OVC Basketball: Top 10 head coaches of the century (2000-20)

By Joey Loose | Jun 14, 2020

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 23: Head coach Matt McMahon consoles Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers against the Florida State Seminoles in the second half during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 23, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

2 of 11

DURHAM, NC – NOVEMBER 18: Head Coach Jeff Lebo (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

10. OVC Basketball coach power rankings – Jeff Lebo (Tennessee Tech, 2000-2002)

Though it was a successful four years, Lebo’s time with Tennessee Tech was just the beginning for his head coaching career. The future Auburn head coach played at North Carolina under Dean Smith and had several years of experience coaching in the SEC when the Golden Eagles hired him in 1998. The first two years were tough, but by the turn of the century, he had this program in pristine shape.

Lebo’s Golden Eagles won the OVC regular-season title and won 20 games in 2001. The following year things were even better, finishing the year at 27-7 following another OVC title and an NIT run. Unfortunately, they couldn’t win the OVC Tournament in either year, but Tennessee Tech was atop the conference during Lebo’s brief time at the school. What more could you ask for than a 28-4 run through the league?

One of the dark stains on Lebo’s head coaching career, which took him to Chattanooga in 2002 before stints at Auburn and East Carolina, is that he never led a team to the NCAA Tournament. His years with Tennessee Tech were among his best, and he very certainly could’ve pushed for that postseason glory had he stayed with the Golden Eagles. Regardless, he inherited a 9-win team and built a fantastic squad in just four years.