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

3. Big 12 Basketball coach rankings – Roy Williams (Kansas, 2000-2003)

Kansas has seen its fair share of legendary head coaches and Williams was part of their longtime dominance in the Big 12. By the turn of the century, Williams had already been successful with the Jayhawks, with a pair of Final Fours early in his tenure, which began in 1988. The former North Carolina assistant would return to the school a few years later, but these three seasons before his exit were still fantastic.

Following a Sweet Sixteen run in 2001, Williams led Kansas back to the Final Four in 2002 after a 33-win season and a clean sweep through the Big 12. In his final season in Lawrence, Williams got even further, taking the Jayhawks all the way to the national title game, winning another Big 12 title along the way. In these final three years, Williams blitzed through the Big 12 with a 42-6 conference record, though his 89 total wins aren’t bad either.

Williams made four total Final Fours before departing for North Carolina in 2003, winning three national titles with his alma mater. The lone disappointment from his time with Kansas was his inability to win a championship. Regardless, he dominated this conference for years and is a true legend of the sport. Despite how Williams has made it look, it’s really not this easy to be a coach, even if at Blue Blood schools.