College basketball coaches have to wear many hats. They recruit, coach, mentor and develop. It’s a hard job that deserves recognition when done well. With that, here are the top 25 college basketball coaches.
Note: First-year coaches will not be included on the list. No matter how promising they look.
Here are last year’s rankings.
25-21
25. John Scheyer, Duke Blue Devils
Last year’s rank: N/A
In his two seasons as head coach, Scheyer has made the second round and then the Elite Eight. He is still young in his coaching career, but looks like he has things on the right track for the future.
24. Jim Laranaga, Miami Hurricanes
Last year’s rank: 14
Laranaga has made two Final Fours and had a good recent run at Miami. Unfortunately, last season a team projected to do well finished the season under .500. A good bounce-back season might be hard to do with a lot of the roster moving on.
23. Chris Beard, Ole Miss Rebels
Last year’s rank: 15
Beard had an ok first season at Ole Miss, winning 20 games, but they didn’t make the NCAA Tournament. He had a good run at Texas Tech and then a short run at Texas due to off-the-court issues. A good year at Ole Miss could help Beard climb the list again.
22. Rick Pitino, St. John’s Red Storm
Last year’s rank: 17
Pitino made two out of three NCAA Tournaments during his time at Iona. He missed the Tournament last season at St. John’s. With some additions, St. John’s is expected to do better this season. Pitino has a lot of winning experience, so he could easily shoot back up this list with a good season.
21. Sean Miller, Xavier Musketeers
Last year’s rank: 18
Miller had injury issues at Xavier last season, as projected starters Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter missed the season. Xavier didn’t make the tournament after the Musketeers were a no. 3 seed in 2023. With Freemantle, Hunter and several key pieces for this season, things could be looking up for the Musketeers.
20-16
20. Dusty May, Michigan Wolverines
Last year’s rank: 25
After making the Final Four in 2023 at Florida Atlantic, he made the NCAA Tournament with the Owls last season, but was bounced in the first round. It was still a successful season, as the Owls joined the AAC and had better competition all season long. Now May takes over in Ann Arbor with a rebuild on his hands.
19. Mick Cronin, UCLA Bruins
Last year’s rank: 13
Cronin made the Final Four with UCLA in 2021, then followed that with two Sweet Sixteen appearances. Last season he went under .500 at 15-17. Things don’t look bright for UCLA in the upcoming season, so Cronin will have to prove his coaching is more than one recruiting cycle’s success.
18. Dana Altman, Oregon Ducks
Last year’s rank: 20
Altman got back in the NCAA Tournament and made the second round. He had missed the tournament the two years before that, but has had a great career. Altman has a 755-395 record, making him one of the top coaches in active wins. He’ll have to help Oregon transition to the Big Ten this season.
17. Brian Dutcher, San Diego State Aztecs
Last year’s rank: 19
San Diego State has had a good run the last few years. They made the National Championship Game in 2023 and then followed that up with a Sweet 16 appearance last season. Dutcher was known for being an assistant coach for the Fab Five, but has started to cement his legacy as a head coach.
16. T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State Cyclones
Last year’s rank: N/A
Otzelberger has two Sweet 16s in three seasons at Iowa State. He has a 70-35 record with the Cyclones, which is impressive given they play in a tough Big 12. While he had some down years during his UNLV tenure, it looks like he can have success this upcoming season at Iowa State.
15-11
15. Brad Underwood, Illinois Fighting Illini
Last year’s rank: N/A
Underwood started off his time at Illinois slow, but has really built the program up well. This past season, Underwood led the team to the Elite Eight. He has a 252-115 career record, but will have a completely new roster this season.
14. Greg McDermott, Creighton Blue Jays
Last year’s rank: 22
In the last four seasons, McDermott has made every NCAA Tournament with two Sweet Sixteens and an Elite Eight appearance. He has a 474-291 career record. His help transitioning Creighton to the Big East has gone a long way and they are now usual contenders.
13. Rick Barnes, Tennessee Volunteers
Last year’s rank: 16
Barnes made an Elite Eight this past season, after going to the Sweet Sixteen the year before. In 37 years as a head coach at George Mason, Providence, Clemson, Texas and Tennessee, he has an 806-415 record. Tennessee seems to be a contender in the SEC every season now that Barnes has things going.
12. Eric Musselman, USC Trojans
Last year’s rank: 8
After getting to two Elite Eights and a Sweet Sixteens, Arkansas had a disastorous season that had them miss the NCAA Tournament. Musselman specializes in tournament runs, but now he’ll have to do it at USC in the Big Ten.
11. Tony Bennett, Virginia Cavaliers
Last year’s rank: 5
Bennett did a good job winning a title at Virginia in 2019, but what has happened since has been the issue. They have missed a tournament and been bounced out of the others in the first round or in the First Four. Another run in the tournament could help bump Bennett back into the top 10.
10-6
10. Tom Izzo, Michigan State Spartans
Last year’s rank: 7
Izzo is one of the most accomplished coaches in the sport, as he has 707-295 career record and a national championship. While he had a Sweet 16 appearance two seasons ago, that was the only time in the last four years that the Spartans left the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Another tournament run could have Izzo rise back up the list.
9. John Calipari, Arkansas Razorbacks
Last year’s rank: 6
Calipari has slowly fallen down this list due to his lack of success in the postseason as of late. This past season, Kentucky had a great season that earned them a no. 3 seed, but they lost to Oakland in the first round. He had an incredible run at Kentucky which included a national championship, but Calipari needs to refind that success at Arkansas to move up the list.
8. Bruce Pearl, Auburn Tigers
Last year’s rank: 10
It’s been a few years since Pearl’s 2019 Final Four, but he has consistently fielded good teams at Auburn. The 2024 NCAA Tournament, saw Pearl’s Tigers get upset early, but the regular season was good. Their schedule is tougher in 2024-2025, but Auburn should be able to have another good year.
7. Nate Oats, Alabama Crimson Tide
Last year’s rank: 13
Oats has consistently moved up this list over the years and now moves into the top 10 after making his first Final Four. He is 213-97 with a stop at Buffalo before getting the Alabama job. It looks like the Crimson Tide have a chance at making the Final Four again this season.
6. Matt Painter, Purdue Boilermakers
Last year’s rank: 12
Painter finally got the long tournament run that eluded him with a National Championship Game appearance this past season. He has a 447-208 career record and has done a good job at Purdue, which has its limitations.
5-1
5. Scott Drew, Baylor Bears
Last year’s rank: 3
Drew won a national championship in 2021, but has had three straight second-round exits since that point. There is no doubt Drew is still one of the best coaches in the sport, especially with the job he has done turning the program around when he took over. He has a 466-255 career record and will have a great chance to add a lot more wins this season.
4. Kelvin Sampson, Houston Cougars
Last year’s rank: 4
His career has gone through Washington State, Oklahoma, Indiana and Houston. Sampson’s best years have happened at Houston where he is 264-79. The move to the Big 12 didn’t slow the Cougars down, but Sampson is looking for his first Final Four at the school.
3. Mark Few, Gonzaga Bulldogs
Last year’s rank: 2
Few made another Sweet 16 last season, adding to his impressive run at Gonzaga. The Bulldogs have made every NCAA Tournament since 1999, dominating the WCC in the process. With a 716-143 record, Few is one of the more accomplished coaches in the sport.
2. Bill Self, Kansas Jayhawks
Last year’s rank: 1
Self has two titles and a long history of being a good coach. He gets jumped by Hurley in this year’s list, because of his recent success, but Self hasn’t lost a step. Self has an 810-248 career record and looks like he’ll have another competitive roster this season.
1. Dan Hurley, Connecticut Huskies
Last year’s rank: 9
After winning back-to-back national championships, Hurley is on top of the sport. It is impressive that it is happening in an era with so much roster turnover. Other schools and the NBA are courting Hurley, but he decided to go back to UConn and try for a three-peat.
Also in Consideration
Randy Bennett, St. Mary’s Gaels
Bennett has gone 533-216 in his career with 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. He needs a tournament run to really help his case.
Brad Brownell, Clemson Tigers
Brownell had struggled to do anything of note during his Clemson tenure, but last season made the Elite Eight. If he can pair back to back great seasons together, he could make the list.
Hubert Davis, North Carolina Tar Heels
Davis had an underwhelming first regular season as head coach, but then made the Final Four. That was followed by missing the tournament and then lost in the Sweet 16. The only thing holding Davis back from the list is consistency.
Jamie Dixon, TCU Horned Frogs
After a great run at Pittsburgh, Dixon has done well at his alma mater. He has made three straight NCAA Tournaments and could have more on the way.
Greg Gard, Wisconsin Badgers
Gard has made four of six NCAA Tournaments during his tenure as head coach. Getting past the first weekend of the tournament has eluded Gard, but could help him make the list.
Todd Golden, Florida Gators
After a season under .500 in year one, Golden took Florida to the NCAA Tournament. Although injuries hurt their chances last season, Golden has things on the right track.
Shaheen Holloway, Seton Hall Pirates
At St. Peter’s, Holloway went on a good run in 2022. He has yet to make an NCAA Tournament at Seton Hall in two seasons, even though last season they had a really good case to be in.
Kevin Keatts, NC State Wolfpack
Keatts went on an incredible Final Four run as a no. 11 seed. It was his third NCAA Tournament appearance with the Wolfpack, so making the tournament more consistently will help his case.
Lamont Paris, South Carolina Gamecocks
In his second season at South Carolina, Paris led the team to the NCAA Tournament. He also has an NCAA Tournament appearance at Chattanooga, but will need to do a little more to make the list.
Shaka Smart, Marquette Golden Eagles
After not making the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament since his 2011 Final Four run with VCU, Smart broke through last season. Another good season could push him into the top 25.
Kyle Smith, Stanford Cardinal
Smith helped turn around Washington State and they made the NCAA Tournament second round. Now he takes over the job at Stanford, who will be in the ACC.
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