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

By Joey Loose | Jul 1, 2020

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 13: Head coach John Calipari (R) of the Kentucky Wildcats is congratulated by head coach Bruce Pearl of the Tennessee Volunteers after Kentucky won 74-45 during the semirfinals of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at the Bridgestone Arena on March 13, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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LEXINGTON, KY – FEBRUARY 29: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

2. John Calipari – Kentucky (2009-2020)

Calipari was the perfect candidate for Kentucky in 2009 after Billy Gillispie’s dismissal and the resulting success has been pretty excellent. He coached both Massachusetts and Memphis to (now-vacated) Final Fours while also spending three seasons leading the New Jersey Nets. There was plenty of experience in Calipari’s pocket, plus he was fresh off a dominant stretch with Memphis the last few seasons.

Potentially the nation’s best recruiter, Calipari immediately built success with Kentucky, leading the program to the national title in 2012, his third season. He made four Final Fours in a five-year stretch and has been at or near the top of the league standings each season. His 330-77 mark through 11 seasons is phenomenal and Kentucky will continue to be a national title contender each season he stays in Lexington.

Until his retirement, Calipari will be royalty and lead Kentucky to national prominence each and every year. While they haven’t returned to the Final Four in the last five years, his overall success with the program has been fantastic. It’s well within the realm of possibility that Calipari leads Kentucky to a second national title, and locking up something like that would certainly solidify him amongst college basketball’s coaching legends.

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