NCAA Basketball: UNC, Kansas among top head coaching hires from 2003

10. Darrin Horn (Western Kentucky)

Western Kentucky hasn’t won any titles or moved any mountains but has historically been one of the more talented mid-major programs in the country. They’ve been a haven for young head coaches making their mark on the game before moving to bigger opportunities, exemplified by coaches like Gene Keady. By 2003, it was Dennis Felton who had succeeded and departed for Georgia, leaving the Hilltoppers’ program in the capable hands of another young coach.

Darrin Horn returned to Western Kentucky to take over as head coach, having previously played and assisted at his alma mater. He also spent time as an assistant at Morehead State before joining Tom Crean’s staff at Marquette. He was an assistant for four years, helping bring Dwyane Wade and a Final Four to the Golden Eagles.

Western Kentucky was already in fantastic shape when Horn took over the program, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t leave a tremendous legacy behind with the Hilltoppers. After reloading the program, Horn won at least 22 games in each of his last four seasons on campus, culminating in the 2008 team’s surprise trip to the Sweet Sixteen.

Pair that with a couple of NIT bids, and Horn parlayed that success into the job at South Carolina, opening the door for the next assistant to take over the program (which much less success).