30. Buzz Williams (Maryland) (Last year: 30)
Overall record: 373-228
Williams grew up in Texas and began his head coaching career not far in New Orleans. He had numerous assistant jobs early in his career, but his recent career has been about the work he’s done at several power conference programs. Williams made an Elite Eight and several postseason runs at Marquette then took Virginia Tech to the first Sweet Sixteen in program history. He had spent the last six years down at Texas A&M and just took the Aggies to a third straight NCAA Tournament before taking Maryland’s job this offseason. We’ll see what he can do in his first work in the Big Ten.
29. Pat Kelsey (Louisville) (Last year: 42)
Overall record: 288-130
Unquestionably a head coach rising into national prominence, Kelsey played collegiate at Xavier and worked there and at Wake Forest before getting his head coaching shot at Winthrop back in 2012. He steadily built the Eagles, winning four Big South titles before jumping to Charleston and doing even better work. Kelsey won 75 games in three years with the Cougars, making two more NCAA Tournaments before taking a new challenge at Louisville. Kelsey aced the initial test with the Cardinals, building one of the season’s biggest turnarounds with a 27-8 campaign and 2nd place in the ACC.
28. Randy Bennett (Saint Mary’s) (Last year: 32)
Overall record: 562-222
Bennett went to school in San Diego and spent several years coaching for the Toreros, but it’s northern California where he’s made his mark. He was also an assistant for Lorenzo Romar at Pepperdine and Saint Louis before taking the Saint Mary’s job in 2001. Bennett remains with the Gaels 24 years later as his first and only head coaching gig, doing impressive things in Moraga. He’s made 11 NCAA Tournaments, won a boatload of games, built a mid-major power, and has won an incredible three straight WCC titles.
27. Grant McCasland (Texas Tech) (Last year: 44)
Overall record: 206-97
Yet another coach on the rise in recent years, McCasland did early work at the junior college level before catching on at Baylor under Scott Drew. He had played point guard for the Bears in a different era in the late 90’s and learned plenty from his time in the Big 12. As a D1 head coach, he won 20 games in his lone season at Arkansas State before turning North Texas into a mid-major machine, with 135 wins, an NIT title, a CBI title, and an upset win in the Big Dance. McCasland came to Texas Tech two years ago and is fresh off a major breakthrough with 28 wins and an Elite Eight run with the Red Raiders.
26. Greg McDermott (Creighton) (Last year: 23)
Overall record: 499-302
McDermott is another brilliant figure in this sport who has been a head coach for more than 30 years. After early stints at Wayne State and North Dakota State, he had a successful run leading his alma mater Northern Iowa before progress stalled at Iowa State. He more than matched his success with the Panthers when he took Creighton’s opening in 2010 and remains in Omaha. What’s followed has been ten trips to the Big Dance, including each of the last five, alongside an Elite Eight and three Sweet Sixteen’s since the pandemic. Last year saw another 25-win campaign.
25. Will Wade (NC State) (Last year: 41)
Overall record: 246-105
An FBI recruiting investigation could have ended Wade’s coaching career in 2022 but he’s not wasting his second chance in this sport. The former Clemson alum coached under Shaka Smart before fine work as head coach at Chattanooga and VCU. He built a Sweet Sixteen team during his stint at LSU before he was fired and got back on the horse with McNeese State. Wade totaled 58 wins in two years including an upset win over Clemson in the Big Dance this past March. He’s now tasked with transforming NC State back into a contender for the first time in recent memory.
24. Dusty May (Michigan) (Last year: 31)
Overall record: 153-79
Final Four in 2023
A former student manager at Indiana under Bob Knight, May is already making new memories in the Big Ten. He worked on several coaching staffs over the years before starting his journey by leading Florida Atlantic. May put the Owls on the map, notably taking Florida Atlantic on that magical run to the Final Four in 2023. After one more year with the program, and another trip to the Big Dance, May jumped to Michigan and immediately left a new-look Wolverines squad to a Big Ten Tournament crown and the Sweet Sixteen.
23. Tommy Lloyd (Arizona) (Last year: 22)
Overall record: 112-33
While he didn’t stand out as a player at several small schools on the west coast, Lloyd built his reputation as an elite recruiter for Gonzaga. He spent twenty years on Mark Few’s staff and became known for finding international talent. After bypassing many opportunities, his head coaching career began when Arizona came calling in 2021. What’s resulted has been a ton of wins for the Wildcats, including three Sweet Sixteen’s and a smooth transition from the Pac-12 into the Big 12 this past year.
22. Jamie Dixon (TCU) (Last year: 16)
Overall record: 504-249
After playing a starring role during TCU’s success in the mid-80’s, Dixon’s coaching career has taken him all over the map, with notable stints out at Hawaii and Pittsburgh. He would spend 13 successful years as the Panthers’ head coach, taking Pittsburgh to numerous wins in the NCAA Tournament. Since 2016, Dixon has been back at his alma mater and has turned things around for a long-dormant TCU program, with an NIT title and four trips to the NCAA Tournament. This past season was their first time missing the Big Dance since 2021.
21. Eric Musselman (USC) (Last year: 14)
Overall record: 238-111
Musselman has decades of professional coaching experience and was even head coach of both the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings. He worked all kinds of gigs throughout his career before jumping into the college scene. His first collegiate head coaching work was brilliant, leading Nevada to 110 wins and a Sweet Sixteen in a 4-year span. Arkansas came next and another half decade of brilliance, with Musselman making two Elite Eight’s and three Sweet Sixteen’s. He accepted a new challenge last offseason closer to home at USC, achieving 17 wins but just 12th place in the Trojans’ debut in the Big Ten.