NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 353 D-I head coaches for 2019-20 season
By Joey Loose
40. Steve Alford (Nevada) (Last year: 34)
- Overall record: 509-269
Things did not work out for Alford at UCLA, but he’s certainly bounced back, landing the Nevada job after Eric Musselman’s departure. The former Missouri State, Iowa, and New Mexico coach is back in the MWC, where he had great success with the Lobos. He led Missouri State to a Sweet Sixteen back in 1999 and has put together solid teams no matter where he’s gone. Three Sweet Sixteens wasn’t enough for UCLA, but he has all the tools to keep Nevada at the top of the MWC in years to come.
39. Tubby Smith (High Point) (Last year: 39)
- Overall record: 613-317
- Final Four in 1998
- National championship in 1998
The highlight of Smith’s career is certainly the national title with Kentucky. He’s back for his second year at High Point, his alma mater, which is incredibly his seventh D1 head coaching job. Tulsa, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, Texas Tech and Memphis all experienced their highs and lows with Smith, though his stock has certainly fallen in recent years. A 16-15 start at High Point is great for Smith, who might have this team competing at the top of the Big South in just a few years.
38. Steve Prohm (Iowa State) (Last year: 46)
- Overall record: 187-82
Prohm begins his fifth season on the Iowa State sidelines after beginning his head coaching career solidly at Murray State. He took the Cyclones to the Sweet Sixteen in his first season and won an NCAA Tournament game in 2012 with the Racers. The record is great and he’s done a good of building teams that can compete in a tough Big 12. He head heavy shoes to fill when Hoiberg left for the NBA but he’s filled them so far.
37. Mike White (Florida) (Last year: 40)
- Overall record: 190-93
White’s career began in the SEC, playing at Ole Miss, and now his best coaching has come with the Gators. The former Louisiana Tech head coach won 101 games in four years before Florida hired him in 2015. His second year at Florida ended in the Elite Eight. Despite last year’s 8th place finish in the SEC, this team was an NCAA Tournament team for a third straight year. Even better for White, an impressive offseason haul has put Florida in a position for more success.
36. Fred Hoiberg (Nebraska) (Last year: N/A)
- Overall record: 115-56
Hoiberg returns to college basketball this season at Nebraska following his three plus seasons with the Chicago Bulls. He completely built success at his alma mater Iowa State in five seasons, making four NCAA Tournaments and helping establishing the program in the Big 12 again. Now he has a bigger task ahead, with Nebraska seemingly buried in a talented Big Ten. Completely rebuilding this roster is just the beginning; give it a few years and we may see the Cornhuskers doing big things for the first time in their history.
35. Eric Musselman (Arkansas) (Last year: 33)
- Overall record: 110-34
It’s ridiculous to say that Nevada underachieved last season when they won 29 games and made the NCAA Tournament for a third straight year. Regardless of how you feel, Musselman’s amazing four year run with the Wolf Pack earned him the upgrade to Arkansas. Building through transfers and junior college players may not work as quickly in the SEC, but he has a lot of experience (including as an NBA head coach) and might be the perfect guy to turn things around for the Razorbacks.
34. Frank Martin (South Carolina) (Last year: 31)
- Overall record: 246-160
- Final Four in 2017
Martin’s career began as a Miami high school basketball coach before eventually leading him into the Final Four a few seasons ago. His five years as head coach at Kansas State were extremely productive, including an Elite Eight in 2010. He’s taken it a step further, leading that 2017 Gamecocks team to four NCAA Tournament wins, miles ahead of anything else he’s done at South Carolina. Life in the SEC is hard, and this did tie for 4th place last season; just don’t count out a Martin coached team.
33. Archie Miller (Indiana) (Last year: 27)
- Overall record: 174-94
After assisting his brother and other great head coaches over the years, Miller got his shot at Dayton and did not disappoint, leading the Flyers to an Elite Eight and four NCAA Tournaments across six years. He left for Indiana in 2017 and it’s been a bit of a struggle. He’s 35-31 and without an NCAA Tournament appearance, even with a lottery pick on the team last season. Miller will have some time for results, but this is Indiana so they won’t give him forever.
32. Mark Turgeon (Maryland) (Last year: 37)
- Overall record: 430-251
Turgeon has been a head coach for over two decades at this point and is doing some of his best work with the Terrapins. The former head coach at Jacksonville State, Wichita State, and Texas A&M made a Sweet Sixteen with the Shockers and built a perennial contender down in Texas. He arrived at Maryland in 2011 and has done great work in transitioning this team to the Big Ten, making four of the last five NCAA Tournaments. The Sweet Sixteen in 2016 was great, but can Turgeon follow that up more success?
31. Buzz Williams (Texas A&M) (Last year: 41)
- Overall record: 253-155
After leading Virginia Tech to their first Sweet Sixteen in over 50 years, Williams returned to native Texas to take over a struggling Aggies program. After successful seasons at both Marquette and Virginia Tech, there are great expectations for the Texas A&M program once Williams has a few years under his belt. If he can recruit at a high level, then he can turn this team back into an SEC contender in a few seasons.