After months of exciting college basketball action we’ve finally reached the NCAA Tournament. Teams across the country played heart-wrenching basketball games for more than four months and we’ve finally seen the bracket and know which 68 teams made the Tourney field.
These programs were not built overnight and couldn’t have been in this position without strong leadership. Players win the games but it’s the coaches and coaching staffs that bring them together. With the Tournament field announced, we’re going to spend some time ranking the 68 head coaches that have led their teams into March Madness.
There’s no specific formula here and it’s not tied to expectations or where a program itself may stand heading into the Tournament. We’re only looking at what these coaches themselves have accomplished in their own careers while also noting previous stops, achievements, and Tournament success. Let’s get right into this showcase, starting from the bottom and moving onto the living legends.
68. Nolan Smith (Tennessee State)
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The first year of Smith’s head coaching career is clearly going according to plan. The former Duke star was a 1st round pick in the 2011 NBA Draft but only played briefly at the professional level. Smith’s greatest work as come on some notable college staffs, with significant work under Mike Krzyzewski at Duke as well as an assistant at Louisville and Memphis. Smith joined Tennessee State this past offseason and already has an OVC Tournament title as a fantastic first step in his career.
67. Flynn Clayman (High Point)
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Another brilliant first-year head coach, Clayman came to High Point a few seasons ago and has been a major part of the program’s revival, but now he’s doing it as the head man. Before that, the Los Angeles native was a big part of the staff at Southern Utah, including a stint as interim head coach in 2023. He helped Alan Huss turn the Panthers into a mid-major power before succeeding him last offseason. Clayman’s initial work has maintained that momentum, taking High Point to a 30-win season and another Big South Tournament championship already.
66. Clint Sargent (Wright State)
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These last few seasons have represented a big opportunity for Sargent and he’s clearly got Wright State trending in a great direction. Sargent was a long-time disciple of Scott Nagy, playing for him at South Dakota State before serving on his staffs both there and with Wright State. After all that time, Sargent got the top job in 2024 when Nagy left town. After mediocre results last year, Sargent just took the Raiders to the Horizon League Tournament title and gets his first Big Dance in just his second season as a head coach.
65. Bill Armstrong (McNeese State)
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Armstrong’s path to this point was anything but straightforward, but the former UAB guard has certainly a ton of coaching experience. He spent 16 years coaching in the SEC, with long stints at both Ole Miss and LSU. Armstrong coached briefly at the high school level and at Baylor last season before taking the McNeese job just last March. His first season helming the Cowboys clearly went according to plan, taking this program to 28 wins and another Southland Tournament title, building off last year’s success.