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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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Rick Stansbury of the Mississippi State Bulldogs (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

10. Rick Stansbury – Mississippi State (2000-2012)

Historically speaking, Mississippi State isn’t the most successful program in the SEC, though Stansbury has had a hand in much of the good times for the Bulldogs. Before taking over as head coach in 1998, he was an assistant for eight years and was on staff for the program’s only Final Four run in 1996. Stansbury had no previous head coaching experience when he took over, but the excellent recruiter did well in his first shot.

Five times, the Bulldogs finished atop the SEC West standings, including a pair of SEC Tournament titles. Stansbury led Mississippi State to six NCAA Tournaments and four victories, though they could never advance to the second weekend. Nearly every season since the turn of the century he fielded a competitive roster, making the postseason in all but two of those seasons with the program. His 293 wins across his tenure is an impressive program-leading mark.

Stansbury stepped away from basketball in 2012 but has returned to coach Western Kentucky for the last four seasons. He has brought solid recruits to the Hilltoppers and looks to make that program a yearly contender as well. Meanwhile, Mississippi State fell into ruin after his departure, though Ben Howland finally has the Bulldogs trending in the right direction again.

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