NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 68 head coaches in 2022 NCAA Tournament

By Joey Loose | Mar 14, 2022

DURHAM, NC - DECEMBER 22: Head coach Mike Young (L) of the Virginia Tech Hokies shakes hands with head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils prior to their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 22, 2021 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

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Mike Woodson Indiana Hoosiers (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

44. John Groce (Akron)

3 NCAA Tournaments (4-3)

At long last, Groce is back in the NCAA Tournament, finally leading Akron to the Big Dance in his fifth season with the Zips. Groce rose to attention as head coach at fellow MAC school Ohio, leading the Bobcats to an NCAA Tourney upset in 2010 and a Sweet Sixteen run in 2012. Mediocrity follow during five seasons at Illinois, but perhaps he’s back in his element, winning his third MAC Tournament crown as head coach.

43. T. J. Otzelberger (Iowa State)

2 NCAA Tournaments (0-2)

Otzelberger spent eight years as an assistant at Iowa State under three different head coaches, so it’s only fitting that he’d return to the school and have success in year one. He led South Dakota State to a pair of NCAA Tournaments in his first head coaching job before relative success in a brief stint at UNLV. Iowa State has had ups and downs this season but a Tourney bid is a monumental step forward after an abhorrent last season for the Cyclones.

42. Mike Woodson (Indiana)

0 NCAA Tournaments

Prior to taking the Indiana job this past offseason, it had been more than four decades since Woodson had been involved in college basketball as a player with the Hoosiers. The longtime NBA player and coach had been head coach of the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks but this was his first rodeo at the NCAA level. Woodson has his work cut out for him and has already snapped a 5-year NCAA Tournament drought for the Hoosiers.

41. John Becker (Vermont)

3 NCAA Tournaments (1-3)

Becker has Vermont in an enviable position, winning their sixth straight America East regular-season title and getting back to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time. He spent five years on staff before ascending to the top job eleven years ago, with that lone Tourney win coming in the First Four a decade ago. Becker has maintained Vermont’s role as a potent mid-major program and dominant force in the America East, but could this be the year they finally pull another upset?

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