25. Brad Underwood, Illinois
Ron Johnson-USA TODAY SportsBrad Underwood has had successful stints coaching at both Stephen F. Austin and Oklahoma State (above 60-percent win rate and made the tournament all 4 years). His success at Illinois has taken a little longer to develop since taking over the program in 2017. However, the Illini have made the tournament the last three seasons, and at No. 12 in the country (and No. 2 in the Big Ten), Underwood looks to make it four years to the tournament in a row. Although he has never made it past the Round of 32, this might be the best roster he’s had yet and this could be the season he finally breaks through.
24. Brian Dutcher, San Diego State
Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY SportsAfter taking over the program in 2017, Dutcher has made the tournament in all but one season. Dutcher boasts an incredible 76.8-percent winning rate with the Aztecs and made his most impressive run in the tournament last season where they lost to UConn in the championship game 76-59. This run included two, one-point thrillers in the Elite Eight (Creighton) and Final Four (Florida Atlantic). San Diego State shows impressive resolve under Dutcher and this year looks to be another good one for the 7th-year head coach. The Aztecs currently sit in 3rd place in the Mountain West and are ranked No. 21 in the country. While the Aztec-loyal are hoping for another title run, there is no doubting the incredible job Dutcher has done with this program.
23. Hubert Davis, North Carolina
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY SportsOne of the entrants in just their third year of head coaching. 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 Tournament was mightily impressive. Although UNC had a down season in ’23, missing the tournament, they are now the 7th-ranked team in the nation and atop the ACC.
22. Randy Bennett, Saint Mary’s
Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY SportsBennett has spent his entire 23-year head coaching career with the Saint Mary’s Gaels. He boasts an insanely impressive 71.2-percent win percentage during his tenure with the Gaels including nine tournament bids and likely a tenth on the way this year. Although only making it to the Sweet Sixteen once, Bennett has to be credited with making such a big mark on a small program that has to compete with the likes of Gonzaga (for recruiting and record) in the West Coast Conference. Saint Mary’s is currently first in the WCC this year and ranked No. 23 in the nation. The Gaels look to make another deep run this year after exiting in the Round of 32 the last two seasons.
21. Greg McDermott, Creighton
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY SportsMcDermott has been with the Bluejays since 2010 and moved with them to the Big East Conference in 2013. In his first season in the powerful Big East, McDermott led Creighton to a second-place finish in the conference and to the Round of 32 in March. Creighton has made the tournament 8/12 seasons with McDermott at the helm including an Elite Eight and a Sweet Sixteen appearance in the last three years. McDermott boasts a 66.9-percent win percentage while at Creighton and is looking to make another deep run this March with his No. 10 ranked team in the nation.
20. Dana Altman, Oregon
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Dana Altman gained notoriety while at Creighton, but he 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 has never lost its first NCAA Tournament game under Altman. Although Oregon has had a poor couple of seasons, no doubt the Altman-led Ducks will be back in the tournament soon.
19. Ed Cooley, Georgetown
Brad Mills-USA TODAY SportsAfter 12 seasons at Providence, Ed Cooley has finally moved on. He may not have as sterling a record as some of his peers. He has yet to make a Final Four. However, Cooley led Providence to a first-place finish in the Big East and a Sweet Sixteen appearance in ’21-’22. Cooley must be credited for his work considering that Providence is not exactly a desirable job and he had been there from 2011-2023, sporting a .613 winning percentage in the rugged Big East. This year we see Cooley take up the mantle at Georgetown. Although they are off to a rocky start, with a more notable program, Cooley should be able to do big things in the years to come.
18. Rick Barnes, Tennessee
Denny Medley-USA TODAY SportsRick 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 Texas 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. Barnes has two Sweet Sixteen appearances with the Volunteers (including one last season) and looks to take his No. 4 ranked team even deeper into the tournament this year.
17. Eric Musselman, Arkansas
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY SportsA maestro of the transfer portal, Eric Musselman has made a serious impact on 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 two Elite Eight appearances and one Sweet Sixteen appearance (no postseason his first year at Arkansas– COVID). Musselman has built an otherwise overlooked program into a strong member of the SEC.
16. Sean Miller, Xavier
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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 before 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. Last year, Miller was able to lead the Musketeers back to the Sweet Sixteen in his first year back to coaching. This year seems to be on a rockier trajectory, but there is no doubt Xavier will bounce back with Miller at the helm.
15. Bruce Pearl, Auburn
Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesSome 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. Since then, the tournament was canceled due to COVID in ’20, the Tigers were ineligible the following year in ’21 due to an assistant coach, and then Auburn went to the Round of 32 the last two seasons when they were finally back to competing in March. Auburn is currently ranked No. 13 in the country and is looking to finally push past the Round of 32 for the first time since 2019.
14. Tommy Lloyd, Arizona
Chris Coduto-USA TODAY SportsJust three years 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 his first season as head coach, Lloyd led Arizona to a 33-4 record and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Year two saw Lloyd take the Wildcats to 28-7 and return to the tournament. This year, Lloyd’s Wildcats are at the top of the PAC-12 again and will head to the tournament for a third year in a row. Lloyd’s offensive game plan has been among the country’s best, as Arizona’s up-tempo attack has caused consistent problems for opponents.
13. Shaka Smart, Marquette
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY SportsIt 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 a program. While Marquette had enjoyed previous success under Tom Crean and Buzz Williams, this is a program that has high hopes of returning to their former glory of the 1970s (champs in ’77, runner-up in ’74). In his first year, Smart took the Golden Eagles back to the tournament after missing out on it the year prior. Last season, Smart improved on that and took his team to the Round of 32. This year, with the No. 8 ranked team in the nation, Smart looks to return the Golden Eagles to the Sweet 16 (or better) for the first time since 2013. Smart’s teams usually improve each season, and so far with his tenure at Marquette, they are doing just that.
12. Nate Oats, Alabama
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Oats has helped make Alabama basketball relevant during his five seasons at the football-centric school. The attitude and culture of the program have 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 31 games last season, the Tide took a hit getting knocked out of the Sweet 16 by San Diego State. 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 one of the best in Oats’ tenure as Alabama is expected to make another run in March.
11. Mick Cronin, UCLA
Soobum Im-USA TODAY SportsFour seasons into his UCLA coaching tenure, Cronin had the Bruins in the Final Four, and Sweet 16 twice (and that’s without a 2020 postseason). 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, allowing Cronin to imprint his philosophy throughout a season. Despite a down year this season, Cronin is looking to build around his freshman roster. Cronin has made the NCAA Tournament 12 years in a row, and although he may miss this season, his team will no doubt be back soon looking for another deep run.
10. Matt Painter, Purdue
Robert Goddin-USA TODAY SportsOne 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 68.6-percent of his games and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament 14 times. Though he has yet to reach a Final Four, 2024 could be the season Painter, and the Boilermakers finally get over the hump.
9. Tony Bennett, Virginia
Amber Searls-USA TODAY SportsBennett 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 several 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 that includes Duke and North Carolina (among others). The Cavaliers lost in a one-point thriller to Furman in the first round of the tournament last year, but look to improve heading into conference tournaments ranked 3rd in the ACC.
8. Rick Pitino, St. John’s
Robert Goddin-USA TODAY SportsMake no mistake about it, Rick Pitino is an incredible college basketball coach. Having won big at Providence, Kentucky, Louisville, and most recently Iona, 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 where he reached the NCAA Tournament in his first year and won 25 games followed by 27 games in his second and third seasons there. Pitino is now in his first season at St. John’s where he is currently 17-12 with a big win over Creighton and close losses to UConn and Marquette (69-65, 73-72 respectively). Sitting at 6th in the Big East, Pitino may miss the tourney this year, but his teams will only get better.
7. Kelvin Sampson, Houston
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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 nine years in a row and has made runs to the Sweet Sixteen or better for the last 4 seasons (no postseason in 2020). Currently ranked No. 1 in the nation, Houston is hoping to finally make it to the championship game.
6. Dan Hurley, UConn
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY SportsDan Hurley played point guard for Seton Hall from 1991-96, and from there his coaching path has been an interesting one. After stints at Rutgers (assistant), St. Benedict’s Prep (start of head coaching career), Wagner, and Rhode Island, Hurley found his way to UConn. After a 16-17 record in his first season with the Huskies, his teams have only gotten better and better. Hurley now boasts a 130-58 record while at UConn including three trips to the tournament in a row and an NCAA title last season. As the No. 2 team in the country, Hurley looks to be the first team to win back-to-back titles since Florida did it in 2006-’07.
5. John Calipari, Kentucky
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY SportsIt’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 Round of 32 exit last tournament, the Wildcats head to the tournament ranked No. 15 in the country this year.
4. Scott Drew, Baylor
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY SportsScott Drew took a floundering Baylor program in 2003 and has built it 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 23 games five years in a row (with a win at Texas Tech Mar 9) and has reached the tournament eight of the last ten years (soon to be 9 out of 11). Now that the Bears have established themselves on the national radar, Drew will continue to land big recruits for years to come.
3. Tom Izzo, Michigan State
Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY SportsLet’s not let a couple of “down years” for Sparty cloud our judgment of Tom Izzo’s legacy. Despite rather pedestrian performances in ’20-’21 and ’21-’22, Michigan State has been a consistent threat on the national scale ever since Izzo took over. The Spartans bounced back with a trip to the Sweet 16 last tournament, upsetting Smart’s No. 2 seed Golden Eagles. 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. 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.
2. Mark Few, Gonzaga
James Snook-USA TODAY SportsThe 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 are nothing to scoff at.
1. Bill Self, Kansas
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY SportsWhen Mike Krzyzewski announced his retirement, the consensus No. 1 coach spot was 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 set him apart. He’s been able to adapt to the ebbs and flows of college basketball. 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.
