NCAA Tournament 2012: Ranking The Sweet 16 Coaches

Even more than great teams and future pros, the Sweet 16 is an annual congregation of great coaches. This year’s group of tacticians is no different. Let’s take a look at how these coaches stack up against each other:

1.    Tom Izzo, Michigan State – It is just impossible to put any of the other coaches in this year’s Sweet 16 above the Spartans’ general for the past 17 seasons. Izzo has won over 400 games, has a .710 winning percentage, has been to six Final Fours and won a championship in 2000. More impressively, he has accomplished these feats in years where much was expected, as well as in years where little was expected.

2.    Roy Williams, North Carolina – Roy takes some slack for only winning with elite talent (who doesn’t?) and for failing to win a championship during his 15 years as head coach at Kansas. But, Williams’ resume is impossible to argue with. He is 674-168 (.800) with seven Final Fours and two championships and the legendary Secondary Break isn’t bad either.

3.    Jim Boeheim, Syracuse – The man who really should be this season’s Coach of the Year has amassed very close to 900 victories in 36 seasons. With a winning percentage of .746, three Final Fours and a championship with the “uncoachable” Carmelo Anthony (joking), Boeheim’s accomplishments speak for themselves.

4.    Rick Pitino, Louisville – When he’s not confusing restaurants with hotels and fighting extortionists, Coach Pitino is winning games, a lot of them. Pitino is 625-229 (.732) with five Final Fours (with three different teams) and a 1996 National Championship with Kentucky.  He is still going strong and the Cardinals have a legitimate shot at Pitino’s sixth Final Four.

5.    John Calipari, Kentucky – The controversial Calipari is the first coach on this list without a National Championship to his name. But, Coach Cal has 543 wins (or so), a .779 winning percentage and three Final Fours (three different teams). Many expect Cal to get the National Championship monkey off his back this year. I’m not so sure, but I am sure that he is one of the top five coaches in this year’s Sweet 16.

6.    Billy Donovan, Florida – The shine has kind of dimmed on Donovan since the second of his back-to-back National Championships in 2007. However, championships don’t come easy and neither do Final Fours, of which Donovan has three.

7.    Bill Self, Kansas – You know there are a bunch of big-time coaches in this Sweet 16 when Bill Self is ranked all the way down at seven. Self could be the best in-game coach of any of those ranked ahead of him. He does have a National Championship to his name, not to mention a .751 winning percentage.

8.    Thad Motta, Ohio State – At the midway point of this list, we start to get to great coaches who are a bit under the radar. You never really hear Thad Motta’s name in a “Top 5 Coach” discussion. But, he is that good. He is 321-95 (.772) with a 2007 Final Four appearance.

9.    Bo Ryan, Wisconsin – This guy is one of the true underground legendary coaches in college basketball. If this were hip hop, Ryan probably would be Jadakiss, a true great who will never get the credit deserved (even from me, apparently). Ryan has done wonders at Wisconsin, making them a power of sorts. Ryan is 298-127 (.701) with five Sweet 16 appearances.

10.  Tom Crean, Indiana – What a difference a year makes. Around this time last year, many thought Crean’s job status was in question. Today we are reminded of his Marquette/Dwyane Wade days and how good of a coach he actually is. Crean is 245-170 (590) with the 2003 Final Four appearance.

11.  Mark Gottfried, NC State – Gottfried is an impressive 302-167 (.644) over 15 seasons with stints at Murray State, Alabama and now NC State. He took Alabama to five straight NCAA Tournament appearances and instantly made NC State competitive when he took over for Sidney Lowe this season.

12.  Buzz Williams, Marquette – The hot, relatively young coach on this list is Buzz Williams. He has made four NCAA Tournament appearances in his five years as a head coach and has compiled a 110-61 (.643) record. This year’s Sweet 16 is Marquette’s second straight, as they hope for a different result from last year’s embarrassing loss to North Carolina.

13.  Mick Cronin, Cincinnati – Cronin finally got Cincinnati over the hump and into the NCAA Tournament last year and many were eager to see if he could keep up the good work. After a shaky early part of the season and especially after the Bearcats’ ugly brawl with Xavier, it seemed as if Cincinnati and Cronin’s fortunes were on the downturn. However, Cronin orchestrated an incredible comeback for the team and university and now has the Bearcats facing an Ohio rival in the Sweet 16. Cronin is 182-111 (.621) with four NCAA Tournament appearances.

14.  Chris Mack, Xavier – This is Chris Mack’s third year as coach of the Musketeers and his third year in the NCAA Tournament, second in the Sweet 16. Though things looked unstable after the infamous brawl with Cincinnati, Mack was able to hold things together just enough to ensure a successful season. Mack is 73-29 (.716).

15.  Scott Drew, Baylor – If this list were based solely on recruiting, Drew would find himself much more highly rated. However, he still has a ways to go to prove that he is an elite level coach. He has created an elite level program, so he deserves much credit for that, especially considering the shape Baylor was in when Drew took the helm. Drew is 176-134 (.568) with three NCAA appearances.

16.  John Groce, Ohio – With the least known team in the Sweet 16 comes the least known coach, but not for long. Thad Motta’s former assistant has made two NCAA Tournament appearances in his four seasons at Ohio. Even more impressive are the three wins he’s compiled while participating. At an 85-55 career clip, expect a few major division I offers to come Groce’s way and if he can manage an upset of top seeded North Carolina on Friday, his reputation will reach heights unknown.

What are your thoughts on the coaching rankings?