25. Tommy Lloyd, Arizona
Just one year in, and we’re already ranking Tommy Lloyd among the best coaches in college basketball. Following in the footsteps of Sean Miller’s success at Arizona was no easy task. But, Lloyd immediately took to his new role and has the Wildcats as one of the preeminent powers out West. In just his first season as head coach, Lloyd led Arizona to a 33-4 record and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Lloyd’s offensive game plan has been among the country’s best, as Arizona’s up-tempo attack has caused consistent problems for opponents.
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24. Hubert Davis, North Carolina
Another entrant with just one year of head coaching experience. This list would not be complete without the inclusion of Hubert Davis, who in his first year with North Carolina led the Tar Heels to the National Championship game — and was just a a handful of plays from capturing the championship instead of the Jayhawks. Of course, the Tar Heels came up short — fumbling a sizable lead in the process — but their run through the NCAA’s was mightily impressive. Davis took over for three-time NCAA champion Roy Williams. Safe to say, Davis’ coaching acumen has made the transition a seamless one.
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23. Shaka Smart, Marquette
It didn’t take long for Shaka Smart to reestablish himself at Marquette. After a “disappointing” tenure with the Longhorns, Smart is back to doing what he does best — getting the most out of an underdog program. While Marquette had enjoyed previous success under Tom Crean and Buzz Williams, this is a program that had just two NCAA tournament appearances in the previous eight seasons. In just one year patrolling the sidelines, Smart led his new team to a 19-13 record and a 9-seed in the East region.
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22. Porter Moser, Oklahoma
Porter Moser is a name to watch among coaches who could ascend the ranks over the coming years. The Creighton grad got his first head coaching gig with Little Rock back in ’00, but didn’t gain national attention until a memorable run with Loyola-Chicago. As the Ramblers’ head coach, Moser led Loyola-Chicago to a Final Four appearance in 2018 — getting the best of John Beilein (Michigan), Jamie Dixon (Kansas State), Eric Musselman (Nevada), Rick Barnes (Tennessee), and Jim Larranaga (Miami) as the Ramblers were the ultimate victors in the South region. In his first year at Oklahoma, Moser led a gutted Sooner team to 19 wins in the toughest conference in the country.
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21. Juwan Howard, Michigan
Look for Howard’s name to continuously come up as it pertains to coaches who could jump to the NBA ranks. A former NBA All-Star and two-time champion, Howard is revered for his ability to connect with his players and get the best out of his group. He’s already been reportedly considered for some NBA jobs, though he seemingly has no reason to leave his alma mater just yet. Howard has led the Wolverines to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances, and was named AP Coach of the Year following the 2021 season.
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20. Leonard Hamilton, Florida State
Hamilton is accomplished at both the collegiate and NBA level. The Florida State head coach began his career at Oklahoma State before landing the job at Miami. Following a quick stint with the Washington Wizards of the NBA, Hamilton returned to the collegiate ranks by agreeing to take the head coaching spot at Florida State. That’s where he has resided since 2002. Hamilton has collected over 400 wins with the ‘Noles, and has been named ACC Coach of the Year on three occasions.
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19. Nate Oats, Alabama
Oats has helped make Alabama basketball relevant during his three seasons at the football-centric school. The attitude and culture of the program has gone from being content with posting a winning record to expecting to challenge for an SEC title — as well as making deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. After winning 26 games in 2020-21, the Tide have taken several body blows this season. But, Oats has them standing tall and poised for some tournament success. His talent in recruiting will take the Crimson Tide a long way.
Oats has been excellent at recruiting and finding players who can best run his system. He formerly built up Buffalo’s program into relevance, and is now doing the same with the Crimson Tide. The current roster is the best in Oats’ tenure as Alabama is expected to compete deep into March this season.
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18. Ed Cooley, Providence
Ed Cooley doesn’t have the most sterling coaching record when compared to his peers. He has yet to make a Final Four, and the Friars missed the NCAA Tournament in both ’21 and ’19. However, Cooley must be credited for his work considering that Providence is not exactly a desirable job. Cooley has been at his current post since 2011, sporting a .617 winning percentage in the rugged Big East. The Friars won the Big East title last year ahead of Villanova, UConn and others, and will look to do it again this season.
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17. Rick Barnes, Tennessee
Rick Barnes has been a staple in the college basketball world for over 40 years. Barnes segued a solid stint with Clemson into a high-profile job with the Texans Longhorns. Barnes was excellent in Austin, leading the Longhorns to the NCAA tournament in 16 out of 17 seasons with one Final Four appearance. It took some time for him to get acclimated at Tennessee, but the Volunteers have seemingly hit their groove in recent years. One thing is for certain with Barnes-led teams — they will play their hearts out and compete on every possession on the defensive end.
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16. Dana Altman, Oregon
Dana Altman gained notoriety while at Creighton, but he really cemented himself as one of the game’s best during this decade-long run at Oregon. Whether equipped with fifth-year seniors or one-and-done prospects, Altman has continuously kept the Ducks afloat in the Pac-12. He has been one of the very best at navigating the transfer portal and recruiting outside of the country. In just the last ten years, the Ducks have a Final Four, an Elite Eight, and two Sweet Sixteen appearances. Oregon has made the tournament seven times since 2013 and have never lost its first NCAA Tournament game under Altman.
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15. Bob Huggins, West Virginia
Bob Huggins is one of the most difficult coaches to rank on this list. He is simply one of the most accomplished coaches in the country. Huggins has won over 850 games in his career — putting him 8th all-time. He’s revered for suffocating defensive adjustments and his ability to mold less-desirable recruits into stars. While his resume speaks for itself, Huggins and the Mountaineers have hit a bit of a lull recently. Even with the 2020 cancellation considered, West Virginia has missed the NCAA Tournament in two of the last three seasons. They’ve won over 20 games just once since 2019. Last year, West Virginia won just four games in the Big 12. Could the game be passing Huggins by? It’s certainly possible, and a major reason why we have him ranked at No. 15 rather than a top-10 spot.
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14. Eric Musselman, Arkansas
A maestro of the transfer portal, Eric Musselman has made a serious impact for two programs since becoming a collegiate coach. After NBA teams stopped calling, Musselman took on an assistant job at Arizona State. Three years later, Musselman landed his first NCAA head coaching job with the Nevada Wolfpack and found immediate success. In four years at Nevada, Musselman won 110 games and rattled off three-straight MWC conference titles on the way out. In just four years with the Razorbacks, Musselman has built an otherwise overlooked program into a strong member of the SEC.
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13. Sean Miller, Xavier
Sean Miller’s return to Xavier is off to a roaring start. Following the tumultuous end to his tenure at Arizona, Miller took the 2022 season off before signing on with the Musketeers prior to the 2023 season. Miller had previously coached Xavier from ’04-’09 (and was with Arizona from ’09-’21). The Musketeers advanced to the NCAA tournament in each of Miller’s last four seasons with the club — reaching an Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen in the final two years — and look to be returning to the tourney this season. Miller has energized the program into top-15 status as Xavier looks to make its first tournament bid as a program since 2018.
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12. Bruce Pearl, Auburn
Some might be turned away by Bruce Pearl’s enigmatic personality. The Auburn coach wears his emotions on his sleeves, and isn’t afraid to show it. Additionally, he’s broken a recruiting rule (or several) during his time. That being said, there’s no arguing with the results. Pearl’s Tigers were a boneheaded late-game foul away from reaching the title game in 2019. Auburn was ranked as high as No. 1 last season, and ended the year with 28 wins. Auburn has won over 25 games in four of the last five seasons. Though he lost two NBA stars in Jabari Smith Jr. and Walker Kessler this past season, Pearl once again has the Tigers competing for an SEC crown.
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11. Jim Boeheim, Syracuse
Much like West Virginia, Syracuse has hit a snag in recent years. A 16-17 record last season marked the first time since 2015 (not including 2020) that the Orange missed the NCAA Tournament. Syracuse has just two 20-win seasons over that span and have still yet to win an ACC title. Boeheim has been called “rigid” for his inability (or unwillingness) to deviate from his core philosophies (i.e., the “zone”). With all that said, Boeheim has reached the mountain top before (in ’03), and has had two Final Four appearance in the last ten years. While the Orange are no longer a national contender, Boeheim is a brilliant coach who has earned a ton of respect over his lengthy career.
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10. Matt Painter, Purdue
One of the bright offensive minds in the country, Matt Painter has been a stalwart in the Purdue program. Through highs and lows, Painter has been consistent in his ability to create schemes and rotations based on his personnel. When he’s had a talented roster, Purdue has been a Big Ten powerhouse. Since taking over in ’05, Painter has won 67.6-percent of his games and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament 13 times. Though he has yet to reach a Final Four, 2023 could be the season Painter and the Boilermakers finally get over the hump.
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9. Kelvin Sampson, Houston
If he wasn’t already, Kelvin Sampson’s current run with Houston has cemented him as one of the very best coaches in the country. Sampson was lights out at his previous stops. While at Oklahoma, Sampson led the Sooners to NCAA Tournament appearances in 11-of-12 years including a Final Four visit in 2002. Following a short stint at Indiana — where he won 43-of-58 games — Sampson moved onto the NBA where he resided as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets. Sampson returned to the collegiate ranks in 2014, taking over the Houston program. Houston has won at least 20 games seven years in a row and have made runs to the Final Four and Elite Eight in each of the last two seasons. Currently ranked No. 3 in the nation, Houston is hoping to make it three deep runs in a row in ’23.
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8. Mick Cronin, UCLA
Three seasons into his UCLA coaching tenure, Cronin had the Bruins in the Final Four. It appears the pride is back in Westwood, which is always a good thing for college basketball. Cronin has won more than 400 games in 20 seasons spanning three schools (Murray State and Cincinnati). His teams almost always get better as the year wears on, giving Cronin the opportunity to imprint his philosophy over the course of a season. He’s a basketball lifer, has great knowledge of the game, and continues to get the most out of his players.
Just two years into his tenure at UCLA, Cronin led the Bruins back to the Final Four. The diminutive strategist has restored one of the most storied programs in all of college basketball. Since starting his career in ’03, Cronin has won over 450 games at a near 70-percent clip. He built a consistent winner at Cincinnati with mid-tier recruits. Now at a program that has never had trouble recruiting, Cronin could be on the cusp of building a national juggernaut.
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7. Rick Pitino, Iona
Make no mistake about it, Rick Pitino is a marvelous college basketball coach. Having won big at Providence, Kentucky and Louisville, there aren’t many active coaches who boast a resume on the level of Pitino’s. Following a brief hiatus due to scandals while at Louisville, Pitino returned to coaching in 2020 after taking the job at Iona. A consistent threat in the MAAC, Iona reached the NCAA Tournament in Pitino’s first year and won 25 games in his second season. It probably won’t be long until a big program takes a chance on the accomplished coach. And, Pitino will likely jump at the chance to collect his eighth Final Four appearance.
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6. John Calipari, Kentucky
It’s easy to call out Calipari for somewhat of a shady past when it comes to recruiting. He’s a champion of the one-and-done approach to recruiting. There is nobody in college basketball more adept at acquiring top talent than Calipari. The Kentucky coach also believes his job is to prepare elite collegiate players to excel at the pro level. Though that has come back to bite him on several occasions as Kentucky’s lack of cohesion has cost them games in the past, there’s no denying Cal’s results. In his career, Calipari has amassed more than 800 career wins, coached in six Final Fours (with three different schools), and won six SEC regular season titles. After a down 2021 campaign, the Wildcats immediately bounced back with a 26-win season a year ago.
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5. Scott Drew, Baylor
Scott Drew took a floundering Baylor program in 2003 and has built them into a yearly contender in the deepest conference in college basketball. Drew’s crowning achievement occurred in 2021, when the Baylor Bears captured the NCAA title in a beatdown of the previously undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs. Baylor has won at least 26 games three years in a row, and have reached the tournament seven of the last eight years. Now that the Bears have established themselves on the national radar, Drew will continue to land big recruits — such as Kendall Brown and Keyonte George — for years to come.
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4. Tom Izzo, Michigan State
Let’s not let a couple of “down years” for Sparty cloud our judgment of Tom Izzo’s legacy. Despite rather pedestrian performances in each of the last two years, Michigan State has been a consistent threat on the national scale ever since Izzo took over. The Spartans have not missed the NCAA Tournament (other than in 2020) since 1997 — 24-straight seasons. During that time, Izzo had led his club to seven Final Four appearances including a title win in 2000. The most recent Final Four team (2019) boasted no players who are currently earning significant minutes in the NBA. Izzo has done it time and time again with every type of roster imaginable. We’re not sure how much longer Izzo will man the sideline, but the hunger still appears to be there and fans continue to enjoy watching him.
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3. Mark Few, Gonzaga
The Zags are still searching for that elusive national championship, but Few remains the right man to guide them to the promised land. Since Few took over the Gonzaga program in 1999-2000, only Kansas has won more games than the Bulldogs during that span. Gonzaga has never won fewer than 23 games in any of Few’s seasons, and he’s produced some of the top players in the college game. Now, all he’s missing is that national championship, though two title game appearances since 2017 is nothing to scoff at.
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2. Tony Bennett, Virginia
Bennett and the Virginia Cavaliers finally got over the hump in 2019. A year after being bested by the 16-seed UMBC Retrievers, Virginia pulled off the ultimate “comeback” title run. It was a culmination for the program as a whole which had been on the cusp of ultimate success for a number of years. What Bennett has been able to accomplish in Charlottesville is nothing short of remarkable. Virginia has won five regular season titles since 2014 in a conference which includes Duke and North Carolina (among others). The Cavaliers narrowly missed the tournament last year, but look to be right back in the hunt in ’23.
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1. Bill Self, Kansas
With Mike Krzyzewski announcing his retirement, the spot for consensus No. 1 coach had been vacated. It was only fitting for Bill Self — who was already one of the most accomplished coaches in college basketball — to win the title during Coach K’s farewell season and cement himself as the new No. 1 (for now, at least). Self’s longevity and consistency sets him apart. He’s been able to adapt to the ebbs and flows of college basketball. Last year’s team was led by a slew of upperclassmen who have since moved onto the NBA, but the Jayhawks have been defined by their ability to retool and remain atop the Big 12. That doesn’t appear to be changing this year, or for as long as Self decides to remain in Lawrence.
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