BOB SELF/The Times-Union-12/31/09--Florida State head football coach Bobby Bowden waves to fans along the parade route Thursday afternoon. Thursday afternoon the city of Jacksonville hosted the Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade with Florida State head football coach Bobby Bowden serving as the Grand Marshal. The parade route was filled with Florida State University and West Virginia fans here for Friday's bowl match up. (The Florida Times-Union, Bob Self) Bob Self/Florida Times-Union via Imagn Content Services, LLC

FSU football legend ranked in top 10 winningest coaches of all time

Originally posted on Florida State Seminoles on SI
By Tommy Mire | Last updated May 15, 2025 11:30 AM ET

When you think of legendary football coaches and pioneers of the modern game, there is one name that is synonmous with Florida State Seminoles football and that is former head coach Bobby Bowden.

Bowden put the Seminole football team on his back when he was hired from West Virginia in 1976 and built a dynasty during his 34 years with the program. He led the 'Noles to countless ACC Titles and two National Championships while producing Hall of Famers, NFL Stars, and All-Americans.

He pioneered the Seminole "Fast Break" offense, which emphasized a no-huddle approach, shotgun formations, and trick plays, which were uncommon tactics for his era. The no-huddle "Tempo" style of play is now a staple in the sport at both the collegiate and professional levels.

It’s no surprise that when 247Sports’ Grant Hughes ranked the Top 10 winningest coaches of all time, Bobby Bowden appeared alongside names like Bear Bryant, Nick Saban, Lou Holtz, and Joe Paterno, all of whom changed the college game in one way or another. Known for his charismatic recruiting and coaching style, Bowden's 357 wins, 124 "dagummit" losses, and four ties landed him at the No. 2 spot.

"After five years at West Virginia, Florida State hired Bowden in 1976, where he led the Seminoles to a national championship in 1993 and 12 ACC championships once FSU joined the conference in 1991. Bowden's Seminoles finished as an AP top-five team for a record 14 consecutive seasons." Hughes wrote. "Through his first nine seasons in the ACC, Bowden only lost two conference games. Bowden's teams won 10+ games in 18 of his 34 years in Tallahassee, and he retired with a career record of 357-124-4 across 40 total seasons."

Bowden didn’t just put Florida State on the map; he built the map. His tenure elevated the Seminoles into a national powerhouse, and his influence continues to shape the standard by which FSU football is measured.