Where does Brent Key rank in CBS Sports ACC Coaching Rankings?

Key is one of two new coaches in the ACC

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Updated:
Jul 4, 2023 3:53 PM EDT
Original:
Jul 4, 2023

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Heading into the 2022 season, there was a lot of turnover in the ACC coaching ranks with Mario Cristobal, Brent Pry, Mike Elko, and Tony Elliott making their debuts. Elko was the only coach with any success last season.

This year, Brent Key is one of only two new coaches in the ACC (Louisville's Jeff Brohm is the other). Key had an impressive 4-4 finish to the season after taking over on an interim basis for Geoff Collins. He nearly guided Georgia Tech to a bowl game for the first time since 2018.

When it comes to coach rankings, it is hard to place a new coach that has yet to prove himself high on the list. In the latest ACC coaching rankings from CBS Sports, Key ranked in the bottom half of the league, but that was mostly due to inexperience and it seemed as if they were bullish on the Yellow Jackets' future.

Georgia Tech interim head coach Brent Key — Brent Key is hoping to build Georgia Tech back into a winning program
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Here is what CBS analyst Will Backus had to say about Key's ranking:

"It is impressive that Key, a longtime assistant and first-time coach, already ranks above a couple names entering their second year. Georgia Tech made Key the interim coach four games into the 2022 season after Geoff Collins was fired, and he absolutely earned the promotion. He provided the Yellow Jackets a spark of energy, fighting his way to a 4-4 record while picking up ranked wins against Pittsburgh and North Carolina. There is reason for optimism about Tech's future as Key continues to establish himself. Last year: N/A in the ACC"

Key is already showing why there should be optimism in Atlanta this offseason.

Georgia Tech has a top-25 recruiting class with multiple four-star prospects already. The good news for Yellow Jackets fans is that there are still more players on the board for this program and the class should grow stronger in the coming weeks.

Dabo Swinney (Clemson) took the top spot in the coaching rankings for another season. Dave Clawson (Wake Forest), Mike Norvell (Florida State), Mack Brown (North Carolina), and Dave Doeren (NC State) made up the rest of the top five.

The other coaches ranked above Key were Pat Narduzzi (Pitt), Brohm (Louisville), Mario Cristobal (Miami), Mike Elko (Duke), Dino Babers (Syracuse), and Jeff Hafley (Boston College).

Tony Elliott (Virginia) and Brent Pry (Virginia Tech) were at the bottom.

Key and Brohm will face each other in the first game of the season on Sept. 1st in Mercedes Benz Stadium. Whoever wins that game is going to create momentum for their alma mater and start the season off with a big win.