Drinking The Forty: Top Coaching Jobs

Showing posts with label Top Coaching Jobs. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Top Coaching Jobs - #2

UCLA is easily the most storied program in college basketball history. The records amassed under John Wooden, with players like Lou Alcindor and Bill Walton will never be touched again in college basketball. With ten national titles in a twelve year span, UCLA has forever etched their place in college basketball lore.

However, since 1975, the UCLA program had struggled only winning one national title, in 1995. The program struggled after the 1995 title, leading to Steve Lavin’s departure and a few seasons with a losing record, which had previously been unheard of for the Bruins. However, things started to change with the hire of Ben Howland, from Pittsburgh. Howland has restored the program to one of the elite in college basketball, as the Bruins have accomplished three straight Final Four appearances, an astonishing feat for today’s game.

Howland has re-energized the program with a dedication to defense and the ability to recruit top notch talent like Kevin Love, Darren Collison, and Jrue Holliday to Los Angeles. UCLA has remained atop what is a very competitive Pac-10. There have been many challengers, but no one has been able to unseat them from the top. With the history and prestige of the program, coupled with their renewed success, UCLA is back in the national limelight and it will allow them to continue to recruit. With a top notch location in UCLA, pro prospects heading to the NBA, and a cross town rivalry with USC starting to heat up, UCLA is in prime position to dominate the West Coast.

While it is tough to maintain a rabid fan base in such a sports saturated and red carpet dominated market, UCLA has a loyal group and as long as they remain successful will be able to pack the house. The glimmering lights of LA and Hollywood will play to Howland’s favor in recruiting players that want to prepare for the NBA while achieving the maximum exposure. While they are currently re-stocking their NBA talent, and have only become relevant again in the past five years, UCLA appears here to stay with a program that is made for the big time. With a great coach, a solid fan base, a storied program, and a great locale for recruiting, UCLA is firmly entrenched at number two on this list, and it may not be long before it reclaims its grasp on number one.

#3.) Kansas Jayhawks
#4.) Duke Blue Devils
#5.) Kentucky Wildcats
#6.) Indiana Hooisers
#7.) Florida Gators
#8) Michigan State Spartans
#9.) Connecticut Huskies
#10.) Arizona Wildcats

Top Coaching Jobs - #3

For starters, winning a National Championship is always helpful your program’s prestige. The win marked the third National title in the program’s long and storied history. Bill Self pushed the program over the top, doing something that seemed to be out of reach for several talented Jayhawk teams over the past decade.

Kansas has been at the top of the Big XII since the beginning of the program and is continually a player on the National stage. They bring in top players from Chicago to Texas and throughout the Midwest, and are a regular for ESPN’s late game on Big Monday broadcasts. They have also had top tier coaches in the past decade, adequately replacing Roy Williams with Illinois coach Bill Self. The Jayhawks have apparently found their man as Self refused courting by the Cowboys of Oklahoma State and the deep pockets of oil tycoon Boone Pickens. His decision to stay will allow Kansas to continue their success at the highest level.

As for the history of the Jayhawks’ program, you don’t have to look too hard. With Dr. James Naismith as a former head coach, your program is basketball. With 13 final four appearances and 10 NBA alumni currently in the league, such as Paul Pierce, Kirk Hinrich, and Drew Gooden, Kansas has gotten success from their players in college as well as at the next level. This has helped Kansas recruit successfully, and with their most recent championship, it looks like Kansas is in position to continue that success.

Kansas also has a loyal and rabid fan base that makes Allen Fieldhouse one of the toughest places to play in the country. Opposing teams (Texas for one comes to mind) have struggled mightily at the hands of Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk. While their location in the middle of the Midwest might hurt their recruiting somewhat, this program has established itself as one of the tops in the country. Their ability to stabilize their coaching situation with Bill Self will only improve their stock going forward. That is why Kansas comes in at number three on our list.

#4.) Duke Blue Devils
#5.) Kentucky Wildcats
#6.) Indiana Hooisers
#7.) Florida Gators
#8) Michigan State Spartans
#9.) Connecticut Huskies
#10.) Arizona Wildcats

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Top Coaching Jobs - #4

The house that Coach K built. The Duke Blue Devils are loved by many and hated by everyone else. They have spent much of the last two decades as the center of the basketball universe, winning games and earning fans and enemies for their disciplined style and dedication on the defensive end.

With an .816 winning percentage over the past seven years, you can count on Duke to be relevant and be among the top 15 teams in the country. With three national titles to his credit Mike Krzyzewski will go down as one of the greatest coaches to ever grace the hardwood. With the floor already named after him, he has built this program into everything that it is today.

Duke is a nationally known and respected program and they spend about as much time on national television as Dick Vitale. That recognition allows Coach K to go into any home, coast to coast, to recruit top players. It is this constant influx of talent, along with Coach K’s coaching that keeps Duke on top year after year.

The history and legacy of the Blue Devils has been built over the last 20 years. Everyone remembers the Laettner shot, Grant Hill, Bobby Hurley, Shane Battier, Jason Williams, and JJ Redick. Duke has also developed one of the most recognizable and energetic fan bases in the Cameron Crazies. Cameron Indoor Arena is the hardest place to play in the country and the fans at Duke are the most recognizable in basketball.

While Duke’s rise has been all during the Krzyzewski era, it is a success that will surely be sustained after his tenure ends. This will be a program with the national notoriety, success, and fan base that any coach would want to come into. While their facilities are behind most, the tradition and recruiting ability are second to none. This is why Duke comes in at number four on our list.

#5.) Kentucky Wildcats
#6.) Indiana Hooisers
#7.) Florida Gators
#8) Michigan State Spartans
#9.) Connecticut Huskies
#10.) Arizona Wildcats

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Top Coaching Jobs - #5

With Indiana facing certain sanctions from the NCAA for the next several years, the Hooisers were still able to land Tom Crean. Roy Williams left the Kansas Jayhawks for North Carolina in 2003. Kansas was able to replace him with Bill Self, from Illinois, who just recently turned down Oklahoma State to stay at Kansas.

It makes you wonder, what are the Top 10 coaching jobs in college basketball? We here at Drinking the Forty consulted with some of the finest basketball experts in the country to find out. Hey, if ESPN can pull random people off the street and call them experts, then we can too.

Here is our Top 10, based on a program’s national persona, recent success, fan base, facilities, history and tradition, and potential for future success.

#5.) Kentucky Wildcats

Another storied program that is in a period of transition. Things had started to come unraveled in Lexington under coach Tubby Smith, who grew tired of the extreme expectations of the Big Blue and saw the writing on the wall. With Smith heading to Minnesota, he left the Kentucky program depleted and in need of a minor rebuilding job.

After a disastrous hiring search, Kentucky was able to make a great hire in Texas A&M coach Billy Gillespie. He immediately came in and instilled his defensive minded, tough, winning attitude and was able to salvage what was a very sub-par Kentucky team. Under Gillespie you could see the transformation taking place during the season, as he began to put his imprint on the program.

Kentucky is a program where 20 wins and tournament appearances aren’t enough. Over the last seven seasons the Wildcats have posted 169 wins and a .728 winning percentage. But that wasn’t enough for Big Blue. One of the most demanding and rabid fan bases in all of college basketball, the Wildcat faithful expects Final Four appearances and National Titles.

Under Adolph Rupp, the Kentucky Wildcats became one of the most successful and storied programs in the game. That tradition grew even more under the championship teams of Rick Pitino. With seven championships and 13 final four appearances, Kentucky is one of the most historic programs in college basketball. They are nationally known and respected.

But in the last several years, recruiting has been down, and Kentucky has fallen behind Tennessee and Florida in the SEC. Kentucky hasn’t been able to maintain the level reached by Rick Pitino, and Tubby Smith became burned out with the expectations and pressure that this Kentucky job brings. Whether it is warranted or not, there’s the Derby and Wildcat basketball in Kentucky, and that’s it. The scrutiny and pressure that comes with this job is second to none, and Billy Gillespie will have to work hard to please his critics.

Gillespie has a style of basketball that wins in the NCAA Tournament and is a proven recruiter. He’s young and highly motivated and is probably the type of hire that could end up getting the Kentucky program back on top. While the Kentucky program has been down the past few years, it won’t stay there for long. And that’s why they come in on our list at number five.

#6.) Indiana Hooisers
#7.) Florida Gators
#8) Michigan State Spartans
#9.) Connecticut Huskies
#10.) Arizona Wildcats

Friday, April 18, 2008

Top Coaching Jobs - #6

With Indiana facing certain sanctions from the NCAA for the next several years, the Hooisers were still able to land Tom Crean. Roy Williams left the Kansas Jayhawks for North Carolina in 2003. Kansas was able to replace him with Bill Self, from Illinois, who just recently turned down Oklahoma State to stay at Kansas.

It makes you wonder, what are the Top 10 coaching jobs in college basketball? We here at Drinking the Forty consulted with some of the finest basketball experts in the country to find out. Hey, if ESPN can pull random people off the street and call them experts, then we can too.

Here is our Top 10, based on a program’s national persona, recent success, fan base, facilities, history and tradition, and potential for future success.

#6.) Indiana Hooisers

One of the crown jewels of college basketball, just ask any basketball person over 50 about the program and look out for the ensuing drool. Since Bob Knight was forced to go, the Indiana program has been in limbo. From the Mike Davis years to the giant black eye named Kelvin Sampson (that’s what you get for hiring a Sooner), the Indiana program has faced some rough times as of late.

But one thing that shows that this program is still among the tops in the sport is the way it has remained in the news and relevant despite its struggles. With major NCAA sanctions looming, (granted they won’t be as bad as Baylor, I guess that’s a perk of being a major player in your sport) the Hooisers were still able to land a major hire in Tom Crean of Marquette. The ability to go in and say, “Hey, you’ll probably have 0 returning starters, face several years of probation, and be expected to win immediately, but did we say we’re Indiana?” and get the coach to sign the dotted line, speaks volumes about the tradition, history, and relevance of this program.

While the .624 winning percentage over the last seven years is not where Indiana would like it, they have had a few seasons in contention in the Big Ten, including the improbable Mike Davis trip to the Final Four. But, what makes Indiana is the tradition and history. It’s the candy stripe pants, Assembly Hall, five national championships, and eight final fours. Whether they win or lose, they still will be Indiana, one of the most storied programs in basketball.

Indiana had been fighting their hardest to become relevant again, and took the shortcut named Kelvin Sampson to do it. Despite the NCAA sanctions, the relevance was achieved. Sampson was able to land a major recruit in Eric Gordon, and while he will be heading to the NBA, Indiana showed it is still capable of attracting the best players. Tom Crean’s success in Marquette will allow him to recruit anywhere in the Midwest, and coupled with the Indiana name, he should be able to become the leader in the region, which is important in keeping Chicago talent close to home.

While it may take two or three years to fully get the program back on track, Crean was the perfect hire to bring Indiana back to elite status in college basketball. It has been 21 years since the Hooisers cut down the nets, but with Tom Crean at the helm, the possibility isn’t that far off. And that is why the Indiana Hooisers come in at number six on our list.

#7.) Florida Gators
#8) Michigan State Spartans
#9.) Connecticut Huskies
#10.) Arizona Wildcats

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Top Coaching Jobs - #7

So how long does it actually take to create a top national program? Apparently it only takes two years, as long as you win the National Title both years and send four of your starting five into the NBA. Billy Donovan has taken his program to the next level thanks to 2006 and 2007, and has now created a top tier program that will be a contender for years to come.

After losing his entire championship team in 2007, Donovan still had a very successful 2008, playing with a young team of top recruits. Another influx of top recruits for the 2009 season and Donovan will have the Gators back at the top of the SEC and in the NCAA tournament. Donovan has built the basketball program into a powerhouse and taken it out of the shadow of the football program. While he will always be #2 to Urban Meyer, basketball has its own strong following in the swamp land.

While Florida’s success has been recent, the .759 winning percentage over the last seven years, and the two national titles cannot be argued with. Also, Florida’s ability to retain Donovan after a brief three day NBA coaching career, will allow them to build on their success. Coach K built Duke, and in ten years we will be talking about how Billy Donovan built Florida.

Florida is serious about their athletics and with the rise of teams like Tennessee, the Gators will be pushed to continue winning. The commitment to winning will always be in the athletic program and that will allow Donovan to maintain top facilities that will allow him to recruit. A tough place to play and a loyal and growing fan base will also aide the Gators into becoming a nationally recognized program.

The groundwork was laid by Billy Donovan over the past 10 years, and in 2006 and 2007 he reaped the success of his hard work. The program has reloaded after those championship seasons and should be a top contender for years to come. They have become the pride of the Deep South and it is why they come in at number seven.

#8) Michigan State Spartans
#9.) Connecticut Huskies
#10.) Arizona Wildcats

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Top Coaching Jobs - #8

Over the past decade the Spartans have defined the gritty and tough style of the Big Ten. They always look unimpressive until the tournament rolls around and then they make a run. This is because of what Tom Izzo has been able to accomplish during his tenure in East Lansing.

With two national championships (1979, 2000) and six final four appearances, Michigan State has created a rich basketball tradition that Tom Izzo has restored and carried on. Over the past seven years, the Spartans have been near the top of the Big Ten each year, compiling 154 wins and a .667 winning percentage.

With eight former players currently in the NBA, Michigan State has created a tradition of top talent moving on to the next level. Also, the consistency of the program has allowed it to garner recognition across the country as an elite program.

While the school continues to try and reach the next level with their football program, the basketball program has remained the pride of the Spartans for the last decade. Tom Izzo is a regional icon in the Midwest, and it is a testament to the program that they have been able to keep him in the green and white. Michigan State is one of the toughest places to play and the Spartans enjoy fantastic fan support, and travel extremely well.

While recruiting is tough to such a northern, cold location, Michigan State is a player in the Midwest and much of the North. As long as Tom Izzo mans the sidelines, Michigan State will continue to overachieve and be in contention come March. It is with this success and future that Michigan State comes in at number eight.

#9.) Connecticut Huskies
#10.) Arizona Wildcats

Friday, April 11, 2008

Top Coaching Jobs - #9

Coming in at nine is another team that has made a name for themselves over the past two decades. Under Jim Calhoun, the Huskies have won two national titles (1999, 2004) and have built a program that is guaranteed to be in contention year in and year out in the competitive Big East Conference.

One of the most impressive feats of this UConn program is the caliber of player that Calhoun is consistently able to recruit up north, in Storrs, Connecticut. Thirteen former Huskies are still on NBA rosters, including Ben Gordon, Richard Hamilton, and Rudy Gay. Calhoun has shown the ability to go anywhere in the country to recruit top players. This has allowed the program to remain competitive year in and year out, and make themselves known at a national level.

Over the past seven years, Connecticut has an impressive .756 winning percentage. While that kind of success will be difficult to match due to the expansion of the Big East into a basketball super conference, UConn will be in the upper echelon on an annual basis.

Despite the recent successes of the football program, Connecticut is still a basketball school. The top dog status of the program within the school helps with its success. It has a great fan base and is a difficult place to play. The success of the past decade of the program has also created an attitude of winning that will surely continue within the program whenever Calhoun decides to move on. However, that shouldn’t be for a while, and in the meantime the Huskies will continue to win and cement the legacy that Calhoun has created.

Connecticut is known nationally for being one of the elite programs in college basketball. They have a respected coach and continue to show the ability to recruit top talent north of the Mason-Dixon, and it’s for this reason that Connecticut will continue to remain relevant into the foreseeable future, and why they come in at number nine on our list.

#10.) Arizona Wildcats

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Top Coaching Jobs - #10

With Indiana facing certain sanctions from the NCAA for the next several years, the Hooisers were still able to land Tom Crean. Roy Williams left the Kansas Jayhawks for North Carolina in 2003. And now Oklahoma State is about to make a run at Bill Self of Kansas. It makes you wonder, what are the Top 10 coaching jobs in college basketball?

We here at Drinking the Forty consulted with some of the finest basketball experts in the country to find out. Hey, if ESPN can pull random people off the street and call them experts, then we can too.

Here is our Top 10, based on a program’s national persona, recent success, fan base, facilities, history and tradition, and potential for future success.

#10.) Arizona Wildcats

Under Lute Olson, the Arizona Wildcats have achieved National recognition as a contender in the Pac-10. With four Final Four appearances and a National Title in 1997, Arizona has been successful on a national stage.

With a favorable climate and campus, and an attractive style of basketball, Arizona has remained a top draw for NBA caliber talent. With 10 former players currently on NBA rosters, such as Mike Bibby and Gilbert Arenas, to Chase Budinger and Jarryd Bayless, Arizona has and continues to attract top flight talent.

With Lute Olson coming of age and struggling with his divorce this past season, Arizona has in turn struggled the past few seasons. Despite some early exits from the tournament, the Wildcats have still recorded a respectable .696 winning percentage over the last seven seasons.

Arizona has a solid following and can be a challenging place to play. While they have only become relevant during the Lute Olson era, he has built a program that has the ability to stay after he has moved on. While that might not happen for a few years, the Wildcats can see the writing on the wall that change is in the near future.

With a prime location and a history of NBA placement, Arizona is a great program for any coach to turn into a national powerhouse. With the ability to recruit nationally and in California, the Wildcats should continue to be a force in college basketball, and that’s why they fall in at number ten.

Drinking The Forty