College Football national championship is the finale of the College Football Playoffs that ultimately determine a national champion in the NCAA. Over the years, coaches like Bear Bryant and Woody Hayes have defined the sport whereas football coaches like Kirby Smart and Nick Saban have shaped the modern era of the NCAA.
As of January 2025, there have been 101 football head coaches who have achieved the 200 career-win milestone. Nick Saban who announced his retirement in 2024 has the most national championships as any head coach in college football history.
Coaches with the most National Championships
Some of the most successful college football coaches have amassed multiple national championships. Nick Saban leads with seven titles, the most in history. Bear Bryant follows with six championships. Other notable coaches include Woody Hayes and Bennie Bierman with five titles each.
Here are the college football coaches who have led their teams to four or more national championships throughout their stints:
Nick Saban
Nick Saban holds the record for the most national championships as a college football coach, with seven national titles under his belt. He won his first national championship with LSU during the 2003 NCAA season. He previously coached the Alabama Crimson Tide from 2007 to 2023 and secured the majority of his championships with Alabama in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020. Saban is widely regarded as one of the greatest football coaches of all time.
Bear Bryant
Bear Bryant is renowned for winning six national championships during his coaching career. Bryant led the Alabama Crimson Tide to national titles in 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, and 1979.
Woody Hayes
Woody Hayes secured five national championships as the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. His championships came in 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, and 1970.
Bennie Bierman
Bennie Bierman led the Minnesota Golden Gophers to five national championships during his tenure. He achieved these titles in 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, and 1941. Bierman's success helped establish Minnesota as a powerhouse in college football during the early 20th century.
Frank Leahy
Frank Leahy won four national championships as the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. His championship seasons were in 1943, 1946, 1947, and 1949.
John McKay
John McKay guided the USC Trojans to four national championships. McKay's titles came in 1962, 1967, 1972, and 1974. McKay also led the team to nine conference titles.
Howard Jones
Howard Jones won four national championships, leading Yale and USC. His championship years were 1909 (Yale), 1928, 1931, and 1932 (USC).
College football coaches with the most career wins
John Gagliardi holds the record for the most wins in college football, with 489 wins, 138 losses, and 11 ties throughout his career. He was the head football coach at Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, from 1953 until 2012. Before that, he coached at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, from 1949 to 1952.
Joe Paterno is second on the all-time wins list, with a career total of 409 wins, 136 losses, and 3 ties. He was the head coach at Penn State from 1966 to 2011, leaving a lasting legacy in college football history.
| Rank | Name | Years | Wins | Losses | Ties | Teams |
| 1 | John Gagliardi | 64 | 489 | 138 | 11 | Carroll (MT) (1949–1952), Saint John's (MN) (1953–2012) |
| 2 | Joe Paterno | 46 | 409 | 136 | 3 | Penn State (1966–2011) |
| 3 | Eddie Robinson | 55 | 408 | 165 | 15 | Grambling (1941–1942, 1945–1997) |
| 4 | Bobby Bowden | 44 | 377 | 129 | 4 | Samford (1959–1962), West Virginia (1970–1975), Florida State (1976–2009) |
| 5 | Kevin Donley | 46 | 355 | 155 | 1 | Anderson (IN) (1978–1981), Georgetown (KY) (1982–1992), California (PA) (1993–1996), Saint Francis (IN) (1998–present) |
| 6 | Ken Sparks | 37 | 338 | 99 | 2 | Carson–Newman (1980–2016) |
| 7 | Larry Kehres | 27 | 332 | 24 | 3 | Mount Union (1986–2012) |
| 8 | Bear Bryant | 38 | 323 | 85 | 17 | Maryland (1945), Kentucky (1946–1953), Texas A&M (1954–1957), Alabama (1958–1982) |
| 9 | Pop Warner | 49 | 319 | 106 | 32 | Georgia (1895–1896), Iowa State (1895–1899), Cornell (1897–1898, 1904–1906), Carlisle (1899–1903, 1907–1914), Pittsburgh (1915–1923), Stanford (1924–1932), Temple (1933–1938) |
| 10 | Roy Kidd | 39 | 314 | 124 | 8 | Eastern Kentucky (1964–2002) |
| 10 | Amos Alonzo Stagg | 57 | 314 | 199 | 35 | Springfield (1890–1891), Chicago (1892–1932), Pacific (CA) (1933–1946) |
| 12 | Frosty Westering | 40 | 305 | 96 | 7 | Parsons (1962–1963), Lea (1966–1971), Pacific Lutheran (1972–2003) |
| 12 | Larry Wilcox | 42 | 305 | 153 | 0 | Benedictine (KS) (1979–2020) |
| 14 | Tubby Raymond | 36 | 300 | 119 | 3 | Delaware (1966–2001) |
| 15 | Brian Kelly | 35 | 292 | 107 | 2 | Grand Valley State (1991–2003), Central Michigan (2004–2006), Cincinnati (2006–2009), Notre Dame (2010–2021), LSU (2022–present) |
| 15 | Nick Saban | 28 | 292 | 71 | 1 | Toledo (1990), Michigan State (1995–1999), LSU (2000–2004), Alabama (2007–2023) |
| 17 | Ron Schipper | 36 | 287 | 67 | 3 | Central (IA) (1961–1996) |
| 18 | Mack Brown | 35 | 282 | 149 | 1 | Appalachian State (1983), Tulane (1985–1987), North Carolina (1988–1997, 2019–2024), Texas (1998–2013) |
| 19 | Frank Beamer | 35 | 280 | 144 | 4 | Murray State (1981–1986), Virginia Tech (1987–2015) |
| 20 | Monte Cater | 37 | 275 | 117 | 2 | Lakeland (1981–1986), Shepherd (1987–2017) |
FAQs on College Football coaches
A. Yes, they sign multi-year contracts that outline salary, bonuses, buyout clauses, and other terms.
A. John Gagliardi holds the record for the most career wins with 489 victories.
A. Yes, recruiting is a major part of a coach's responsibilities, and they actively scout and sign high school talent to join their team.
A. Bear Bryant won six national championships during his coaching career in 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, and 1979.
