Busting Brackets
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2019 NCAA Tournament: Ranking all 68 head coaches in the Big Dance

By Joey Loose

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 27: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers and head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels shake hands before North Carolina's game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 27, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 27: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers and head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels shake hands before North Carolina's game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 27, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – MARCH 16: Head coach Matt McMahon of the Murray State Racers looks on in the second half against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – MARCH 16: Head coach Matt McMahon of the Murray State Racers looks on in the second half against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) /

56. Ritchie McKay (Liberty)

1 NCAA Tournament (0-1)

McKay is a coach who has really bounced around in recent years. Aside from a successful stint as an assistant at Virginia, he’s been head coach at Portland State, Colorado State, Oregon State, and New Mexico. His one Tourney appearance as a head coach came with New Mexico in 2005, and his Lobos scored only 11 first-half points against Villanova in a loss. Still, his record at Liberty has been impressive and he did win the title in the Flames’ first year in the A-Sun. This is a potent squad and McKay has the experience and ability to get them ready for Mississippi State

55. Matt McMahon (Murray State)

1 NCAA Tournament (0-1)

In his fourth season as head coach, McMahon has Murray State heading to their second straight NCAA Tournament after another OVC Tournament title. The man who recruited Ja Morant has done an excellent job with this program. The Racers earned a 12-seed and lost in the first round to West Virginia last season and they get another shot to pull an upset. McMahon has yet to upset a power conference foe as head coach, but his team played Alabama and Auburn close this year. He’ll be a hot name for some bigger jobs in coming years, especially if he can continue to recruit gems like Morant to his programs.

54. Jeff Jones (Old Dominion)

7 NCAA Tournaments (6-7)

Jones is back in the Tourney for the first time since leading American back in 2009, his second trip with the Eagles. The former Virginia head coach went to the Elite Eight with the Cavaliers in 1995 and now leads his third different team into the NCAA Tournament. He also won the NIT way back in 1992 and has plenty of postseason experience; we’ll just have to see how that continues to translate at Old Dominion.

53. LeVelle Moton (North Carolina Central)

3 NCAA Tournaments (0-3)

It’s not easy to build a dominant program in the MEAC, but that’s exactly what Moton has done at his alma mater. His teams have gone 95-33 since joining the conference and this will be their third NCAA bid in a row.  The Eagles fell in the First Four each of the last two years but that experience can only help this squad. Recruiting and coaching well in such a bad conference is an impressive feat and Moton has really built success with the Eagles.

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