Best coaches in the MIAA

[KPKCBC]

I like big lists and I can not lie. Here are the best coaches in the conference.

1. Adam Dorrel — Central Oklahoma

• The "Gold Standard": His profile is centered on his status as one of the most successful coaches in D-II history. He is the only active MIAA coach with three National Titles (2013, 2015, 2016) as a head coach.
• Unprecedented Win Streaks: At Northwest Missouri, he led the team to thirty consecutive wins and three undefeated seasons.
• The UCO Turnaround: He took a middle-of-the-pack UCO team to their first MIAA title in program history in 2024.
• Coaching Awards: 3x AFCA National Coach of the Year; 4x AFCA Regional Coach of the Year; 3x MIAA Coach of the Year (2013, 2016, 2024).
• The Records:
  • Record at Current School: 28–18
  • Overall Head Coach Record: 123–58

2. John McMenamin — Northwest Missouri State

• The Return of a Legend: A former Bearcat QB who went 24–2 as a starter and won two National Championships as a player.
• Offensive Architecture: Architect of the Central Missouri offense (2015–19) that led the nation in total offense (547.5 ypg).
• FBS Pedigree: Helped lead Tulane to a Cotton Bowl victory over USC as their pass game coordinator.
• Coaching Awards: 2025 MIAA Coach of the Year; 2025 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year.
• The Records:
  • Record at Current School: 9–3
  • Overall Head Coach Record: 16–7

3. Chris Brown — Fort Hays State

• Historic Stability: The winningest coach in FHSU history. He transformed a struggling program into a consistent Top-25 powerhouse over the last 13 years.
• The 2017 Breakthrough: Highlighted by an 11–0 undefeated regular season in 2017.
• Defensive Roots: Before FHSU, he spent 9 seasons at Washburn as the DC, helping them win their first-ever MIAA title in 2005.
• Coaching Awards: 2x MIAA Coach of the Year (2017, 2018); 2017 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year.
• The Records:
  • Record at Current School: 95–63
  • Overall Head Coach Record: 95–63

4. Tom Anthony — Pittsburg State

• Defensive Mastermind: As DC in 2022, his defense led the MIAA in scoring defense (14.1 ppg).
• Winning Percentage: Has maintained an elite .750 winning percentage since taking over as Head Coach.
• National Playing Career: An All-American at Augustana, leading all of college football with 13 interceptions in 2005.
• Coaching Awards: Part of the 2022 & 2024 MIAA Coaching Staff of the Year; 2025 MIAA Co-Champion.
• The Records:
  • Record at Current School: 18–6
  • Overall Head Coach Record: 18–6

5. Josh Lamberson — Central Missouri

• The Offensive Genius: Led the nation in nearly every offensive category in 2023.
• Quarterback Guru: Developed Zach Zebrowski, who set the all-time D-II record for passing touchdowns (61) in a single season.
• MIAA Pedigree: Former star player at Northwest Missouri and previously the head coach at Nebraska-Kearney.
• Coaching Awards: 2023 MIAA Coach of the Year; 2023 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year.
• The Records:
  • Record at Current School: 29–18
  • Overall Head Coach Record: 30–39

6. Garin Higgins — Emporia State

• The Dean of the MIAA: The winningest coach in Emporia State history and ranks 5th all-time in career wins among all MIAA coaches.
• Postseason Prowess: Led ESU to the postseason seven times, including a run to the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2015.
• Dual-Success: Previously the HC at Northeastern State, where he led them to the NCAA Semifinals in 2000.
• Coaching Awards: 2010 MIAA Coach of the Year; 2015 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year; 2x Lone Star COTY.
• The Records:
  • Record at Current School: 118–90
  • Overall Head Coach Record: 169–99

7. Ryan Held — Nebraska-Kearney

• The Power-5 Recruiter: Key assistant at Nebraska and UCF (part of the 13–0 Peach Bowl championship staff).
• Head Coaching Breadth: Has been a head coach at five different institutions, spanning JUCO and D-II.
• Coaching Awards: 2x KCAC Coach of the Year; Recognized as a Top 25 National Recruiter by Rivals.com.
• The Records:
  • Record at Current School: 9–13
  • Overall Head Coach Record: 68–102

8. Tyler Fenwick — Missouri Western

• The Turnaround Specialist: Led Missouri S&T to their first 10-win season in decades and turned Southeastern Oklahoma State into a 9-win team.
• The Griffon Connection: Was the OC at Missouri Western during their "Golden Era" (2007–2012).
• Coaching Awards: 2018 GLVC Coach of the Year; 2021 GAC Coach of the Year.
• The Records:
  • Record at Current School: 15–19
  • Overall Head Coach Record: 68–67

9. Zach Watkins — Washburn

• The All-American Linebacker: Washburn’s all-time leading tackler and was a First Team All-American as a player.
• Defensive Coordinator Tenure: Spent 11 seasons as DC, with units consistently in the Top 25 nationally for takeaways.
• Coaching Awards: 2009 MIAA Defensive Player of the Year (Player); 2024 MIAA Coaching Staff member.
• The Records:
  • Record at Current School: 3–8
  • Overall Head Coach Record: 3–8

10. Atiba Bradley — Missouri Southern

• The Trailblazer: The first African American head coach in MIAA history and a Joplin native/former MSSU player.
• Cultural Shift: Credited with improving program discipline and community engagement in a historically difficult rebuild.
• Coaching Awards: Missouri State Senate Resolution for leadership; 2023 "Trailblazer" recognition.
• The Records:
  • Record at Current School: 19–38
  • Overall Head Coach Record: 19–38

[GorillaTeacher]

AD at UCO has won more than 6 games in a season precisely once. He is just as likely to get arrested for DUI in a year as he is to win 11 games. He won a lot of games at NW during the years after MT built the program, but has been basically a .500 coach everywhere else. If we are going by sheer resume, ofcourse AD is #1, but current success is more important to me than resume.. McMenamin may be the best coach in the conference, early career there. I think TA is #2. Lambo gets major credit for securing and keeping ZZ, but with out ZZ UCM and UNK has been not great.

Here's my list.

1A 1B- JM and TA. McMenamin took a struggling program and made them playoffs and MIAA champs in one year. A has maintained the culture that BW built so far. He also has no loyalty except to the program and isn't afraid of making necessary staff and personnel changes. Fired OC and OL coach, let the MIAA Player of the year walk... Bold moves. Hired a big time OL coach that I think will be astounding.

3-Higgins- He has had winning seasons 10 out of 18. Has several play off berths and has won some big games, except against NW.

4- AD- He made the playoffs and won a conference championship at UCO. Then there is his tenure as NWMSU head coach. We will ignore ACU tenure, I guess.

5- CB- Only because he won a conference championship and built FHSU into a reputable program, but he has struggled since COVID and I think he has lost the locker room. I think if he doesn't win 9 games this year he is fired, probably should have been last year.

6- Lambo, also was a conference Championship and a playoff game, although that was with ZZ...

7- Bradley, He has changed the culture at MSSU, now he just needs to get the players that can win. Has a good QB, but green. Needs the supporting athletes as well.

8,9,10 in no particular order, HELD, FENWICK, and Watkins... Scratch that, Held is last. I think he is terrible at UNK and has been pretty awful wherever he has been HC. Fenwick has won and Watkins is too green to project.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

Not to be picky but maybe the title should be "MIAA coaches ranked 1-10" or something similar. Not all coaches are going to be the best.

[Predatory Primates]

Not to be picky but maybe the title should be "MIAA coaches ranked 1-10" or something similar. Not all coaches are going to be the best.

To be fair, they only listed the football coaches. Lol

[Predatory Primates]

The best coaches in the miaa all coach track at Pitt, and it isn't close.

[KPKCBC]

Not to be picky but maybe the title should be "MIAA coaches ranked 1-10" or something similar. Not all coaches are going to be the best.

It's all rainbows and unicorns here in the MIAA. They can all be the best.

[KPKCBC]

AD at UCO has won more than 6 games in a season precisely once. He is just as likely to get arrested for DUI in a year as he is to win 11 games. He won a lot of games at NW during the years after MT built the program, but has been basically a .500 coach everywhere else. If we are going by sheer resume, ofcourse AD is #1, but current success is more important to me than resume.. McMenamin may be the best coach in the conference, early career there. I think TA is #2. Lambo gets major credit for securing and keeping ZZ, but with out ZZ UCM and UNK has been not great.

Here's my list.

1A 1B- JM and TA. McMenamin took a struggling program and made them playoffs and MIAA champs in one year. A has maintained the culture that BW built so far. He also has no loyalty except to the program and isn't afraid of making necessary staff and personnel changes. Fired OC and OL coach, let the MIAA Player of the year walk... Bold moves. Hired a big time OL coach that I think will be astounding.

3-Higgins- He has had winning seasons 10 out of 18. Has several play off berths and has won some big games, except against NW.

4- AD- He made the playoffs and won a conference championship at UCO. Then there is his tenure as NWMSU head coach. We will ignore ACU tenure, I guess.

5- CB- Only because he won a conference championship and built FHSU into a reputable program, but he has struggled since COVID and I think he has lost the locker room. I think if he doesn't win 9 games this year he is fired, probably should have been last year.

6- Lambo, also was a conference Championship and a playoff game, although that was with ZZ...

7- Bradley, He has changed the culture at MSSU, now he just needs to get the players that can win. Has a good QB, but green. Needs the supporting athletes as well.

8,9,10 in no particular order, HELD, FENWICK, and Watkins... Scratch that, Held is last. I think he is terrible at UNK and has been pretty awful wherever he has been HC. Fenwick has won and Watkins is too green to project.

I like the take.

[GorillaTeacher]

The best coaches in the miaa all coach track at Pitt, and it isn't close.

Probably country.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

The best coaches in the miaa all coach track at Pitt, and it isn't close.

Yeah I graduated high school with a lady that ran track at Pitt in the early 90s. She loved her time there and even met her future hubby there and moved them back to Amarillo with her.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

To be fair, they only listed the football coaches. Lol

Haha. All good.

[northwest missouri state]

1. ad. only nc winner, only multiple nc winner, 5 league titles. not ranking him #1 is embarrassing. co spent their entire tenure in the league in mediocrity at best prior to his arrival so it seems he hasn't lost it seeing as he's won the league since arriving in edmond (as opposed to #4 who hasn't won it in awhile).
2. tom anthony. 1 shared league title, punked #3.
3. jmm. 1 shared league title in his only season, but he got punked by #2 & handled in the po's. took over an also ran & achieved immediate success & significant improvement. the snapshot analysis is flattering at the moment. whether he builds on it or took advantage of some league rivals going through difficult circumstances ly remains to be seen.
4. chris brown. 2 league titles but they were awhile ago. whether he's lost it or needs to retool the staff or whatev, no idea.
5. lamberson. only difference between him & #3 at the moment is the poor seasons that accompany his shared league title.
6. higgins. never really won anything. several good seasons.
7-toilet. meh. who cares.

2-6 could change yr to yr at this point based on future results.

[HookemHerd]

My experience - Chris Brown is as fine of a coach as I’ve seen. A great leader of men. He did peak. I think location prevented him from long standing success. Can only get so far with western Kansas grit and spot recruiting.

Watkins I’m not sure about ranking seems fair. Very high character guy but he’s had his hands on the Washburn program for years as a coach when they haven’t exactly been stellar. That may have been the worst offense I’ve seen last year the first half of the season year 1.

[KPKCBC]

My experience - Chris Brown is as fine of a coach as I’ve seen. A great leader of men. He did peak. I think location prevented him from long standing success. Can only get so far with western Kansas grit and spot recruiting.

Watkins I’m not sure about ranking seems fair. Very high character guy but he’s had his hands on the Washburn program for years as a coach when they haven’t exactly been stellar. That may have been the worst offense I’ve seen last year the first half of the season year 1.

Washburn seems to me like a school with everything needed to take that next step. I hope Watkins can turn it around. I like that staff.

[GorillaTeacher]

1. ad. only nc winner, only multiple nc winner, 5 league titles. not ranking him #1 is embarrassing. co spent their entire tenure in the league in mediocrity at best prior to his arrival so it seems he hasn't lost it seeing as he's won the league since arriving in edmond (as opposed to #4 who hasn't won it in awhile).
2. tom anthony. 1 shared league title, punked #3.
3. jmm. 1 shared league title in his only season, but he got punked by #2 & handled in the po's. took over an also ran & achieved immediate success & significant improvement. the snapshot analysis is flattering at the moment. whether he builds on it or took advantage of some league rivals going through difficult circumstances ly remains to be seen.
4. chris brown. 2 league titles but they were awhile ago. whether he's lost it or needs to retool the staff or whatev, no idea.
5. lamberson. only difference between him & #3 at the moment is the poor seasons that accompany his shared league title.
6. higgins. never really won anything. several good seasons.
7-toilet. meh. who cares.

2-6 could change yr to yr at this point based on future results.

3 of ADs seasons at UCO have a total of 17 wins. Right now it’s looking like he caught lightning in a bottle in 2024. Take out that year and he is 17 and 16?

Then there was his time at ACU, and the results were not good. He has an amazing resume, but has made the playoffs once in the 9 years since his last national championship.

ACU has made the playoffs more times since he got let go than AD has at UCO.

[northwest missouri state]

3 of ADs seasons at UCO have a total of 17 wins. Right now it’s looking like he caught lightning in a bottle in 2024. Take out that year and he is 17 and 16?

Then there was his time at ACU, and the results were not good. He has an amazing resume, but has made the playoffs once in the 9 years since his last national championship.

ACU has made the playoffs more times since he got let go than AD has at UCO.

we're not comparing him to coaches in 1aa so idk why that's relevant but i also agree ryan day is better if anyone's asking. i also dk what it is about this board re: trying to marginalize him but other than the dude at ferris there's no one that compares in d2. could his run be over? it's possible but we're only a yr removed from a cc he built from scratch. it's also possible last yr was a blip due to his trip to betty ford. time will tell.