The Zeitgeist List · coaching

John Mackovic

Followed Dick Tomey. John Mackovic slid Arizona from Power Program III to National Program I in 3 seasons.

Peak, then fade
95–82
1978–2003 · 4 stints
Wake ForestIllinoisTexasArizona
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Career arc

His real stature score, season by season, across every program he’s coached — so a stretch that stays in one tier the whole way can still climb or sink on the line, not just flatten out. Node color marks the tier reached. Which program a stretch belongs to is carried by the shaded lane behind it.

Stature score reached, by season of his head-coaching careerWAKE FORESTILLINOISTEXASARIZONAPower Programperennial contenderNational Programrespectable, streakyRegional Programthe building-block levelWake Forest, 1978: 1-10, Regional Program V1978Wake Forest, 1979: 8-4, Regional Program IVWake Forest, 1980: 5-6, Regional Program IV1980+4.5Illinois, 1988: 6-5, National Program III1988Illinois, 1989: 10-2, National Program IIIllinois, 1990: 8-4, National Program IIIllinois, 1991: 6-5, National Program II1991+8.6Texas, 1992: 6-5, Power Program II1992Texas, 1993: 5-5, Power Program IITexas, 1994: 8-4, Power Program IITexas, 1995: 10-2, Power Program IITexas, 1996: 8-5, Power Program ITexas, 1997: 4-7, Power Program II1997+1.0Arizona, 2001: 5-6, National Program I2001Arizona, 2002: 4-8, National Program IArizona, 2003: 1-4, National Program II2003-13.5One point per coached season, in career order; dashed segments are program changes — spacing is not proportional to calendar time

Reached Power Program in his 8th career season — faster than 16% of the 395 FBS coaches who have ever reached Power Program (rank #314 of 395 by seasons-to-arrival).

Wake Forest, 3 seasons
+4.5
Regional Program V → Regional Program IV.
Illinois, 4 seasons
+8.6
National Program III → National Program II.
Texas, 6 seasons
+1.0
Power Program II → Power Program II.
Arizona, 3 seasons
−13.5
National Program I → National Program II.

The big-game ledger

How he does in the games that matter most — rivalry record, performance broken out by real opponent tier, one-score games, and his toughest historical matchup.

12–12 against his rivals. Winless in 4 tries against Rick Neuheisel.

Rivalry record
12–12–1
48.0% · 5 rivals
One-score games
33–32–3
48.5% · margin ≤8
vs. Blue Blood or better
1–0
100.0%
Rivalry ledger
Oklahoma3–2–150%
Texas Tech3–350%
Texas A&M2–433%
Northwestern3–175%
Arizona State1–233%
The toughest matchup
vs. Rick Neuheisel0–4
4 meetings, 1996–2002
’96 L’97 L’01 L’02 L
0% win rate across a real, 4-meeting series — short of the bar this site uses before badging a series “Nemesis.” Shown here as the toughest matchup on record, not an algorithmic crown.
Performance by opponent class
Dynasty
1–0 100.0%
Blue Blood
2–9 18.2%
Power Program
20–39 33.9%
National Program
23–29 44.2%
Regional Program
45–11 80.4%

Coaching career

2001–2003
Arizonacaretakerborderline
Power Program III → National Program I
John Mackovic slid Arizona from Power Program III to National Program I in 3 seasons.

2nd-best Arizona tenure of 20 by the numbers.

Followed Dick Tomey (1987–2000) · succeeded by Mike Stoops (2004–2011).

5 NFL Draft picks: Brandon Manumaleuna (2001), Joe Tafoya (2001), Lance Briggs (2003), Bobby Wade (2003), Makoa Freitas (2003)

10–18
1992–1997
Texascaretaker
Power Program II → Power Program I
John Mackovic moved Texas from Power Program II to Power Program I in 6 seasons.

11th-best Texas tenure of 12 by the numbers.

Followed David McWilliams (1987–1991) · succeeded by Mack Brown (1998–2013).

17 NFL Draft picks: Shane Dronett (1992), James Patton (1992), Tommy Jeter (1992), Chuck Johnson (1992), Mark Berry (1992), Lance Gunn (1993), Van Malone (1994), Winfred Tubbs (1994) + 9 more

41–28
1988–1991
Illinoiscaretaker
National Program III → National Program II
John Mackovic moved Illinois from National Program III to National Program II in 4 seasons.

5th-best Illinois tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Mike White (1980–1987) · succeeded by Lou Tepper (1992–1996).

9 NFL Draft picks: Keith Jones (1989), Jeff George (1990), Mike Bellamy (1990), Henry Jones (1991), Moe Gardner (1991), Darrick Brownlow (1991), Mel Agee (1991), Chris Green (1991) + 1 more

30–16
1978–1980
Wake Forestcaretaker
Regional Program V → Regional Program IV
John Mackovic moved Wake Forest from Regional Program V to Regional Program IV in 3 seasons.

12th-best Wake Forest tenure of 16 by the numbers.

Followed Chuck Mills (1973–1977) · succeeded by Al Groh (1981–1986).

2 NFL Draft picks: Larry Tearry (1978), Syd Kitson (1980)

14–20