The Vanderbilt Commodores college football team represents Vanderbilt University in the East Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Commodores compete as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The program has had 29 head coaches since it began play during the 1890 season.2011 Football Fact Book, p. 109 Since December 14, 2020, Clark Lea has served as head coach of the Commodores.
The team has played 1,300 games over 135 seasons of Vanderbilt football. In that time, seven coaches have led the Commodores to postseason bowl games: Art Guepe, Steve Sloan, George MacIntyre, Bobby Johnson, James Franklin, Derek Mason, and Lea.2011 Football Fact Book, pp. 128–129 Four other coaches won conference championships: R. G. Acton, Walter H. Watkins, James R. Henry and Dan McGugin. Between them, the coaches won eleven Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships; McGugin led the team to an additional two titles as a member of the Southern Conference.2011 Football Fact Book, pp. 110–117
McGugin is the leader in seasons coached and games won, with 198 victories during his 30 years at Vanderbilt. E. H. Alley has the highest winning percentage with 1.000. Robbie Caldwell has the lowest winning percentage with .167. Of the 28 different head coaches who have led the Commodores, McGugin, Ray Morrison, Red Sanders, and Bill Edwards have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana.
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Coaches + List of head football coaches showing season(s) coached, overall records, conference records, postseason records, championships and selected awards No. Name Term Season(s) GC OW OL OT O% CW CL CT C% PW PL PT DC CC NC Awards 1 1890–1892 3 — — — — — — — — — 2 1893 1 — — — — — — — — — 3 1894 1 — — — — — 4 1895 1 — — — — — 5 1896–1898 3 — — — — — 6 1899–1900 2 — — — — — 7 1901–1902 2 — — — — — 8 1903 1 — — — — — 9 1904–19171919–1934 14, 16 — — 10 19181935–1939 1, 5 — 11 1940–19421946–1948 3, 3 — 12 1943 1 — — 13 1944–1945 2 — — 14 1949–1952 4 — — 15 1953–1962 10 — 16 1963–1966 4 — — 17 1967–1972 6 — — 18 1973–1974 2 — — 19 1975–1978 4 — — 20 1979–1985 7 — 21 1986–1990 5 — — 22 1991–1994 4 — 23 1995–1996 2 — 24 1997–2001 5 — — — — 25 2002–2009 8 — — — 26 2010 1 — — — — 27 2011–2013 3 — — — —28 2014–2020 7 — — — —29 2021–present 5 — — —
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