NCAA Basketball: Ranking the Top 25 Active Head Coaches in 2018
25. Shaka Smart – Texas Longhorns
Career wins: 319 – NCAA Tournament appearances: 7
Best result: Final Four with VCU in 2011
He’s done okay with Texas, but what he accomplished at VCU put him on this list. Out of his six seasons with the Rams, Smart’s teams never finished below 26 wins and made the Big Dance a few times as an at-large. His accomplishments helped the program moved from the Colonial Athletic Association to the Atlantic Ten, which has set them up for years of continued success.
The elite defenses that Smart has been in charges have been nicknamed the “Havoc” which is the ultimate compliment for a coach. With how young he is as well (41 years old), expect this man to move up the ladder in due time.
24. Mark Turgeon – Maryland Terrapins
Career wins: 407 – NCAA Tournament appearances: 8
Best result: Sweet Sixteen with Wichita State in 2006 and with Maryland in 2016
As great as Gregg Marshall has been at Wichita State, it was Turgeon who got things going with the program at the start of the century. He then went on to Texas A&M, where in four years the program never won less than 24 total games.
His best coaching job has been with the Terrapins, who after leaving the ACC, has become consistently one of the best teams in the Big Ten. This is an underrated coach who seems to need a Final Four appearance before the accolades will come in.
23. Matt Painter – Purdue Boilermakers
Career wins: 320 – NCAA Tournament appearances: 11
Best result: Sweet Sixteen four times (2009, 2010, 2016, 2017)
With the exception of an outstanding year at Southern Illinois to start things out, Painter has spent his entire head coaching career at Purdue. And outside of a couple of under .500 seasons a few years ago, the Boilermakers have been a contender in the Big Ten each season.
While other programs in that league have relied on young stars to carry them, Painter’s teams are usually old and experienced. He’s considered one of the best player developers out there, which is why Purdue will always be a threat as long as he’s around.
22. Bruce Weber – Kansas State Wildcats
Career wins: 438 – NCAA Tournament appearances: 12
Best result: NCAA Runner-up with Illinois in 2005
Another coach who started out with Southern Illinois, Weber was the AP National Coach of the Year with the Illini in 2005. After he left them in 2012, the program hasn’t been the same since.
At Kansas State, he’s had to take a school without a solid recruiting pipeline, as well as being the clear underdog to their rival (Kansas). After capitalizing on what was essentially Frank Martin’s players in his first couple of seasons with the Wildcats, Weber’s own recruiting class allowed him to make the Elite Eight his past season. This may have honestly been his second-best season as a coach and proved that his success at Illinois was no fluke.
21. Cliff Ellis – Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Career wins: 749 – NCAA Tournament appearances: 10
Best result: Sweet Sixteen with Clemson in 1990 and with Auburn in 1999 and 2003
From his beginning with South Alabama in 1975 to his decades-plus stints at Clemson, Auburn, and now Coastal Carolina, Ellis is the model of consistency. It’s true that he hasn’t gone further than a Sweet Sixteen in his lifetime, but the stability he’s brought to each program can’t be understated.
The Chanticleers have been one of the better teams in both the Big South and now the Sun Belt. Which is even more impressive considering that mid-majors these days tend to have cycles of good and bad seasons.
At 72 years old, Ellis’ days as a head coach are likely numbered. But if he can make it a few more years, he’ll get closer to that exclusive 1000-wins club.