There is so much talent in the NCAA that it is hard to forget the coaching talent out there. After giving this a lot of thought, I have come up with the top ten active coaches in Division I (after number 1, the rest are in no particular order):
1. Coach K- Undoubtedly the best. He can teach, motivate, recruit, and is a great in-game strategist. He will own all the records in a couple of years, and he has definitely earned it. He has made adjustments throughout his tenure based on personnel and just about everything has worked.
2. Jim Boeheim - How many years has Syracuse been overlooked in the polls and come out with ultra competitive teams? He has changed strategies over the years to remain competitive. They didn't always play a match-up zone at the Cuse (watch their 1987 loss to Indiana in the Finals). Also, Syracuse does not run as much as they did in the 80's and early 90's.
3. Jim Calhoun - He took a nothing program and built a powerhouse. It took him a few years to get it up and running, but they are tough just about every year. His teams play hard on both ends of the floor.
4. Roy Williams - He shook his "bridesmaid" reputation a few years ago by winning the big one. His teams, while almost always super-talented, don't always play up to their talent level. However, he may be the best recruiter in the country, so it usually doesn't matter because UNC can underachieve and still win a lot of games.
5. Rick Pitino - There have been a couple of years where his team should probably have gone further in the NCAA Tournament based on pure talent, but he has made up for it in other years by coaching over-achievers. Has several disciples out there who coach similarly and have had great success.
6. Billy Donovan-Back to Back Championships is a magnificent achievement, particularly in today's game where there is so much parity. The 3 top ten picks he lost after his second championship stung, but he'll be back on top sooner rather than later.
7. Bill Self - His teams are tough, tenacious, and talented. They absolutely destroyed an unbelievably talented Carolina team in the Final Four on their way to the Championship (yes, Carolina did come back, but Kansas flattened them for a good portion of that game).
8. Tom Izzo - His teams rarely beat themselves, and their grittiness every year is very impressive. He gets the most out of his teams. Perhaps the closest to Coach K in terms of overall coaching ability. He gets the recruits and gets the most out of them.
9. Gary Williams - He has not had the same level of success that he had enjoyed at Maryland in the past, but I would not be surprised if he had one more surge of top level achievement before he is done, health permitting (he is extremely volatile).
10. Rick Majerus - He is a basketball genius. It was a pleasure to hear him break down games as an analyst between coaching stints. He started his career under Al McGuire, and has done his mentor proud. Has done as much with his talent year over year as any coach in recent memory.
10a. Mark Few - Gonzaga was known for having had Bing Crosby as a student before Few came there, and look what he's been able to do. While Gonzaga made the Elite 8 in 1999 when Few was an assistant coach, he built the team that has been competitive on a national level every year. Gonzaga will play anyone anywhere - many teams avoid them like the plague. He manages to bring in enough talent to a school that, under conventional wisdom, shouldn't compete with the big boys.
Honorable mentions: Thad Matta, Bo Ryan, Jay Wright, John Calipari, Ben Howland, Bob Huggins.
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