40. Michael White (Florida)
- Overall record 175-80
After four years at Louisiana Tech, White was tabbed to replace Billy Donovan at Florida in 2015, something that wasn’t an easy task. After finishing 101-40 in his brief time with the Bulldogs, he’s already building something with the Gators, making the Elite Eight in his second season in 2017. Last year wasn’t the most successful year (despite another NCAA Tournament bid) and things might get tougher in the future as the SEC programs around him continue to get better.
39. Tubby Smith (High Point)
- Overall record 601-307
- Final Four appearance in 1998
- National championship in 1998
Smith rejoined his alma mater as head coach in 2018, having spent the previous 27 years as head coach of Tulsa, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, Texas Tech, and then Memphis. He won the 1998 NCAA title with Kentucky and has eight other appearances in the Elite Eight or Sweet Sixteen. Unfortunately, his years with Minnesota, Texas Tech and Memphis were less than successful. He’s 12th among active head coaches in D-I coaching wins and should be able to build success in the Big South, though it will certainly take time to filter in new talent.
38. Rick Stansbury (Western Kentucky)
- Overall record 339-197
Stansbury was hired at Western Kentucky in 2016 having previously spent 14 years as head coach of Mississippi State. He made six NCAA Tournaments with the Bulldogs but never got past the first weekend. His recruiting talents are already on paying dividends at Western Kentucky and the Hilltoppers are favorites in Conference USA. Perhaps his potent mid-major could go on a run and give him that first experience in the second weekend of March Madness.
37. Mark Turgeon (Maryland)
- Overall record 414-241
Turgeon took the Maryland job in 2011 after spending time leading Jacksonville State, Wichita State, and Texas A&M. He led the Shockers to the Sweet Sixteen in 2006 and made the Tourney in each of his four years with the Aggies. He has over 400 career wins and has had Maryland competitive in the Big Ten every year but 2018, a reloading year. The future is bright for the Terrapins, and he’ll look to build on a Sweet Sixteen run in 2016.
36. Kelvin Sampson (Houston)
- Overall record 515-275
- Final Four appearance in 2002
A longtime coach, Sampson had head coaching experience with NAIA Montana Tech, Washington State, Oklahoma, and Indiana before Houston tabbed him in 2014. After a recruiting scandal cost him the Indiana job in 2008, he spent six years as an NBA assistant before returning to the college game. He had Oklahoma in the Final Four in 2002 and built a strong program. The same might’ve happened at Indiana had he not been cheating, but he got Houston a buzzer beater away from a Sweet Sixteen this past season. The future is bright and it’s now or never as a weak AAC rebuilds.
35. Chris Beard (Texas Tech)
- Overall record 82-29
Beard was hired by Texas Tech in 2016, completing an eventful head coaching journey and returning him to the school where he spent a decade as an assistant. He knocked off 5-seed Purdue in his one season as head coach of Little Rock and got Texas Tech to the Elite Eight last season. The Big 12 is tough but Beard has this team competitive very quickly and the future should be very bright in Lubbock.
34. Steve Alford (UCLA)
- Overall record 508-265
A former national champion guard at Indiana, Alford’s head coaching career has taken him from D-III Manchester to Missouri State to Iowa to New Mexico to UCLA. With the Bruins since 2013, Alford has underachieved with the Bruins (as he did with Iowa), failing to take advantage of some talented recruits. His career got off to a hot start with a Sweet Sixteen with Missouri State in 1999, but after building a great program at New Mexico, the momentum hasn’t carried over to UCLA. There have been three Sweet Sixteens but he won’t last much longer without an impressive turnaround.
33. Eric Musselman (Nevada)
- Overall record 89-29
A former NBA coach, Musselman became a college assistant in 2012 and got his shot with Nevada in 2015. He’s got a great record and took the Wolf Pack to the Sweet Sixteen as a 7-seed last year, including an incredible upset win over 2-seed Cincinnati. This following season should be even more incredible and Musselman has shown talent as both a recruiter and in-game coach. Expect big things from Musselman, especially if he gets the call at a prominent power conference program in a few years.
32. Scott Drew (Baylor)
- Overall record 323-209
Drew took over a tarnished Baylor program in 2003 and has done incredible things to make the Bears a yearly Big 12 contender. Having just one year of head coaching experience (at Valparaiso), he rebuilt the program after the Dave Bliss controversy, taking Baylor twice to the Elite Eight, winning the NIT in 2013, and making two more Sweet Sixteens in recent years. Drew is an underrated coach, a great recruiter, and Baylor will be competitive for as long as he stays in Waco.
31. Frank Martin (South Carolina)
- Overall record 234-147
- Final Four appearance in 2017
After beginning his career as a high school coach in Miami, Martin eventually got his shot as head coach of Kansas State and landed at South Carolina in 2012. His most impressive bit of coaching was leading 7-seed South Carolina to the Final Four in 2017. He did great things with Kansas State and turned around a struggling Gamecocks program, though the future is unknown in a tough SEC. Martin is fiery and tempered but he’s a good in-game coach and should continue to field competitive teams at South Carolina.