The Idea Behind Coaching DNA
Kirk Ferentz's mid-zone reinvention at Iowa, Josh Heupel's uptempo spread with wide splits and vertical passing at Tennessee, Air Raid mesh and verticals, power spread with jumbo packages, pistol RPOs, Run and Shoot, triple-option flexbone, condensed gap schemes. College football offenses have never been more varied, and the schemes keep evolving as coaches counter three-high safety looks with heavier personnel and expanded RPO trees.
We attempt to quantify these philosophies into a coach's DNA, the tactical fingerprint that shapes how a team plays week in, week out. By mapping CFBD efficiency data to each coach's tendencies, we identify which programs share philosophies and where the real schematic mismatches live.
How We Measure It
Coaching DNA is built on 12 dimensions of team performance, drawn from SP+ ratings and advanced stats:
Offense (6 dimensions):
- Rushing Efficiency (offense_rushing): How effective is the ground game on a per-play basis?
- Passing Efficiency (offense_passing): How effective is the passing attack per attempt?
- Success Rate (offense_success_rate): How consistently does the offense move the chains?
- Explosiveness (offense_explosiveness): How often does the offense generate big plays?
- Tempo (offense_pace): How fast does the offense operate relative to the FBS average?
- Scoring Efficiency (scoring_efficiency): How well does the offense convert opportunities into points?
Defense (5 dimensions):
- Rushing Defense (defense_rushing): How well does the defense stop the run?
- Passing Defense (defense_passing): How well does the defense limit the passing game?
- Havoc Rate (defense_havoc): How often does the defense create disruptions, sacks, TFLs, forced fumbles?
- Defensive Success Rate (defense_success_rate): How consistently does the defense limit offensive gains?
- Turnovers (defense_turnovers): How frequently does the secondary force turnovers?
Special Teams (1 dimension):
- Special Teams (special_teams): Kicking, punting, and return game efficiency via SP+.
Each dimension is scored on a percentile scale (0-100th percentile across all FBS coaches), creating a radar chart profile that can be compared across the entire FBS landscape.
Here is what that looks like in practice, Kirby Smart's coaching DNA at Georgia:
Why It Matters
Understanding Coaching DNA can provide another layer to modeling the game of football:
- Matchup Analysis: When a run-heavy offense meets a pass-funnel defense, the DNA provides a bit more detail about what to expect.
- Coaching Changes: When a new coach arrives, their DNA from a previous stop can forecast how the roster will be used.
- In-Season Adaptation: Some coaches adjust their DNA mid-season. Tracking these shifts reveals who is adapting and who is stuck.
Compare two coaches side by side, Smart's defense-first identity against Dan Lanning's more balanced approach at Oregon:
See It In Action
Head over to the Coaching Constellation to explore every FBS coach's DNA profile in an interactive visualization. Filter by conference, compare coaches side by side, and discover the tactical identities driving college football.