Who have been the best NCAA Basketball head coaches of the past two decades? Here’s a list presented without any opinions and just data.
Looking at the landscape of NCAA Basketball head coaches, it’s has been as impressive as ever the last few decades. Hall of Famers is still going strong, while a few younger guys have emerged as up and coming legends in the game. But where do they stack up against one another?
When writers and people put together sports lists, it most likely is highly subjective or even bias in some cases. Even though this list is not perfect and the point system is not flawless, it gives some analytical and math based analysis to eliminate the subjective factors that many lists are comprised of. First, many factors and criteria were taken out of consideration and they are:
*Ability to recruit highly rated players as part of an incoming class of student-athletes.
*The previous condition of the program good or bad, prior to becoming a head coach.
*The perception and reputation of being or not being a great x’s and o’s coach.
*The amount of time that a head coach has been coaching in Division 1.
*Factoring in a coach being at a pro-typical “blue blood” or power 5 program or even if he is at a mid-major school.
*The ability or inability to handle off the court issues such as having their program being put on NCAA probation.
*Not critiquing how he schedules difficult or easy non-conferences games each season.
*How well the coach is perceived to make in-game decisions and substitutions during games.
*The ability to hire assistant coaches who recruit well and help advance the program overall.
Second, the list of coaches had to meet only two specific requirements:
*Current Division 1 Head Coach
*Won at least one national title in the past twenty seasons
Third, below is the criteria and scoring breakdown to determine the ranking of the top coaches in division 1 basketball the past twenty seasons.
Criteria and Scoring Breakdown
25 points for national championships
15 points Final Four Appearances
10 points for Regular Season Conference Championships
7 points for Conference Tournament Championships
5 points for every season with 20 or more wins
3 points for post-season tournament championships other than the NCAA Tournament
2 points for every NCAA Tournament berth
*The coach had to be a head coach at a division 1 school from the period covering the seasons from 1998-1999 to 2018-2019.
Some would argue that there have been some great and outstanding coaches who are left off of this list. For example, Brad Stevens and John Beilein both took their respective programs to multiple national championship appearances but they both no longer coach at the collegiate level as both of them are currently NBA head coaches and both fell short of winning a national championship.
There are current collegiate coaches who have done very well like Gonzaga’s Mark Few and Texas Tech’s Chris Beard but have not won a national championship. Finally, there are those coaches who have won national championships like former Connecticut head coach Kevin Ollie and former Florida head coach Billy Donovan but no longer coach at a Division 1 school.
This list looks at the numbers, championships, and victories with the intention of outside bias and subjectivity. These coaches are listed from eight to one based on their accomplishments as head coaches of their programs. Let’s take a look at the rankings and see why they deserved their spot on this list.
No. 8 Tony Bennett
Bennett’s Head Coaching Accomplishments the past 20 seasons
1 NCAA Division I Tournament Champions (2019)
1 NCAA Final Fours (2019)
4 ACC regular season Champions (2014, 2015, 2018, 2019)
2 ACC Tournament Champions (2014 and 2018)
9 NCAA Tournament appearances (2007, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
10 Seasons with 20 or more wins (06–07, 07–08, 11–12, 12-13, 13-14, 14-15, 15-16, 16-17, 17-18, 18-19)
Tony Bennett, Head Coach: Virginia and Washington State
National championships: 25 points
Final Four Appearances: 15 points
Regular Season Conference Championships: 40 points
Conference Tournament Championships: 14 points
Seasons with 20 or more wins in a season: 50 points
0 Postseason tournament championships other than the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Tournament berths: 18 points
Total Coaching Points: 162
Bennett has brought titles to the campus of Charlottesville, Virginia. Since 2014, he’s led the Cavaliers to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and Virginia has eight straight seasons of 20 wins or more. He has led his team to two straight ACC regular-season titles and after coaching the only #1 seed to lose to a #16 seed in the NCAA Tournament, leading Virginia to a national title in 2019.
No. 7 Jim Boeheim
Boeheim’s Head Coaching Accomplishments the past 20 seasons
1 NCAA Division I Tournament Champions (2003)
3 NCAA Final Fours (2003, 2013, 2016)
4 Big East regular-season Champions (2000, 2003, 2010, 2012)
2 Big East Tournament Champions (2005 and 2006)
16 NCAA Tournament appearances (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019)
13 seasons with 20 or more wins: (98-99, 99-00, 00-01, 01-02, 02-03, 03-04, 07-08, 08-09, 09-10, *10-11 (wins vacated by NCAA), 12-13, 13-14, 17-18, 18-19)
Jim Boeheim, Head Coach: Syracuse
National championships: 25 points
Final Four Appearances: 45 points
Regular Season Conference Championships: 40 points
Conference Tournament Championships: 14 points
Seasons with 20 or more wins in a season: 65 points
0 Postseason tournament championships other than the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Tournament berths: 32 points
Total Coaching Points: 221
Boeheim led Syracuse to a national championship in 2003. He led the Orange to four Big East regular season titles before Syracuse joined the ACC conference. Boeheim also led the Orange to back to back Big East Tournament titles in ’05 and ’06. From 1999 to 2006, Syracuse only missed the NCAA Tournament once. Boeheim beside the national championship run got the Orange to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and 2016.
No. 6 Jay Wright
Wrights’s Head Coaching Accomplishments the past 20 seasons
2 NCAA Division I Tournament Champions (2016, 2018)
3 NCAA Final Fours (2009, 2016, 2018)
2 America East regular season Champions (2000, 2001)
2 America East Tournament Champions (2000, 2001)
6 Big East regular-season Champions (2006, 2014–2017, 2019)
4 Big East Tournament (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019)
16 NCAA Tournament appearances (2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
17 seasons with 20 or more wins (98-99, 99-00, 00-01, 04-05, 05-06, 06-07, 07-08, 08-09, 09-10, 10-11, 12-13, 13-14, 14-15, 15-16, 16-17, 17-18, 18-19)
Jay Wright, Head Coach: Villanova and Hofstra
2 National championships: 50 points
3 Final Four Appearances: 45 points
8 Regular Season Conference Championships: 80 points
6 Conference Tournament Championships: 42 points
17 seasons with 20 or more wins in a season: 85 points
0 Postseason tournament championships other than the NCAA Tournament
16 NCAA Tournament berths: 32 points
334 Total Coaching Points
Wright is one of the select few current men’s college basketball coaches to have won more than one national championship. He has led the Wildcats to three consecutive Big East Tournament titles from 2017 to 2019. He has also directed Villanova to five out of six Big East regular-season titles over the past six seasons. The Wildcats under his leadership has made the NCAA Tournament every year since 2013.
No. 5 John Calipari
John Calipari’s Head Coaching Accomplishments for the past 20 seasons
1 NCAA Division I Tournament Champions (2012)
4 NCAA Final Fours (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) *Other appearances have been invalidated due to an NCAA ruling
5 SEC Regular Season Champions (2010, 2012, 2015-2017)
5 C-USA Regular Season Champions (2004, 2006-2009)
6 SEC Tournament Champions (2010, 2011, 2015-2018)
4 C-USA Tournament Champions (2006-2009)
14 NCAA Tournament appearances, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, *2008 (vacated by NCAA) 2009, 2010 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
18 Seasons with 20 or more wins (00-01, 01-02, 02-03,03-04 04-05, 05-06, 06-07, *07-08 (wins vacated by NCAA), 08-09, 09-10, 10-11, 11-12 12-13, 13-14, 14-15, 15-16, 16-17, 17-18, 18-19)
John Calipari, Head Coach: Kentucky and Memphis
National championships: 25 points
Final Four Appearances: 60 points
Regular Season Conference Championships: 100 points
Conference Tournament Championships: 70 points
Seasons with 20 or more wins in a season: 90 points
1 Postseason tournament championships other than the NCAA Tournament: 3 points
NCAA Tournament berths: 28 points
Total Coaching Points: 376
Calipari led Kentucky to four Final Four appearances in a stretch of five years from 2011 to 2015. He and the Wildcats dominated SEC play from 2015-2017 winning both the regular season and tournament titles each year in that three-year span. Kentucky has been to the NCAA Tournament every year since 2014 and has had 20 or more wins every season expect twice over the past 20 seasons of play.
No. 4 Tom Izzo
Tom Izzo’s Head Coaching Accomplishments the past 20 seasons
1 NCAA Division I Tournament Champions (2000)
8 NCAA Final Fours (1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2019)
8 Big Ten regular-season Champions (1999, 2000, 2001, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018, 2019)
6 Big Ten Tournament Champions (1999, 2000, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2019)
21 NCAA Tournament appearances (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
18 seasons with 20 or more wins (98-99, 99-00, 00-01, 02-03, 04-05, 05-06, 06-07, 07-08, 08-09, 09-10, 11-12 12-13, 13-14, 14-15, 15-16, 16-17, 17-18, 18-19)
Tom Izzo, Head Coach: Michigan State
1 National championships: 25 points
7 Final Four Appearances: 120 points
8 Regular Season Conference Championships: 80 points
6 Conference Tournament Championships: 42 points
18 seasons with 20 or more wins in a season: 90 points
0 Post season tournament championships other than the NCAA Tournament
21 NCAA Tournament berths: 42 points
399 Total Coaching Points
Izzo has led his team to the most Final Four appearances than any other school during the past 20 seasons with eight NCAA Tournament Final Four appearances. He has also guided his team to 21 straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Izzo has navigated the Spartans to eight Big Ten regular-season titles in this time period.
No. 3 Bill Self
Bill Self’s Coaching Accomplishments the past 20 seasons
1 NCAA Division I Tournament Champions (2008)
3 NCAA Final Fours (2008, 2012, 2018)
14 Big 12 Regular Season Championships (2005-2018)
2 Big Ten Regular Season Championships (2001, 2002)
1 WAC Regular Season Championships (1999)
8 Big 12 Tournament Champions (2006-2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2018)
1 Big Ten Tournament Champions (2003)
21 NCAA Tournament appearances: (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
21 seasons with 20 or more wins: (98-99, 99-00, 00-01, 01-02, 02-03, 03-04 04-05, 05-06, 06-07, 07-08, 08-09, 09-10, 10-11, 11-12 12-13, 13-14, 14-15, 15-16, 16-17, 17-18, 18-19)
Bill Self, Head Coach: Kansas, Illinois, and Tulsa
National championships: 25 points
Final Four Appearances: 45 points
Regular Season Conference Championships: 170 points
Conference Tournament Championships: 63 points
Seasons with 20 or more wins in a season: 105 points
0 Post season tournament championships other than the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Tournament berths: 42 points
Total Coaching Points: 450
No coach in a Power Five conference has led his team to as many regular-season championships as Self. From 2005 to 2018, he guided Kansas to consecutive Big 12 titles. Self also led the Jayhawks to eight Big 12 Tournament Titles. He has guided his teams to 20 or more wins every season during this time span and has led his teams to the NCAA Tournament every season during these past 20 seasons.
No. 2 Mike Krzyzewski
Mike Krzyzewski’s Head Coaching Accomplishments the past 20 seasons
3 NCAA Division I Tournament Champions (2001, 2010, 2015)
6 NCAA Final Fours (1999, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2015)
6 ACC Regular Season Champions (1999–2001, 2004, 2006, 2010)
12 ACC Tournament Champions (1999–2003, 2005, 2006, 2009–2011, 2017, 2019)
21 NCAA Tournament appearances (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
21 seasons with 20 or more wins (98-99, 99-00, 00-01, 01-02, 02-03, 03-04, 04-05, 05-06, 06-07, 07-08, 08-09, 09-10, 10-11, 11-12 12-13, 13-14, 14-15, 15-16, 16-17, 17-18, 18-19)
Mike Krzyzewski, Head Coach: Duke
National championships: 75 points
Final Four Appearances: 90 points
Regular Season Conference Championships: 60 points
Conference Tournament Championships: 84 points
Seasons with 20 or more wins in a season: 105 points
0 Post season tournament championships other than the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Tournament berths: 42 points
Total Coaching Points: 456
No Power 5 Conference coach has led his team to as many conference tournament titles as Krzyzewski with him leading Duke to 12 ACC Tournament championships during this span. He like Williams are the only coaches to have won three national championships during the past 20 years. Krzyzewski has led the Blue Devils to the NCAA Tournament every year during this time and has guided Duke to 20 or more wins every year as well during these past 20 seasons. He has six Final Four appearances and six ACC Regular Season titles during these 20 past seasons as well.
No. 1 Roy Williams
Roy Williams’s Head Coaching Accomplishments the past 20 seasons
3 NCAA Division I Tournament Champions (2005, 2009, 2017)
7 NCAA Final Fours (2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017)
9 ACC Regular Season Champions (2005, 2007-2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2019)
2 Big 12 Regular Season Champions (2002 and 2003)
3 ACC Tournament Champions (2007, 2008, 2016)
1 Big 12 Tournament Champions (1999)
20 NCAA Tournament appearances (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
20 seasons with 20 or more wins (98-99, 99-00, 00-01, 01-02, 02-03, 04-05, 05-06, 06-07, 07-08, 08-09, 09-10, 10-11, 11-12 12-13, 13-14, 14-15, 15-16, 16-17, 17-18, 18-19)
Roy Williams, Head Coach: North Carolina and Kansas
National championships: 75 points
Final Four Appearances: 105 points
Regular Season Conference Championships: 110 points
Conference Tournament Championships: 28 points
Seasons with 20 or more wins in a season: 100 points
0 Postseason tournament championships other than the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Tournament berths: 40 points
Total Coaching Points: 458
Only Mike Krzyzewski has as many national champions as him over the past 20 years. Williams, having won three national championships over this time span puts him in an elite category. He led Kansas to two straight Big 12 regular-season titles and two Final Four appearances before leaving to coach the Tar Heels. Since 2005, he has led North Carolina to nine regular-season ACC conference championships. Williams has guided the Tar Heels to 20+ wins all put once in this time span and North Carolina has qualified for the NCAA Tournament every year over the past 20 seasons.