The 2019-20 NCAA basketball season is now almost halfway complete. Which leaders are most deserving of National Coach of the Year consideration right now?
The 2019-20 NCAA basketball campaign is moving quickly. Conference play has already begun and the regular season is close to halfway complete. Teams are starting to settle into their positions in the national rankings and it is therefore time to do a little bit of a check-in on the National Coach of the Year race. Without a clear-cut dominant team at the top of the national rankings, there is no easy favorite to win the award. With that said, though, there are several capable head coaches worthy of being discussed as potential candidates and/or frontrunners at the moment.
While some familiar faces will still crack these rankings, several coaches that have led surprising breakout teams also warrant attention. This has been a crazy year in college hoops so far and that is bound to continue. Will all of these coaches continue to exceed expectations and showcase their chops on the sideline throughout the next two months? Probably not, but all 10 head coaches included in this piece are worthy of early-season consideration for the hardware.
For a little bit of background, here is a look at last few coaches to win the award:
- 2018-19: Rick Barnes, Tennessee
- 2017-18: Tony Bennett, Virginia
- 2016-17: Mark Few, Gonzaga
- 2015-16: Jay Wright, Villanova
- 2014-15: John Calipari, Kentucky
As a bit of a sneak peek, only one of the coaches listed among my current favorites for this season has won the award in the past. Could that coach be the fourth second-time winner in the past six seasons? Possibly, but he is not my current leader and there is a lot of season left to be played.
Now, without any further introduction, here are my 10 leading candidates for the Naismith College Coach of the Year award right now.