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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NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 16: Head coach Ron Hunter of the Georgia State Panthers reacts against the Cincinnati Bearcats during the game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 16: Head coach Ron Hunter of the Georgia State Panthers reacts against the Cincinnati Bearcats during the game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

44. Mike Young (Wofford)

4 NCAA Tournaments (0-4)

Young has spent 17 years at Wofford and built the program, leading them to all five of the NCAA Tournament appearances in their history. Their win at North Carolina last season was the program’s first over a top 25 team and Young led his team through a clean sweep through SoCon play this year. They lost close games in 2010 as a 13-seed and in 2015 as a 12-seed and this might be the year that his team breaks through in March. Young has put together an impressive mid-major squad, a team that will certainly be ready for Seton Hall.

43. Greg Gard (Wisconsin)

2 NCAA Tournaments (4-2)

It’s been up and down for Gard since taking over for Bo Ryan in December 2015. His first two seasons ended in the Sweet Sixteen, but last year was a 15-18 struggle. Gard has turned things around this year and his Badgers primed to make a run. He’s been with this program for nearly two decades and has grown as a recruiter and in-game coach over those years. Regardless, his 80 wins are still a great feat and Gard has done a great job of building this Wisconsin team, though the future after Ethan Happ may be concerning.

42. Kevin Willard (Seton Hall)

3 NCAA Tournaments (1-3)

This will be the fourth straight NCAA Tournament trip for the Pirates under Willard and the former Iona coach has the Pirates playing quality ball in March once again. Willard scored his first NCAA Tourney win last season and has done a solid job building the Pirates into a yearly Big East contender. They’ve been third place for the last four seasons. Playing Wofford will be a challenge, but Willard built a solid Pirates squad that has faced plenty of challenges in the Big East these last few years.

41. Ron Hunter (Georgia State)

3 NCAA Tournaments (1-3)

Of his 392 career wins, Hunter is best down for falling off his stool when his son RJ hit the 3-pointer to beat Baylor in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. This will be his third trip with the Panthers and his second straight Sun Belt Tournament title. His time at IUPUI wasn’t prophetic, but he’s turned Georgia State into a yearly power in the Sun Belt. He’s not going to fall off a chair, but he’ll have his Panthers ready to go against Houston.

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