Thinking of the combinations of win/loss etc, tenure, style, loyalty, skills, knowledge, ability and just overall being a hell of a coach, and even tho I hate it when my Hawkeyes play his team, I'd have to say Joe Paterno hands down.

Good arguments can be made for Bear Bryant or Bobby Bowden also.

I think FSU had 14 straight top ten finishes under Bowden, that and him being the all time leader in wins has to rank him pretty high.

The Bear, he is just a flat out legend, with solid credentials of multiple National titles, SEC titles with a very high number of wins and winning %.

I will never try and make an argument AGAINST Bear Bryant being considered the best coach EVER. For me, that argument begins and ends with Bryant. I might consider making an amendment in 4 or 5 more years, if Fulmer passes Bryant for most wins in the SEC...but even then, I'd simply say that Fulmer was the best of his era...hands down, Bryant would still be the best of all time. :)