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NCAA Basketball: 10 Best Mid-Major Coaches in 2018

By Tristan Freeman

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 07: Head coach Randy Bennett (L) of the Saint Mary's Gaels and head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs greet each other before the championship game of the West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 7, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gonzaga won 74-56. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 07: Head coach Randy Bennett (L) of the Saint Mary's Gaels and head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs greet each other before the championship game of the West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 7, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gonzaga won 74-56. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 22: Head coach Eric Musselman of the Nevada Wolf Pack reacts against the Loyola Ramblers in the first half during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 22: Head coach Eric Musselman of the Nevada Wolf Pack reacts against the Loyola Ramblers in the first half during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

10. Eric Musselman – Nevada Wolf Pack

Career wins: 81 – NCAA Tournament appearances: 2

Best result: Sweet Sixteen with Nevada in 2018

With only three years as a head coach, Musselman has become the face of the new transfer era. By a mile, he’s brought in the most transfers in the past three seasons of any other coach in NCAA Basketball.

Doing that can be very tricky, but it’s been a huge boon to the Wolf Pack in terms of getting ready-made talent. His coaching abilities were on full display this past season, taking a roster with no depth or size to the Sweet Sixteen. With another decade, Musselman will likely make it onto the big list.

9. James Jones – Yale Bulldogs

Career wins: 288 – NCAA Tournament appearances: 1

Best result: Round of 32 in 2016

When next season starts, it’ll be Jones’ 20th with the Bulldogs. He’s been with the program since 1999, but it took 17 years before he could take Yale to the NCAA Tournament. Jones survived this long by not having a truly bad season outside of year one, while slowly building up the program to become a consistent top-3 team in the Ivy League.

It’s hard to hold the one Big Dance appearance against him, considering that until just recently the Ivy never had a conference tournament. Yale could’ve fired Jones at any time, but have now been rewarded with the program’s patience.

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