On December 6,2010, Jon Embree was named the 24th full-time head football coach in the University of Colorado history, returning home to the state where he starred as a player in both high school and college as well as where he got his start in coaching.

Though 2011 is his first head coaching position on any level, he brings 18 years of coaching experience to the Buffalo program that includes 10 seasons (1993-2002) as an assistant on the Colorado staff.

A stalwart tight end for the Buffaloes in the mid-1980’s Embree returned to his alma mater from the National Football League’s Washington Redskins.

Embree left Colorado ahead of the 2003 season for UCLA where he coached the receivers for one year, before being promoted to assistant head coach and passing game coordinator for the 2004 and 2005 seasons. He then moved to the N.F.L. where he coached the tight ends for three seasons (2006-08) under Herm Edwards with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Zook begins his seventh season at the helm of the Illinois football program in 2011. Known as a tireless worker and recruiter, Zook led Illinois to the biggest runaround in college football in 2007 and to a Texas Bowl Victory in 2010.

In his six years with Illinois, the Illini offense has led the conference in rushing three times and once I passing. Additionally, the Rushing offense has finished in the NCAA Top-20 four times during his tenure.

In 2010, Zook led the Illini to a 7 – 6 record after a 38 -14 victory over Baylor in the Texas Bowl, Illinois’ first bowl win since 1999.

For the second-straight season, Illinois led the conference in rushing the school’s first-ever 3,000 – yard rushing season. The offense topped the 5,000 – yard total offense mark for the third time in the Illinois record books. Defensively, the Illini forced the most turnovers in Zook’s tenure and allowed the fewest points, holding opponents to under 20 points per game.

Zook as now logged 35 years of coaching experience at the collegiate, professional and high school levels, including two stints as a head coach. He led the University of Florida program for three years, 2002 – 2004. Posting an overall mark of 23 – 14 and 16 – 8 in Southeastern Conference action. Zook led UF to three consecutive bowl appearances and a share of the 2003 SEC East Division title. Zook 12 – 3 record vs. the SEC Eastern Division during his three years tied for the best in the league during that time.

The Ole Miss football program sought a proven winner in a head coach and found that man and more in Houston Nutt, who was introduced as that Rebels’ 36th head coach on November 28, 2007.

After guiding Arkansas to three SEC Western Division titles and eight bowl berths is his decade in Fayetteville, Nutt immediately reversed the Rebels’ fortunes and guided Ole Miss to success not experienced in Oxford in a half century.

Nutt’s first two years at the helm produced consecutive nine-win seasons for the first time since 1961 – 62 and back-to-back January bowl victories for the first time since 1960 – 61.

Including his decade of success at Arkansas Nutt has guided his teams to 10 bowl berths in the past 13 seasons, most of any SEC Western Division coach during this span. Nutt’s squads recorded either or more wins in eight of those 13 campaigns and nine or more victories in six of those seasons in the SEC.

In his 13 seasons in the conference, Nutt has pile up 53 SEC victories, which ranks 14th in league history and third among current league coaches. With a 97 – 64 overall mark as an SEC coach, Nutt ranks 18th all time in the league in coaching victories and behind only Steve Spurrier among active coaches.

Les Miles heads into his seventh season at LSU in 2011 and if the previous six years are any indication, then it should be another exciting year for the Tigers. Since joining LSU in 2005 after a highly successful debut as a head coach at Oklahoma State, Miles has taken the Tigers to new heights, winning more games in that span than any other coach in school history, while capturing the 2007 BCS National Championship and leading his teams to four Top – 10 finishes. Throw in five bowl victories and one could argue that Miles and LSU have set a standard that the rest of college football is chasing.

Miles, accomplishments haven’t come without hard work and a steadfast approach that expects excellence and dedication from his players, coaching staff and all of those who contribute to the success of LSU football. The Miles Method – A system that puts players in position to have success in the classroom contribute and give back to the community, and complete for championships – is the foundation for which his program is built.

Under Miles, the Tigers have posted at least 11 victories in a season four times and finished ranked among the top five in the nation three straight years (2005, 06 and 07), a first at LSU. Miles also became the only coach in LSU history to beat Auburn, Florida and Alabama in the same season – and he’s done it twice; he’s the only first – year coach in SEC history to lead a team to the league’s title game; and he’s registered 11 wins over coaches who have won national titles.

Now as the Tigers enter their seventh season under Miles, the foundation for LSU football is stronger than ever. After 62 wins, including 23 over ranked opponents, and with six-straight recruiting classes rated among the top 10 in the nation, including the nations’ No. 1 group in 2009, Miles and the Tigers continue to solidify their standing as one of the premier programs in college football.