The 25 best NCAA males's and girls's event coaches

[ad_1] The nice school basketball coaches solidified their legacies with constant success within the NCAA Event. This is a take a look at 25 of one of the best -- women and men -- whose NCAA Event teaching resumes standout above the remainder. Listed in alphabetical order.

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Not solely has this Connecticut legend recorded probably the most NCAA ladies's titles (11) and event wins (137), he additionally occurs to be the winningest coach -- males or ladies -- in Division I historical past with greater than 1,240 victories (as of March 3, 2025). Coming into the 2025 ladies's NCAA Event, Auriemma can also be the profession chief, amongst all D-I males's and girls's coaches, in Ultimate 4 (23), Elite Eight (28) and Candy 16 (31) appearances. From 2013-'16, Auriemma guided UConn to a document 4 consecutive ladies's nationwide championships.

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A member of the Girls's Basketball Corridor of Fame, Barmore is without doubt one of the nice coaches within the early years of the ladies's NCAA Event. Barmore spent 35 years within the Louisiana Tech program, together with co-head coach or head coach from 1982-2002. He guided the Girl Techsters to twenty straight NCAA event appearances, 9 Ultimate 4 spots, which is tied or fourth-most within the ladies's sport, 5 title-game journeys and the 1988 nationwide championship, which included fellow Corridor-of-Famer Teresa Weatherspoon.

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The Syracuse teaching legend was one of many pioneers of the Large East convention, and guided the Orange to 34 NCAA Event appearances throughout his stellar tenure that ran from 1977-2023. And, 5 of these event journeys featured a spot within the Ultimate 4. In fact, there was that one memorable second that got here in 2003, when a star freshman named Carmelo Anthony handed Boeheim his solely nationwide championship. Coming into the 2025 NCAA Event, Boeheim ranks fourth with 61 victories within the Large Dance.

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Calhoun definitely made probably the most of his alternatives when it got here to Connecticut's prominence within the NCAA Event. The person who primarily turned the middling program right into a perennial energy, Calhoun guided the Huskies to 4 Ultimate 4 appearances -- and three ended with a nationwide championship (1999, 2004, 2011). He is considered one of six coaches to win at the very least three nationwide titles, and coming into the 2025 occasion, ranks eighth with 49 NCAA Event victories between his time at Northeastern (1973-'86) and UConn (1987-2012).

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Ought to Calipari take Arkansas to the 2025 Large Dance, will probably be the fourth college he took to the NCAA Event. He is taken three groups to 6 complete Ultimate Fours -- Kentucky 4 occasions (2011, '12, '14 and '15) and people vacated journeys by UMass (1996) and Memphis (2008). In fact, Coach Cal solely has that 2012 title with the Wildcats on his nationwide championship resume. Nonetheless Calipari ranks among the many all-time leaders with 57 NCAA Event victories, probably the most by an lively coach coming into the 2025 occasion.

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The legendary Crum performed for and coached underneath the faculty hoops icon John Wood (extra on him quickly), so it is no marvel he loved his personal success on the sidelines. Crum spent his total head teaching profession at Louisville (1972-2001). Throughout his tenure, Crum's Cardinals made the NCAA Event 23 occasions, together with 16 journeys to the Candy 16, seven Elite Eight appearances and 6 Ultimate 4 berths, together with in his first season of 1971-72. In 1980 and 86, the Cardinals have been topped nationwide champions underneath the Corridor-of-Fame coach.

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In Donovan's two seasons teaching at Marshall, neither group made an NCAA Event look. Then he went to Florida and took the Gators to the Large Dance 14 occasions throughout his stint from 1997-2015. Simply 4 seasons into that keep, Florida reached the nationwide championship sport. Then, after all, the Gators gained back-to-back nationwide titles underneath Donovan in 2006 and '07. In all, Donovan, who then bolted to the NBA teaching ranks, made 4 Ultimate 4 appearances at Florida, and 7 Elite Eight journeys.

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Among the many top-10 winningest coaches in NCAA Division I historical past -- males or ladies -- with 1,023 wins and .716 victory proportion. Hatchell guided the North Carolina ladies's program to 23 NCAA Event appearances throughout her Corridor-of-Fame head teaching run from 1987-2019. That featured six journeys to the Elite Eight, three to the Ultimate 4, together with back-to-back appearances in 2006, '07, and a victory within the 1994 nationwide championship sport.

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Michigan State's coach since 1995, Izzo ranks fifth all-time amongst males's coaches with eight Ultimate 4 appearances -- that are probably the most acknowledged by an lively head coach. Whereas his 2000 Michigan State squad is the one one to win all of it, his 2009 group was nationwide runner-up. As well as, Izzo has an opportunity in 2025 to extend his NCAA Event complete of 56 victories within the Large Dance. Izzo's Spartans groups have made 16 appearances within the Candy 16, and since his first two seasons answerable for this system, he has not missed out on a event.

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Maybe probably the most controversial coach in school basketball historical past, Knight can also be one of many best within the occupation. Although Knight's true NCAA Event success got here at Indiana (three nationwide titles, 5 Ultimate Fours, 14 appearances), he additionally took Texas Tech to 4 journeys to the Large Dance in components of six seasons. Knight's 1975-76 squad with the Hoosiers remains to be the final to go a whole season undefeated (32-0). In fact, Knight's antics on the courtroom and in apply, plus his outspoken nature, in the end led to a legacy that is been tarnished in spots.

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By way of males's school basketball goes, Coach Ok, who performed collegiately at Military underneath Bob Knight, stays the king of the NCAA Event -- in terms of all-time victories (101) and Ultimate 4 appearances (13). Each are probably the most within the historical past of the boys's sport, whereas his 5 nationwide championships (1991 , 1992 , 2001 , 2010 , 2015 ) rank second all time, throughout a outstanding teaching run at Duke that spanned 1980-2022. Throughout Krzyzewski's legendary stint with the Blue Devils, solely 4 of his groups failed to achieve the NCAA Event.

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One other coach, no matter gender, who resides among the many high 10 in profession wins. The legendary Notre Dame coach, McGraw, who totaled 936 total victories with a .762 successful proportion (1983-'19), is tied with the aforementioned Leon Barmore for fifth with 9 ladies's Ultimate 4 appearances. As well as, the Irish underneath McGraw reached the nationwide championship sport seven occasions from 2001-'19, and gained titles in 2001 and '18. From 1996-2019, Notre Dame reached the NCAA Event every season underneath the Corridor of Famer.

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Mulkey is the primary coach in NCAA basketball historical past to win nationwide title as a participant, assistant coach, and head coach. And, the primary to teach two completely different faculties to a nationwide championship-- Baylor (2005, '12, '19) and LSU (2023). Coming into the 2025 event, the modern Mulkey ranks fourth all time with these 4 nationwide titles, and is tied for seventh with 5 Ultimate 4 appearances. Since starting her head teaching profession at Baylor in 2000-01, her groups have did not make an NCAA Event simply as soon as, and reached the Elite Eight 12 occasions.

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A Corridor of Famer, Olson is a kind of uncommon coaches to take a couple of college to the Ultimate 4. He did so with Iowa in 1980, then 4 occasions with Arizona (1988, '94, '97 and 2001). Nevertheless, just one time did Olson's group win all of it, although it was fairly memorable when that 1997 group of Wildcats, led by Mike Bibby and Miles Simon, took down mighty Kentucky for this system's first nationwide championship. Olson, whose Wildcats additionally misplaced to Duke within the 2001 nationwide remaining, rank among the many all-time leaders with 46 NCAA Event wins.

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Nonetheless going sturdy, now at St. John's, Pitino was the primary coach to information three completely different faculties (Windfall, Kentucky, Louisville) to the Ultimate 4. In all, seven of Pitino's groups have reached the Ultimate 4, together with his 1996 Kentucky squad and 2013 Louisville group successful all of it. Nevertheless, the Ultimate 4 and title by these Cardinals has since been vacated, however underneath attraction by the college. Pitino has definitely had his controversies as a head coach, however together with 2025, can have led six completely different faculties (Boston College, Iona, St. John's, additionally) to the Large Dance.

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Outdoors of Large Blue Nation, Rupp won't be the preferred determine in school basketball historical past. Nevertheless, he is probably the most iconic and influential coaches within the historical past of the sport. He gained 876 video games throughout his 41 years teaching at Kentucky (1931-'72) and guided the Wildcats to 6 Ultimate 4 appearances. Of these journeys to the nationwide semifinals, 4 occasions Kentucky gained nationwide titles (1948, ' 49, ' 51, ' 58). These nationwide championships rank third amongst all coaches. The Corridor of Famer was additionally on the shedding finish of probably the most talked about title video games in sports activities historical past -- shedding to Texas Western in 1966 -- and survived the notorious 1951 point-shaving scandal.

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If you're the winningest coach at Kansas, and the one one to information the storied program to 2 nationwide titles (2008, '22), then there's clearly a spot on this checklist for Invoice Self. Sitting fourth amongst lively head coaches with 4 Ultimate 4 appearances, Self can also be tied for second, with Tom Izzo, amongst present coaches coming into the 2025 occasion, with 56 NCAA Event victories. He is led three completely different faculties to the Elite Eight (Tulsa, Illinois, Kansas) and since taking up the Jayhawks program in 2003-04, his groups have by no means failed to achieve the Large Dance.

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Sharp's 1983 and '84 USC squads turned the primary to win back-to-back NCAA Division I nationwide championships within the NCAA Event period. Led by the legendary Cheryl Miller, Sharp's Trojans of the day have been the primary dominant program within the early years of the ladies's NCAA Event. In complete, Sharp guided USC to 3 Ultimate 4 appearances, and a runner-up end in 1986. Sharp's Trojans made seven NCAA Event appearances, and he or she gained 277 video games answerable for this system.

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The stoic Smith ranks second all time with 65 NCAA Event victories, all whereas main North Carolina from 1961-'97. He is third in terms of Ultimate 4 appearances, with 11, which embody title runs in 1982 and '93. Moreover, Smith's Tar Heels made 23 consecutive NCAA Event appearances from 1975-'97. From 1981-'93, North Carolina superior to the Candy 16 or past in each season. His nation tree contains fellow nationwide championship coaches Larry Brown and Roy Williams (extra on him in a bit).

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Together with Geno Auriemma and Kim Mulkey, Staley is a part of the elite amongst lively ladies's head coaches. Since starting her head teaching profession at Temple in 2000-01, Staley has guided 18 groups to the NCAA Event, together with 12 appearances in a row at South Carolina, the place she's turned the Gamecocks right into a nationwide energy. Staley, whose NCAA Event streak will proceed in 2025, has guided South Carolina to nationwide titles in three of the previous seven tournaments. As well as, her Gamecocks have reached the eight Candy 16 eight occasions and been to 5 Ultimate Fours, coming into the 2025 Large Dance.

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The legendary Summitt is now not the winningest coach in ladies's basketball, however is the rationale the game has risen to prominence through the years. A champion for the ladies's sport and its gamers, the late Summitt by no means endured a shedding season or missed the NCAA Event whereas teaching Tennessee from 1974-2012. Her 18 Ultimate 4 appearances and eight nationwide championships with the Girl Vols every rank second all time within the sport. Summitt's Girl Vols have been the primary to win three straight ladies's nationwide titles (1996-'98). Her 1,098 victories rank fifth all time amongst NCAA Division I coaches of any gender.

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Solely Geno Auriemma has extra victories amongst males's and girls's NCAA Division I basketball coaches than VanDerveer's 1,216. VanDerveer started her profession as a head coach at Idaho in 1978-79, then after two seasons spent 5 at Ohio State. Then in 1985, she landed at Stanford, the place she rebuilt this system right into a perennial nationwide energy. She guided the Cardinal to fifteen Ultimate 4 appearances, third-most amongst ladies's coaches and gained three nationwide titles (1990, '92, 2021) and completed runner-up twice. Stanford appeared in 27 straight NCAA Tournaments when VanDerveer retired after the 2023-24 marketing campaign.

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A training disciple of Dean Smith, Williams has achieved Corridor-of-Fame success whereas guiding two of probably the most storied packages in NCAA basketball historical past. For 15 seasons (1989-2003), Williams coached at Kansas, the place he took the Jayhawks to 14 consecutive NCAA tournaments, 4 Ultimate 4 appearances and made the nationwide remaining twice. From there, Williams spent 18 seasons again at North Carolina, the place he lastly gained all of it -- 3 times (2005, '09, '17) -- and went to 5 Ultimate Fours. Williams ranks second all time with 77 NCAA Event victories and fourth with these 9 Ultimate 4 journeys.

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Mike Krzyzewski may personal the document for many NCAA Event wins and Ultimate 4 appearances, however in terms of total Large Dance dominance, John Wood stands tall above the remainder. His 10 nationwide championships at UCLA are a document that in all probability will not be damaged any time quickly. That, after all, contains seven consecutive titles from 1967-'73. Wood's 12 Ultimate 4 appearances with the Bruins rank second all time, and amid a run of dominance that will additionally by no means be seen once more.

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In comparison with different names on this checklist, Wright's teaching tenure was not prolonged (1995-2022). Nevertheless, he completed greater than most coaches dream. Between his seven seasons teaching at Hofstra and 21 at Villanova, Wright's groups made 18 NCAA Event appearances. He guided the Wildcats to 4 Ultimate Fours and gained a pair of nationwide championships in 2016, by way of memorable trend, and once more in 2018. Going out on the highest of his teaching sport, Wright introduced his retirement after Villanova's 2022 Ultimate 4 loss to Kansas.