Pete Carroll – Seattle Seahawks
Pete Carroll would be higher on this list if it wasn’t for one decision. Sitting on the brink of winning back-to-back Super Bowls, Carroll had Seattle throw instead of run the ball. The pass intercepted, and Seattle lost. The play call still stands as one of the most baffling in Super Bowl history.
Still, it didn’t take long for Carroll to mold the Seattle Seahawks into his defensive image. Having accomplished everything he could at USC, Carroll transitioned smoothly to the NFL. It didn’t hurt when he drafted Russell Wilson, who has become elite under Carroll’s tutelage.