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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COLLEGE PARK, MD – MARCH 19: Head coach Joe Mihalich of the Niagara Purple Eagles (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) /

5. Joe Mihalich – Niagara (2000-2013)

By the time Mihalich began his head coaching career with Niagara, his coaching experience had been limited to his alma mater. While he had briefly served as a high school assistant, he had spent the majority of his basketball career with La Salle. After playing there, he spent 17 years on the coaching staff, departing for Niagara in 1998, though those experiences certainly shaped his career.

Mihalich made a certain impact during his time with the Purple Eagles. He led Niagara to a pair of NCAA Tournaments and three total regular-season titles. When you throw in three NIT appearances and a whole host of top-half finishes in the conferences, it’s easy to see how Niagara thrived under Mihalich. Their 26 wins in 2009 were the most in almost a century, while Mihalich totaled 231 wins in the thirteen seasons since the turn of the century.

A new opportunity came, and Mihalich departed for Hofstra in 2013. He just led them to a CAA Tournament title, though the NCAA Tournament was canceled before they could play in it. He’s proven successful leading both Niagara and Hofstra and has built quite a successful head coaching career in the state of New York. When you considered Niagara’s lack of success since his departure, it only magnifies his importance.