Another year of college basketball action is quickly approaching and there surely will be a lot going on in the months ahead. In preparation, we’re dropping the next edition of our rankings of all 365 D1 head coaches, but remember it’s very different this year. These pieces are just containing coaches from a single conference, albeit with their national rankings included.
We’re looking at a Conference USA that seems to have its membership change every few years ever since its creation. This league actually boasts some pretty solid coaching talent, with a few former power conference guys, and multiple head coaches that have won NCAA Tournament games. There’s a new name in the mix and a few coaches on the rise and plenty to consider in the CUSA.
344. Joey Cantens (Florida International) (Last year: N/A)
Overall record: 0-0
A Miami native with a ton of experience in his home state of Florida, Cantens’ early coaching work came largely under Andy Enfield, spending time with him at Florida State before following him to Florida Gulf Coast and USC. After a few years coaching in Germany, Cantens was back to the Eagles before starting his head coaching career at Daytona State, winning over 120 games in five years with significant junior college success. He now makes the significant jump to FIU and his first D1 head coaching gig.
246. Hank Plona (Western Kentucky) (Last year: 302)
Overall record: 35-29
After having monumental success as a junior college head coach, Plona is starting to find his footing at the D1 level. A former alum and grad assistant at Providence, he did that incredible work at Indian Hills CC before joining Western Kentucky in 2023. After a year aiding Steve Lutz, he was promoted to the top job and has had a solid first two years. This past year saw his Hilltoppers tie for 3rd in the CUSA standings.
206. Martin Ingelsby (Delaware) (Last year: 188)
Overall record: 157-158
A disciple of Mike Brey, Ingelsby played at Notre Dame and would spend a long stint under his former coach with the Fighting Irish. After 13 years on staff, both as operations coordinator and a full-time assistant, Ingelsby took the Delaware job in 2016, his first head coaching opportunity. He took the Fightin’ Blue Hens to the Big Dance and did decent work in the CAA, though year one in the CUSA was just a 10-21 mark.
180. Chris Mudge (Sam Houston) (Last year: 235)
Overall record: 56-43
Formerly a student manager and grad assistant in the Big 12 at Texas, Mudge has spent his entire coaching career in his home state, though most of it has come at Sam Houston. He served on staff for 13 years, including briefly as associate head coach, before ascending to the top job back in 2013. Since then he’s won a CUSA regular season crown, won the league’s Coach of the Year honors twice, and is fresh off a trip to the NIT.
165. Antoine Pettway (Kennesaw State) (Last year: 228)
Overall record: 55-44
Pettway has been part of some brilliant teams across his basketball career, dating back to his years as a player at Alabama. Nearly his entire coaching career was spent with the Crimson Tide, serving on staff for 4 different head coaches. After helping Nate Oats in those final years, he got his head coaching start with Kennesaw State in 2023 and has been successful quickly. After a mediocre start in the ASUN, he’s led the Owls into the CUSA with style, taking them to a league title and the NCAA Tournament last season.
140. Nick McDevitt (Middle Tennessee) (Last year: 150)
Overall record: 220-199
More than two decades of basketball action at UNC Asheville involved McDevitt, first as a player before joining the coaching staff. After 12 years on staff, he spent 5 years as the Bulldogs’ head coach, making the Big Dance in 2016 while winning 98 games and a pair of Big South regular season titles. He hasn’t quite had the same level of success since jumping to Middle Tennessee in 2018, though his Blue Raiders have a CUSA title and some recent success, including an NIT bid just two seasons ago.
119. Jason Hooten (New Mexico State) (Last year: 112)
Overall record: 307-219
A former player at Tarleton State, Hooten is a Texas native who’s spent nearly his entire career in the Lone Star State. After his playing career ended, he was on staff for more than a decade with Tarleton before jumping to Sam Houston. Hooten was promoted to the head coaching job in 2010 and racked up plenty of wins largely in the Southland before sidestepping to New Mexico State in 2023. These three years haven’t exactly seen a ton winning for the Aggies, including just an 8th place finish last year.
116. Ray Harper (Jacksonville State) (Last year: 118)
Overall record: 273-206
While not many know this, Harper is one of the most accomplished head coaches in the game today. He won two D2 titles at Kentucky Wesleyan (appearing in four more title games) and then a pair of NAIA titles with Oklahoma City. At the D1 level, he took Western Kentucky twice to the NCAA Tournament before matching the feat at Jacksonville State, doing so in his first season and the Gamecocks’ first in the ASUN. Success hasn’t come as easy in the CUSA, though this team did make the second round of the NIT in 2025.
112. Cuonzo Martin (Missouri State) (Last year: 111)
Overall record: 289-239
Well-traveled in his head coaching career, Martin was a player and assistant at Purdue under Gene Keady and Matt Painter before getting his first shot in 2008. He spent 3 years each at Missouri State, Tennessee, and California, winning the CIT with the Bears and making a Sweet Sixteen with the Volunteers. Martin made a pair of NCAA Tournaments during a 5-year stretch at Missouri but has since bounced back at Missouri State. However, he’s just 25-41 in his first two years back, though last year’s 8th place finish in year one in the CUSA wasn’t bad.
69. Ritchie McKay (Liberty) (Last year: 75)
Overall record: 439-271
Another well-traveled head coach, McKay played nearly four decades at Seattle Pacific and has been a head coach at five different schools. He spent two years each at Portland State, Colorado State, and Oregon State before leading New Mexico to the NCAA Tournament. McKay spent two years at Liberty before a stint under Tony Bennett on the Virginia staff, but has been back as Liberty’s head coach since 2015. His work has included a Tourney upset in 2019, a slew of conference titles, and back-to-back CUSA regular season championships.
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