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NCAA Basketball: Ranking the Top 25 Active Head Coaches in 2018

By Tristan Freeman

SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 22: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange and head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils embrace after the game on February 22, 2017 at The Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse upsets Duke 78-75. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 22: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange and head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils embrace after the game on February 22, 2017 at The Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse upsets Duke 78-75. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 15: Head coach Buzz Williams of the Virginia Tech Hokies reacts to Justin Robinson #5 foul on Collin Sexton #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide late in the second half of the game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 15: Head coach Buzz Williams of the Virginia Tech Hokies reacts to Justin Robinson #5 foul on Collin Sexton #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide late in the second half of the game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Buzz Williams – Virginia Tech Hokies

Career wins: 327 – NCAA Tournament appearances: 7

Best result: Elite Eight with Marquette in 2013

He’s been one of the biggest overachievers in the sport, taking multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament that weren’t perceived to have enough talent. What makes it even more impressive was that it was done in the best era of two different leagues.

Marquette was one of the top teams in the Big East towards the end of their old days at the beginning of the decade. He then moved to a Virginia Tech program that hadn’t gone to back-to-back Big Dances in 30 years, before pulling off that feat this past season. All of this being done without ever getting highly touted players compared to rivals.

Larry Krystkowiak – Utah Utes

Career wins: 297 – NCAA Tournament appearances: 4

Best result: Sweet Sixteen with Utah in 2016

After taking the Montana Grizzlies from the Big Sky to the Big Dance over a dozen years ago, Krystkowiak decided to take jobs in both the NBA and USA Basketball. When he returned to college, he was tasked with a rebuilding Utah program who just moved from the Mountain West to the Pac-12.

After winning just six games in the Utes’ inaugural season, they’ve gotten better and better, including five straight seasons of 20+ wins. A feat Utah fans will love even more – five straight wins over hated rival BYU before this past season.

Tubby Smith – High Point Panthers

Career wins: 597 – NCAA Tournament appearances: 18

Best result: NCAA National Championship with Kentucky in 1998

Starting at Tulsa in 1991, Smith has been largely successful at every school he’s been at (all six of them). He went through a stretch of 17 straight seasons with at least 20 wins in a season, and also won the AP Coach of the Year Award in 2003.

What’s hurt his legacy as of late is his inability to stick with a program. He wasn’t “fired” from most of them, but the writing at times was on the wall in those situations. The era of transfers and AAU High School hoops hasn’t done him any favors either, as his old-school approach has been an issue as well. But make no mistake, he’s always been a quality coach and will look to continue proving it at his alma mater High Point next season.

Scott Drew – Baylor Bears

Career wins: 318 – NCAA Tournament appearances: 7

Best result: Elite Eight with Baylor in 2010 and 2012

There are “rebuilding jobs”, and then there’s what Baylor was going through when Drew arrived from Valparaiso. The program was going through major sanctions after the murder of a player and the violations that occurred throughout that time period, making it at the time the worst power conference basketball school.

After several trying years, Drew and the Bears finally broke through, making the Big Dance on the regular basis and even getting one win shy of a Final Four appearance, a pipeline dream for Baylor fans. Considering where the program was just a short time ago, Drew has to be considered one of the best coaches in the game.

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