Ranking Big 12 Head Coaches

2011: 5-7

Texas Tech Record: 13-12 (3rd season)

Taking over for Mike Leach in Lubbock isn't an easy task. The eccentric Leach was a hero at Texas Tech, where he had great success with his outgoing personality and big-play offense. Enter Tuberville, who posted eight wins in 2010 before sliding back to five a year later.

For a coach that had an undefeated season at Auburn in 2004, Tuberville is expected to produce more with the Red Raiders, who fell apart at the end of the last season. Seven losses in eight games, including a 66-6 trouncing at home vs. Oklahoma State was an epic thud.

2011: 2-10 (under Turner Gill)

Kansas Record: 0-0 (1st season)

We know Weis' pedigree as an offensive assistant for Super Bowl championship teams with the New England Patriots, but he hasn't had close to that type of success as a college coach. After two BCS bowl losses at Notre Dame, he had three additional poor seasons with the Irish before bombing out of South Bend as a disappointment.

He followed that up with one season each as offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs (2010) and the Florida Gators (2011). He did a poor job at UF and now is taking over a dormant program in Lawrence. It's all up to Weis, in whom we don't have much confidence.

2011: 6-7

Iowa State Record: 18-20 (4th season)

Rhoads might be the most-popular coach of a mediocre football team in recent memory. He has posted an 18-20 record in three seasons with the Cyclones, though last season his team forged a 37-31, double-overtime victory over Oklahoma State - handing the Cowboys' their first loss of the season on Nov. 18 and effectively ending their hope for a national title.

Much of Rhoads' popularity could be due to his penchant for stirring postgame speeches and reaction, including a primal scream and fist pump after a win over Nebraska in 2009 and more theatrics after the Okie State win. But guess what? To earn long-term appeal, Rhoads needs more wins.

2011: 8-5

Texas Record: 141-39 (15th season)

Yes, Mack Brown is a big name in college football. He has been at Texas since 1997, posting double-digit wins for nine straight seasons at one point. He won a memorable national title on the back on Vince Young after the 2005 season and brought the Longhorns back to the national title game after the 2009 campaign.

But since the departure of Colt McCoy, Texas has struggled to find a suitable replacement under center; it posted a losing season in 2010 and a mediocre one last fall. It seems as if the 60-year-old Brown's time is coming to a close even though Will Mushchamp, Brown's former coach-in-waiting, has moved on to Florida. Stay tuned to see where the Longhorns go in 2012.

2011: 10-3

West Virginia Record: 10-3 (2nd season)

Holgorsen's time as head coach in Morgantown started before expected. He was supposed to be the coach-in-waiting behind Bill Stewart and begin his tenure with WVU as offensive coordinator in 2011. Well, the presence of both coaches didn't exactly work out, and Stewart was forced to resign last summer.

It worked out in the end for the Mountaineers, who won 10 games in Holgorsen's first season as a head coach at any level - capping the campaign with a blowout win over Clemson in the Orange Bowl. Now expectations are through the roof as West Virginia is moving to the Big 12 and Holgorsen is moving into Year 2.

2011: 10-3

Baylor Record: 25-25 (5th season)

Other than a national championship, it couldn't get much for Briles in 2011 at Baylor, which won its first bowl game since 1992 last December. Of course, the Bears also boasted Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, who lit up Waco in a way no one thought possible.

Put simply, Briles - with 17 wins in the last two seasons - has resurrected Baylor's program, and that's not an easy feat.

2011: 12-1

Oklahoma State Record: 59-30 (8th season)

Gundy is a man and will turn 45 in August. But he's much more than someone known for providing an incredible YouTube rant. He has won 23 games in the last two years at Oklahoma State, which no longer is just second fiddle to Oklahoma in the state. The Cowboys flirted with a national title last fall but suffered a shocking loss to Iowa State in November.

But Gundy's team beat Andrew Luck and Stanford in a memorable Fiesta Bowl that was more than just a landmark win for the Oklahoma State program. It proved that Gundy is one of the best coaches in the country and shed light on the steady incline for the Okie State program.

2011: 11-2

TCU Record: 109-30 (12th season)

Welcome to the world of BCS recognition, Gary Patterson. Long one of the best coaches in the country, Patterson has guided his TCU teams playing out of Conference USA and the Mountain West to seven bowl wins - including the Fiesta and Rose bowls - in his 11 seasons with the Horned Frogs.

Patterson could have gone to any open job in the country but inked a long-term deal to stay at TCU, which left the Big East before playing a game for a chance to become a member of the Big 12 - a conference that plays within the Horned Frogs' home territory.

Well, winning the Rose Bowl at a non-BCS school, as Patterson did while completing an undefeated slate after the 2010 season, isn't something that happens every year. And Patterson isn't any old coach, either.

2011: 10-3

Oklahoma Record: 139-34 (14th season)

Stoops could retire now as one of the most-successful coaches in college football history. He won his lone national championship after the 2000 season - in his second year in Norman - and lost three more BCS national title games. The Sooners failed to reach double-digit wins just three times in Stoops' 13 seasons at the school - just insane success.

But the defensive mastermind, despite furthering the profile of OU's already-decorated program, needs another big year to quiet those who think he is washed up and often remind of instances in which his program has been branded "Choke-lahoma."

Stoops posted a three-loss season in 2011 after coming in ranked No. 1 in the country. The return of quarterback Landry Jones this fall should help right past wrongs.

2011: 10-3

Kansas State Record: 159-83-1 (21st season in two stints)

Snyder could be one of the most-underrated coaches in all of sports. He just gets results. The 72-year-old Snyder, in his second stint with the Wildcats, went 1-10 in 1989 - his first season as coach at K-State. Two seasons later, the 'Cats had a winning record, by 1993 they had won nine games and, by 1997, they won the Fiesta Bowl. Try beating that turnaround.

He left K-State after the 2005 season, leaving the program to Ron Prince, who bombed with just 17 wins in three seasons. Snyder then returned to the helm of what seemed like a dead program in 2009 and had it back to 10 wins last fall.

Snyder's squad could be back in a BCS game after the 2012 season. Who is shocked?

• Related: Ranking Pac-12 Head Coaches

• Related: Ranking Big Ten Head Coaches

• Related: Ranking SEC Head Coaches