NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 358 D-I head coaches for 2021-22 season

100. Bob Richey (Furman) (Last year: 103)

• Overall record: 89-34

Since taking over as Furman’s head coach in 2017, Richey has led the Paladins to increased success, making them one of the best programs in the SoCon. Formerly an assistant for six seasons, he got off to a quick start with Furman, leading the Paladins to at least 23 wins in each of his first three seasons, including their first ever top 25 ranking in 2018. Richey’s record is fantastic, but he’s still looking for that first NCAA Tournament appearance as head coach.

99. Chris Jans (New Mexico State) (Last year: 95)

• Overall record: 116-37

Jans continues fine work at his sixth head coaching post, having won big at the junior college level over a decade ago. He spent a long time on Gregg Marshall’s staff at Wichita State before a short stint leading Bowling Green. His time with New Mexico State has been free of controversy, and he’s led the Aggies to three WAC regular season and tournament titles, continuing to cement the program as the WAC’s best.

98. John Groce (Akron) (Last year: 102)

• Overall record: 250-180

Groce enters his fifth season leading Akron, hoping to replicate some of his greatest success. He’s a former assistant to Herb Sendek and Thad Matta before beginning his head coaching career in style at Ohio. He pulled off three NCAA Tournament wins in just four years, including a Sweet Sixteen trip in 2012. After five mediocre years leading Illinois, he arrived at Akron and has made the Zips a MAC contender again and looks to push them back to the Big Dance soon.

97. Mark Schmidt (St. Bonaventure) (Last year: 114)

• Overall record: 327-275

Schmidt has done many things in his coaching career, coaching under the great Skip Prosser and leading Robert Morris for six solid seasons, but nothing compares to his work with St. Bonaventure. Hired in 2007, he has resurrected a basketball program left for dead after scandal. This past season he won the A-10 regular season title and made his third NCAA Tournament, with the Bonnies’ securing their sixth straight top 5 finish in the tough conference.

96. LaVall Jordan (Butler) (Last year: 80)

• Overall record: 80-79

A former Butler guard and assistant, Jordan returned home to the Bulldogs as head coach back in 2017. After success on coaching staffs in the Big Ten, Jordan got his head coaching start at Milwaukee, departing after just one season to head to Butler. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs have made just a single NCAA Tournament during his tenure and really struggled last season, finishing just 10-15.

95. Ritchie McKay (Liberty) (Last year: 111)

• Overall record: 318-222

McKay has been nearly everywhere in his coaching career, assisting at many colleges and being head coach at five D1 schools. Formerly a Virginia assistant under Tony Bennett, he served terms as head coach at Portland State, Colorado State, Oregon State, and New Mexico before landing at Liberty. The Flames have given McKay his greatest success, winning each of the last three A-Sun regular season and tournament titles, plus a first round upset back in 2019’s NCAA Tournament. Last year was more of the same success.

94. Jeff Jones (Old Dominion) (Last year: 96)

• Overall record: 525-381

Jones spent the first twenty years of his basketball career as player, assistant, and head coach at Virginia, leading the Cavaliers to an Elite Eight in 1995. Jones later took American to a pair of NCAA Tournaments before getting the Old Dominion job in 2013. His Monarchs have been one of the C-USA’s most consistent programs, finishing top 3 in the conference in six of the last seven years, with an NCAA Tournament in 2019, and a solid 15-8 mark last season.

93. Keith Dambrot (Duquesne) (Last year: 86)

• Overall record: 390-220

An Akron native, Dambrot had some of his finest coaching in his home city. He spent time coaching LeBron James in high school, and spent 13 years as head coach at Akron, which was already his fourth collegiate head coaching job. After leading the Zips to three NCAA Tournaments and a slew of success, he took the Duquesne job in 2017. He’s actually done decent work with the Dukes, with progress not easy in the tough A-10.

92. T. J. Otzelberger (Iowa State) (Last year: 92)

• Overall record: 99-63

Otzelberger transitions this season, taking over the program at Iowa State. He previously spent two stints as an assistant with the Cyclones and hopes to return the program to its former glory. His head coaching career began with success at South Dakota State, leading the Jackrabbits to a pair of NCAA Tournaments before two acceptable seasons running UNLV. Otzelberger has his work cut out for him, as the Big 12 represents a bit of a step up, especially for an Iowa State program that really struggled last year.

91. Ron Hunter (Tulane) (Last year: 89)

• Overall record: 414-305

Hunter enters year three at Tulane, hoping to bring about some real change for the Green Wave. Hunter gained coaching experience leading IUPUI into D1 basketball, taking them to their first and only NCAA Tournament way back in 2003. Eight dominant years followed at Georgia State, taking the Panthers to three NCAA Tournaments and an upset win. He’s 22-31 after two years with Tulane, but it’ll take a bit of time to build a competitive team in the AAC.