Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball rewind: Most impactful coaching hires after 2012 season

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 19: Head coach Kevin Ollie of the Connecticut Huskies yells to his team against the Temple Owls during the second half at the Liacouras Center on February 19, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Connecticut won 64-63. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 19: Head coach Kevin Ollie of the Connecticut Huskies yells to his team against the Temple Owls during the second half at the Liacouras Center on February 19, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Connecticut won 64-63. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 11
Next
Mid-major Basketball
NCAA Basketball Pat Kelsey Winthrop Eagles (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

7. Pat Kelsey (Winthrop)

For a decent stretch there, Winthrop was one of the most successful mid-major programs in the entire country. Under Gregg Marshall, the Eagles made seven NCAA Tournaments in a nine-year stretch, but that success did not continue after Marshall’s departure. Five years later, Winthrop was looking for a new head coach, having finished under .500 in three of the last four seasons and sitting as a shell of their former self.

Enter Pat Kelsey, a spry young assistant with a decent bit of experience in his back pocket. He played under Skip Prosser at Xavier, spending time on his coaching staff at Wake Forest. While also briefly serving as a high school coach, he also worked under Dino Gaudio at Wake Forest before following Sean Miller back to Xavier. Winthrop represented his first head coaching venture, but he didn’t blow the opportunity.

Kelsey led the Eagles back towards success, winning more than 70% of Big South games and winning three conference tournament titles. In his last seven seasons, Winthrop finished no lower than third in conference play, with those two NCAA Tournaments (2020 was cancelled) a clear indication of success. Kelsey just accepted the head coaching job at the College of Charleston; it’s clear that the Cougars are getting a winner.