Busting Brackets
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SoCon Basketball: Top 10 head coaches of the century (2000-20)

By Joey Loose

DETROIT - MARCH 30: Stephen Curry #30 of the Davidson Wildcats goes over the scorer's table as he was attempting to save the ball from going out of bounds against the Kansas Jayhawks during the Midwest Regional Final of the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at Ford Field on March 30, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT - MARCH 30: Stephen Curry #30 of the Davidson Wildcats goes over the scorer's table as he was attempting to save the ball from going out of bounds against the Kansas Jayhawks during the Midwest Regional Final of the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at Ford Field on March 30, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, VA – JANUARY 10: Head coach Bob Richey of the Furman Paladins (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, VA – JANUARY 10: Head coach Bob Richey of the Furman Paladins (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

8. Bob Richey – Furman (2017-2020)

Richey is a relatively young head coach who has shown a whole lot of promise during his time with the Paladins. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Charleston Southern before joining the Furman staff in 2011. He was retained by new coach Niko Medved in 2013 and became acting head coach when Medved departed four years later. He’s continued as head coach and has merely led Furman to profound success.

Furman hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 1980 but they’ve never been closer than under Richey. They spent part of the 2019 season ranked after a 12-0 start and have won at least 13 conference games in each of his three seasons. Richey is 73-26 during his brief tenure, including an NIT at-large bid in 2019.

The Southern Conference is in as great shape as it’s been for years, and Furman is one of the reasons why. Richey has helped build success over the last decade, and it’s really come to a head since he’s been head coach. If he continues to win 20+ games, he’ll have some offers from other programs in the coming years. If he leads Furman back to the NCAA Tournament, then he’ll be a legend for the Paladins; don’t be surprised if it happens one day soon.