320. Tim Bergstraser (Denver) (Last year: N/A)
Overall record: 0-0
The mission is brand new for Bergstraser as he takes over at Denver, his first experience with D1 basketball. He played for St. Cloud State and has extensive D2 experience as a coach as well with a number of stops. As a head coach he has just three years under his belt, but he took Minnesota State-Moorhead to the D2 Tournament three straight seasons, including the Sweet Sixteen last year. Now it’s off to Denver with hopes that this program can finally do something in the Summit League.
319. Dave Smart (Pacific) (Last year: 332)
Overall record: 9-24
In all reality, Smart deserves a spot far higher on this list for what he’s meant to basketball in Canada though he’s still finding his place in American college sports. A native of Ontario, Smart was the head coach at Carleton for nearly two decades and won a boatload of games and championships with that college. His introduction to American basketball was an assistant at Texas Tech before he was named head coach at Pacific, with a 9-win campaign in his first season with the Tigers.
318. Andy Bronkema (Central Michigan) (Last year: N/A)
Overall record: 0-0
The recent work has been outstanding for Bronkema but he’s another coach now taking his first steps in D1 basketball. Nearly his entire coaching career to date took place at Ferris State, first as an assistant before 12 years leading the program himself. Bronkema took Ferris State to the D2 title back in 2018 and has built relative consistency with these Bulldogs but now accepts a brand new challenge. He slides to Central Michigan and the MAC with bigger dreams ahead.
317. Dwayne Stephens (Western Michigan) (Last year: 323)
Overall record: 32-63
During his playing career, Stephens did solid work at Michigan State under Jud Heathcote but really made a name for himself as a coach and recruiter in college ball. After starting off under Greg Kampe at Oakland, Stephens helped build Marquette’s Final Four team in 2003 before spending nearly two decades back at his alma mater as an assistant to Tom Izzo. Stephens got that head coaching opportunity in 2022 with Western Michigan and it’s been a slow start, now coming off a second straight 12-win season with the Broncos.
316. Rashon Burno (Northern Illinois) (Last year: 313)
Overall record: 39-85
Burno played for DePaul during the turn of the century and was a high school head coach in the Chicagoland area, but it’s his collegiate coaching that’s built most of his career. He bounced around a few gigs, most notably spending time under Billy Donovan at Florida and with Bobby Hurley down at Arizona State. As Northern Illinois’s head coach, there hasn’t exactly been a plethora of highlights these last four seasons, with the Huskies coming off a dreadful last place finish in the MAC last year.
315. Kyle Gerdeman (Lindenwood) (Last year: 343)
Overall record: 36-60
A solid chunk of Gerdeman’s playing and coaching career has come in his home state of Missouri, as he graduated from Southeast Missouri State and has led two Missouri programs. He was head coach of Moberly Community College in the state and later spent a long stint in D1 as an assistant at Central Michigan. The job at Lindenwood became his back in 2019 when they were still a D2 program, as Gerdeman helped them transition after his third year. Last year was the best result to date with 15 wins and 5th place in the OVC.
314. Jack Castleberry (Fairleigh Dickinson) (Last year: 317)
Overall record: 28-37
Castleberry has had quite a rise from unheralded assistant to head coach, including a stint as a women’s assistant just over a decade ago. He played for Duggar Baucom at VMI and joined his staffs both there and at The Citadel. Additionally, Castleberry was a big part of Tobin Anderson’s staff here at Fairleigh Dickinson during that crazy upset in 2023. He ascended to the top job shortly thereafter but has yet to make a major move with the Knights, with a mediocre record in the NEC.
313. Rod Strickland (LIU) (Last year: 345)
Overall record: 27-64
Before this head coaching journey, Strickland was certainly well known for his work in the NBA, playing point guard at DePaul and then professionally for more than 15 years. Strickland worked administrative roles for John Calipari at both Memphis and Kentucky and was a full-time assistant with South Florida, but Long Island gave him his first program to run back in 2022. His first two seasons left a lot to be desired but year three was a great step forward, with the Sharks winning 17 games and finishing 2nd in NEC play.
312. Mike McGarvey (Lafayette) (Last year: 315)
Overall record: 26-44
McGarvey found himself in an unexpected position with the Leopards but is trying to make the most of his second head coaching position. The former standout player and assistant at Ursinus, a D3 school in Pennsylvania, helped Matt Langel build the foundation at Colgate before decent head coaching work at Lycoming, another D3 school. McGarvey joined Lafayette in 2022 and was promoted to head coach near the end of his first season. The record isn’t amazing though last year was an improvement with 12 victories.
311. Craig Doty (Houston Christian) (Last year: 351)
Overall record: 12-20
He’s still just 40 years old but Doty has brought success at every stop of his head coaching career. He took Rock Valley to a junior college championship, won an NAIA title at Graceland, and made real strides with Emporia State at the D2 level before heading to Houston Christian last offseason. His first D1 experience of any kind wasn’t outlandishly successful, but 12 wins and a tie for 7th in the Southland was a lot better than many expected right off the bat for his newest program.
310. Chris Kraus (Stonehill) (Last year: 329)
Overall record: 33-61
In the mid 2000’s, Kraus was a player at Stonehill and he was back just a few years later as an assistant on the staff. He did help out at a few other schools and played briefly overseas, but he’s mostly been a big part of Skyhawks basketball. Kraus was back on staff in 2010 and was promoted to head coach just three years later, soon taking Stonehill on a couple trips to the D2 Tournament. He also led the transition to D1 that started a few years ago and last season improved the Skyhawks from 4 to 15 wins.
309. Vance Walberg (Fresno State) (Last year: 310)
Overall record: 20-61
A revered basketball coach who has touched this game for more than four decades, Walberg as extensive experience as a high school coach and also worked in the NBA back in the 2010’s. He led Pepperdine for two less than notable seasons before that and has spent many years in Fresno, at the high school and junior college level. A 6-26 mark in his first season with the Bulldogs wasn’t really a surprise, though Walberg is hoping he can make a more significant impact moving forward.
308. Clint Sargent (Wright State) (Last year: 346)
Overall record: 15-18
Sargent grew up in Sioux City and would play collegiately at South Dakota State under Scott Nagy back in the late 2000’s. After some time playing professionally, Sargent would continue a long relationship with Nagy, working operations with the Jackrabbits before following Nagy to Wright State a few years later. Sargent spent eight years on the Raiders’ staff, including time as associate head coach, before he was promoted to the top job in 2024 after Nagy’s departure. Year one went okay and was a decent first step for both him and these Raiders.
307. Jon Judkins (Utah Tech) (Last year: 299)
Overall record: 53-96
A native of Salt Lake City, Judkins has spent the last four decades playing and coaching college basketball in the state of Utah. After solid work as a player at Utah State, his long head coaching career began with a successful 12-year junior college stint at Snow College. Utah Tech brought him aboard in 2005 back when the school was still called Dixie State and he’d lead them to several D2 Tournament appearances. Judkins continues to lead the school through their recent D1 transition but is looking for their first real success in the WAC.
306. Roger Powell Jr. (Valparaiso) (Last year: 327)
Overall record: 22-44
As a player Powell was well-known for helping Illinois advance to the national title game back in 2005. After some time playing overseas, he got into collegiate coaching, aiding Bryce Drew and Mark Few for the better part of a decade. His coaching career began as Drew’s assistant at Valparaiso and that’s exactly where his head coaching journey began two seasons ago. The Beacons haven’t exactly been making headway as members of the MVC, but Powell’s win total did more than double during last year’s 15-win campaign.
305. Dru Joyce III (Duquesne) (Last year: 341)
Overall record: 13-19
Long before his coaching career, Joyce had an extensive playing career that started as a high school teammate of LeBron James in Akron. Joyce would play for the Zips in his hometown and for many international clubs before joining the Cleveland State coaching staff in 2019 under Dennis Gates. Joyce was later named the associate head coach over at Duquesne and took the top job last offseason after Keith Dambrot’s retirement. His first season wasn’t marvelous but a 9th place finish in a tough A-10 is a solid start.
304. Saah Nimley (Charleston Southern) (Last year: 305)
Overall record: 18-37
Nimley is only in the very earliest stages of his coaching career, yet the former Buccaneer is already entering his third year leading his alma mater. Nimley played for Charleston Southern in the early 2010’s and then overseas before returning to join the staff in 2019. He rose to the head coaching job in November 2023 when his own coach Barclay Radebaugh stepped aside. The Buccaneers removed the interim tag after decent work in his debut, though he’s produced just a pair of 6-10 finishes in the Big South.
303. Stan Waterman (Delaware State) (Last year: 318)
Overall record: 39-83
A Wilmington native and true advocate of basketball in the state of Delaware, Waterman became well known for his work at the high school level, winning 8 state titles and bounty of basketball games at Sanford School. Involved in basketball in many ways for years, Waterman jumped to college when Delaware State came calling in 2021 and has brought improvement to the Hornets. After a CBI trip in year three, he led this program to 3rd place in the MEAC this past season.
302. Hank Plona (Western Kentucky) (Last year: 337)
Overall record: 17-15
The stint that Plona had at the junior college level with Indian Hills CC was fantastic, winning a boatload of games with that program. The Providence alum has worked at several other schools and joined Western Kentucky’s coaching staff in 2023 for his first full-time position in D1. Less than a year later, Steve Lutz left town and Plona was promoted to the top job. Winning 17 games and finishing near the middle of the pack in the CUSA is a solid enough start.
301. Stan Gouard (Southern Indiana) (Last year: 296)
Overall record: 34-61
Despite growing up across the state line in Danville, Illinois, Gouard has spent his entire coaching career in Indiana after great work as a player at Southern Indiana. After a few coaching stints, including on Indiana State’s staff as an assistant, he spent 12 years leading Indianapolis, taking the Greyhounds to six straight D2 Tournaments. Gouard jumped to his alma mater in 2020 and led their transition to D1 a few years later, including a CBI appearance right off the bat. Last year wasn’t a great effort and included an 11th place finish in the OVC standings.