NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 364 D-I head coaches for 2024-25 season

50. Frank Martin (UMass) (Last year: 49)

Overall record: 323-228

Final Four in 2017

A former Miami high school coach, Martin has had a fair share of notable moments as a collegiate head coach. After learning under Bob Huggins, he succeeded him as head coach at Kansas State and took those Wildcats to the Elite Eight in 2010. Martin spent a decade out at South Carolina, most notably taking the Gamecocks on a surprising run to the Final Four back in 2017. That run was his only Tournament appearance in ten years, though he’s started to bounce back nicely with UMass. Year two just saw him take the Minutemen to 20 wins and 4th place in the A-10.

49. Kevin Willard (Maryland) (Last year: 38)

Overall record: 308-240

After playing collegiate ball under his father, himself a well-established coach, Willard has made his own path in basketball. The first decade came with Rick Pitino, first as an aide with the Boston Celtics before working several years at Louisville. Willard’s head coaching career started with solid work at Iona before a nice 12-year run at Seton Hall, taking the Pirates to several NCAA Tournaments and seven straight Top 5 finishes in the Big East. Willard transitioned to Maryland in 2022 and took the Terrapins dancing in his debut, but is coming off a really rough season with a 12th place finish in the Big Ten.

48. Bryce Drew (Grand Canyon) (Last year: 68)

Overall record: 258-140

Known for his legendary March Madness shot in 1998, Drew is making new memories in his head coaching career. He was a player, assistant, and head coach at Valparaiso, winning 124 games in five years before heading to Vanderbilt. His immense success at his alma mater did not follow, bottoming out in his third season with the Commodores. However, Drew has bounced back nicely since taking the Grand Canyon job in 2020. In four years he’s led the Antelopes to their first three NCAA Tournament appearances and just scored a Tournament over Saint Mary’s this past March.

47. Jerome Tang (Kansas State) (Last year: 31)

Overall record: 45-25

Tang worked as a high school coach for many years before opting to join Scott Drew and his Baylor rebuild way back in 2003. He worked as Drew’s right-hand man for 19 years, helping take the Bears on a masterful turnaround which included that national title in 2021. Two years ago, Tang accepted his first chance to run his own collegiate program at Kansas State and really stood out. He led the Wildcats to the Elite Eight in his first season, though this past year was a return to reality, settling for 9th in the Big 12 and a trip to the NIT.

46. Darian DeVries (West Virginia) (Last year: 59)

Overall record: 150-55

It’s been a steady rise for DeVries, who played at Northern Iowa in the 90’s before spending nearly his entire coaching career back in the MVC. He actually spent 20 years on staff at Creighton, aiding in plenty of success for a Bluejays team that later joined the Big East. In 2018, DeVries got his first head coaching gig at Drake and the results speak for themselves. Not only did he win at least 20 games in every season, he took the Bulldogs to three of the last four NCAA Tournaments. Now, he’s accepted quite the promotion, hoping to turn West Virginia back into a winning program in the immediate future.

45. Anthony Grant (Dayton) (Last year: 51)

Overall record: 342-182

A Miami native who played collegiately at Dayton, Grant’s coaching career really jump started on Billy Donovan’s staffs at Marshall and Florida. After helping the Gators to a national championship in 2006, Grant became his own career by taking over at VCU and later Alabama, leading both programs to the NCAA Tournament. After a few years in the NBA, again with Donovan, Grant took over as head coach at his alma mater in 2017 and is fresh off leading Dayton to the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

44. Grant McCasland (Texas Tech) (Last year: 58)

Overall record: 178-88

McCasland played the point at Baylor in the late 90’s before things fell apart for the program, but later returned on Scott Drew’s staff for the Bears’ revival. He’s also been a head coach at several schools, including junior college and D2 success. After a single season at Arkansas State, McCasland would excel across six years at North Texas, winning 135 games with an NIT title and Tourney upset win along the way. McCasland earned the Texas Tech gig last offseason and met early expectations, taking the Red Raiders back to the Big Dance with a tie of 3rd place in a tough Big 12.

43. Andy Kennedy (UAB) (Last year: 43)

Overall record: 367-206

Another coach faring well at his alma mater, Kennedy played at UAB and was later an assistant there before beginning his head coach career at Cincinnati, becoming interim head coach after Bob Huggins’ departure. He’d then have 12 solid seasons leading Ole Miss, with several postseason bids, before returning to Birmingham as UAB’s head coach in 2020. Kennedy has already won 101 games with the Blazers and has now led them into the AAC, making a second trip to the NCAA Tournament this past year.

42. Pat Kelsey (Louisville) (Last year: 53)

Overall record: 261-122

Undeniably another quickly rising name in coaching circles, Kelsey played point guard at Wyoming and then Xavier under Skip Prosser and was later his assistant at Wake Forest. After a few earlier stops, his head coaching career began with a solid stint at Winthrop with three Big South titles. He was then hired at the College of Charleston and had three tremendous seasons, leading the Cougars to each of the last two NCAA Tournaments, including a 31-4 mark in 2023. Kelsey now heads to Louisville and will put his best foot forward in trying to resurrect a Cardinals program in horrid shape.

41. Will Wade (McNeese State) (Last year: 66)

Overall record: 226-100

A flourishing coaching career was nearly undermined by allegations and other scandal, but Wade seems to be right back at the top of his game. A former VCU assistant during their run to the Final Four, Wade served brief stints as head coach at Chattanooga and VCU before a rocky 5-year stretch at LSU. His talented rosters produced a Sweet Sixteen and other Tourney appearances, though he dismissed in 2022 after recruiting violations. Suffice to say he’s bounced back with this opportunity at McNeese State, with 30 wins, a Southland championship, and a trip back to the Big Dance in year one with the Cowboys.