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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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EVANSTON, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 27: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 27: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

4. Brad Underwood, Illinois

To some college basketball fans, this past season may be the first you’ve heard of Brad Underwood. However, Underwood has been successful coaching college basketball for almost a decade. Let’s take a look at his history

Underwood started at Stephen F Austin in 2013, and the Lumberjacks absolutely dominated the Southland conference. In three seasons, Underwood and the Lumberjacks won all three Southland Regular Season titles, three conference tournaments, and were top-10 in the NCAA in win percentage all three seasons. Stephen F Austin lost one conference game in all three seasons, and even upset 5th seeded VCU in 2014 and 3rd seeded West Virginia in 2016 in the NCAA tournament.

After leaving Stephen F Austin with an 89-14 record, Underwood made a one year pit stop in Stillwater, Oklahoma to coach Oklahoma State. The Cowboys were coming off a 12-20 season, but Underwood made the most of his talent ending with a 20-win season and an NCAA tournament appearance, which ended in a one point heartbreaking loss to Michigan.

After the 2016-17 season with Oklahoma State, Underwood moved to a rebuilding project with Illinois. After two difficult seasons to start, Underwood and the Illini were widely successful this year; they finished 21-10 and ended the season as the #21 team in the nation. It seems like Underwood has finally found his footing in the Big Ten.

Despite success with three programs, winning three Southland Coach of the Year awards, and a win percentage of 67.2%, Underwood is rarely mentioned in mainstream media. If you’re a big college basketball fan, you’re aware of his success. But, he receives very little acclaim for his success and that’s why he’s on my list of underrated coaches.

Finally, we move to the SEC and a coach who has made the Final Four.

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