(BCSNN) -- Since its formation, created from the ashes of the SWC and Big 8, the Big 12 Conference has produced a dynamic brand of college football — fast-paced, offense-heavy, and fiercely competitive. The conference has undergone changes in membership and structure, but one thing has remained constant: the importance of elite coaching. From national title contenders to program builders, a select group of head coaches have left their mark by capturing Big 12 championships and cementing their legacies.

Here are the top five football coaches to win the Big 12 Conference.

Bob Stoops | Oklahoma | 1999–2016 | 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006–2008, 2010, 2012
No coach dominated the Big 12 quite like Bob Stoops. In 18 seasons at the helm of the Sooners, Stoops won an astonishing nine conference titles and delivered a national championship in 2000. Known for blending high-powered offenses with aggressive defenses, Stoops built Oklahoma into a perennial power, keeping the program in national championship conversations throughout his tenure.

Bill Snyder | Kansas State | 1989–2005, 2009–2018 | 2003, 2012
While others inherited tradition, Bill Snyder built one. Tasked with reviving what was once considered the worst program in college football, Snyder turned Kansas State into a contender. He led the Wildcats to two Big 12 championships, defying the odds and proving that strategic discipline and player development could outmatch flashier programs. His 2012 title came in his second stint, a testament to his long-term vision and unmatched coaching acumen.

Mack Brown | Texas | 1998–2013 | 2005, 2009
Mack Brown turned Texas into a national brand again during his time in Austin. His Longhorns won the Big 12 in 2005 and 2009, with the former season culminating in a legendary Rose Bowl win and a national championship. Brown’s ability to recruit top-tier talent, including Heisman winner Vince Young, helped Texas return to elite status, and his steady leadership stabilized the program during a period of high expectations.

Lincoln Riley | Oklahoma | 2017–2021 | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Stepping into Bob Stoops' massive shoes, Lincoln Riley didn’t miss a beat. In just five seasons, Riley captured four consecutive Big 12 titles and elevated the Sooners’ offensive identity. Known for developing quarterbacks — including Heisman winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray — Riley's explosive schemes made Oklahoma the conference’s dominant force during his tenure and solidified his reputation as one of the game’s premier offensive minds. His time at USC has been another story though.

Gary Patterson | TCU | 2000–2021 | 2014
Though TCU joined the Big 12 late, Gary Patterson quickly made the Horned Frogs a serious contender. After years of success in C-USA, the WAC, and the Mountain West, Patterson’s 2014 squad shared the Big 12 crown in just their third year in the league. Known for his defensive genius and adaptability, Patterson’s ability to consistently field competitive teams — despite recruiting disadvantages — earned him respect across the college football landscape. Patterson's leadership carried the Frogs all the way from "SWC castaways" to winning the very league they were left out of twenty years earlier.

Honorable Mentions:
Several coaches came close to cracking the top five. Art Briles led Baylor to conference titles in 2013 and 2014, though his legacy remains clouded by scandal. Les Miles won the Big 12 with Oklahoma State in 2002 before departing for LSU. Matt Campbell has yet to win the league with Iowa State but has earned widespread praise for his program-building. Mike Gundy, with a title in 2011, has been a consistent force at Oklahoma State for nearly two decades.

While the Big 12 continues to grow and expand its footprint, one thing is certain about its ever-evolving membership and the league itself, great coaching is a constant behind its champions. Whether they were innovators, rebuilders, or recruiters, these five coaches left lasting imprints on the conference’s identity — and helped shape the story of football in the Big 12.