With the retirement of Mike Smith of
Hampton (Va.) and Phil Danaher of
Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas), high school football lost two of its winningest coaches ever. However, 600-game winner
John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.) returns for his 54th season to top our look at the winningest active coaches.
Smith retired No. 3 in all-time coaching wins with 506, stepping down after 51 years as the head coach of the Crabbers. Danaher, the all-time wins leader in Texas, stepped down after 48 seasons with 490 wins.
Curtis, however, has 603 wins and is potentially just two seasons away from overtaking all-time leader John McKissick of
Summerville (S.C.), who retired nearly a decade ago with 620 career wins.
Potential milestones to watch this year include Robert Hyland of
St. Mary's Springs (Fond du Lac, Wis.), who could become just the fourth coach to surpass 500 career wins. He has 492 entering the 2022 season and he won 11 games last year.
Meanwhile, Gary Rankin looks to get his first win as head coach at
Boyd-Buchanan (Chattanooga, Tenn.). After 16 seasons at
Alcoa (Tenn.), the winningest coach in Tennessee history begins his 40th season at a new school. He ranks No. 4 among active coaches with 466 wins.
NOTE: Information on the top 50 active winningest coaches provided by
historian Steven Floyd of Corpus Christi, Texas. Floyd has been
researching high school football wins for over 15 years and annually
provides MaxPreps with an updated list of the nation's top coaches.Entering his 48th season on the sideline, Philip Haywood has led Belfry to six of the past nine Class 3A state titles in Kentucky.
Photo: Ray Justice
Top 50 Winningest Active Football Coaches
1. (last year No. 1) J.T. CurtisSchool: John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.)Record: 603-75-6
Years: 53 (1969)
State championships: 27
Last year: 5-4
2. (3) Robert HylandSchool: St. Mary's Springs (Fond du Lac, Wis.)Record: 492-113-2
Years: 51 (1971)
State championships: 17
Last year: 11-3
3. (5) Jim RothSchool: Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.)Record: 471-64-2
Years: 38 (1984)
State championships: 12
Last year: 15-1
4. (7) Gary RankinSchool: Boyd-Buchanan (Chattanooga, Tenn.)Record: 466-78-0
Years: 40 (1982)
State championships: 17
Previous schools: Smith County (1982-89), Riverdale (1990-2005), Alcoa (2006-2021)
Last year: 14-1
5. (5) Philip HaywoodSchool: Belfry (Ky.)Record: 465-148-0
Years: 47 (1975)
State championships: 7
Previous schools: Prestonburg (1975-83)
Last year: 9-6
6. (8) Bill CastleSchool: Lakeland (Fla.)Record: 460-97-0
Years: 46 (1976)
State championships: 7
Last year: 9-2
7. (9) Tommy KnottsSchool: Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.)Record: 452-65-0
Years: 38 (1983-2003, 2005-active)
State championships: 13
Previous schools: Harding University (1983-88), West Charlotte (89-99), Independence (2000-03, 05-09)
Last year: 12-1
8. (9) Jerry SinzSchool: Edgar (Wis.)Record: 448-88-0
Years: 47 (1975)
State championships: 7
Last year: 7-4
9. (11) Jim HightowerSchool: St. Thomas More (Lafayette, La.)Record: 447-133-1
Years: 47 (1975)
State championships: 4
Previous schools: Catholic Point Coupee (1975-86)
Last year: 8-5
10. (14) Larry "Bud" WrightSchool: Sheridan (Ind.)Record: 436-207-2
Years: 57 (1965)
State championships: 8
Previous schools: Mount Ayr (1965)
Last year: 7-3
11. (13) Jerry PezzettiSchool: Ankeny Centennial (Ankeny, Iowa)Record: 435-177-1
Years: 61 (1961)
State championships: 2
Previous schools: Murray (1961), Melcher-Dallas (1962-68), Ankeny (1969-2012)
Last year: 4-6
12. (15) Randy AllenSchool: Highland Park (Dallas, Texas)Record: 424-92-6
Years: 41 (1981)
State championships: 4
Previous schools: Ballinger (1981-85), Brownwood (1986-90), Abilene Cooper (1991-98)
Last year: 10-2
13. (17) Lea "Bill" HurstSchool: Centreville Academy (Centreville, Miss.)Record: 418-136-0
Years: 45 (1975-1994, 1997-active)
State championships: 9
Last year: 9-4
14. (18) Alan ChadwickSchool: Marist (Atlanta, Ga.)Record: 409-75-0
Years: 37 (1985)
State championships: 3
Last year: 10-2
15. (19) Dudley HiltonSchool: Bell County (Pineville, Ky.)Record: 408-129-0
Years: 44 (1974-2010, 2014-active)
State championships: 3
Previous schools: Breathitt County (1975-82), Bell County (1983-96), Bourboun
County (1997-2000), Bell County (2001-10), Taylor County (2014-16)
Last year: 10-3
16. (21) Ken LeonardSchool: Sacred Heart-Griffin (Springfield, Ill.)Record: 402-81-0
Years: 41 (1980)
State championships: 5
Previous schools: Gridley (1980-83)
Last year: 12-2
17. (20) Reno SaccocciaSchool: Steubenville (Ohio)Record: 400-80-0
Years: 39 (1983)
State championships: 4
Last year: 9-3
18. (22) Ken LaChapelleSchool: Northbridge (Whitinsville, Mass.)Record: 385-119-6
Years: 46 (1976)
State championships: 10
Last year: 10-2
19. (26) Herb BroganSchool: Lumen Christi Catholic (Jackson, Mich.)Record: 384-88-0
Years: 42 (1980)
State championships: 9
Last year: 11-2
20. (23) Gary SwensonSchool: Valley (West Des Moines, Iowa)Record: 383-118-0
Years:: 46 (1976)
State championships: 6
Previous schools: Manning (1976-78), West Marshall (1978-82), Spencer (1983-94)
Last year: 9-3
20. (23) Lewis CookSchool: Notre Dame (Crowley, La.)Record: 383-89-0
Years: 37 (1977-80, 1985-1991, 1996-active)
State championships: 4
Previous schools: Rayne (1977-80), Crowley (1985-91, 96)
Last year: 9-3
22. (27) Dwight LundeenSchool: Becker (Minn.)Record: 382-164-3
Years: 52 (1970)
State championships: 3
Last year: 11-1
23. (27) Mike SnyderSchool: Seminole (Okla.)Record: 380-128-0
Years: 42 (1980)
State championships: 1
Last year: 9-2
23. (29) Jeff BellarSchool: Norfolk Catholic (Norfolk, Neb.)Record: 380-77-0
Years: 40 (1982)
State championships: 9
Previous schools: Beaver Valley (1982-84), Norfolk Catholic (1985-95), Norfolk (1996)
Last year: 11-2
23. (31) Bob SangerSchool: West Hancock (Britt, Iowa)Record: 380-160-0
Years: 54 (1968)
State championships: 4
Previous schools: Britt (1968-88)
Last year: 13-0
26. (23) Russ RadtkeSchool: Knox (Ind.)Record: 379-152-0
Years: 45 (1977)
State championships: 1
Previous schools: North Judson (1977-86), Connersville (1987-92), Griffith (1993-2011), New Prairie (2012-19), Portage (2020)
Last year: 5-7
26. (32) Bill YoungSchool: Catholic Memorial (Waukesha, Wis.)Record: 379-120-0
Years: 44 (1978)
State championships: 9
Last year: 14-0
28. (30) Robbie PruittSchool: Coffee (Douglas, Ga.)Record: 376-94-1
Years: 38 (1984)
State championships: 7
Previous schools: University Christian, Fla. (1984-92), Union County, Fla.
(1995-99), Fitzgerald (2000-02), Warner Robins (2003), Fitzgerald
(2004-11)
Last year: 7-3
29. (35) Lou MarinelliSchool: New Canaan (Conn.)Record: 368-111-7
Years: 43 (1976,1979-active)
State championships: 12
Previous schools: Mamaroneck, N.Y. (1976), Yorktown, N.Y. (1979-80)
Last year: 10-2
29. (34) Chuck KyleSchool: St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio)Record: 368-104-1
Years: 39 (1983)
State championships: 11
Last year: 8-5
31. (36) Mike GrantSchool: Eden Prairie (Minn.)Record: 367-76-0
Years: 39 (1981-86, 1989-active)
State championships: 11
Previous schools: Forest Lake (1986-86, 1989-91)
Last year: 10-2
32. (38) Jim TeagueSchool: Reidsville (N.C.)Record: 366-109-0
Years: 36 (1985-2008, 2010-active)
State championships: 8
Previous schools: Eastern Alamance (1985-88), Garinger (1989-91), Reidsville (1992-2008), Danville, Va. (2010-11)
Last year: 12-1
33. (50) Ed DomsitzSchool: Archbishop Alter (Kettering, Ohio)Record: 361-163-1
Years: 45 (1976)
State championships: 2
Previous schools: Trotwood-Madison (1976-80), Archbishop Alter (1981-87), Northmont (1988-98)
Last year: 6-6
34. (39) Monte KohlerSchool: O'Dea (Seattle, Wash.)Record: 360-61-2
Years: 37 (1985)
State championships: 4
Last year: 7-3
35. (40) Bob HowardSchool: Webster City (Iowa)Record: 357-106-0
Years: 45 (1977)
State championships: 3
Previous schools: Scranton (1977-79), Sigourney-Keota (1980-2006)
Last year: 8-3
36. (42) Mike GillinSchool: Mooresville (Ind.)Record: 351-137-0
Years: 43 (1979)
State championships: 0
Previous schools: Tri-West Hendricks (1979-1989), Decatur Central (1990-2000), Indian Creek (2001-16), Mooresville (2017-active)
Last year: 8-3
36. (42) Paul SaccoSchool: St. Joseph (Hammonton, N.J.)Record: 351-70-5
Years: 40 (1982)
State championships: 23
Last year: 9-3
38. (48) Larry FrenchSchool: Middlesboro (Ky.)Record: 349-168-0
Years: 44 (1978)
State championships: 2
Previous schools: Mercer County (1978-88), Meade County (1989-2003), Lincoln
County (2004-07), Boyle County (2008-13), Southwestern (2014-18),
Middlesboro (2019-active)
Last year: 13-1
39. (45) Jim DixonSchool: Sulphur (Okla.)Record: 346-191-0
Years: 47 (1975)
State championships: 2
Last year: 8-4
40. (44) Todd DaytonSchool: Cokeville (Wyo.)Record: 344-72-0
Years: 42 (1980)
State championships: 20
Last year: 5-4
40. (NR) Burton CatesSchool: Eastern Randolph (Ramseur, N.C.)Record: 344-127-0
Years: 38 (1984)
State championships: 1
Previous schools: Eastern Randolph (1984-2008), Lee County (2009-17)
Last year: 10-1
42. (46) Scott YatesSchool: Kent Denver (Englewood, Colo.)Record: 342-93-0
Years: 40 (1981-1987, 1989-active)
State championships: 3
Last Year: 5-4
43. (NR) John DiBiasoSchool: Catholic Memorial (West Roxbury, Mass.)Record: 341-81-2
Years: 40
State championships: 14
Previous schools: St. Patrick's (1982-87), Weston (1988-91), Everett (1992-2017)
Last year: 12-0
44. (46) Randy BaughmanSchool: Licking Valley (Newark, Ohio)Record: 339-122-1
Years: 41 (1981)
State championships: 0
Previous schools: Indian Valley (1981), Licking Valley (1982-present)
Last year: 2-8
45. (NR) Bob WolfrumSchool: Wyomissing (Pa.)Record: 337-86-1
Years: 35 (1987)
State championships: 1
Last year: 15-1
46. (NR) Kevin ClancySchool: Strath Haven (Wallingford, Pa.)Record: 336-150-2
Years: 41 (1981)
State championships: 2
Previous schools: Archbishop Carroll (1981-90)
Last year: 13-2
46. (NR) Kevin WallaceSchool: St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.)Record: 336-114-0
Years: 36 (1984)
State championships: 6
Previous schools: Warren East (1984-93), Bowling Green (1996-2017)
Last year: 14-1
46. (NR) Ken PotterSchool: Jesuit (Portland, Ore.)Record: 336-80-0
Years: 35 (1987)
State championships: 4
Last year: 11-2
46. (NR) Joe LaBudaSchool: Menominee (Mich.)Record: 336-61-0
Years: 33
State championships: 5
Last year: 10-2
46. (NR) Terry CurtisSchool: UMS-Wright Prep (Mobile, Ala.)Record: 336-92-0
Years: 33 (1989)
State championships: 8
Previous schools: Shaw (1989-92), Murphy (1993-98)
Last year: 11-2