years
Schools: Breathitt County (Jackson, Ky.) (1975-82); Bell County (Pineville, Ky.) (1983-96, 2001-10; 2017-present); Bourbon County (Paris, Ky.) (1997-2000); Taylor County (Campbellsville, Ky.) (2014-16)

12. Lea "Bill" Hurst — 439
Record: 439-152-0 (.743)
Years: 1975-94, 1997-2024, 48 years
Schools: Centreville Academy (Centreville, Miss.)

13. Reno Saccoccia — 438
Record: 438-86-0 (.836)
Years: 1983-2024, 42 years
Schools: Steubenville (Ohio)

14. Herb Brogan — 421
Record: 421-93-0 (.819)
Years: 1980-2024, 45 years
Schools: Lumen Christi Catholic (Jackson, Mich.)

15. Jeff Bellar — 419
Record: 419-77-0 (.845)
Years: 1982-2024, 43 years
Schools: Beaver Valley (Neb.) (1982-84); Norfolk Catholic (Norfolk, Neb.) (1985-95; 1997-present); Norfolk (Neb.) (1996)

16. Bill Young — 414
Record: 414-127-0 (.765)
Years: 1978-2024, 47 years
Schools: Catholic Memorial (Waukesha, Wis.)

17. Dwight Lundeen — 412Years: 1970-2024, 55 years
Schools: Becker (Minn.)

18. Russ Radtke — 410
Record: 410-161-0 (.718)
Years: 1977-2024, 48 years
Schools: North Judson-San Pierre (Ind.) (1977-86); Connersville (Ind.) (1987-92); Griffith (Ind.) (1993-11); New Prairie (Ind.) (2012-19); Portage (Ind.) (2020); Knox (Ind.) (2020-present)

19. Lewis Cook — 409
Record: 409-100-0 (.804)
Years: 1977-80, 1985-91, 1996-2024, 40 years
Schools: Rayne (La.) (1977-80); Crowley (La.) (1985-91, 1996); Notre Dame (Crowley, La.) (1997-present)

20. Gary Swenson — 408
Record: 408-130 (.758)
Years: 1975-2024, 50 years
Schools: Spencer (Iowa); West Marshall (State Center, Iowa); Manning (Iowa); Valley (West Des Moines, Iowa)

21. Robbie Pruitt — 405
Record: 405-101-1 (.800)
Years: 1984-2024, 41 years
Schools: University Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.) (1984-92); Union County (Lake Butler, Fla.) (1993-99); Fitzgerald (Ga.) (2000-02, 2004-11); Warner Robins (Ga.) (2003); Coffee (Douglas, Ga.) (2012-21); Williston (Fla.) (2022-present)

22. Lou Marinelli — 404
Record: 404-114-7 (.776)
Years: 1976, 1979-2019; 2022-24, 46 years
Schools: Mamaroneck (N.Y.) (1976); Yorktown (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) (1979-80); New Canaan (Conn.) (1981-present)

23. Ken LaChapelle — 401
Record: 401-137-6 (.743)
Years: 1976-2024, 49 years
Schools: Northbridge (Whitinsville, Mass.)

24. Monte Kohler — 394
Record: 394-64-2 (.859)
Years: 1985-2024, 40 years
Schools: O'Dea (Seattle)

25. Mike Grant — 393
Record: 393-84-0 (.824)
Years: 1981-86, 1989-2024, 42 years
Schools: Forest Lake (Minn.) (1981-86, 1989-91); Eden Prairie (Minn.) (1992-present)

26. Mike Snyder — 393
Record: 393-146-0 (.729)
Years: 1980-2024, 45 years
Schools: Seminole (Okla.)

27. Ed Domsitz — 387
Record: 387-179-1 (.683)
Years: 1976-2024, 49 years
Schools: Trotwood-Madison (Trotwood, Ohio) (1976-80); Archbishop Alter (Kettering, Ohio) (1981-87, 1999-present); Northmont (Clayton, Ohio) (1988-98)

28. Burton Cates — 379
Record: 379-132-0 (.742)
Years: 1984-2024, 41 years
Schools: Eastern Randolph (Ramseur, N.C.) (1984-2008, 2018-present); Lee County (Sanford, N.C.) (2009-17)

29. John DiBiaso — 373
Record: 373-85-2 (.813)
Years: 1982-2024, 43 years
Schools: St. Patrick (Watertown) (1982-87); Weston (Mass.) (1988-91); Everett (Mass.) (1992-2017); Catholic Memorial (West Roxbury, Mass.) (2018-present)

30. Bob Wolfrum — 372
Record: 372-92-1 (.801)
Years: 1987-2024, 38 years
Schools: Wyomissing (Pa.)

31. Kevin Clancy — 371
Record: 371-155-2 (.705)
Years: 1981-2024, 44 years
Schools: Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.) (1981-90); Strath Haven (Wallingford, Pa.) (1991-present)

32. Denney Faith — 369
Record: 369-113-4 (.763)
Years: 1987-2024, 38 years
Schools: Albany (Texas)

33. Mike Gillin — 369
Record: 369-153-0 (.707)
Years: 1979-2024, 46 years
Schools: Tri-West Hendricks (Lizton, Ind.) (1979-89); Decatur Central (Indianapolis) (1990-2000); Indian Creek (Trafalgar, Ind.) (2001-16); Mooresville (Ind.) (2017-present)

34. Larry French — 369
Record: 369-181-0 (.671)
Years: 1978-2024, 47 years
Schools: Mercer County (Harrodsburg, Ky.) (1978-88); Meade County (Brandenburg, Ky.) (1989-2003); Lincoln County (Stanford, Ky.) (2004-07); Boyle County (Danville, Ky.) (2008-13); Southwestern (Somerset, Ky.) (2014-18); Middlesboro (Ky.) (2019-present)

35. Randy Baughman — 364
Record: 364-131-1 (.735)
Years: 1981-2024, 44 years
Schools: Indian Valley (Gnadenhutten, Ohio) (1981); Licking Valley (Newark, Ohio) (1982-present)

36. Danny Horn — 363
Record: 363-98-0 (.787)
Years: 1989-2024, 36 years
Schools: Clay County (Ashland, Ala.) (1989-2008); Benjamin Russell (Alexander City, Ala.) (2009-17); Central of Clay County (Lineville, Ala.) (2018-present)

37. Terry Curtis — 361
Record: 361-105-0 (.775)
Years: 1989-2024, 36 years
Schools: Shaw (Mobile, Ala.) (1989-92); Murphy (Mobile, Ala.) (1993-98); UMS-Wright Prep (Mobile, Ala.) (1999-present)

38. Dino Garr — 361
Record: 361-115-4 (.756)
Years: 1976-2024, 49 years
Schools: Rye (N.Y.) (1976-78, 1985-present); Westlake (Thornwood, N.Y.) (1979-84)

39. Kevin Wallace — 361
Record: 361-125-0 (.743)
Years: 1984-93; 1996-2024, 39 years
Schools: Warren East (Bowling Green, Ky.) (1984-93); Bowling Green (Ky.) (1996-17); St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.) (2018-present)

40. Paul Benefield — 360
Record: 360-58-0 (.861)
Years: 1992-2024, 33 years
Schools: Sylvania (Ala.) (1992-96); Fyffe (Ala.) (1997-present)

41. Ken Potter — 360
Record: 360-90-0 (.800)
Years: 1987-2024, 38 years
Schools: Jesuit (Portland, Ore.)

42. Brian O'Reilly — 357
Record: 357-128-0 (.736)
Years: 1978-2024, 47 years
Schools: Pinkerton (Derry, N.H.)

43. Reginald Samples — 353
Record: 353-89-2 (.797)
Years: 1990-2024, 35 years
Schools: Lincoln (Dallas) (1990-04); Skyline (Dallas) (2005-14); Duncanville (Texas) (2015-present)

44. John Hart — 349
Record: 349-100-0 (.777)
Years: 1985-2024, 40 years
Schools: Edwards County (Albion, Ill.) (1985-89); Mt. Carmel (Ill.) (1990-00); Evansville Reitz (Ind.) (2001-07); Warren Central (Indianapolis, Ind.) (2008-11); Huntley (Ill.) (2012-15); Brownsburg (Ind.) (2016-present)

45. Dave Logan — 342
Record: 342-70-0 (.830)
Years: 1993-2024, 32 years
Schools: Arvada West (Arvada, Colo.) (1993-99); Chatfield (Littleton, Colo.) (2000-02); Mullen (Denver) (2003-11); Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.) (2012-present)

46. Richard Taylor — 340
Record: 340-144-6 (.700)
Years: 1977-85; 1992-2024, 42 years
Schools: Western Reserve (Berlin Center, Ohio) (1977-85); Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.) (1992-present)

47. Verlon Dorminey — 336
Record: 336-90-0 (.789)
Years: 1991-2024, 34 years
Schools: Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)

48. MIke Wheeler — 334
Record: 334-84 (.799)
Years: 1992-2024, 33 years
School: Dallas Christian (Mesquite, Texas)

49. Ron Mimick — 334
Record: 334-139-0 (.706)
Years: 1980-2024, 45 years
Schools: Stuart (S.D.) (1980-82); Parkston (S.D.) (1983-84); St. Cecilia (Hastings, Neb.) (1985-88); Cedar Catholic (Hartington, Neb.) (1989); Aquinas (David City, Neb.) (1990-present)

50. Hank Tierney — 327
Record: 327-132-0 (.712)
Years: 1983-2007, 2011-2024, 39 years
Schools: Archbishop Shaw (Marrero, La.) (1983-01; 2022-present); West Jefferson (Harvey, La.) (2002-07); Ponchatoula (La.) (2011-21)

51. Tim Goodwin — 325
Record: 325-48 (.871)
Years: 1999-2024, 26 years
School: Marion Local (Maria Stein, Ohio)

52. Larry Hill — 325
Record: 325-102-0 (.761)
Years: 1989-90, 1993-2024, 34 years
Schools: Jourdanton (Texas) (1989-90), Smithson Valley (Spring Branch, Texas) (1993-present)

53. Bill McGregor — 323
Record: 323-53-3 (.856)
Years: 1990-2024, 35 years
School: DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)

54. Bill Cherpak — 323
Record: 323-58 (.848)
Years: 1996-2024, 29 years
School: Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson Hills, Pa.)

55. Dale Pruitt — 321
Record: 321-171-0 (.652)
Years: 1982-2024, 43 years
Schools: Pisgah (Pisgah, Ala.) (1982-83); Plainview (Rainsville, Ala.) (1984-00; 2006-14, 2022-present); Fort Payne (Ala.) (2001-03); Marion County (Jasper, Tenn.) (2004-05, 2020-21); Albertville (Ala.) (2015-18); Dade County (Trenton, Ga.) (2019)

56. Jay Rozeboom — 320
Record: 320-62 (.838)
Years: 1992-2024, 33 years
Schools: West Lyon (Inwood, Iowa)

57. Andy Lowry — 320
Record: 320-70 (.821)
Years: 1993-2024, 32 years
Schools: Columbine (Littleton, Colo.)

58. Jeff Adamson — 319
Record: 319-108-0 (.747)
Years: 1989-2024, 36 years
Schools: Eastbrook (Marion, Ind.)

59. Terry Jensen — 317
Record: 317-104 (.753)
Years: 1985-2024, 39 years
Schools: Forks (Wash.) (1985-2000); Montesano (Wash.) (2001-present)

60. Reed May — 314
Record: 314-65 (.828)
Years: 1993-2024, 32 years
Schools: Brownstown Central (Brownstown, Ind.)

61. Jim Benkert —314
Record: 314-116-5 (.728)
Years: 1989-2014, 2016-24, 35 years
Schools: Westlake (Westlake Village) (1989-2014); Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) (2016-17); Simi Valley (2018-present)

62. Jack Martinelli — 314
Record: 314-144-5 (.684)
Years: 1982-2024, 43 years
School: Foxborough (Mass.)

63. Lou Vircillo — 313
Record: 313-177-3 (.638)
Years: 1976-2024, 49 years
Schools: Red Bank Regional (Little Silver, N.J.) (1976-80); Lacey Township (Lanoka Harbor, N.J.) (1981-present)

65. Bill DiNardo — 306
Record: 306-108-1 (.739)
Years: 1986- 2022, 2025, 39 years
Schools: Caravel (1986-87), Middletown (Del.) (1988-03); Salesianum (Wilmington, Del.) (2004-22), St. Mark's (Wilmington, Del.) (2025)

66. Tom Tice — 301
Record: 301-162-6 (.648)
Years: 1974-2015, 2024, 43 years 
School: Huntsville (Ark.) (1974-81, 2011-15); Harrison (Ark.) (1982-2010); Farmington (Ark.) (2024-present)

67. Wiley Allred — 300
Record: 300-28-0 (.915)
Years: 1999-24, 26 years
School: Royal (Royal City, Wash.)

68. Mike Redding — 300
Record: 300-102-3 (.744)
Years: 1988-2024, 37 years
School: Mansfield (Mass.)