In the ever-competitive Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), coach rankings are an intricate puzzle to decipher. With 17 teams now in the league, including new additions Cal, Stanford, and SMU, determining the hierarchy among ACC coaches is no easy task.

As we head into the 2024 season, the ACC exhibits a wide range of rankings for its coaches. While a few top names and bottom-dwellers stand out, the majority of coaches find themselves sandwiched in the middle. From Wake Forest's Dave Clawson at No. 30 to Georgia Tech's Brent Key at No. 54, nine coaches occupy the spaces in between.

Leading the pack is none other than Dabo Swinney, head coach of the Clemson Tigers. Swinney has earned his spot as the third-ranked coach overall. Despite talks of Clemson's decline, Swinney's Tigers have secured an impressive seven of the last 12 ACC championships, including a victory in 2022. Although Clemson stumbled with a 4-4 conference record last year, the expectations for ACC title contention remain high for 2024. Swinney also held the top spot among ACC coaches in the 2023 rankings.

Mike Norvell, guiding the Florida State Seminoles, has steadily climbed the rankings. Sitting at No. 8 overall, Norvell has shown progress each season, culminating in a 13-1 record in 2023. His embrace of the transfer portal has allowed the Seminoles to quickly bounce back and achieve success. Norvell moved up from the 3rd spot among ACC coaches in the previous rankings.

Dave Doeren of the NC State Wolfpack has been a model of consistency in a league marked by turnover. With either eight or nine wins in every season since 2017, Doeren has maintained a strong performance. The Wolfpack have also earned a bowl appearance in nine of the last ten years, showcasing their player development and ability to produce NFL talent. In the 2024 rankings, Doeren secures the No. 16 spot overall, a slight improvement from his 5th position among ACC coaches in the previous rankings.

Jeff Brohm, in his short stint at Louisville, has garnered recognition for his accomplishments at prior coaching stops. Leading Purdue to an AP Top 25 ranking for the first time since 2007 and a Big Ten Championship Game appearance, Brohm has showcased his coaching prowess. In his debut season with the Cardinals, he secured a 10-win season and an ACC title game appearance. Brohm now holds the No. 19 spot overall and moves up from the 7th position among ACC coaches in the previous rankings.

Dave Clawson, known for establishing a culture of winning at Wake Forest, sees a slight setback in this year's rankings. With a disappointing 4-8 record in 2023, including seven ACC losses, the Demon Deacons struggled. However, Clawson's ability to keep games competitive, even against powerhouse teams like Clemson, is noteworthy. He now ranks at No. 30 overall, dropping from the 2nd position among ACC coaches in the previous rankings.

Mario Cristobal, though facing challenges at Miami, earns recognition for his ability to recruit and construct a competitive roster. With a 12-13 record in two seasons, Cristobal must now turn his on-paper advantage into consistent on-field results. He secures the No. 35 spot overall, an improvement from his 8th position among ACC coaches last year.

Mack Brown, despite having a national championship under his belt, faces a surprising drop in the rankings. In his five seasons back at North Carolina, Brown has led the Tar Heels to five bowl games and three seasons with eight or more wins. However, his inability to capitalize on late-season opportunities and break through nationally has affected his ranking. Brown now sits at No. 37 overall, dropping from the 4th spot among ACC coaches in the previous rankings.

Pat Narduzzi of the Pitt Panthers fell in the rankings due to a disappointing 3-9 season in 2023. Despite past success, Narduzzi couldn't overcome the lack of offensive production. He holds the No. 38 spot overall and fell from the 6th position among ACC coaches in the previous rankings.

Rhett Lashlee, known for his upward trajectory, finds himself in the middle range of the rankings. With 18 wins and an AAC title in his first two seasons as a head coach at SMU, Lashlee has shown promise. However, a loss in the bowl game against future ACC opponent Boston College halted some of that momentum. Lashlee did not have a ranking among ACC coaches in the previous year.

Manny Diaz, returning to the ACC as Duke's head coach after a stint as Penn State's defensive coordinator, faces a difficult task of building the program. In the 2023 rankings, Diaz was ranked No. 32 overall and No. 7 among ACC coaches. Now, he has an opportunity to leverage his past experience in the league to lead the Blue Devils.

Brent Pry of Virginia Tech enjoyed a successful second year, improving their record from three wins to seven. With most key players returning, Pry and his staff have shown significant improvement. Pry's rise in the rankings lands him at No. 50 overall, jumping from the 14th spot among ACC coaches in the previous rankings.

Bill O'Brien's ranking is trickier to determine, given his varied resume. With extensive NFL experience and a recent stint as Alabama's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, O'Brien's coaching profile lacks easy comparison points. However, he debuts at No. 51 overall and has room to move up if the Boston College Eagles find success under his guidance. O'Brien did not have a ranking in the ACC coaches' list last year.

Brent Key, in his second full season at Georgia Tech, enjoyed both highs and lows. Despite guiding the Yellow Jackets to a bowl game against a tough schedule, Key's team suffered unexpected losses, including a defeat against Bowling Green. Key held the 12th spot among ACC coaches in the previous rankings and now sits at No. 54 overall.

Justin Wilcox, entering his eighth season at Cal, faces pressure to reverse the team's fortunes. With a below .500 overall record, limited bowl appearances, and no winning conference records, Wilcox aims to turn things around in the ACC. His performance in 2024 will greatly impact his future rankings.

Troy Taylor of Stanford had a mixed bag in 2023. While securing thrilling victories against Colorado and Washington State, the team struggled at home and had the worst average scoring margin among power conference teams. Taylor's future rankings will depend on the team's on-field performance.

Tony Elliott faced a challenging schedule in 2023, with all 11 FBS opponents being bowl teams. Despite this, beating a top-10 North Carolina showcased the Virginia Cavaliers' potential. Heading into 2024, Elliott aims to build on this success and improve the team's ranking.

Fran Brown, making his debut as a power conference head coach, faces an uphill battle to climb the rankings. His smart staff hires, recruiting efforts, and off-field momentum lay the foundation for future success. Rapid upward movement will follow when on-field results align with the team's potential.

As we await the 2024 season, the ACC coach rankings provide a snapshot of the conference's coaching landscape. While some familiar names dominate, newcomers and rising coaches aim to make their mark in this fierce conference competition.