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

By Joey Loose | Jun 21, 2020

WICHITA, KS - MARCH 15: Head coach Travis DeCuire speaks with Ahmaad Rorie #14, Sayeed Pridgett #4 and Fabijan Krslovic #20 of the Montana Grizzlies during a stopage against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half of the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Arena on March 15, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

3 of 11

TUCSON, AZ – NOVEMBER 21: Jordan Davis #0 of the Northern Colorado Bears (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /

9. Big Sky Basketball coach rankings – Mike Adras (Northern Arizona, 2000-2011)

It’s easy to say that Adras’s time with the Lumberjacks was disappointing, but there’s still reason to focus on his time at Northern Arizona. He was an assistant under predecessor Ben Howland, who would one day lead UCLA to three Final Fours. He took over the program and led the Lumberjacks back to the NCAA Tournament in 2000, though we’re focusing just on what happened after that initial season.

Overall, Adras did a fine job keeping Northern Arizona competitive in the Big Sky, though he didn’t make another NCAA Tournament. He notched two Big Sky regular-season titles in 2006 and 2007 but could never finish the job in the Big Sky Tournament. He did win 193 games, more than twice as many as any coach in program history, and is responsible for that postseason success, both as head coach and assistant.

Unfortunately, things ended quite unceremoniously in December 2011, and he was released from the school after committing several infractions. Still, in his twelve-plus years, he did lead the Lumberjacks to quite a bunch of success even if things ended poorly. His 21-win seasons were at the time a program record and Adras’s positive contributions to Northern Arizona will not be forgotten.

Home/Mid Major Conferences