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College Basketball: Ranking the Top 10 coaching hires for 2017-18

By Daniel Benjamin

Mar 22, 2017; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers athletic director Joe Alleva introduces new basketball head coach Will Wade during a press conference at the LSU Student Union. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2017; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers athletic director Joe Alleva introduces new basketball head coach Will Wade during a press conference at the LSU Student Union. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 16, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks head coach Kevin Keatts reacts during the second half against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks head coach Kevin Keatts reacts during the second half against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Kevin Keatts, North Carolina State Wolfpack

Kevin Keatts may be the biggest surprise on this list to nab a power conference coaching job as he only has three years of college coaching experience. However, Keatts did a fantastic rebuilding job at UNC Wilmington.

Keatts took over a Seahawks’ program that had not produced a winning campaign since 2007-2008 and left with the best winning percentage in program history. UNCW improved its win total in each of the program’s three years under Keatts, which includes a program best 29-6 record this past season.

Keatts went 78-28 in his three years with UNC Wilmington. The 44-year old led the Seahawks to three regular season CAA conference crowns and two conference tournament titles. Keatts is 0-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

North Carolina State has missed the NCAA Tournament each of the last two years. The Wolfpack had made the Tournament four straight years prior to that. However, NC State hadn’t won aregular-seasonn ACC title since 1989 or the conference tournament since 1987.

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