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NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 357 D-I head coaches for 2020-21 season

By Joey Loose

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 09: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers greets head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils before the start of a game at John Paul Jones Arena on February 9, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 09: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers greets head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils before the start of a game at John Paul Jones Arena on February 9, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 18: Head coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 18: Head coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

60. Mike Anderson (St. John’s) (Last year: 52)

  • Overall record: 386-215

Anderson took over at St. John’s last season and already has nearly two decades of head coaching experience. He took UAB to the Sweet Sixteen and Missouri to the Elite Eight but failed to build success in eight years leading Arkansas, a program he had helped lead to their first national title nearly three decades ago as an assistant. In year one, the Red Storm went 17-15; a decent enough start as Anderson gets comfortable in New York.

59. Greg Gard (Wisconsin) (Last year: 64)

  • Overall record: 101-57

Gard took over after former mentor Bo Ryan retired in 2015 and has done a decent enough job taking the reins. He took the Badgers to a pair of Sweet Sixteens in his first two seasons and tied for the Big Ten regular-season crown this past season. This program was struggling a few seasons ago, but Gard has them trending in a great direction, setting Wisconsin up for potential glory in 2021.

58. Mike Hopkins (Washington) (Last year: 53)

  • Overall record: 67-44

It was quite a surprise when Hopkins took the Washington job in 2017 following nearly three decades with Syracuse as player and assistant. No longer willing to wait for Boeheim to retire, Hopkins got to work and finished 1st in the Pac-12 in his first season with the Huskies. Unfortunately, Washington stumbled all the way to last place in the conference this past season, though a bounce-back could be in store for Hopkins and a young roster.

57. Anthony Grant (Dayton) (Last year: 79)

  • Overall record: 257-141

Grant helped build a championship team as an assistant at Florida and had some quality teams as head coach at VCU and Alabama. However, his work at his alma mater has been the most impressive coaching of his career. He found a true gem in Obi Toppin and led the Flyers to a 29-2 mark this past season, skunking the rest of the A-10 and all but securing a top seed had the NCAA Tournament taken place. Grant’s successful season was a remarkable feat and sets up Dayton near the top of the league for years to come.

56. Bob McKillop (Davidson) (Last year: 59)

  • Overall record: 594-364

McKillop has been the head coach of Davidson for over three decades, leading the Wildcats to a host of success over the years. They were a dominant force in the SoCon, especially during the Stephen Curry years, and have fit in nicely in the A-10. This past season, Davidson was just 16-14, but possess a talented roster that could have them flirting with a conference title again real soon.

55. Bobby Hurley (Arizona State) (Last year: 58)

  • Overall record: 135-89

Hurley has only been a collegiate coach for about a decade but has risen quickly through the ranks. He spent two solid years building Buffalo into a MAC contender before taking the Arizona State job in 2015. Not only has he taken the Sun Devils to a pair of NCAA Tournaments, but he’s established the program as a contender in the Pac-12, especially with some of his recent recruiting success.

54. Rick Stansbury (Western Kentucky) (Last year: 46)

  • Overall record: 375-218

After a long stint at Mississippi State, Stansbury returned to the college game four seasons ago at Western Kentucky and is still waiting for things to take off. He took the Bulldogs to six NCAA Tournament but is still looking for postseason success with the Hilltoppers, though he is 82-52 since joining the program. Recruiting has never been a problem for Stansbury, but can he coach his roster into a conference winner?

53. Ed Cooley (Providence) (Last year: 56)

  • Overall record: 273-191

Cooley has been nothing short of stellar since landing at Providence in 2011. He formerly spent time as head coach at Fairfield and is now responsible for five straight NCAA Tournaments with the Friars. Even in a tough Big East, Cooley has shown that his Friars belong. Last season, they bounced back with a 4th place finish in conference play, though we’ll just have to see what the future holds, as Cooley is just 1-5 in the Tournament to this point.

52. Tom Crean (Georgia) (Last year: 45)

  • Overall record: 383-268
  • Final Four in 2003

After leading Marquette to the Final Four and Indiana to three Sweet Sixteens, Crean begins his third year at Georgia, hoping to turn this Bulldogs program around. Georgia is a program that has really struggled in recent years, though Crean was able to bring top recruit, Anthony Edwards, to the program this past season. Still, a pair of 13th place finishes in the SEC isn’t getting the job done, though Crean is only just getting started.

51. Kevin Keatts (NC State) (Last year: 47)

  • Overall record: 137-64

After three brilliant years at UNC Wilmington, Keatts landed at NC State in 2017 with quite a task ahead. He took the Seahawks to a pair of NCAA Tournaments, but bids alone won’t suffice with the Wolfpack. He’s 65-36 three seasons in at NC State, finishing at .500 in ACC play each of the last two years. The Wolfpack have yet to replicate their 3rd place finish in Keatts’ first season, though they do seem to be headed in a good direction overall.

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