NCAA Basketball: A look 1990s players that have become head coaches

A growing number of NCAA Basketball players from the 1990s are becoming head coaches. I spoke with five of them about their journeys and influences along the way.

As someone who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, the memories of NCAA Basketball are vivid and the names that we all remember are emblazoned in our minds. Those names that were making the shots and making memories for youngsters all across the country are now coaching the players that hope to make memories for a new generation.

As we enter another decade of college basketball, the airing of the much-anticipated Chicago Bulls’ documentary has us waxing nostalgia for the 90s. A growing number of guys who wore the uniform in the college ranks during that time have become head coaches. Over 20 such players now head Division 1 programs and I had the opportunity to talk to five of them about their coaching influences along the way.

This group of five coaches I spoke to have amassed quite the resumes as players. They played their college careers at all levels of the sport, from blue blood programs to mid-major programs that played Cinderella in March. As a group, they have 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and one Final Four.  As coaches, they have coached 11 different programs overall levels of the sport and have won a total of 569 games over 33 seasons.

After speaking with these coaches, their post-playing coaching careers have been full of a lot of different influences and their coaching careers have allowed them to reflect on how the game has changed since their playing days and how that has affected the way they coach.