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

By Joey Loose | Jul 15, 2020

DAYTON, OH - MARCH 20: The Siena Saints celebrate a double overtime win over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at University of Dayton Arena on March 20, 2009 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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MADISON, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 31: Head coach Kevin Baggett of the Rider Broncs (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

8. Kevin Baggett – Rider (2012-2020)

After bouncing around between various school as an assistant, Baggett joined Rider in 2006 as an assistant coach. He didn’t have a prestigious background or impressive playing career, but his solid work as an assistant led to his promotion to the head coaching job in 2012. The Broncs were in the midst of a less-than-successful era, leaving Baggett with some work to do.

There hasn’t been an NCAA Tournament, but there’s been plenty of reason to laud Baggett’s years as head coach. He tied for the MAAC regular-season crown in 2018 and has three second-place finishes on his resume as well. There have been three postseason bids, including an NIT, and two 20-win seasons along the way.

Rider hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since joining the MAAC in 1997, but Baggett has had them close as anyone. While Iona has taken the titles in recent years, Rider has been right there on the precipice of success. Baggett still has work ahead, but he’s close to breaking through with the Broncs.