NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 358 D-I head coaches for 2021-22 season
By Joey Loose
20. Leonard Hamilton (Florida State) (Last year: 22)
- Overall record: 600-438
Hamilton’s coaching career has been long and successful, dating back to taking the Oklahoma State job way back in 1986. The longtime former Kentucky assistant was successful at both Oklahoma State and Miami before a brief stint leading the Washington Wizards. This will be Hamilton’s 20th season with the Seminoles, and he’s led them to great success, including an Elite Eight and two Sweet Sixteen’s in the last four years alone.
19. Chris Mack (Louisville) (Last year: 17)
- Overall record: 272-125
It’s now year four for Mack in his quest to turn around Louisville, having spent many fantastic years with Xavier. A former player and assistant, he spent nine years leading the Musketeers program, leading them into the Big East and keeping the program strong. After an Elite Eight and three Sweet Sixteens with Xavier, Mack now searches for similar success with the Cardinals, but has just a single NCAA Tournament appearance at Louisville, having had their bubble burst this past season.
18. Bruce Pearl (Auburn) (Last year: 18)
- Overall record: 369-191
- Final Four in 2019
Pearl wins big everywhere he goes, and this has continued with Auburn. As a head coach, he led Southern Indiana to a D2 title, took Milwaukee to a Sweet Sixteen, and had great success at Tennessee, capped by an Elite Eight back in 2010. The success at Auburn came in 2019 with a trip to the Final Four, the first in program history. Even after a rough effort last season, Pearl’s impact at Auburn can clearly be felt and this Tigers team will bounce back again.
17. Rick Pitino (Iona) (Last year: 19)
- Overall record: 782-277
- Final Four in 1987, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2012*, 2013*
- National championships in 1996, 2013*
After a national title at Kentucky and a vacated one with Louisville, Pitino is back in collegiate athletics and is already showing promise at his latest school. We could talk all day about Pitino’s success, also leading Providence to the Final Four and coaching two NBA franchises. He arrived at Iona last season and won the MAAC Tournament in his first season, getting the Gaels back to the NCAA Tournament and setting them up for more success going forward.
16. Mick Cronin (UCLA) (Last year: 30)
- Overall record: 406-193
- Final Four in 2021
Last year was a major breakthrough year for Cronin as he now enters year three with the Bruins. As head coach, he was solid at Murray State and then took Cincinnati to nine straight NCAA Tournament, but leading this year’s UCLA squad to the Final Four as an 11 seed is by far his greatest feat. After failing to win in the Tourney with the Bearcats, his Bruins fought their way to five Tourney wins and nearly an improbable sixth; this program is for real under Cronin’s leadership once more.