Top 25
21-75-5
- Games
- 101
- Win rate
- 23.3%
Coach Profile
1968-1996 • Iowa State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee
3 schools coached, anchored by Tennessee.
Johnny Majors coached 29 seasons, won 57.2%, and posted an average SRS of 8.7. Best season: 1976 Pittsburgh. The profile was balanced with a highly volatile profile. 4 stints shaped the career arc.
Career Dossier
The profile below keeps the headline numbers visible, then moves into tenure shape, school impact, and full season detail.
Primary school anchor
Tennessee
Balanced profile with 3 program stops and a peak score of 91.5.
Track how the coach's season-to-season performance changed over time, where the peak landed, and where each school stint appears.
Focus on where peaks separate, where floors hold, and how the shape of each career changed over time.
Active comparison point
12-0 • SRS 24.2 • SP Overall 27.7
Win %
100.0%
YoY SRS
+7.0
SP Off / Def
39.2 / 11.8
Finish
#1
Comparison context
Focus a point to inspect how it stacks up against the rest of the field.
Track career record against ranked opponents with switchable poll source and ranking timing.
Using AP Top 25 rankings at the time of each game; week-one games use the week-one ranking release when available.
Top 25
21-75-5
Top 10
9-42-4
Top 5
5-22-2
| 1996 Regular Week 13 | Pittsburgh | Notre Dame | #14 | L6-60 |
| 1996 Regular Week 6 | Pittsburgh | Miami | #10 | L0-45 |
| 1996 Regular Week 5 | Pittsburgh | Ohio State | #7 | L0-72 |
| 1995 Regular Week 12 | Pittsburgh | Syracuse | #23 | L10-42 |
| 1995 Regular Week 5 | Pittsburgh | Ohio State | #8 | L14-54 |
| 1995 Regular Week 4 | Pittsburgh | Texas | #15 | L27-38 |
| 1994 Regular Week 12 | Pittsburgh | Miami | #5 | L12-17 |
| 1994 Regular Week 9 | Pittsburgh | Virginia Tech | #17 | L7-45 |
| 1994 Regular Week 7 | Pittsburgh | Syracuse | #21 | L7-31 |
| 1994 Regular Week 4 | Pittsburgh | Ohio State | #23 | L3-27 |
| 1994 Regular Week 2 | Pittsburgh | Texas | #19 | L28-30 |
| 1993 Regular Week 12 | Pittsburgh | Boston College | #22 | L0-33 |
| 1993 Regular Week 11 | Pittsburgh | Miami | #4 | L7-35 |
| 1993 Regular Week 9 | Pittsburgh | West Virginia | #18 | L21-42 |
| 1993 Regular Week 8 | Pittsburgh | Syracuse | #24 | L21-24 |
| 1993 Regular Week 7 | Pittsburgh | Notre Dame | #4 | L0-44 |
| 1993 Regular Week 6 | Pittsburgh | Louisville | #18 | L7-29 |
| 1993 Regular Week 4 | Pittsburgh | Ohio State | #11 | L28-63 |
| 1992 Regular Week 8 | Tennessee | Alabama | #4 | L10-17 |
| 1992 Regular Week 4 | Tennessee | Florida | #4 | W31-14 |
| 1992 Regular Week 3 | Tennessee | Georgia | #14 | W34-31 |
| 1992 Postseason Week 1 | Tennessee | Boston College | #21 | W38-23 |
| 1991 Regular Week 11 | Tennessee | Notre Dame | #5 | W35-34 |
| 1991 Regular Week 8 | Tennessee | Alabama | #14 | L19-24 |
| 1991 Regular Week 7 | Tennessee | Florida | #10 | L18-35 |
| 1991 Regular Week 5 | Tennessee | Auburn | #13 | W30-21 |
| 1991 Regular Week 4 | Tennessee | Mississippi State | #23 | W26-24 |
| 1991 Regular Week 3 | Tennessee | UCLA | #21 | W30-16 |
| 1991 Postseason Week 1 | Tennessee | Penn State | #3 | L17-42 |
| 1990 Regular Week 13 | Tennessee | Ole Miss | #21 | W22-13 |
| 1990 Regular Week 12 | Tennessee | Notre Dame | #1 | L29-34 |
| 1990 Regular Week 8 | Tennessee | Florida | #17 | W45-3 |
| 1990 Regular Week 6 | Tennessee | Auburn | #5 | T26-26 |
| 1990 Postseason Week 1 | Tennessee | Virginia | #23 | W23-22 |
| 1989 Regular Week 8 | Tennessee | Alabama | #10 | L30-47 |
| 1989 Regular Week 5 | Tennessee | Auburn | #4 | W21-14 |
| 1989 Regular Week 2 | Tennessee | UCLA | #6 | W24-6 |
| 1989 Postseason Week 1 | Tennessee | Arkansas | #13 | W31-27 |
| 1988 Regular Week 5 | Tennessee | Auburn | #4 | L6-38 |
| 1988 Regular Week 4 | Tennessee | LSU | #9 | L9-34 |
| 1988 Regular Week 2 | Tennessee | Georgia | #12 | L17-28 |
| 1987 Regular Week 8 | Tennessee | Alabama | #17 | L22-41 |
| 1987 Regular Week 5 | Tennessee | Auburn | #6 | T20-20 |
| 1986 Regular Week 8 | Tennessee | Alabama | #2 | L28-56 |
| 1986 Regular Week 5 | Tennessee | Auburn | #7 | L8-34 |
| 1985 Regular Week 8 | Tennessee | Alabama | #15 | W16-14 |
| 1985 Regular Week 7 | Tennessee | Florida | #7 | L10-17 |
| 1985 Regular Week 5 | Tennessee | Auburn | #1 | W38-20 |
| 1985 Regular Week 3 | Tennessee | UCLA | #10 | T26-26 |
| 1985 Postseason Week 1 | Tennessee | Miami | #9 | W35-7 |
| 1984 Regular Week 8 | Tennessee | Florida | #17 | L30-43 |
| 1984 Regular Week 6 | Tennessee | Auburn | #18 | L10-29 |
| 1984 Postseason Week 1 | Tennessee | Maryland | #12 | L27-28 |
| 1983 Regular Week 8 | Tennessee | Alabama | #20 | W41-34 |
| 1983 Regular Week 5 | Tennessee | Auburn | #10 | L14-37 |
| 1982 Regular Week 7 | Tennessee | Alabama | #2 | W35-28 |
| 1982 Regular Week 6 | Tennessee | LSU | #18 | T24-24 |
| 1981 Regular Week 7 | Tennessee | Alabama | #15 | L19-38 |
| 1981 Regular Week 2 | Tennessee | USC | #5 | L7-43 |
| 1980 Regular Week 9 | Tennessee | Pittsburgh | #11 | L6-30 |
| 1980 Regular Week 8 | Tennessee | Alabama | #1 | L0-27 |
| 1980 Regular Week 3 | Tennessee | USC | #4 | L17-20 |
| 1980 Regular Week 2 | Tennessee | Georgia | #12 | L15-16 |
| 1979 Regular Week 8 | Tennessee | Alabama | #1 | L17-27 |
| 1979 Postseason Week 1 | Tennessee | Purdue | #10 | L22-27 |
| 1978 Regular Week 11 | Tennessee | Notre Dame | #10 | L14-31 |
| 1978 Regular Week 8 | Tennessee | Alabama | #3 | L17-30 |
| 1978 Regular Week 5 | Tennessee | Auburn | #19 | L10-29 |
| 1978 Regular Week 3 | Tennessee | UCLA | #8 | L0-13 |
| 1977 Regular Week 12 | Tennessee | Kentucky | #7 | L17-21 |
| 1977 Regular Week 8 | Tennessee | Florida | #18 | L17-27 |
| 1977 Regular Week 7 | Tennessee | Alabama | #3 | L10-24 |
| 1976 Regular Week 13 | Pittsburgh | Penn State | #20 | W24-7 |
| 1976 Postseason Week 1 | Pittsburgh | Georgia | #10 | W27-3 |
| 1975 Regular Week 12 | Pittsburgh | Penn State | #10 | L6-7 |
| 1975 Regular Week 11 | Pittsburgh | Notre Dame | #9 | W34-20 |
| 1975 Regular Week 3 | Pittsburgh | Oklahoma | #1 | L10-46 |
| 1974 Regular Week 13 | Pittsburgh | Penn State | #10 | L10-31 |
| 1974 Regular Week 11 | Pittsburgh | Notre Dame | #5 | L10-14 |
| 1974 Regular Week 4 | Pittsburgh | USC | #18 | L7-16 |
| 1973 Regular Week 13 | Pittsburgh | Penn State | #6 | L13-35 |
| 1973 Regular Week 11 | Pittsburgh | Notre Dame | #5 | L10-31 |
| 1973 Regular Week 6 | Pittsburgh | Tulane | #18 | L6-24 |
| 1973 Postseason Week 1 | Pittsburgh | Arizona State | #9 | L7-28 |
| 1972 Regular Week 11 | Iowa State | Missouri | #19 | L5-6 |
| 1972 Regular Week 10 | Iowa State | Nebraska | #3 | T23-23 |
| 1972 Regular Week 9 | Iowa State | Oklahoma | #7 | L6-20 |
| 1972 Regular Week 6 | Iowa State | Colorado | #13 | L22-34 |
| 1972 Postseason Week 1 | Iowa State | Georgia Tech | #20 | L30-31 |
| 1971 Regular Week 9 | Iowa State | Nebraska | #1 | L0-37 |
| 1971 Regular Week 8 | Iowa State | Oklahoma | #2 | L12-43 |
| 1971 Regular Week 5 | Iowa State | Colorado | #5 | L14-24 |
| 1971 Postseason Week 1 | Iowa State | LSU | #11 | L15-33 |
| 1970 Regular Week 11 | Iowa State | Nebraska | #3 | L29-54 |
| 1970 Regular Week 7 | Iowa State | Colorado | #19 | L10-61 |
| 1969 Regular Week 10 | Iowa State | Missouri | #7 | L13-40 |
| 1969 Regular Week 9 | Iowa State | Nebraska | #17 | L3-17 |
| 1969 Regular Week 8 | Iowa State | Oklahoma | #20 | L14-37 |
| 1969 Regular Week 6 | Iowa State | Kansas State | #18 | L7-34 |
| 1968 Regular Week 9 | Iowa State | Missouri | #8 | L7-42 |
| 1968 Regular Week 7 | Iowa State | Kansas | #3 | L25-46 |
Each stint expands by seasons coached. Deeper color signals a stronger average SRS over that stretch.
Pittsburgh
1993-1996 • 4 seasons
Avg SRS -7.4 • Win % 27.3%
Tennessee
1977-1992 • 16 seasons
Avg SRS 11.1 • Win % 64.5%
Pittsburgh
1973-1976 • 4 seasons
Avg SRS 15.3 • Win % 71.3%
Iowa State
1968-1972 • 5 seasons
Avg SRS 8.5 • Win % 44.5%
Compare strength, identity, steadiness, and ceiling through normalized bars with raw SP and SRS context underneath.
These bars are normalized against the full coach dataset. Raw SP and SRS values stay visible so the profile reads as evidence, not decoration.
Start with total quality before splitting style and variance.
Johnny Majors sets the reference point in overall strength.
Johnny Majors sets the reference point in overall strength.
Normalized score; raw SP overall stays underneath for reference.
Johnny Majors
Elite
Elite
Normalized against the full tracked coach pool.
See how each stint compared with what that program usually looked like outside that same span.
1993-1996 • 12-32
Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (5 baseline seasons found).
Avg wins
Higher is better
3.0 during vs 4.7 baseline
-1.7
Avg SRS
Higher is better
-7.4 during vs 2.1 baseline
-9.5
Avg SP Overall
Higher is better
-6.7 during vs 3.4 baseline
-10.1
Ranked finish rate
Higher is better
0.0% during vs 20.0% baseline
-20.0%
1977-1992 • 116-62-8
Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (5 baseline seasons found).
Avg wins
Higher is better
7.3 during vs 7.6 baseline
-0.3
Avg SRS
Higher is better
11.1 during vs 13.7 baseline
-2.6
Avg SP Overall
Higher is better
11.9 during vs 13.6 baseline
-1.7
Ranked finish rate
Higher is better
37.5% during vs 60.0% baseline
-22.5%
1973-1976 • 33-13-1
Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (5 baseline seasons found).
Avg wins
Higher is better
8.3 during vs 2.8 baseline
+5.5
Avg SRS
Higher is better
15.3 during vs -6.6 baseline
+21.9
Avg SP Overall
Higher is better
19.2 during vs -5.8 baseline
+25.0
Ranked finish rate
Higher is better
50.0% during vs 0.0% baseline
+50.0%
1968-1972 • 24-30-1
Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (5 baseline seasons found).
Avg wins
Higher is better
4.8 during vs 2.8 baseline
+2.0
Avg SRS
Higher is better
8.5 during vs -4.6 baseline
+13.1
Avg SP Overall
Higher is better
14.7 during vs — baseline
—
Ranked finish rate
Higher is better
0.0% during vs 0.0% baseline
+0.0%
High Points
Best Season
Pittsburgh 1976
12-0 • SRS 24.2
Biggest Improvement
Tennessee 1989
11-1 • 16.8 SRS
Best Offensive Season
Tennessee 1990
9-2-2 • SP Off 41.5
Best Defensive Season
Tennessee 1985
9-1-2 • SP Def 11.0
Setbacks
Worst Season
Pittsburgh 1993
3-8 • SRS -12.6
Biggest Drop
Pittsburgh 1993
3-8 • -26.5 SRS
Full transparency into every season in the coaching record. Positive YoY values indicate improvement from the prior season.
| Pittsburgh | 1996 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 36.4% | — | — | -8.9 | -9.7 | 32.0 | 38.9 | -5.1 | +18.2% |
| Pittsburgh | 1995 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 18.2% | — | — | -3.8 | -5.4 | 28.0 | 33.2 | +0.4 | -9.1% |
| Pittsburgh | 1994 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 27.3% | — | — | -4.2 | -2.7 | 29.5 | 32.4 | +8.4 | 0.0% |
| Pittsburgh | 1993 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 27.3% | — | — | -12.6 | -9.0 | 26.3 | 33.9 | -26.5 | -35.2% |
| Tennessee | 1992 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 62.5% | #21 | #12 | 13.9 | 19.3 | 35.9 | 18.3 | +0.4 | -12.5% |
| Tennessee | 1991 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 75.0% | #11 | #14 | 13.5 | 19.2 | 39.4 | 22.8 | -3.5 | -1.9% |
| Tennessee | 1990 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 76.9% | #8 | #8 | 17.0 | 21.9 | 41.5 | 22.0 | +0.9 | -14.7% |
| Tennessee | 1989 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 91.7% | — | #5 | 16.1 | 21.9 | 38.8 | 18.0 | +16.8 | +46.2% |
| Tennessee | 1988 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 45.5% | #17 | — | -0.7 | 0.5 | 27.8 | 27.7 | -14.7 | -35.3% |
| Tennessee | 1987 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 80.8% | #17 | #14 | 14.0 | 13.8 | 37.7 | 25.5 | +10.4 | +22.4% |
| Tennessee | 1986 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 58.3% | #10 | — | 3.6 | 5.7 | 29.8 | 25.6 | -19.1 | -25.0% |
| Tennessee | 1985 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 83.3% | — | #4 | 22.7 | 24.1 | 34.7 | 11.0 | +9.8 | +20.8% |
| Tennessee | 1984 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 62.5% | — | — | 12.9 | 16.3 | 38.0 | 23.4 | +0.6 | -12.5% |
| Tennessee | 1983 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 75.0% | — | — | 12.3 | 13.1 | 27.8 | 15.0 | +5.1 | +20.8% |
| Tennessee | 1982 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 54.2% | — | — | 7.2 | 4.0 | 28.1 | 25.0 | +5.5 | -12.5% |
| Tennessee | 1981 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 66.7% | — | — | 1.7 | -3.7 | 24.2 | 27.8 | -11.8 | +21.2% |
| Tennessee | 1980 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 45.5% | — | — | 13.5 | 11.8 | 29.8 | 19.0 | +1.7 | -12.9% |
| Tennessee | 1979 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 58.3% | — | — | 11.8 | 14.1 | 34.0 | 21.0 | +2.6 | +8.3% |
| Tennessee | 1978 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 50.0% | — | — | 9.2 | 4.0 | 27.0 | 24.0 | +0.5 | +13.6% |
| Tennessee | 1977 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 36.4% | — | — | 8.7 | 4.6 | 27.2 | 23.5 | -15.5 | -63.6% |
| Pittsburgh | 1976 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | #9 | #1 | 24.2 | 27.7 | 39.2 | 11.8 | +7.0 | +33.3% |
| Pittsburgh | 1975 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 66.7% | — | #15 | 17.2 | 23.2 | 35.3 | 12.5 | +5.9 | +3.0% |
| Pittsburgh | 1974 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 63.6% | #13 | — | 11.3 | 18.1 | 31.9 | 14.7 | +2.9 | +9.5% |
| Pittsburgh | 1973 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 54.2% | — | — | 8.4 | 7.9 | 25.2 | 18.1 | -5.1 | +8.3% |
| Iowa State | 1972 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 45.8% | — | — | 13.5 | 12.8 | 34.0 | 22.5 | -2.5 | -20.8% |
| Iowa State | 1971 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 66.7% | — | — | 16.0 | 20.2 | 39.2 | 20.2 | +5.1 | +21.2% |
| Iowa State | 1970 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 45.5% | — | — | 10.9 | 11.0 | 34.2 | 25.2 | +7.1 | +15.4% |
| Iowa State | 1969 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 30.0% | — | — | 3.8 | — | — | — | +5.3 | 0.0% |
| Iowa State | 1968 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 30.0% | — | — | -1.5 | — | — | — | — | — |
Related profiles are matched by style, strength band, volatility band, peak range, and career length.
same balanced identity • avg SRS within 0.2
Avg SRS 8.5 • Peak SRS 26.0 • 23 seasons
Best finish #3 • Volatility 8.3
Open profile →same balanced identity • avg SRS within 0.4
Avg SRS 9.1 • Peak SRS 28.8 • 31 seasons
Best finish #4 • Volatility 8.8
Open profile →same balanced identity • avg SRS within 0.2
Avg SRS 8.8 • Peak SRS 22.4 • 10 seasons
Best finish #6 • Volatility 10.2
Open profile →same balanced identity • avg SRS within 1.4
Avg SRS 7.3 • Peak SRS 21.2 • 27 seasons
Best finish #5 • Volatility 8.0
Open profile →same balanced identity • avg SRS within 0.1
Avg SRS 8.8 • Peak SRS 21.7 • 18 seasons
Best finish #4 • Volatility 8.0
Open profile →same balanced identity • avg SRS within 0.2
Avg SRS 8.9 • Peak SRS 25.4 • 30 seasons
Best finish Unranked • Volatility 7.1
Open profile →