NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 362 D-I head coaches for 2023-24 season

10. Rick Barnes (Tennessee) (Last year: 11)

• Overall record: 779-406
• Final Four in 2003

Barnes has worked in college basketball for nearly half a century, getting his D1 start as an assistant at Davidson back in 1978. His first head coaching work came with stints at George Mason, Providence, and Clemson before settling in at Texas. Across 17 years he’d lead the Longhorns to numerous NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four in 2003. After his questionable firing, he landed at Tennessee and has been a steadying force for the Volunteers. Tennessee is coming off a Sweet Sixteen and a fifth straight appearance in the Big Dance.

9. Dan Hurley (Connecticut) (Last year: 36)

• Overall record: 255-160
• Final Four in 2023
• National championship in 2023

This was the special breakthrough year for Hurley, who cut down the nets with the Huskies and won his first national championship. Formerly a point guard at Seton Hall, he was a high school coach for nearly a decade before head coaching stints at Wagner and Rhode Island. His success with the Rams led UConn to hire him in 2018 and the results are clear. Hurley led Connecticut back into the Big East three years ago and has made the Big Dance in each of those seasons, culminating in this past season’s rise to the top of the college basketball world.

8. Matt Painter (Purdue) (Last year: 10)

• Overall record: 438-203

Painter bounced around as a collegiate assistant early in his career and even spent a year as head coach at Southern Illinois. He was called back to Purdue to assist Gene Keady, his college coach, and would succeed him in 2005. These last eighteen years have seen Painter secure the Boilermakers as one of the best basketball programs in the Big Ten. The journey has included 14 trips to the NCAA Tournament, an Elite Eight in 2019, and last season’s conference title; though Fairleigh Dickinson ended their hopes far earlier than expected.

7. Tony Bennett (Virginia) (Last year: 5)

• Overall record: 410-158
• Final Four in 2019
• National championship in 2019

Bennett played under his father at Green Bay and played professionally briefly before beginning his coaching career in earnest at Wisconsin, again under his father. His first head coaching chance came at Washington State, taking the Cougars program to a Sweet Sixteen in 2008; their most recent trip to the Big Dance. Virginia hired Bennett in 2009 and has never regretted that choice. The obvious headline is the Cavaliers’ national title in 2019, but Bennett is also responsible for six ACC titles and several other trips to the NCAA Tournament, with last year earning them another regular season banner.

6. Kelvin Sampson (Houston) (Last year: 7)

• Overall record: 657-301
• Final Four in 2002, 2021

Who expected a guard at UNC Pembroke in the 1970’s to have this kind of coaching career? Sampson had success as head coach at Montana Tech, Washington State, and Oklahoma, leading the Sooners to the Final Four in 2002. Scandal erupted early at Indiana, but he’s bounced back in a major way since Houston hired him in 2014. After a few rebuilding seasons, he’s taken the Cougars to the last five NCAA Tournaments, including a Final Four in 2021 and at least the Sweet Sixteen in the four Tourneys. After back-to-back AAC titles, he’ll lead Houston into the Big 12 this season.