50. Randy Bennett (Saint Mary’s)
- Overall record 397-166
Bennett has been at Saint Mary’s since 2001, leading the second-most successful WCC program during that time. All the while living in Gonzaga’s shadow, he’s led the Gaels to six NCAA Tournament appearances including the Sweet Sixteen in 2010. He’s notched nearly 400 wins with 88 of them over the last three years. Saint Mary’s will continue to be a great program but they just won’t garner the attention that Gonzaga gets; though Bennett is an excellent coach.
49. Bryce Drew (Vanderbilt)
- Overall record 160-87
Drew got his “shot” as head coach at Valparaiso, his alma mater, and after five good years took over Vanderbilt in 2016. He made a pair of NCAA Tournaments with the Crusaders and had the Commodores dancing in his debut, though last year was a big struggle. With hot recruits coming in, Vanderbilt should take a step forward this season, though it won’t be enough to put the Commodores near the top of the SEC.
48. Brad Brownell (Clemson)
- Overall record 322-200
Brownell was hired at Clemson in 2010 after four years apiece at UNC-Wilmington and Wright State, making both programs conference contenders for his entire tenure. His time with Clemson seemed to be nearing its end before a bounce back year in 2018, complete with a Sweet Sixteen run. It was just his fifth NCAA Tournament bid as a head coach but Clemson is set to Dance again this season, with their sights on a bigger prize.
47. Kevin Keatts (NC State)
- Overall record 100-41
Keatts took over NC State in 2017 following three successful years at nearby UNC-Wilmington. He led the Skyhawks to a pair of NCAA Tournaments in his tenure and has already excelled with the Wolfpack. NC State tied for third in the ACC last year and made the NCAA Tournament, perhaps just the beginning as Keatts rebuilds the program. He’s already knocked off Duke and North Carolina and his revere will only increase with each rivalry win.
46. Steve Prohm (Iowa State)
- Overall record 171-71
Prohm got the Iowa State job in 2015 following four years leading Murray State. He took an OVC team to a 31-2 season, a CIT championship, and a 54-10 mark in conference play. A longtime assistant under Billy Kennedy, Prohm has already won three NCAA Tournament games with the Cyclones, but slipped to 13-18 and last place in the Big 12 in 2018. Better days will be ahead for Prohm, who’s shown he can build a consistent winner and a great offensive coach.
45. Brad Underwood (Illinois)
- Overall record 125-51
Underwood took over at Illinois in 2017 and has been revered for his incredible work with Stephen F. Austin and a solid year with Oklahoma State. He went a mind-blowing 89-14 with the Lumberjacks, winning the Southland all three years and securing two NCAA Tourney upsets along the way. He got the Cowboys into the Dance in his only year in Stillwater and is beginning a rebuild at Illinois. His first year was rough as expected but this program could finally turn a new leaf very soon with Underwood at the helm.
44. Larry Krystkowiak (Utah)
- Overall record 184-120
A former NBA power forward, Krystkowiak already had head coaching experience with Montana and the Milwaukee Bucks when Utah hired him in 2011. Having already made two NCAA Tournaments in his two years with Montana, Krystkowiak rebuilt a Utes program that went just 6-25 in his first season. He’s made a couple of NCAA Tournaments and has won 20+ games each of the last five years. He’ll have this team competitive in the Pac-12 as long as he’s there.
43. Greg McDermott (Creighton)
- Overall record 342-227
A longtime head coach, McDermott was hired by Creighton in 2010 after four unsuccessful years leading Iowa State. He also gained experience as head man at D-II Wayne State, D-II North Dakota State, and Northern Iowa. He had great success (three NCAA Tournaments) at Northern Iowa before faltering with the Cyclones, and he’s already built Creighton into a yearly contender in the Big East. He made three Tourneys with his son Doug leading the team and his recent teams have continued to Dance. Ignoring a rebuilding year in 2015, he’s been solid each year at Creighton and it’s a trend that should continue.
42. Tom Crean (Georgia)
- Overall record 361-234
- Final Four appearance in 2003
A former assistant to Tom Izzo, and a successful head coach at Marquette and Indiana, Crean took over the Georgia program in 2018 and begins his first year hoping to rebuild the program. He made the Final Four in 2003 with Marquette and a trio of Sweet Sixteens at Indiana, but didn’t do enough for the Hoosiers to keep him; he was fired in 2017. His overall record looks worse than it is because Indiana was in a major rebuild at the start of his tenure and Crean was highly sought after before choosing to latch on with the Bulldogs. Time will tell if he can find success in the SEC.
41. Buzz Williams (Virginia Tech)
- Overall record 233-147
Williams took over the Marquette program from Tom Crean and turned that success into the Virginia Tech job in 2014. He took the Golden Eagles to five NCAA Tournaments including an Elite Eight and a few Sweet Sixteens and has had Virginia Tech Dancing each of the last two seasons. He’s changed the Hokies from a doormat to a legitimate contender, though it’ll be hard to knock off Duke, UNC, and Virginia on a regular basis.