Active SEC Football Coaches with the Most and Least Career Wins
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is known for its highly competitive football programs, producing some of the most successful and long-tenured head coaches in college football. With so much talent in the conference, it’s not surprising that SEC coaches are regularly in the national spotlight. But within this competitive landscape, some coaches have achieved exceptional success, while others are just beginning their careers in one of the most challenging football environments in the country.
In this article, we will explore which active SEC football coach has the most career wins and which has the least. This analysis takes into account the career achievements of current SEC coaches, as well as the trajectory of their programs and the potential for future success.
Active SEC Coaches with the Most Career Wins: Mark Stoops
When it comes to career wins among active SEC coaches, Mark Stoops, the head coach of the University of Kentucky Wildcats, leads the pack. Stoops has consistently turned Kentucky football into a program that can compete with some of the powerhouses in the SEC. His long tenure, dating back to 2013, has allowed him to build a successful foundation for the Wildcats, and he is now recognized as one of the most accomplished coaches in the conference.
A Look at Mark Stoops’ Career
Mark Stoops took over as Kentucky’s head coach in 2013, succeeding Joker Phillips. Stoops inherited a Kentucky team that was struggling to compete in the competitive SEC East, but he quickly set about building a strong defensive foundation and emphasizing player development.
In his first few years at Kentucky, Stoops focused on recruiting players who could contribute to a more competitive roster. It wasn’t until the 2018 season that Stoops truly started seeing the fruits of his labor. That season, Kentucky finished 10-3 and was ranked in the final top-25 polls, marking the Wildcats’ first 10-win season in over 40 years. The team’s success continued into the following seasons, as Stoops solidified Kentucky as a tough, competitive team in the SEC.
By 2025, Stoops had compiled a career record of 66 wins, the most of any active SEC coach. His ability to consistently win games, even with relatively limited resources compared to some of the SEC’s traditional powers, has earned him respect across the college football landscape.
Stoops’ success is built on his defensive prowess, strong recruiting, and a culture of toughness and discipline. While he has faced criticism at times for Kentucky’s lack of offensive firepower, his teams are known for their resilience and ability to win close games. Stoops has also proven himself as a program builder, with Kentucky’s football infrastructure improving under his leadership.
Kentucky’s success under Stoops is especially impressive given the fierce competition in the SEC. Competing in the same conference as powerhouses like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU, Kentucky has managed to consistently compete for bowl games and stay relevant in the national conversation. This level of success in the SEC East is no small feat.
As of now, Stoops remains Kentucky’s all-time winningest coach, and he continues to build on that legacy, making him the SEC coach with the most career wins among active coaches.
The Coach with the Least Career Wins: Shane Beamer
While Mark Stoops stands out as the SEC coach with the most career wins, Shane Beamer, the head coach of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, currently holds the distinction of having the least number of career wins among active SEC coaches. Beamer, who took over as South Carolina’s head coach in 2021, is still in the early stages of his coaching career in the SEC, but his potential for future success is undeniable.
Shane Beamer’s Early Career
Shane Beamer, the son of legendary Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer, took over at South Carolina after Will Muschamp was let go following the 2020 season. Beamer’s appointment was met with a mix of excitement and skepticism. On the one hand, he was a well-respected assistant coach with experience working under some of the most successful coaches in college football, including Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma. On the other hand, he was an unproven head coach in a competitive conference like the SEC.
Beamer’s first season at South Carolina (2021) was marked by struggles, as the Gamecocks finished with a 6-6 record and failed to make a significant splash in SEC play. However, Beamer showed flashes of promise, particularly with his ability to motivate and connect with players. His leadership skills became apparent as he steered South Carolina to a bowl game in his first season, which was a significant accomplishment for a team undergoing a coaching transition.
Despite the challenges, Beamer’s work ethic and approach to rebuilding South Carolina’s program has received praise. He has worked hard to establish a solid recruiting pipeline and has focused on creating a winning culture. While South Carolina’s 2022 season saw a slight improvement, Beamer still has a long way to go before the program reaches the level of consistent success that other SEC programs expect.
As of early 2025, Beamer has a career record of 29 wins. Although this is the least among active SEC coaches, it is important to recognize that Beamer’s career is still in its infancy. With just a few years of head coaching experience under his belt, he has the potential to grow South Carolina into a more competitive team, much like Mark Stoops did at Kentucky. If Beamer can continue to recruit well and develop his players, it’s likely that his win total will rise significantly in the coming years.
South Carolina is a program that has historically struggled to keep up with the SEC’s elite teams, so Beamer’s challenge will be to recruit at a high level and turn the Gamecocks into a consistent contender in the SEC East. While it may take some time, Beamer’s foundation-building approach should eventually lead to success, even if his career win total remains lower than other coaches in the conference for the moment.
Comparing the Two: Different Strokes for Different Folks
When comparing Mark Stoops and Shane Beamer, it’s important to note that their career paths have been vastly different. Stoops has had the benefit of coaching at a program like Kentucky, which had historically underachieved but was not as far removed from SEC competition as South Carolina. In contrast, Beamer is working to elevate a South Carolina program that has faced more challenges and has historically been overshadowed by the dominant programs in the SEC.
Stoops took over Kentucky during a period of relative stability, with the Wildcats looking for a coach who could restore them to respectability. His focus on defense and player development helped Kentucky become a consistent bowl team, and over time, he built a strong recruiting base that has allowed Kentucky to compete with other SEC programs. Stoops’ experience as a defensive coordinator at Florida State and his background in recruiting have been instrumental in his success at Kentucky.
Beamer, on the other hand, inherited a South Carolina team in the midst of a rebuilding phase. While the Gamecocks have had some success in the past, they have been far from a powerhouse in the SEC. Beamer’s experience as an assistant coach at Oklahoma, where he worked under Lincoln Riley, has helped him implement a more dynamic offensive philosophy. However, the team’s early struggles under his leadership show that it will take time for Beamer to bring South Carolina to the level of consistent competition in the SEC.
The challenge for Beamer will be to recruit and develop players who can compete in the tough SEC landscape. While Kentucky is not traditionally known as an SEC powerhouse, Stoops’ success has proven that it is possible to build a competitive program in this environment, even with limited resources. Beamer’s path to success at South Carolina will likely mirror that of Stoops—through building a strong recruiting pipeline, developing players, and slowly increasing the level of competition within the SEC.
What’s Next for Both Coaches?
For Mark Stoops, the next step will be continuing to build on his already impressive career. As the most successful active SEC coach in terms of career wins, Stoops has solidified his place among the SEC’s elite coaches. But with the competitive nature of the SEC, Stoops will need to continue to adapt and improve. As he enters his 12th season at Kentucky, there will be pressure to maintain the program’s upward trajectory and to achieve even greater success in the postseason.
For Shane Beamer, the future is still uncertain, but the potential is there. With just a few years into his head coaching career, Beamer has the opportunity to build South Carolina into a competitive program. If he continues to recruit well, develop his players, and stay patient with the rebuilding process, it’s entirely possible that Beamer could become one of the top coaches in the SEC in the coming years.
While Beamer may have the least career wins among active SEC coaches, it’s clear that his journey has just begun. His success or failure will be determined by his ability to adapt, recruit, and develop talent in the tough SEC environment. With time, Beamer could emerge as a force in the SEC, just as Stoops has at Kentucky.