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Big 12 Basketball: Ranking the 10 head coaches for 2019-20 season

By Joey Loose

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders drives to the basket against Quentin Grimes #5 of the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half of the game on February 23, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Kansas 91-62. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders drives to the basket against Quentin Grimes #5 of the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half of the game on February 23, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Kansas 91-62. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TX – FEBRUARY 27: Head coach Mike Boynton of the Oklahoma State Cowboys shouts instructions to his team during the second half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on February 27, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma State 84-80 in overtime. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – FEBRUARY 27: Head coach Mike Boynton of the Oklahoma State Cowboys shouts instructions to his team during the second half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on February 27, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma State 84-80 in overtime. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

10. Mike Boynton (Oklahoma State)

From top to bottom, the Big 12 is full of impressive programs helmed by successful head coaches. With all due respect, Oklahoma State is the exception. Obviously, this program was a well-oiled machine under Henry Iba and Eddie Sutton, but Boynton pales in comparison to those two, or the other coaches in the conference.

Boynton played point guard at South Carolina in the early 2000’s before beginning his coaching career. He was a senior with the Gamecocks when Oklahoma State made the Final Four in 2004. He jumped around as an assistant, working at places like Furman, Wofford, and at his alma mater before joining Brad Underwood’s staff at Stephen F. Austin. When Underwood got the job at Oklahoma State, Boynton followed as a member of his staff.

In 2017, Underwood surprisingly left for Illinois and the Cowboys promoted Boynton to the head coaching job. Nobody certainly expected he’d be the guy in charge when Underwood was hired just one year earlier. His first two seasons have an NIT bid plus a 12-20 effort last season. It certainly takes time to build a program, but the competition is extremely fierce in the Big 12.

There were some offensive struggles at times for the Cowboys last season, but a few new faces should have this program in better shape. It’s still premature to think they’ll give Boynton his first NCAA Tournament appearance, but it should be a step in the right direction. Someone has to wear the title, and there’s no question that he’s the weakest coach in a conference the boasts incredible depth.

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