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 ORLEANS – MARCH 15: Head coach Tubby Smith of the University of Kentucky Wildcats (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

5. Tubby Smith – Kentucky (2000-2007)

Before the turn of the century, Smith’s career had likely already reached its peak. After success as head coach at Tulsa and Georgia, he was hired by Kentucky and led them to the national championship in 1998, inheriting a great program from Rick Pitino. As the century turned, the Wildcats remained the top team in the conference, and the success did not stop there.

In those seven seasons, Smith led the Wildcats back to the NCAA Tournament each season and won at least one Tournament game each year as well. Kentucky made the Elite Eight in both 2003 and 2005, though they couldn’t get back to the Final Four. Overall, Smith was 177-60 in those seasons and kept this team at the top of the conference, winning five straight regular-season titles.

After inheriting a national title team, Smith’s lack of relative postseason success led towards his resignation in 2007. He’s coached at Minnesota, Texas Tech, Memphis, and now High Point in the years since, though clearly, Kentucky was his finest work. He couldn’t get Kentucky over the hump in those seven years and watched Florida take over the conference with a pair of national titles in his final two years. Still, he is responsible for a national title and his contributions will be remembered.

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