It’s one thing for a college coach to win a lot of games over a career, but it’s another thing to have great success in the NCAA tournament over that same span. Any coach will tell you that winning games in March is much more meaningful than winning them in December or January. In honor of the NCAA tournament coming to a close tonight, here is my list of the top 5 active men’s NCAA tournament coaches. Notably, we may just have to make room for another certain coach on this list if Kentucky wins the national championship tonight.
5. Jim Calhoun (Connecticut)
National Championships – 3
Championship Games – 3
Final Fours – 4
Elite Eights – 9
Sweet Sixteens – 13
Tournament wins – 50
Tournament Appearances – 23
Avg. Win Per Tournament – 2.17
Years Coaching Division I- 40
Coach Calhoun has never lost in an NCAA championship game in three tries. If he makes it to a Monday night championship game, odds are he is going to come out on top victorious. The Huskies haven’t always had the nation’s number one team coming into the big dance such as 2011’s national championship team. They got hot at the right time and won the Big East tournament with Kimba Walker and then went the distance in the NCAA Tournament.
4. Rick Pitino (Louisville)
National Championships – 1
Championship Games – 2
Final Fours – 6
Elite Eights – 10
Sweet Sixteens – 10
Tournament wins – 42
Tournament Appearances – 17
Avg. Win Per Tournament – 2.47
Years Coaching Division I – 24
Just think Kentucky fans, what if Pitino would have stayed at Kentucky after 1997 and not left for the Boston Celtics? Who knows how many more NCAA tournament wins, Final Fours, or National Championship games Pitino and Kentucky would have right now? Pitino has said that leaving Kentucky was the biggest mistake he’s made as a coach. Lucky for Kentucky fans, Coach Cal has you them on top of the world again, and it looks like they’ll be happy for awhile. Pitino’s most amazing stat as a great NCAA tournament coach is that he has NEVER lost in the Sweet Sixteen round of the tournament. His team always makes it to the Elite Eight if they make it to the Regional Semi-Finals. Remember this next year when filling out your brackets.
3. Roy Williams (North Carolina)
National Championships – 2
Championship Games – 4
Final Fours – 7
Elite Eights – 11
Sweet Sixteens – 15
Tournament wins – 61
Tournament Appearances – 22
Avg. Win Per Tournament – 2.77
Years Coaching Division I – 23
Since Coach Williams took over Kansas in 1989, he has only had two seasons in which he didn’t make the NCAA tournament. Coach Williams has NEVER lost a first round game in the NCAA tournament which is pretty remarkable in twenty-two tournaments. He is the only coach on my list to win two national championships with two different teams. He’s also the only coach to make the title game twice with two different teams. It’s safe to say that if Roy Williams is coaching a team, odds are they’re going to be in the NCAA tournament and probably win a game or two, or three.
2. Tom Izzo (Michigan State)
National Championships – 1
Championship Games – 2
Final Fours – 6
Elite Eights – 7
Sweet Sixteens – 10
Tournament wins – 38
Tournament Appearances – 15
Avg. Win Per Tournament – 2.53
Years Coaching Division I – 17
Coach Izzo has won the most tournament games with the least amount of overall talent available on his teams compared to the other coaches on my list. He has only had one player (Zach Randolph) be a one and done star headed for the NBA. Every other star player he has had has at least stayed through their sophomore year. Coach Izzo’s most amazing stat as a great tournament coach is that ANY player he has coached for all four years in his program has been to at least one Final Four. I don’t know about you, but that is a pretty good sales pitch for him and his staff when they are out on the recruiting trails.
Despite losing in the first round to Lehigh this year, Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski's numbers are undeniable. He's the best active NCAA tournament coach there is.
1. Mike Krzyzewski (Duke)
National Championships – 4
Championship Games – 8
Final Fours – 11
Elite Eights – 12
Sweet Sixteens – 20
Tournament wins – 79
Tournament Appearances – 28
Avg. Win Per Tournament- 2.82
Years Coaching Division I – 36
Hands down the greatest coach EVER in the NCAA tournament and in my opinion college basketball history. He has more tournament wins, Final Fours, Elite Eights, Sweet Sixteens, and Tournament Appearances than any coach in college basketball. Since 1986, his teams have only lost in their opening NCAA tournament game three times. Making the Sweet Sixteen twenty times out of twenty-eight attempts is his most amazing stat regarding his tournament coaching success. I believe he will surpass the great John Wooden in Final Four appearances (12) before his coaching career is over at Duke.
Honorable Mention – John Calipari (Kentucky)
National Championships – 0
Championship Games – 1
Final Fours – 4 (1996 & 2008 are considered vacated)
Elite Eights – 8
Sweet Sixteens – 10
Tournament wins – 38
Tournament Appearances – 14
Avg. Win Per Tournament – 2.71
Years Coaching Division I- 20
At this time tomorrow, Coach Cal may crack the number five spot on my list. His 2.71 wins per tournament is third only to Williams and Krzyzewski. He quite possibly is the best college recruiter of top NBA talent. He very well may have a national title to his name tomorrow, and he’s officially clean (at this point) to any violations. His two vacated teams (1996 & 2008) hurt his notoriety, which is why he misses the cut at this time.
Honorable Mention – Jim Boeheim (Syracuse)
National Championships – 1
Championship Games – 3
Final Fours – 3
Elite Eights – 5
Sweet Sixteens – 16
Tournament wins – 45
Tournament Appearances – 29
Avg. Win Per Tournament – 1.55
Years Coaching Division I – 36
With just a 1.55 average wins per tournament to his resume, Coach Boehiem just misses the cut. Syracuse fans got their one national title in 2003 with Melo and Hakim Warrick, but before and after, there has been much disappointment and longing for another title in up-state New York.
By: Craig Emmert
