Faculty basketball coaches need to put on many hats. They recruit, coach, mentor and develop. It’s a tough job that deserves recognition when completed nicely. With that, listed here are the highest 25 faculty basketball coaches.
Word: First-year coaches won’t be included on the listing. Irrespective of how promising they give the impression of being.
Listed here are
final yr’s rankings.
25-21
25. Mark Pope, Kentucky Wildcats
Final 12 months’s Rank: N/A
Pope had an unimaginable first season at Kentucky, which noticed the Wildcats earn a no. 3 seed and make the Candy Sixteen. This follows up an important season at BYU the place they transitioned nicely to the Huge 12 and made the NCAA Match. He’s rapidly rising up the teaching ranks.
24. Tommy Lloyd, Arizona Wildcats
Final 12 months’s Rank: N/A
Lloyd has made three Candy Sixteens and one second spherical in his 4 seasons as head coach. He has had some good common seasons which can be price noting, however normally has a roster able to going additional within the event and can want to take action.
23. Mick Cronin, UCLA Bruins
Final 12 months’s Rank: 19
Cronin did an important job getting final yr’s UCLA staff to the second spherical after the staff missed the earlier event. He has a Last 4 look and two Candy Sixteens, however might want to show he can advance additional within the event with a brand new crop of gamers.
22. Brian Dutcher, San Diego State Aztecs
Final 12 months’s Rank: 17
Dutcher has made 5 straight NCAA Tournaments with a Nationwide Championship Sport look and a Candy Sixteen over that point interval. He waited for his flip to get a head teaching job and has a 198-68 document.
21. Chris Beard, Ole Miss Rebels
Final 12 months’s Rank: 23
Beard executed an important turnaround at Ole Miss, main the staff to its first Candy 16 since 2001. He had success at Texas and Texas Tech earlier than getting the Ole Miss job. Beard has a 215-97 profession document and made the Nationwide Championship Sport with Texas Tech.
20-16
20. Dusty Could, Michigan Wolverines
Final 12 months’s Rank: 20
Could helped FAU make the Last 4 just a few seasons in the past. In his first yr at Michigan, he had success and made a Candy 16. The longer term seems brilliant in Ann Arbor due to Could.
19. Dana Altman, Oregon Geese
Final 12 months’s Rank: 18
The final two seasons, Oregon has had second-round exits within the NCAA Match. He has a Last 4 on the faculty and 780 profession wins over all his stops.
18. Eric Musselman, USC Trojans
Final 12 months’s Rank: 12
Musselman strikes down the ranks after lacking the NCAA Match in his first season at USC. He additionally missed his final event at Arkansas, however made a Candy Sixteen and two Elite Eights earlier than that. One other dangerous season and Musselman will doubtless fall out of the highest 25.
17. Brad Underwood, Illinois Preventing Illini
Final 12 months’s Rank: 15
Underwood has made 5 straight NCAA Tournaments at Illinois, which incorporates one Elite Eight look. Like different coaches on this vary, extra postseason success will assist him rise the ranks.
16. TJ Otzelberger, Iowa State Cyclones
Final 12 months’s Rank: 16
Otzelberger had one other good common season final yr, however misplaced within the second spherical of the 2025 NCAA Match. Whereas he has completed nicely, he might want to advance previous the Candy Sixteen to actually enhance his rating.
15-11
15. Greg McDermott, Creighton Blue Jays
Final 12 months’s Rank: 14
Creighton made the second spherical of the NCAA Match final season, which was their fifth straight season getting at the least that far. He has a profession document of 499-302 and now has a coach-in-waiting, so he’ll be desirous to exit on high.
14. Rick Pitino, St. John’s Pink Storm
Final 12 months’s Rank: 22
Pitino strikes up on this yr’s listing after a implausible common season at St. John’s. He has the historical past of successful a title, however his current success can also be price noting, as he helped St. John’s win a Huge East title and get a no. 2 seed within the NCAA Match. Extra success within the NCAA Match this season might have him rise even greater up the listing.
13. Rick Barnes, Tennessee Volunteers
Final 12 months’s Rank: 13
Barnes continues to impress at Tennessee, as he has made two straight Elite Eights. He has an 836-423 document in his profession and the one factor eluding him is a Last 4 look.
12. Tom Izzo, Michigan State Spartans
Final 12 months’s Rank: 10
Tom Izzo has had a tremendous profession at Michigan State and added to it with an look within the Elite Eight in 2025. Izzo has a 737-302 profession document and may nonetheless be feared in March.
11. John Calipari, Arkansas Razorbacks
Final 12 months’s Rank: 9
Calipari turned what seemed like a foul season into a superb one final yr, as Arkansas began off poorly, however ended up making the Candy 16. He has a nationwide championship from his time at Kentucky, together with six Last Fours. His event success final yr helped him, however he’ll now have to indicate sustained success at Arkansas.
10-6
10. John Scheyer, Duke Blue Devils
Final 12 months’s Rank: 25
Scheyer has improved yearly he has been on the helm of Duke, going from a second-round exit to the Elite Eight after which to the Last 4 final season. He’s getting top-notch recruits and is ascending rapidly within the head teaching world.
9. Nate Oats, Alabama Crimson Tide
Final 12 months’s Rank: 7
At each of his stops, Buffalo and Alabama, Oats has completed nice issues. He made the Last 4 two seasons in the past and made the Elite Eight final season. He has a 241-106 document throughout his profession.
8. Bruce Pearl, Auburn Tigers
Final 12 months’s Rank: 8
Pearl led Auburn to the Last 4 final season, his second on the faculty. He has a 477-224 document throughout his time at Milwaukee, Tennessee and Auburn. The Tigers may take a small step again this season with out Johni Broome. however Pearl can get probably the most out of his roster.
7. Matt Painter, Purdue Boilermakers
Final 12 months’s Rank: 6
Purdue misplaced Zach Edey after their Nationwide Championship Sport in 2024, however made the Candy Sixteen with out him. Painter is 471-125 throughout his time at Purdue and has an opportunity at one other good season this yr.
6. Todd Golden, Florida Gators
Final 12 months’s Rank: N/A
Golden was on the honorable point out a part of this listing a season in the past and now takes an enormous leap after successful a nationwide championship. He has a 76-33 document throughout his six seasons as a head coach.
5-1
5. Scott Drew, Baylor Bears
Final 12 months’s Rank: 5
Drew gained a nationwide championship in 2021, however has had 4 straight second-round exits since that time. There isn’t any doubt Drew continues to be among the finest coaches within the sport, particularly with the job he has completed turning this system round when he took over. He has a 486-270 profession document.
4. Mark Few, Gonzaga Bulldogs
Final 12 months’s Rank: 3
Few has completed unbelievable issues at Gonzaga and made them an elite program. The previous few seasons haven’t been pretty much as good as previous years, and he strikes down a spot, however deserves loads of credit score for what he’s completed on the faculty. He has a 742-142 profession document.
3. Kelvin Samspon, Houston Cougars
Final 12 months’s Rank: 4
Sampson doesn’t have a title, however he has completely revamped a Houston program that wasn’t nice instantly earlier than he received there. He has two Last Fours and a 299-84 document on the faculty. The Cougars are perenially in competition.
2. Invoice Self, Kansas Jayhawks
Final 12 months’s Rank: 2
Self has two titles underneath his belt and a litany of profession accomplishments. With an 831-261 document, he is without doubt one of the legendary coaches nonetheless energetic. This yr, he’ll attempt to deliver Kansas again to prominence after being a no. 7 seed final season.
1. Dan Hurley, UConn Huskies
Final 12 months’s Rank: 1
Hurley has two titles underneath his belt and the back-to-back style they got here in have been unimaginable. This previous season wasn’t pretty much as good, however he’ll doubtless have UConn again on monitor this season.
Additionally in Consideration
Randy Bennett, St. Mary’s Gaels
Bennett has made 4 straight NCAA Tournaments and has had a protracted profession at St. Mary’s. A future within the NCAA Match might bolster his inventory.
Brad Brownell, Clemson Tigers
Clemson made the Elite Eight in 2024, however misplaced within the first spherical final yr. Brownell has made simply 5 tournaments in his 15 years at Clemson, however issues have been trending the precise method.
Darien DeVries, Indiana Hoosiers
DeVries made two straight tournaments at Drake and doubtless ought to’ve made the event final yr at West Virginia. The Indiana job may give him the possibility to show himself.
Greg Gard, Wisconsin Badgers
Gard made two Candy 16s in his first two seasons as Wisconsin’s head coach, however has not been capable of get that far since.
Dennis Gates, Missouri Tigers
Gates had a strong first season at Missouri, then had a horrible one earlier than rebounding final season. This yr, we’ll see if he can string again to again good seasons collectively.
Grant McCasland, Texas Tech Pink Raiders
McCasland made an Elite Eight final season at Texas Tech and has issues trending the precise method. He could be a superb wager to stand up into the rankings subsequent season.
Ben McCollum, Iowa Hawkeyes
McCollum spent one season as a head coach on the Division I degree and led Drake to a 31-4 document. The Bulldogs gained a event recreation, however now McCollum can have a brand new job at Iowa.
Sean Miller, Texas Longhorns
Miller made the NCAA Match with Xavier and gained a First 4 recreation. Whereas the staff could have underachieved, he did have some success in each stints on the faculty and at Arizona. An extended event run at Texas will put him again within the rankings.
Shaka Good, Marquette Golden Eagles
Two years in the past, Good made his first Candy 16 since his VCU days, however final season he misplaced within the second spherical. Marquette is attempting to retain their gamers and never use the portal, which might result in extra regression this season.
Will Wade, NC State Wolfpack
Wade gained an NCAA Match video games with McNeese final season and made the event in 2024 as nicely. He has constructed a superb roster at NC State and has the possibility to actually shine within the ACC.
Kevin Willard, Villanova Wildcats
Willard did a superb job at Seton Corridor, then had three seasons at Maryland which have been capped off by a Candy 16 look. He now takes ove a Villanova job that can want a fast turnaround.
Buzz Williams, Maryland Terrapins
Williams circled Texas A&M nicely and made three straight NCAA Tournaments. He now takes the Maryland job trying to advance to his first second weekend of the NCAA Match since he coached at Marquette.
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