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

By Joey Loose | Jun 18, 2020

SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 07: Chris Douglas-Roberts #14, Derrick Rose #23 and Antonio Anderson #5 of the Memphis Tigers walk off the court in the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2008 NCAA Men's National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 7, 2008 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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FAYETTEVILLE, AR – JANUARY 23: Head Coach Mike Anderson of the Arkansas Razorbacks (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

6. Conference USA Basketball head coach rankings – Mike Anderson

UAB (2002-2006)

By the time Anderson was hired by UAB in 2002, his first job as a head coach, he already had an extensive coaching background. He had spent nearly two decades with Nolan Richardson, helping him coach Arkansas to the national championship in 1994. Anderson became the first head coach at UAB with a last name besides Bartow, leaving big shoes to fill.

Fortunately, he filled those shoes and more in his four years with the Blazers. He won 21 games and finished in the top 4 in the C-USA in each of those seasons, highlighted by a Sweet Sixteen run as a 9-seed in 2004. Anderson was 42-20 in the conference and won a total of three NCAA Tournament games, certainly a successful run for the program, and one that has been unmatched these last few years.

Anderson turned that success into the Missouri job in 2006, leading them to an Elite Eight before bolting to Arkansas and eventually landing at St. John’s. That success at UAB was certainly impressive and it turned into quite the coaching career booster for Anderson. UAB has made just a pair of Tournament appearances since his departure; his impact on this program was clear.