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NCAA Basketball: 10 mid-major coaches poised for bigger jobs after 2019-20

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 15: Head coach Tim Cluess of the Iona Gaels yells to his team during the first half of the game against the Duke Blue Devils in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 15: Head coach Tim Cluess of the Iona Gaels yells to his team during the first half of the game against the Duke Blue Devils in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 16: Head coach Steve Forbes watches on against the Florida Gators during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Amway Center on March 16, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 16: Head coach Steve Forbes watches on against the Florida Gators during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Amway Center on March 16, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

8. John Becker

If not for Becker, Vermont Catamount basketball would not be near the program that it is today. Becker has finished first or second of the America East conference every season he has been at the helm in Burlington. His three NCAA tournament appearances in eight years accounts for almost half of the tournament appearances that the school has in their history. He is also responsible for one of the two NCAA tournament wins at the school as well.

It doesn’t matter the opponent the Catamounts under their current head coach play competitive games with everyone. Becker’s name has popped up in conversation for some bigger jobs, but nothing has gained much traction. The Catamounts have been fortunate they have been able to hold onto their coach for this long.

7. Steve Forbes

Forbes has only been the head coach at East Tennessee State for four full seasons. Those four seasons have seen East Tennessee State turn into one of the dominant teams in the extremely competitive Southern Conference. Forbes recruits at a high level for mid major school and will land some high major transfers. One of the things that always defines his teams, especially his Buccaneer teams is their extreme athleticism.

His name was mentioned as rumored to be part of the UNLV job for a brief period.  Whether Forbes stays at East Tennessee State or moves on to a bigger job, the school will get a great coach and a great person. Forbes is one of the nicest coaches in the game and was most recently a finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year award. This a man any school would want to lead their program.