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

40. Chris Jans (Mississippi State) (Last year: 47)

Overall record: 185-71

In the early days of his coaching career, Jans won a ton of games as a junior college head coach and later was an assistant during Wichita State’s Final Four run. His own D1 head coaching career started uneasily after he was fired for his behavior while at Bowling Green, but he’s put that far behind him. Jans made three NCAA Tournaments in five years at New Mexico State, even upsetting Connecticut in 2022, and was soon after hired by the Bulldogs. Since his hiring, Mississippi State has made a pair of NCAA Tournaments and is certainly staying afloat in a very strong SEC.

39. Steve Alford (Nevada) (Last year: 39)

Overall record: 605-328

A talented guard at Indiana back in the 80’s, Alford played briefly in the NBA and has since been a collegiate head coach for 33 years. He nearly won a D3 title at Manchester, took Missouri State to a Sweet Sixteen, had ups and downs at Iowa, and built immense success with New Mexico. Alford notably led UCLA for nearly six full seasons, though his three Sweet Sixteen’s weren’t enough for the Bruins. He signed on at Nevada back in 2019 and is coming off his best season with the Wolf Pack, getting 26 wins and a second-straight trip to the Big Dance.

38. Kevin Keatts (NC State) (Last year: 63)

Overall record: 211-122
Final Four in 2024

One year can have profound effects on a coaching career. Keatts was a prominent high school coach at Hargrave Military Academy and later won a national championship on Louisville’s staff under Rick Pitino His own collegiate head coaching career began with three productive years at UNC Wilmington before accepting the NC State job in 2017. His tenure had early success before some rougher seasons, though this past March changed everything as he led the Wolfpack to a surprise ACC Tournament title and a crazy run to the Final Four.

37. Greg Gard (Wisconsin) (Last year: 37)

Overall record: 186-107

A Wisconsin native who’s spent his whole career in the state, Gard became a longtime assistant under Bo Ryan, beginning way back at Wisconsin-Platteville. He aided three schools over the next two decades, helping the Badgers to Final Fours before succeeding Ryan in 2015. While Gard hasn’t had the same success as his mentor in his head coaching career, he quickly took the Badgers to two Sweet Sixteen’s and has made six trips to the Big Dance already, including last season.

36. Chris Mack (College of Charleston) (Last year: N/A)

Overall record: 278-133

Mack was born in Cleveland but had his best years in Cincinnati, playing, assisting, and later becoming head coach at Xavier. The Skip Prosser disciple had immense success in nine years leading the Musketeers, making an Elite Eight and four Sweet Sixteen’s alongside a fruitful transition to the Big East. Mack then moved to Louisville and didn’t live up to expectations in three and a half years, though the program certainly got far worse after his departure. Two years have passed and he’s back in college ball, taking over a strong College of Charleston program in the CAA.

35. Fran McCaffery (Iowa) (Last year: 30)

Overall record: 531-368

It’s been quite the career for McCaffery, whose first head coaching gig started at Lehigh way back in 1985. After a long stint as an assistant at Notre Dame, he had two more successful stints at mid-majors, winning plenty in six years at UNC Greensboro before multiple NCAA Tournament wins with Siena. McCaffery arrived at Iowa way back in 2010 and is responsible for plenty of wins and memorable moments, though he’s yet to lead the Hawkeyes beyond the second round of the Big Dace. Last season also saw Iowa miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time in six years.

34. Brad Brownell (Clemson) (Last year: 44)

Overall record: 432-274

Brownell had an intriguing rise, with success early in his head coaching career at UNC Wilmington and Wright State. The Evansville native took both of those schools to the NCAA Tournament before he was hired by Clemson in 2010. Now one of the Tigers’ longest-tenured head coaches, he’s had varying levels of success, notably getting the Tigers to the Sweet Sixteen back in 2018. This past season, however, was clearly his best, taking Clemson one step further with an Elite Eight run.

33. Leonard Hamilton (Florida State) (Last year: 28)

Overall record: 643-491

Quite possibly the current D1 head coach with the most experience, Hamilton’s early days saw him on staff at Kentucky, winning a national championship on that bench way back in 1978. He experienced early success in his own career while leading Oklahoma State and Miami before flaming out with a brief stint with the Washington Wizards. Hamilton enters his 23rd season with the Seminoles and has achieved historic success, with his Elite Eight in 2018 followed by two more Sweet Sixteen’s. Unfortunately, Florida State has scuffled in recent years, though this past season’s 8th place finish was better at least.

32. Randy Bennett (Saint Mary’s) (Last year: 33)

Overall record: 533-216

Not many people knew about Bennett in the early days of his coaching career, even when he was an assistant to Lorenzo Romar at Pepperdine and Saint Louis. His first head coaching shot really put him on the map, as Bennett has been outstanding with Saint Mary’s since he was hired in 2001. In a league with a strong Gonzaga program, his Gaels have held their own, with regular trips to the Big Dance and a boatload of wins. This past season saw Saint Mary’s win both the regular season and tournament titles in the WCC, winning at least 26 games for the 7th time in 9 years.

31. Dusty May (Michigan) (Last year: 35)

Overall record: 126-69
Final Four in 2023

In his earliest experience, May was a student manager at Indiana for Bob Knight before working minor roles for other prominent schools. He bounced around as an assistant until catching on under Mike White at Louisiana Tech and Florida. His first shot to run his program came with Florida Atlantic in 2018 and he exceeded all expectations. May took the Owls on that Final Four run in 2023 and followed up that 35-win campaign with another trip to the Big Dance. Now he’s tasked with building a new winner in Ann Arbor.