Coker Off To Best Start In College Football History
Oct. 13, 2003
University of Miami head football coach Larry Coker is 30-1 as a head coach after Saturday’s 22-14 victory at Florida State. His 30-1 record through 31 games is the best by an head football coach in the history of the sport through that span of games, edging out Oklahoma’s Barry Switzer and Walter Camp of Yale. Coker set a modern NCAA record for victories by a first-year head coach in 2001 with 12 wins. Coker’s 24-1 two-year start ranked as one of the finest by a head coach in the history of college football in terms of winning percentage. In terms of victories through two seasons as a head coach, Coker’s 24 victories ranked third all-time, the most in 109 years.
College Football’s Best Head Coaching Starts (through 31 games)
–By Percentage–
| Coach, School | Years | W-L-T | Pct. |
| 1. Larry Coker, Miami | 2001-03 | 30-1-0 | .968 |
| 2. Barry Switzer, Oklahoma | 1973-75 | 29-1-1 | .952 |
| 3. Walter Camp, Yale | 1889-91 | 29-2-0 | .935 |
| 4. Frank Leahy, Boston College/Notre Dame | 1939-41 | 28-2-1 | .919 |
| 5. George Woodruff, Penn | 1892-94 | 27-4 | .871 |
| 6. Bill Battle, Tennessee | 1970-72 | 26-5 | .839 |
| 7. John Robinson, Southern Cal | 1976-78 | 25-6 | .806 |
| 8. Dutch Meyer, TCU | 1934-36 | 23-7-1 | .758 |
–By Victories–
| Coach, School | Years | W-L-T | Pct. |
| 1. Larry Coker, Miami | 2001-03 | 30-1-0 | .968 |
| 2. Walter Camp, Yale | 1889-91 | 29-2-0 | .935 |
| Barry Switzer, Oklahoma | 1973-75 | 29-1-1 | .952 |
| 4. Frank Leahy, Boston College/Notre Dame | 1939-41 | 28-2-1 | .919 |
| 5. George Woodruff, Penn | 1892-94 | 27-4 | .871 |
| 6. Bill Battle, Tennessee | 1970-72 | 26-5 | .839 |
| 7. John Robinson, Southern Cal | 1976-78 | 25-6 | .806 |
| 8. Dutch Meyer, TCU | 1934-36 | 23-7-1 | .758 |
