NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 364 D-I head coaches for 2024-25 season
By Joey Loose
10. Nate Oats (Alabama) (Last year: 15)
Overall record: 213-97
Final Four in 2024
After living the small college lifestyle in Wisconsin, Oats spent over a decade coaching high school ball in Detroit. He’s a nationally relevant head coach just a few years later, as he got his first shot at Buffalo in 2015. Oats won a pair of NCAA Tournament games over the next four years before heading to Alabama. He took the Crimson Tide to a pair of Sweet Sixteen’s and SEC titles, but this past fifth year was by far his best. Oats led Alabama all the way to their first Final Four in program history and could have even greater chapters ahead in his future.
9. Rick Barnes (Tennessee) (Last year: 10)
Overall record: 806-415
Final Four in 2003
Owning several decades of coaching experience, Barnes is among the sports’ most productive head coaches, starting with early stints at George Mason, Providence, and Clemson. Barnes then spent 17 years at Texas, taking the Longhorns to a Final Four in 2003 and a host of wins and great moments. Tennessee brought him to Knoxville in 2015 and hasn’t regretted a moment, with appearances in the last six NCAA Tournaments. These Volunteers made the Elite Eight this past season and won another regular season title in the SEC.
8. Kelvin Sampson (Houston) (Last year: 6)
Overall record: 689-306
Final Four in 2002, 2021
A head coaching career that began at Montana Tech more than four decades ago has produced many notable moments for Sampson. He was great during long runs leading Washington State and Oklahoma, taking the Sooners to the Final Four back in 2002. After things went sideways at Indiana, Sampson worked on his craft as an NBA assistant before landing at Houston in 2014. Sampson took over a Cougars squad in rough shape and has turned them into national contenders, making at least the Sweet Sixteen in five straight Tournaments, including a Final Four in 2021, and last year’s Big 12 regular season title.
7. Scott Drew (Baylor) (Last year: 5)
Overall record: 466-255
Final Four in 2021
National championship in 2021
Drew’s early days came with his father Homer on the Valparaiso staff until succeeding him as head coach in 2002. However, Drew would only stay in northwest Indiana for one season, accepting the daunting task of a total rebuild at Baylor. Over the next two decades, Drew has become one of the nation’s most notable coaches, culminating in that national championship in 2021. Nearly all of the Bears’ basketball success is owed to him and his work, including a plethora of Big 12 and postseason success. In fact, his Bears have finished Top 3 in the Big 12 for five straight years.
6. Matt Painter (Purdue) (Last year: 8)
Overall record: 472-208
Final Four in 2024
Fresh off a great breakthrough season for his career, Painter has been the definition of Purdue basketball in his career. A Purdue guard back in the early 90’s, he worked several schools as an assistant, even helming Southern Illinois, before being hired to succeed Gene Keady. His Boilermakers have had numerous stars over the last 19 years and have made seven trips beyond the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Fresh off 2023’s embarrassing upset, his Boilermakers went all the way to the national title game this past season.