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

By Joey Loose | Jul 22, 2020

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 21: The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights huddle before taking on the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the first half in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament dat Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 21, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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RICHMOND, VA – NOVEMBER 05: Head coach Rob Krimmel of the St. Francis Red Flash (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

9. Rob Krimmel – St. Francis PA (2012-2020)

Krimmel is another one of those coaches who has does some fine work in his career, but whose entire basketball background lies in one place. A point guard as a player, he arrived at St. Francis in 1996 and has remained with the school in some capacity ever since. Following his graduation, he joined the coaching staff and was promoted to head coach in 2012 after playing and serving under three different coaches himself.

Over time, his hard work has helped the Red Flash become a contender in the NEC. Things were slow in the initial seasons, but he already had the team back in the CIT by 2015. He’s yet to lead his alma mater to the NCAA Tournament, but 2019’s team got close, winning the regular-season title but settling for the NIT. A 22-win campaign in 2020 was another step forward, though the program lost its second straight NEC title game.

Krimmel has the Red Flash on the precipice of great things, nearing the program’s first NCAA Tournament since 1991. This past season was also their first with 20 wins since that Tournament appearance. With top 3 finishes in the NEC in each of his last four seasons, Krimmel clearly has built St. Francis into contender status, but can he push them over the top?