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

By Joey Loose | Jul 12, 2020

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 16: K.J. Maura #11 of the UMBC Retrievers stands with head coach Ryan Odom on the sideline during their game against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

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CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 03: Head coach John Becker of the Vermont Catamounts (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

3. John Becker – Vermont (2011-2020)

Before becoming Vermont’s head coach in 2011, Becker had led quite an intriguing coaching career. It had all started for him as an assistant and head coach at Gallaudet, a school for the deaf in Washington DC. After a break from coaching, he returned under his college coach Mike Lonergan, eventually following him to Vermont and succeeding him after spending time on his staff.

Fortunately, Becker was an even better head coach for Vermont than Lonergan was, and his nine years with the Catamounts have been very successful. He immediately led Vermont to the NCAA Tournament in his first season and has repeated the feat twice more. The Catamounts have won five regular-season titles, including the last four in a row, and have the postseason every year it’s been held. They were set to host the America East title game before its cancellation and could have very well been headed to another NCAA Tournament bid.

Becker’s work with the Catamounts has been phenomenal, to say the least. He has solidified Vermont’s role as the conference’s premier program, even if they lost some of that spotlight to UMBC in recent years. In winning 84% of conference games, Becker has solidified this Vermont program. Perhaps he’s set himself up well for a more high-profile job in the future, though he can learn from Lonergan that that’s not always as appealing as it seems.

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