The Zeitgeist List · coaching

Rick Neuheisel

Followed Karl Dorrell. Rick Neuheisel slid UCLA from Power Program III to National Program I in 4 seasons.

Peak, then fade
87–58
1995–2011 · 3 stints
ColoradoWashingtonUCLA
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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.

Stature score reached, by season of his head-coaching careerCOLORADOWASHINGTONUCLABlue Bloodpermanent top tierPower Programperennial contenderNational Programrespectable, streakyColorado, 1995: 10-2, Blue Blood1995Colorado, 1996: 10-2, Blue Blood1996Colorado, 1997: 5-6, Blue Blood1997Colorado, 1998: 8-4, Power Program I1998-2.1Washington, 1999: 7-5, Power Program II1999Washington, 2000: 11-1, Power Program I2000Washington, 2001: 8-4, Power Program I2001Washington, 2002: 7-6, Power Program II2002-0.4UCLA, 2008: 4-8, National Program I2008UCLA, 2009: 7-6, National Program I2009UCLA, 2010: 4-8, National Program II2010UCLA, 2011: 6-6, National Program II2011-7.1One point per coached season, in career order; dashed segments are program changes — spacing is not proportional to calendar time

Reached Blue Blood in his 1st career season — faster than 59% of the 100 FBS coaches who have ever reached Blue Blood (rank #1 of 100 by seasons-to-arrival).

Colorado, 4 seasons
−2.1
Blue Blood → Power Program I.
Washington, 4 seasons
−0.4
Power Program II → Power Program II.
UCLA, 4 seasons
−7.1
National Program I → National 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.

10–9 against his rivals. Just 1–4 against Jeff Tedford.

Rivalry record
10–9
52.6% · 5 rivals
One-score games
36–21
63.2% · margin ≤8
vs. Blue Blood or better
0–4
0.0%
Rivalry ledger
Colorado State4–0100%
Nebraska0–40%
Washington State4–0100%
USC0–40%
Oregon2–167%
The toughest matchupNemesis
vs. Jeff Tedford1–4
5 meetings, 2002–2011
’02 L’08 L’09 L’10 L’11 W
Performance by opponent class
Dynasty
0–4 0.0%
Blue Blood
4–8 33.3%
Power Program
19–26 42.2%
National Program
37–17 68.5%
Regional Program
24–4 85.7%

Coaching career

2008–2011
UCLAcaretaker
Power Program III → National Program I
Rick Neuheisel slid UCLA from Power Program III to National Program I in 4 seasons.

16th-best UCLA tenure of 20 by the numbers.

Followed Karl Dorrell (2003–2007) · succeeded by Jim Mora (2012–2017).

Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Running back from high school
100%
#196 of 208 stints

9 NFL Draft picks: Bruce Davis (2008), Matt Slater (2008), Chris Horton (2008), Brian Price (2010), Alterraun Verner (2010), Terrence Austin (2010), Akeem Ayers (2011), Rahim Moore (2011) + 1 more

21–28
1999–2002
Washingtoninheritor
Power Program I → Power Program I
Rick Neuheisel inherited a Power Program I Washington and won with it.

3rd-best Washington tenure of 18 by the numbers.

Followed Jim Lambright (1993–1998) · succeeded by Keith Gilbertson (2003–2004).

12 NFL Draft picks: Brock Huard (1999), Tony Coats (1999), Jabari Issa (2000), Lester Towns (2000), Marques Tuiasosopo (2001), Elliot Silvers (2001), Jeremiah Pharms (2001), Hakim Akbar (2001) + 4 more

33–16
1995–1998
Coloradoinheritor
Blue Blood → Blue Blood
Rick Neuheisel inherited a Blue Blood Colorado and won with it.

1st-best Colorado tenure of 20 by the numbers.

Followed Bill McCartney (1982–1994) · succeeded by Gary Barnett (1999–2005).

25 NFL Draft picks: Michael Westbrook (1995), Rashaan Salaam (1995), Christian Fauria (1995), Ted Johnson (1995), Kordell Stewart (1995), Darius Holland (1995), Chris Hudson (1995), Derek West (1995) + 17 more

33–14