Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: 3 mid-major coaches likely to land a power conference job in 2019

By Holden Walter-Warner

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Head coach Eric Musselman of the Nevada Wolf Pack calls to his team during a semifinal game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament against the San Diego State Aztecs at the Thomas
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Head coach Eric Musselman of the Nevada Wolf Pack calls to his team during a semifinal game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament against the San Diego State Aztecs at the Thomas /
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LEXINGTON, KY – DECEMBER 02: Tommy Amaker, head coach of the Harvard Crimson, watches from the bench during the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Harvard Crimson at Rupp Arena on December 2, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – DECEMBER 02: Tommy Amaker, head coach of the Harvard Crimson, watches from the bench during the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Harvard Crimson at Rupp Arena on December 2, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

Tommy Amaker, Harvard Crimson

The coach has been in place for over a decade at Harvard. He’s turned the former Ivy League laughingstock into one of the league’s consistently best teams.

It’s hard not to believe, however, that there’s an itch to scratch somewhere else.

Back in the day, Amaker appeared destined for major college basketball greatness. He played at Duke and was an assistant under Coach K. Amaker then led Seton Hall to four consecutive postseason berths at the turn of the century.

He also took Michigan to the NIT three times, but never managed to make the NCAA Tournament with them.

As recent success for the Wolverines suggests, the failings of that tenure belong solely to Amaker.

Amaker seems genuinely happy coaching at Harvard. He took the Crimson to four straight NCAA Tournaments and just went back to the NIT last year.

He’s not terribly old for a college coach, though, having turned 53 years old just a few days ago. He’s largely made amends for the scandals he has wrought in the past. There’s another chapter to be written in his career.

Amaker isn’t going to be the next head coach at Duke when that day comes. There are other programs that will be interested next year anyways.

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