The MaxPreps list of the greatest NFL coach from each state is based on those with the most career wins, but we'll be the first to admit that this isn't a perfect system.
Case in point, the greatest NFL coaches from Ohio, New York and California, based on our criteria, are Don Shula, Tom Coughlin and Andy Reid. That's a pretty good group that's combined for five Super Bowl championships.
However, an alternative trio from those three states won 11 NFL championships. That group includes Paul Brown of Washington (Massillon, Ohio), Vince Lombardi of St. Francis Prep (New York) and Bill Walsh of Hayward (Calif.). The latter three, however, combine for far fewer wins than Shula, Coughlin and Reid.
Despite that small glitch in the system, the MaxPreps list includes 14 Hall of Fame selections, although some of those inductees, like Bart Starr and Art Shell, made the Hall based more on their performance as a player rather than a coach.
States had to have a coach with at least one win in order to qualify. States that did not qualify included: Alaska, Hawaii, New Mexico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming.
Greatest NFL coach from each state
Alabama
Bart Starr,
Lanier (Montgomery)Career wins: 52
Arizona
Darrell Bevell,
Chaparral (Scottsdale)Career wins: 1
Arkansas
Jimmy Lee Howell,
LonokeCareer wins: 53
California
Andy Reid,
Marshall (Los Angeles)Career wins: 227
Colorado
Chuck Pagano,
Fairview (Boulder)Career wins: 53
Connecticut
Eric Mangini,
Bulkeley (Hartford)Career wins: 33
Delaware
Ron Waller,
LaurelCareer wins: 1
Florida
Mike Smith,
Father Lopez (Daytona Beach)Career wins: 66
Georgia
Dan Reeves,
Americus-Sumter (Americus)Career wins: 190
Idaho
Dirk Koetter,
Highland (Pocatello)Career wins: 19
Illinois
George Halas,
Crane Medical (Chicago)Career wins: 318
Indiana
Hank Stram,
Gary WallaceCareer wins: 131
Iowa
Buck Shaw, Stuart
Career wins: 90
Kansas
Mike McCormack, De La Salle
Career wins: 29
Kentucky
Blanton Collier,
ParisCareer wins: 76
Louisiana
Vance Joseph,
Archbishop Shaw (Marrero)Career wins: 11
Maine
Dick MacPherson,
Old TownCareer wins: 8
Maryland
Bill Belichick,
AnnapolisCareer wins: 286
Massachusetts
Wayne Fontes,
WarehamCareer wins: 66
Michigan
Tony Dungy, Parkside
Career wins: 139
Minnesota
Sid Gillman, Minneapolis North
Career wins: 122
Mississippi
Ray Perkins,
PetalCareer wins: 42
Missouri
Jimmy Conzelman, McKinley
Career wins: 87
Montana
Ralph Scott,
HardinCareer wins: 7
Nebraska
Guy Chamberlain, Blue Springs
Career wins: 58
Nevada
Ray Handley,
RenoCareer wins: 14
New Hampshire
Chip Kelly,
Manchester Central (Manchester)Career wins: 28
New Jersey
Bill Parcells,
River Dell (Oradell)Career wins: 172
New York
Tom Coughlin,
WaterlooCareer wins: 170
North Carolina
Perry Fewell,
South Point (Belmont)Career wins: 3
North Dakota
Ron Erhardt,
MandanCareer wins: 21
Ohio
Don Shula,
Harvey (Painesville)Career wins: 328
Oklahoma
Steve Owen, Aline
Career wins: 153
Oregon
Jack Patera, Washington
Career wins: 35
Pennsylvania
Marty Schottenheimer,
Fort Cherry (McDonald)Career wins: 200
South Carolina
Art Shell, Bonds-Wilson
Career wins: 56
Tennessee
Tommy Prothro,
Memphis Central (Memphis)Career wins: 35
Texas
Tom Landry,
MissionCareer wins: 250
Utah
Mac Speedie, South (Salt Lake City)
Career wins: 6
Virginia
Mike Tomlin,
Denbigh (Newport News)Career wins: 150
Washington
Don Coryell,
Lincoln (Seattle)Career wins: 111
West Virginia
Earl Greasy Neale,
ParkersburgCareer wins: 63
Wisconsin
Curly Lambeau,
Green Bay EastCareer wins: 226
