Big 12 Basketball: Top 10 head coaches of the century (2000-20)

8. Big 12 Basketball coach rankings – Eddie Sutton (Oklahoma State, 2000-2006)

The college basketball landscape is always changing. For fans only getting into the game in recent years, it might be a surprise to hear that Sutton had Oklahoma State in a position as one of the nation’s premier programs early in the century. Oklahoma State was the end of a long successful coaching career for the late Hall of Famer, and by the turn of the century, there were already great things happening in Stillwater.

Sutton led the Cowboys to the Final Four in 1995 and would repeat the feat in 2004. Oklahoma State made five NCAA Tournaments during Sutton’s final six seasons, though that 31-win 2004 campaign was the clear highlight. Oklahoma State finished in the top 4 in the Big 12 five times and was a consistent contender during Sutton’s entire tenure.

The Final Four alone is worthy of mention, but Sutton’s work is even more impressive when you consider the Oklahoma State program today. Successors like Travis Ford and Brad Underwood have led the Cowboys back to the Tournament, but they’ve been nowhere near the success of that 2004 team these days. It’s been seven years since Oklahoma State was even above .500 in Big 12 play and not since Sutton was around has this team truly been a national contender.