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2017 NCAA Tournament: Which Sweet 16 coach is most capable of winning championship?

By Daniel Benjamin

Feb 27, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self embraces guard Frank Mason III (0) after he leaves the court during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won 73-63. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self embraces guard Frank Mason III (0) after he leaves the court during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won 73-63. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 19, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari reacts against the Wichita State Shockers during the first half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari reacts against the Wichita State Shockers during the first half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

John Calipari, Kentucky Wildcats

John Calipari is the most accomplished NCAA tournament coach of the 16 listed, at least in the past eight years. The 58-year-old has taken Kentucky to the NCAA tournament 6 of 7 years, failing to reach the Sweet 16 once (2016). He has also been to four Final Fours, been runner-up once, and national champions once as well. Calipari has a 248-52 record at Kentucky.

Calipari is a fantastic recruiter which sometimes takes away from how good of a coach that he really is, but what he really does best is develop players and motivates them. Since arriving in Lexington, 31 Wildcat players have made it to the NBA with 29 of them being drafted– and not all came to Kentucky as surefire superstars.

Calipari is perhaps the most decorated of the 16 coaches as well, being named the Naismith and NABC coach of the year three times. He was also selected as the AP coach of the year in 2015. Overall, Calipari is 651-190 overall which includes six Final four appearances in 23 years.

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