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NCAA Basketball: 5 most underrated head coaches heading into 2020-21

By Jackson Downs

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Head coach Ed Cooley of the Providence Friars looks on in the first half during a college basketball game against the Georgetown Hoyas at the Capital One Arena on February 19, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Head coach Ed Cooley of the Providence Friars looks on in the first half during a college basketball game against the Georgetown Hoyas at the Capital One Arena on February 19, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 23: Head coach Ed Cooley of the Providence Friars (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 23: Head coach Ed Cooley of the Providence Friars (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

3. Ed Cooley, Providence

If you’re looking for a coach that excels in difficult rebuilds of programs, look no further than Ed Cooley.

Cooley took over the Farfield job in 2006, and rebuilt the Stags. The MAAC is a notoriously difficult conference but it took Cooley just three seasons to get over .500. In his 4th season, he won 23 games and the Ben Jobe award (the most outstanding minority men’s basketball coach). In his 5th season, he won the MAAC Regular Season title and made the second round of the NIT. He left Farfield with a 92-69 record and a 57.1% winning percentage.

Cooley then jumped ship to Providence where he became renowned for getting the most out of his players. In just his 3rd season, Cooley led his team a 23-12 record and a Big East Tournament Championship before the Friars were narrowly edged by UNC in the NCAA tournament.

However the Friars stayed hot, Cooley made the next 4 NCAA tournaments included being ranked as high as #8 in 2015-16, with the Friars racking up at least 20 wins in each season. Providence did miss the tournament in 2018-19, but Cooley and the Friars bounced back this year. After a slow start, they won eight of their last 10 including a 5-0 record vs ranked opponents. And, they were certainly headed for the 2020 NCAA tournament.

So what recognition has Cooley gotten for bringing the best out of two difficult programs to coach at? Not much, as he’s more remembered for coaching the 2018 Big East Tournament final with ripped pants at MSG. However, Cooley’s 273 wins and 58.8% win percentage shows that he is more than a program rebuilder. And for these reasons, Cooley makes my list of underrated coaches.

For our next coach, we move to the Big Ten.

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