The Zeitgeist List · coaching

Ben Collins

Followed Mike Brumbelow. Ben Collins held UTEP at National Program II for 5 seasons.

18–29

1957–1961 · 1 stint

Career arc

His real stature score, season by season, across every program he’s coached — so a stretch that stays in one tier the whole way can still climb or sink on the line, not just flatten out. Node color marks the tier reached. Which program a stretch belongs to is carried by the shaded lane behind it.

Reached National Program in his 1st career season — faster than 41% of the 675 FBS coaches who have ever reached National Program (rank #1 of 675 by seasons-to-arrival).

UTEP, 5 seasons

−9.8

National Program II → Regional Program II.

The big-game ledger

How he does in the games that matter most — rivalry record, performance broken out by real opponent tier, one-score games, and his toughest historical matchup.

Winless in 4 tries against Frank Kush.

One-score games

6–4–1

54.5% · margin ≤8

The toughest matchup

vs. Frank Kush0–4

4 meetings, 1958–1961

’58 L’59 L’60 L’61 L

0% win rate across a real, 4-meeting series — short of the bar this site uses before badging a series “Nemesis.” Shown here as the toughest matchup on record, not an algorithmic crown.

Performance by opponent class

National Program

1–7 12.5%

Regional Program

9–13 40.9%

Coaching career

1957–1961

UTEPcaretaker

National Program II → National Program II

Ben Collins held UTEP at National Program II for 5 seasons.

2nd-best UTEP tenure of 20 by the numbers.

Followed Mike Brumbelow (1950–1956) · succeeded by Bum Phillips (1962–1962).

18–29