Busting Brackets
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Ivy League Basketball: Top 10 head coaches of the century (2000-20)

By Joey Loose

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 11: Darnell Foreman #4 of the Pennsylvania Quakers sits atop the rim after the win at The Palestra on March 11, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Penn defeated Harvard 68-65 for the Men's Ivy League Tournament Championship title. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 11: Darnell Foreman #4 of the Pennsylvania Quakers sits atop the rim after the win at The Palestra on March 11, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Penn defeated Harvard 68-65 for the Men's Ivy League Tournament Championship title. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – MARCH 17: Head coach Sydney Johnson of the Princeton Tigers (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – MARCH 17: Head coach Sydney Johnson of the Princeton Tigers (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

7. Sydney Johnson – Princeton (2007-2011)

In stark contrast to the previous programs, Princeton has had prolonged stretches of success during their history. By the time Johnson took over in 2007, the program was long past the Pete Carril era, but his presence could certainly still be felt.  Johnson was a star player on the 1996 team that upset UCLA before Carril’s retirement, but how would he translate as their new head coach.

Johnson inherited a team in disarray and built them into a prime contender in just four seasons. The Tigers’ win total improved in each of his four seasons, progressing from 6 to 25 by 2011. In that final season, Princeton was back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years. Things were not looking great for the Tigers at the time of his arrival, but he built a roster that could succeed again in the Ivy League, finishing in the top 2 in each of his final three seasons.

departed his alma mater for Fairfield in 2011, a decision that didn’t work out for him in the end. He took over a Princeton program that former coach Joe Scott faltered and produced strong results. It’s impossible to know what would have happened if he had stayed with Princeton beyond 2011, but it’s likely that this team could have contended for additional trips to the postseason.