NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 357 D-I head coaches for 2020-21 season
By Joey Loose
20. Scott Drew (Baylor) (Last year: 27)
- Overall record: 364-224
The job Drew has done since taking over this Baylor program is extremely underrated. The former Valparaiso coach inherited a program in ruin and has turned them into a national title threat, with Elite Eights and Sweet Sixteens along the way. Baylor was definitely a title contender had this past postseason taken place, and Drew will have just as great a team vying for glory in 2021.
19. Rick Pitino (Iona) (Last year: N/A)
- Overall record: 770-271
- Final Four in 1987, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2012*, 2013*
- National championships in 1996, 2013*
Pitino is back in college basketball, taking over an Iona program that has been the MAAC’s best in recent years. Known for winning national titles at Kentucky and Louisville (vacated), Pitino also took Providence to the Final Four, spent time in the NBA as head coach, and will certainly raise questions after how his tenure ended with the Cardinals. He’s going to bring excitement and intrigue to an Iona team that will likely be regular favorites to represent the MAAC in the postseason.
18. Bruce Pearl (Auburn) (Last year: 17)
- Overall record: 356-177
- Final Four in 2019
Pearl’s coaching career has been jam-packed with success. He won a D2 title at Southern Indiana, took mid-major Milwaukee to the Sweet Sixteen, and built consistent success at Tennessee. Most impressively, he just took Auburn to their very first Final Four and has the Tigers in excellent position to contend on the national stage for years to come. Though it got him in trouble at Tennessee, he remains one of the more excellent recruiters in the game and has shown these last few seasons he is still a very capable on-court coach as well.
17. Chris Mack (Louisville) (Last year: 22)
- Overall record: 259-118
Mack’s work with Xavier was pretty outstanding, spending nine successful seasons with the Musketeers, even as they transitioned to the Big East. In these last two years, his work with Louisville has been even more impressive. Since taking over a program battered by allegations and violations, Mack is 44-21 and tied for 2nd place in the ACC this past season. He’s in fantastic shape to have a perennial contender with the Cardinals for years to come.
16. Lon Kruger (Oklahoma) (Last year: 15)
- Overall record: 658-421
- Final Four in 1994, 2016
A long successful coaching career has seen Kruger do some of his best work recently with the Sooners. He’s led both Florida and Oklahoma to the Final Four, spent time coaching the Atlanta Hawks, and also had success at Texas-Pan American, Kansas State, Illinois, and UNLV. He’s recruited some impressive talent to Oklahoma even if these last few years haven’t been as national title threats; Oklahoma did tie for 3rd in the Big 12 last season despite a 19-12 record.