How do Big East basketball coaches stack up when looking at this past offseason and the upcoming college basketball season?
Big East basketball has always been known to have good coaches. From the days of Jim Boeheim in the Big East to the last years of Jay Wright, this conference has always had some of the best teams and coaches of college basketball.
Even some teams that are known to be good in the conference like Butler and Georgetown are looking to be on the rise next season, or at least in the coming years. Also the Big East added future hall of famer Rick Pitino who will be taking over St. Johns after his success at Iona last season.
The Big East has some of the most storied programs even in the conference today. They don’t have teams like Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, or Kansas, but they do house last year’s national champion and several other great coaches and teams.
Teams like UCONN, Xavier, and Marquette have had a lot of recent success in the last few seasons, and that is no doubt because of how they are being led by their coaches. Names like Sean Miller, Dan Hurley, and Shaka Smart are not household names, but I would argue most college basketball fans know how influential they are to their respected schools.
There are also schools like Villanova, Georgetown, and Butler who struggled last year (Georgetown especially). Who I imagine next season or in the next few years will be solid teams in the conference. The Big East looks to be a good basketball conference in 2023-24 and the coaches in the Big East will be the determining factor in that. Here are all 11 Big East head coaches ranked going into the 2023-24 college basketball season.
No. 11: Tony Stubblefield, DePaul Blue Demons
Tony Stubblefield has been the head coach of DePaul for the past 2 seasons starting in 2021-22. Stubblefield has certainly struggled in the past two seasons and is looking for some must needed wins in 2023.
He has had some good experience as an assistant coach at the power 5 level, and even took over as an interim coach for the New Mexico Lobos in 2004-05 (although he went 2-12). His experience as an assistant coach is somewhat impressive however. Stubblefield was an assistant under Mick Cronin at Cincinnati and then an assistant at Oregon from 2010-21 (during their final four run).
Stubblefield however, has not had much success at all for the Blue Demons. DePaul went 15-16 and 10-23 in the first two years under Stubblefield. Including an abysmal 3-17 conference record last season. That brings his overall record to a disappointing 25-39 (.391) and 9-31 conference record. Stubblefield needs to get back on track in 2023 but DePaul’s talent and departures will say otherwise. Stubblefield hasn’t been able to crack a top 50 recruiting or transfer class in his two years at DePaul.
He lands himself on the bottom of this list just based on his record as a head coach. He hasn’t had success on the court wherever he is leading the helm. Stubblefield may have the experience when it comes to the college basketball landscape but his talents may be suited to stay as an assistant in the coming future. Especially if DePaul can’t come up with the winning formula in the 2023-24 season.
No. 10: Kim English, Providence Friars
Kim English will be entering the 2023-24 season as the new head coach of the Providence Friars, as he looks to establish himself to the college basketball landscape.
English played 4 years for the Missouri Tigers, led them to a sweet sixteen in his freshman year, was named all Big-12 honors his sophomore year, and led the Tigers to a Big-12 championship in his senior year. English and his senior class at Missouri gained 107 wins over 4 years, which was the most in Missouri basketball history. After getting drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 2012, he went to different summer leagues and overseas basketball, but in 2015 he was signed on to be an assistant coach at Tulsa.
English worked his way up to be Rick Barnes assistant coach from 2019-21 when he became the head coach for the George Mason Patriots. English led the Patriots to a 20-13 (11-7) record that was 5th in the A-10 conference that year. English finished with a 34-29 record there and was hired to man the helm for Providence in 2023-24.
English has proved himself more than Stubblefield just based on his success as a head coach alone. While Stubblefield seems to have fallen into the trap of transitioning from assistant to head coach in this league.
English has the player, assistant, and head coaching experience that teams seem to be looking for in head coaches now days. English looks to be the right man for the job in Providence, however, only time will tell if that will result in wins for the Friars. Providence was a storied Big East program but even under Ed Cooley the Friars struggled in the NCAA tournament. If English can translate his experience to wins and tournament success he will be in Providence for the coming years in the Big East.
No. 9: Shaheen Holloway, Seton Hall Pirates
Shaheen Holloway will be entering his 2nd season coaching Seton Hall in 2023-24 and looks to take the next step forward, especially in Big East play.
Holloway was a great college player during his 4 years at Seton Hall, where he was even compared to Mike Bibby when he was recruited by teams like Georgia Tech and Duke. Holloway was a 3 time all Big-East player, led the Pirates to a sweet sixteen in his senior season, and holds the all-time assist record for Seton Hall.
Although Seton Hall fans remember him well in his playing days, he has made a name for himself for being on Kevin Willard’s staff at Iona and Seton Hall from 2007 to 2018. In 2018 he was named head coach of the Saint Peter’s Peacocks, where he led them to a elite eight run in 2022. Where his team took down the no. 2 overall seed Kentucky and player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe in overtime.
Holloway then took the Seton Hall job where in his first season he went 17-16 (10-10) with a NIT first round exit. Holloway seems to be the guy for Seton Hall and the head coach that Pirate fans want. Holloway was one the reasons the Pirates stayed so relevant in the Big East as a part of Kevin Willard’s staff. He has proven he is able to lead teams to regular season and postseason success, so it seems like it is only a matter of time until he gets the Pirates rolling. However, based on where he had the Pirates last season it’s hard to put him any higher then where he is right now.
No. 8: Kyle Neptune, Villanova Wildcats
Kyle Neptune took over hall of famer Jay Wright last season and is looking to settle better into his big shoes in the 2023-24 season.
Neptune was an assistant under Jay Wright from 2013-21 where he helped Villanova during their 2 championship runs and 5 Big East championship titles. Neptune then became head coach at Niagara for a season where he then took over Villanova last season after Jay Wright’s retirement.
Neptune seemed to be the consensus pick for the Villanova job since Wright retired and it didn’t take a lot of convincing to get him to come back to take over the Wildcats. Although Neptune had a season of being the head coach at Niagra for a season, that was completely different than coaching the national powerhouse that is Villanova. Neptune went 17-17 (10-10) in his first season in Villanova in what fans could only say was a disappointing season.
Neptune brought in a top 5 transfer class in 2023, and the fact he went .500 in his first season with the talent he had was underwhelming. However, this is his first year coaching at a high level program, and I wouldn’t take his first season with the Wildcats as a sign of things to come.
Neptune having a very good transfer class shows he can change with the landscape of college basketball. If he keeps bringing in good talent the coaching will come, and Neptune should become a better on the court coach from season to season. It also helps Neptune is bringing back the tradition of dressing sharply for every game. Which is something Jay Wright became lax on in his last year, which apparently deeply upset Villanova fans.
Neptune is low on the list right now but I wouldn’t be surprised if he climbs up the longer he is coaching Villanova.
No. 7: Ed Cooley, Georgetown Hoyas
Ed Cooley will take over Georgetown as he brings a lot of previous success along with some postseason woes he hopes to avoid with the Hoyas in 2023-24.
Ed Cooley has been an assistant for 12 years at various schools before he took over the Fairfield Stags from 2006-2011. Cooley then took over the Providence Friars in 2011 after a 92-69 record with Fairfield. With the Friars Cooley posted a 242-153 (.613) record, and they made the NCAA tournament 7 times with Cooley. But, the Friars, would only make it out of the first round once with one sweet sixteen in 2022.
Georgetown finally fired former head coach Patrick Ewing after a disastrous past 2 seasons where the Hoyas went 13-50 and a conference record of 2-37 in Ewing’s last 2 years. Ed Cooley comes in with a lot of head coaching experience and winning experience in the Big East. Cooley’s only downfall or weakness that worries me is his postseason success. Cooley has only made it past the first weekend of the tournament only once, and that only led to a sweet sixteen at that. However, the hope is that Cooley will be able to succeed better at a school with more resources and with more historic success (not in recent years).
Cooley looks to get Georgetown back on top of the Big East after having several seasons not even being relevant in the conference. If Cooley can prove he can win in the postseason he will be sure to move up on this list in the future.
No. 6: Thad Matta, Butler Bulldogs
I know it may be surprising to see Thad Matta right in the middle of a Big East head coach ranking but again I’m basing this list based off recent seasons and how good of a coach they have been known to be recent years. Matta spent his first season as a head coach at his alma mater Butler. Then spending a couple of years at Xavier until he eventually spent his last 13 years at Ohio State. Where he had sweet sixteens, an elite eight, and even made it to the championship game in 2007.
However in Matta’s last 4 years Ohio State didn’t make it out of the first weekend, and his last two years he didn’t even make the tourney. Matta eventually retired because he felt his health was interfering with his coaching. Matta last coached a basketball game in 2017 until he was rehired in 2022 by his alma mater Butler.
He struggled in his first year back at Butler where he led the Bulldogs to a 14-18 (4-16) overall record. Again Matta can turn things around quickly and Butler basketball needs it to happen badly. I’m not counting out Matta to move Butler back to the top of the Big East, but it’s hard to see it happening next season. Again, Matta has proved he can win in all facets of college basketball, but that was 6 years ago and it is difficult to put a coach towards the top based off coaching we saw 6 years ago. Matta may prove to be a genius move for Butler but only time will tell.
No. 5: Shaka Smart, Marquette Golden Eagles
Number 5 and 6 on this list could probably be the ones that could switch on a week to week basis. But as of today Shaka Smart falls at number 5.
Smart is one of the younger coaches in the Big East while also having a lot of assistant and head coaching experience. Smart was an assistant for 20 years for multiple teams, most notably Clemson and Florida, until he got his first coaching gig at VCU. Smart then coached at Texas from 2015-21 where he would never make it out of the round of 64 and when his job security was questioned he left to become the head coach at Marquette.
Smart made the final four with VCU in his second season coaching and he would never get back to that stage in the postseason or even make it past the first weekend since that 2011 season. Smart’s teams just do not seem to have that postseason factor when it comes to March. However, in the regular season his teams do extremely well, especially in his first two years at Marquette. Smart has a 48-20 (48-11) record with Marquette and even though that is extremely good for a Big East team, they just have not had postseason success, which is worrying.
Smart needs more tourney success if he wants to move up on this list, and if he can win more in March he may even move into the top three. That is how good Shaka Smart can be if the Golden Eagles can just win in March.
No. 4: Greg Mcdermott, Creighton Bluejays
Greg Mcdermott has launched himself into the upper eschielan of Big East coaches based off his success not only in the regular season, but his teams play in March the past few seasons.
Mcdermott has been a basketball head coach since 1995 and has been helming the Bluejays since 2011. Mcdermott got his first big job in 2006 where he took over Iowa State, however he had little to no success in his 4 years there, where he missed the tournament all 4 years. He then took over creighton in 2011, and has been there since.
Mcdermott had not made it past the first weekend in his first 7 years at Creighton. However, in the last 3 seasons the Bluejays have had a sweet sixteen, round of 32, and elite eight appearance. While also finishing 2nd, 4th, and 3rd in the Big East (in that order). Mcdermott has finally proved that the Bluejays aren’t just a regular season team. He has led the Bluejays to 20 wins in the last 7 seasons, and even a top 4 Big East standings finish in the last 8 seasons.
Mcdermott looks to keep leading the Bluejays in the right direction. If he can keep up the regular season success with postseason success, Creighton will be in great hands for the coming years in the Big East.
No. 3: Sean Miller, Xavier Musketeers
Sean Miller returned to Xavier last season and Musketeers fans should have a lot to be excited about.
Miller started out his career as a point guard at Pitt from 1987-92, he was known as the leader of his teams. Although, his more famous teammates (Charles Smith & Jerome Lane) overshadowed him at his time there. Miller spent 12 years as an assistant for multiple schools (Miami (OH), Pitt, NC State, Xavier), and eventually the head coach of Xavier from 2004-09, and Arizona from 2009-21. Until returning to Xavier in the 2022-23 season.
Miller has had some of the fastest postseason success any coach has had in recent memory. If it wasn’t for his paying players scandal at Arizona, Miller might be seen as one of the head coaches in America. However, his resume is quite impressive when just looking at what he has accomplished. In his 4 years at Xavier Miller had and elite eight and sweet sixteen appearance. While at Arizona he had 3 elite eights and 2 sweet sixteens.
Miller already showed he can be atop college basketball again by making a sweet sixteen appearance in his first season back at Xavier last season. If anything carries over from last season in the Big East, I would bet on Miller’s Xavier team. Miller stays behind these next 2 coaches just because he has only been at Xavier for one season. I want to see what he can do before I put all my faith in him. Miller seems to still have everything a successful coach needs to be successful and I can’t imagine it will take long before he gets Xavier in the top of the Big East again.
No. 2: Dan Hurley, UCONN Huskies
Dan Hurley proved he was the guy who can lead the Huskies to the promised land last season, and led UCONN to another improbable national championship run in 2022-23.
Hurley is known well for his time being the head coach at Rhode Island from 2012-18, where he led them to the round of 32 in his last 2 years there. Hurley was then offered the head coaching job at UCONN where he needed to remake the Huskies and get them back on the right track. Although it took 5 years and back to back round of 64 tournament exits, the Huskies won the national championship in 2023.
Hurley has improved in nearly every season at UCONN, except 2021-2022 (where they still made the tourney). In 2022-23 the Huskies were 15-5 and 4-5 in conference as things looked like they were going to get bleak for UCONN. However, they won 8 of their last 9 regular season games and even though they lost the conference championship game to Marquette, they never lost another game for the rest of the season. Hurley had UCONN playing their best basketball in March, and they never won a tourney game by less than 13 points.
Hurley defied all odds last season and he proved he is one of the best coaches in the BIg East and is here to stay at UCONN and coach the Huskies to more championships in the coming future.
No. 1: Rick Pitino, St. Johns Red Storm
Rick Pitino is one of the best college basketball coaches of all time and it is hard to not put him atop a head coaches list no matter who is involved.
Although he hasn’t been at a power 5 program since 2017, and Hurley just won a championship, Hurley doesn’t have half the reputation Pitino has. Pitino comes into St Johns looking to rebuild them, and hoping to return the Red Storm and Pitino himself back to prominence. Pitino has spent the last 3 years coaching the Iona Gaels where he led them atop of the conference twice and led them to the round of 64 twice as well. St Johns was able to look past his scandals and hired Pitino.
I’m not sure there is too much left to say when talking about Pitino’s career. He has had multiple sweet sixteens, elite eights, final fours, 2 championships, all with different schools. Pitino has been a division 1 coach since 1978, and there is not much you can say Pitino doesn’t have. He has good gameplans, solid recruiting, and is one of the best dressers in all of college basketball.
St. John’s fans have everything to look forward to when it comes to next season. Pitino not only brought in a top ten transfer class, but also comes in as one of the only coaches ever to take 3 different teams to a final four, and the first to win a championship at 2 different schools.
St John’s basketball is looking the best it has in years and that is all thanks to Pitino and his brilliant basketball mind, and his ability to evolve as head coach with the transfer portal even as a 70 year old man. Something that coaches like Jim Boeheim struggled with.
Pitino can take St Johns to great heights, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Pitino takes them to the top of the Big East in the coming years.