Columbia: a football coaching history

See Columbia’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →
← all coaches

Stature and coaches, 1936–1981

The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.

DynastyBlue BloodPower ProgramNational ProgramRegional Program
FBS medianbest: 1948program stature (★ = Dynasty-tier season)logosLogo, 1936–19561936Logo, 1957–19701957Logo, 1971–19961971Lou Little · 1936–1956LittleAldo Donelli · 1957–1967Donelli194019601980
Program GOAT
Lou Little

Every coach

Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead.

1957–1967
Aldo Donelli Steady
Aldo Donelli slid the Lions from Regional Program IV to Regional Program V in 11 seasons.
−4.6 pts over 11 seasons · bottom 10% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Rick Stockstill’s Middle Tennessee run (2006–2023)

2nd-best Columbia tenure of 2 by the numbers.

Followed Lou Little (1936–1956).

−4.6
30-67-2
1936–1956
Lou Little Steady
Lou Little held Columbia at National Program II for 21 seasons.

1st-best Columbia tenure of 2 by the numbers.

Succeeded by Aldo Donelli (1957–1967).