28. Pat Kelsey (Louisville)
5 NCAA Tournaments (0-5)
A point guard at Wyoming and Xavier back in the 90’s, Kelsey has really made his coaching name here in recent years. A former assistant with those Musketeers, his head coaching start came with plenty of Big South success during a 9-year stretch at Winthrop. Over the next three years, Kelsey rebuilt Charleston, winning a ton of games before heading to Louisville in 2024. Inheriting a Cardinals program in rough shape, he’s led Louisville to back-to-back trips to the Big Dance and has them back competing in the ACC, with 23 wins this season already.
27. Mark Pope (Kentucky)
3 NCAA Tournaments (2-3)
A former national champion as a player at Kentucky, Pope is hoping to recreate that same national relevance for his Wildcats. The former frontcourt start got his head coaching start with success rebuilding Utah Valley before winning a bunch of games at BYU. He took over at Kentucky just two seasons ago and got these Wildcats to the Sweet Sixteen in year one. Pope is hoping for more significant postseason success after staying afloat in a very tough SEC.
26. Hubert Davis (North Carolina)
3 NCAA Tournaments (8-3)
Davis starred at North Carolina in the late 80’s and early 90’s before spending more than a decade playing in the NBA. After spending some time as an ESPN analyst, he returned to the game as an assistant for Roy Williams with his alma mater. Following nine years in that role, he succeeded the retiring Williams in 2021 and has had an eventful half-decade. The Tar Heels went all the way to the title game in his first year and the Sweet Sixteen a few years later, though there’s also been a bit of disappointment for his program.
25. Kevin Willard (Villanova)
7 NCAA Tournaments (4-7)
The earliest collegiate experience for Willard was as a point guard under his father at Western Kentucky and Pittsburgh. He spent a decade with Rick Pitino with the Boston Celtics and Louisville and has now spent nearly 20 years as a head coach himself. Willard built up Iona, Seton Hall, and Maryland in succession, including an impressive 12-year run with the Pirates and his first ever trip to the Sweet Sixteen last year leading the Terrapins. Willard hopes to continue that trend and has Villanova dancing in his first season and for the first time since 2022.