270. Brian Kennedy (NJIT) (Last year: 246)
- Overall record: 56-70
Basketball was a family business for Kennedy, as he followed uncle Pat into the coaching ranks, even spending time on his staff at DePaul. He helped lead the turnaround at NJIT and took over as head coach in 2016. He led the Highlanders to a 22-win season and a CIT bid in 2019, though last year was a bit of a step back. There’s still potential ahead for this program, especially as they transition to the America East this season.
269. Jack Owens (Miami OH) (Last year: 248)
- Overall record: 44-54
Owens got his shot to run a program when the Redhawks came calling three years ago. He had spent the previous nine years on Matt Painter’s Purdue staff, having worked with him before Purdue as well. While he did lead Miami to the CBI in his first season, he’s still got plenty of work ahead, as his team managed a meager 13-19 record this past year.
268. Heath Schroyer (McNeese State) (Last year: 271)
- Overall record: 150-183
Now on his fourth D1 head coaching gig, Schroyer has coached all around the country, including stints leading Portland State, Wyoming, and Tennessee-Martin in years past. He’s yet to lead a team to the NCAA Tournament but did lead a 6-win improvement with the Cowboys in his second season. If he can build on last year’s 6th place Southland finish, then perhaps he has a future contender on his hands.
267. Jerrod Calhoun (Youngstown State) (Last year: 281)
- Overall record: 38-59
Still a relatively young coach, Calhoun has done some impressive work early in his career. A former assistant under Bob Huggins, he led Fairmont State to the D2 title game before he took over the Penguins in 2017. This past season, Youngstown State won 18 games and tied for 4th place in the Horizon League, one of the program’s best seasons in recent memory and a major step forward under Calhoun’s watch.
266. Barclay Radebaugh (Charleston Southern) (Last year: 255)
- Overall record: 207-256
It’s been fifteen years since Radebaugh took over at Charleston Southern, and the results have been up and down throughout his tenure. A former assistant at South Carolina and Miami, he’s gotten the Buccaneers twice to the NIT but has yet to win the Big South Tournament and take his team to the next level. His Buccaneers took a slight step back this year, but should still be in position to contend in the future.
265. Shaheen Holloway (Saint Peter’s) (Last year: 284)
- Overall record: 28-34
Holloway’s head coaching career just began when the Peacocks brought him aboard two years ago. The former point guard got into coaching on Kevin Willard’s staff, spending more than a decade with him before his chance to run a program. It’s off to a fine start, as Saint Peter’s finished 2nd place in the MAAC this past season, a major leap over the recent shape of the program.
264. Billy Lange (Saint Joseph’s) (Last year: 236)
- Overall record: 98-141
After a long stretch with the Philadelphia 76ers, Lange got back into college coaching by taking the Saint Joseph’s job last year. The former Navy head coach also spent time on Jay Wright’s staff at Villanova and is certainly very familiar with basketball in Philadelphia. His Hawks were just 6-26 in a struggle-filled rebuilding season; but how long will it take Lange to get things back on track?
263. Tony Jasick (Jacksonville) (Last year: 253)
- Overall record: 136-157
Jasick enters year seven with the Dolphins, following a three stint as head coach at IPFW. He’s responsible for a single CIT bid with both schools but has yet to really contend for an Atlantic Sun title with Jacksonville. There’s still time to turn things around, but Jacksonville hasn’t exactly been a prime contender since Jasick’s arrival.
262. Zach Spiker (Drexel) (Last year: 238)
- Overall record: 151-193
Spiker did some solid work as head coach at Army before Drexel brought him aboard four years ago. He slowly built Army into a postseason team, but there’s still a ton of work ahead with the Dragons. Drexel has steadily improved under his watch, but he’s just 49-81, winning just 30% of CAA games along the way. Of course, there’s still time for Spiker to rebuild, especially in a conference that nearly any team can win.
261. Mike Brennan (American) (Last year: 252)
- Overall record: 94-123
Brennan is another coach who came up learning the Princeton offense, playing for the Tigers, and serving on the Princeton and Georgetown staff’s at the beginning of his career. He took American to the NCAA Tournament in 2014, his first year as head coach, though the results have been fleeting ever since. His Eagles did tie for 2nd place in the Patriot League last season and seem to be back on the rise again.
260. Ryan Ridder (Bethune-Cookman) (Last year: 260)
- Overall record: 48-45
After a dominant performance at junior college Dayton State, Ridder took over Bethune-Cookman in 2017. The former Campbell assistant (his only previous D1 experience) has done a fine job keeping the Wildcats competitive in the MEAC, finishing atop the conference standings in his first season and winning 64% of conference games to this point.
259. Glenn Braica (St. Francis NY) (Last year: 243)
- Overall record: 145-170
A longtime former assistant for the Terriers, Braica returned to Brooklyn as head coach in 2010 and has been solid leading the program. There hasn’t been an NCAA Tournament appearance, but the Terriers typically compete in the conference, aside from a few rough seasons. Last season’s 13-18 mark is a step back but St. Francis could have big things on the horizon in a winnable NEC.
258. Anthony Latina (Sacred Heart) (Last year: 273)
- Overall record: 90-131
Progress was slow at the start, but Sacred Heart could be heading in a great direction under Latina. An assistant for eight years prior to his promotion to head coach, he led the Pioneers to a 20-win campaign this past season and could have an NEC contender for years to come.
257. Mark Slessinger (New Orleans) (Last year: 222)
- Overall record: 104-135
Slessinger took over New Orleans in 2011 after twelve years on staff at in-state Northwestern State. He led the Privateers to the NCAA Tournament in 2017, and to the CBI and CIT in the following seasons. Last year’s 9-21 finish is a concern, but this roster is reloading and Slessinger should look to contend in the Southland again real soon.
256. Griff Aldrich (Longwood) (Last year: 247)
- Overall record: 30-36
Aldrich spent nearly two decades away from professional coaching, but returned in a major way, serving on UMBC’s staff when they upset Virginia and then taking the Longwood job in 2018. A former AAU coach, Aldrich led the Lancers to the CBI quarterfinals in his first season and took Longwood to a 4th place Big South finish this past season. Things are looking up for Longwood, a still relatively young D1 program, under Aldrich’s watch.
255. Tavaras Hardy (Loyola MD) (Last year: 265)
- Overall record: 26-38
Hardy landed at Loyola after a playing and coaching career that took him to Northwestern, Georgetown, and Georgia Tech, meaning the MAAC is a slight culture change. He’s already off to a solid start with the Greyhounds, improving to 15 wins this past season and setting the program back on the right course. As he continues bringing his recruits in, he could have a MAAC contender in the next few years.
254. Lamont Paris (Chattanooga) (Last year: 274)
- Overall record: 42-56
After seven years on the Wisconsin staff, including those two Final Four runs, Paris took over at Chattanooga in 2017. The first two years were rough, but the rebuilding effort is starting to bear fruit, as the Mocs won 20 games and tied for 5th in a SoCon that is suddenly much tougher than in recent memory.
253. Todd Lee (South Dakota) (Last year: 272)
- Overall record: 33-29
Lee’s coaching career has taken him all around, including eight solid years leading D2 Kentucky Wesleyan and a stint on Dan Majerle’s staff at Grand Canyon. He’s running his own D1 program for the first time but is clearly up to the challenge. His Coyotes won 20 games and finished 3rd in the Summit League, a big step forward in his second season at the helm.
252. Keith Richard (Louisiana-Monroe) (Last year: 240)
- Overall record: 271-311
With decades of experience in the state of Louisiana, Richard has made a name for himself in the Bayou State. He formerly spent nine years leading Louisiana Tech and enters his eleventh season leading Louisiana-Monroe, his alma mater. He has no NCAA Tournament appearances to his name, but a slew of other postseason bids. This past season was a step backward at 9-20, but he’ll reload and compete in the Sun Belt again.
251. Donte Jackson (Grambling State) (Last year: 249)
- Overall record: 51-46
With previous success as head coach at Central State and Stillman, Jackson took the Grambling State job in 2017 and is off to a phenomenal start. He has won exactly 17 games in each of his first three seasons, and while he’s yet to win a SWAC title, this is still great progress. Before his arrival, you had to go back to 1984 to find a Grambling team with 17 wins, let alone this level of consistency.