13. Steve Pikiell (Rutgers)
A former UConn point guard under Jim Calhoun, Pikiell bounced around several coaching jobs early in his career before a long run as head coach at Stony Brook. Pikiell spent over a decade building something with the Seawolves, taking that program to the NCAA Tournament in 2016 before departing for Rutgers. Back then, he inherited a program that was a complete afterthought in this Big Ten.
Pikiell changed things for the Scarlet Knights, taking the program to a pair of NCAA Tournaments right after the pandemic, including three straight Top 6 finishes in the Big Ten. Unfortunately, momentum has significantly dulled in recent years, as Rutgers has finished below .500 for three straight years, including that season with a pair of lottery picks in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper Jr.
The overall story has been great over Pikiell’s decade leading the charge. It’s understandable to both be elated for those breakthroughs and disappointed with how things have progressed in recent years. Rutgers was left out on the bubble in 2023 and has really backslid ever since. Whether or not he’s the guy to lead the next resurgence, Pikiell has earned plenty of respect for his work here.
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