The 3 worst head coach hires in Washington State football history
By Sam Fariss
The Cougars have seen some of the wildest rollercoasters in collegiate history for a singular football program. With perennial coaches rolling through town such as Mike Leach and Mike Price, Washington State has seen the high highs.
On the other side of the coin, the Cougs have experienced some rock-bottom lows. Who are the worst of the worst head coaches who have driven Wazzu’s losing streaks?
522. Jim Sweeney. Jim Sweeney. 1968-1975. 26-59 overall, 12-41 conf.. Jim Sweeney. 3. player. .
The second most losing head coach to leave his mark in Pullman was Jim Sweeney. Coaching the Cougs from the late-60s to mid-70s, Sweeney was well liked but simply couldn't win.
Sweeney had just one winning season with the team and while it was one for the books, it was out of the ordinary for the Irishman. In 1972, the Cougs finished in the top 20 nationally but his seven other seasons in town were losing ones.
Averaging just over three wins a season, including one-and-a-half conference games a year, Sweeney failed to pull the team up by its bootstraps.
Beyond Washington State, he had successful coaching stints with Montana State and Fresno State. Sweeney should have been the perfect hire by the Cougar athletic department. Instead, he was wildly disappointing and one of the worst head coaches Wazzu has seen.