College football

Ranking a powerful lineup of Pac-10 coaches

Carroll and Erickson are tops, but there are plenty of good ones just below

USC head coach Pete Carroll hugs quarterback Matt Leinart

Marc Serota / Reuters

Pete Carroll's high energy and positive outlook has helped turn USC into a perennial power.

7. Jim Harbaugh, Stanford. That stunning 24-23 win over 41-point favorite USC last year was just the beginning. I get the feeling "Captain Comeback" will lead the Cardinal to success sooner rather than later. He can impress recruits not only with Stanford's boffo academics, but also with his pedigree as an NFL player and coach. And don't forget: Harbaugh — whose dad, Jack, was a legendary coach at Western Kentucky and whose brother John is the coach of the Baltimore Ravens — did well running I-AA San Diego.

8. Tyrone Willingham, Washington. Willingham is the epitome of class and of doing things the right way. And he knows his Xs and Os. But he still hasn't enjoyed a run of big success at any stop in his career. To date, his biggest feat has been taking Stanford to the Rose Bowl. The biggest question: Can he recruit? The heat is on "good guy Ty."

9. Paul Wulff, Washington State. An ex-Coug, Wulff knows what it takes to win on the Palouse. And that's half the battle for any Wazzu coach. Factor in Wulff's energy and youth, coupled with his wild success at Eastern Washington, and Washington State is on the right track.

10. Mike Stoops, Arizona. Some coordinators aren't cut out to be head coaches. That could be the case for Stoops, who has yet to get the Wildcats over the hump as the program searches for its first bowl appearance since 1998. I love his fire and passion, and I give Stoops credit for continually looking for answers, particularly on offense. But it's time to win — now.

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Tom Dienhart is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at tdienhart@sportingnews.com .

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