NCAA Basketball: Purdue, Vols with head coaching hires from the year 2005

9. Mike Lonergan (Vermont)

After a long successful coaching tenure, Tom Brennan entered retirement on a high note, as Vermont knocked off Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament. The Catamounts had made the last three NCAA Tournaments, though these were their first three appearances in program history. Brennan’s successor had the responsibility of maintaining this program’s trajectory.

Mike Lonergan had recently spent twelve years as head coach at Catholic, leading his alma mater to the D3 national championship in 2001. He also had gotten some valuable D1 experience, having spent the most recent season on Gary Williams’ staff at Maryland. He seemed destined for a D1 head coaching job and this solid Vermont program was a great place for him to continue his career.

He didn’t quite win another NCAA Tournament game, but Lonergan did lead the Catamounts to the Tournament again, along with three other postseason bids. During his six-year tenure, Vermont won nearly 72% of their conference games and won half the America East titles. Lonergan departed for George Washington before his career fell apart from abuse allegations, while Vermont was left in very capable hands.