Cleveland Browns: 7 Inexperienced Coaches Since 1999
By Joe Russo
Feb 1, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; The Miami Hurricanes fans hold signs expressing his desire for the return of former Hurricanes football head coach Butch Davis (not pictured) in the second half against the Florida State Seminoles at the Donald L. Tucker Center. The Seminoles won 55-54. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
2. 2001-2004 Butch Davis
Davis was riding high after winning big at the University of Miami. Davis helped the Hurricanes regain the swagger and success that epitomized “The U”.
He coached numerous first-round picks and recruited the team that would go on to win a national title and lose another title game to Ohio State under his successor, Larry Coker. Davis, though, had never been a head coach in the NFL but had been Jimmy Johnson‘s defensive coordinator in Dallas.
Incredibly, Davis might be the most successful Browns coach since they returned, making the playoffs in his second season before being doomed by the Kelly Holcomb–Tim Couch quarterback derby and the regrettable signing of Jeff Garcia.
A 24-34 record in three plus seasons still might be the high water mark for Browns fans. Davis has since been run out of North Carolina after leaving the program in shambles from NCAA violations and is currently not coaching anywhere at any level.
Davis left the Browns during the 2004 season when it was reported the coach was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Next: 3. Romeo Crennel