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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COLUMBUS, OH – DECEMBER 7: Malcolm McMillan #11 of the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (Photo by Ryan Young/Getty Images) /

7. Howie Dickenman – Central Connecticut State (2000-2016)

Dickenman lived and breathed basketball in the state of Connecticut. He was a high school and junior college coach in the state and spent fourteen seasons as an assistant with the Huskies, including a decade under Jim Calhoun. He received the opportunity to return to his alma mater as head coach in 1996, helped them join the NEC in 1997, and made their first NCAA Tournament in 2000.

There were more successful years for the Blue Devils under Dickenman, as he led the program to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2002 and 2007 as well. In both of those seasons, Central Connecticut won the regular season titles and won no fewer than 22 games. They were fairly competitive in the conference during most of Dickenman’s tenure, though his final years were certainly more of a challenge.

Dickenman retired in 2016, winning just nine total games in his final two seasons. His best years were certainly past him, but that doesn’t hurt his legacy. He led this team to all of their progress at the D1 level and did fantastic work during his two decades in New Britain. Doing what he did was no easy task, especially as successor Donyell Marshall struggles to make them successful in the NEC again.