10 best coaching performances from the 2017-18 NCAA Basketball season

NCAA Basketball: 10 best coaching performances from the 2017-18 season

SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 02: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Villanova Wildcats in the first half during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

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BOSTON, MA – MARCH 25: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts against the Villanova Wildcats during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Regional at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

4. Chris Holtmann – Ohio State Buckeyes

2016-17 season record: 17-15 (7-11 in Big Ten with Thad Matta)

2017-18 season record: 25-9 (15-3 in Big Ten with Holtmann)

When former Ohio State Head Coach Thad Matta was unable to continue leading the team, the program had to find a quality replacement. The hire of Holtmann proved to be a home run, with the previous Butler leader taking essentially the same roster and making them into an NCAA Tournament team.

Including his final season at Gardner Webb, Holtmann has five straight years with at least 20+ wins, as well as four consecutive appearances to the Big Dance. Considering that he’s still under 50 years old, this already has the look of a long-term fit at Ohio State, with even better players coming in.

3. Chris Beard – Texas Tech Red Raiders

2016-17 season record: 18-14 (6-12 in Big 12)

2017-18 season record: 27-10 (11-7 in Big 12)

The overall roster was nearly the same for the past two years, but the infusion of a pair of wings allowed Beard to instill an elite defensive unit that the Big 12 clearly wasn’t ready for. In just his second season in Lubbock, the former Arkansas Little-Rock Head Coach has taken the Red Raiders to the program’s first-ever Elite Eight appearance in school history.

There wasn’t any scheme or gimmick that other programs use. Just the right combination of youth, experience, athleticism, and of course, coaching was all Texas Tech needed to make some history. Another sleeping giant may have been awoken in the state of Texas.

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