Top 10 College Basketball Coaches Ranked Before Conference Tournaments
Conference tournaments are underway around the country. The postseason will define many coaching careers this March.
Coaches to watch before conference tournaments
Dan Hurley — UConn
Hurley took over the Huskies in 2018 and rebuilt the program quickly. UConn won national titles in 2023 and 2024. The team exited in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Hurley is aiming for another championship this season.
Jon Scheyer — Duke
Scheyer succeeded Mike Krzyzewski and kept Duke elite. The Blue Devils sit at 29-2 this season. Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer have been key contributors. Scheyer seeks his first national championship in Durham.
Tommy Lloyd — Arizona
Lloyd, a former Gonzaga assistant under Mark Few, is 140-35 in five seasons. He passed Brad Stevens for wins in his first five years. Lloyd has yet to advance past the Sweet 16 and suffered a 2023 first-round loss to Princeton.
Dusty May — Michigan
May parlayed Florida Atlantic’s 2023 Final Four into the Michigan job. His first season brought a 19-win improvement and a Sweet 16 appearance. Michigan pursued portal additions and now looks like a national contender. The roster features 14 Quad 1 wins. Michigan went 3-0 at the Players Era Festival over San Diego State, Auburn and Gonzaga. The Wolverines also collected five top-25 wins in Big Ten play over Southern California, Nebraska, Purdue, Michigan State and Illinois.
Todd Golden — Florida
Golden became the youngest coach to win a national title since Jim Valvano in 1983. He was 39 at the time. Florida began this season 5-4 and lost three early games to top-five opponents. Since that stretch, the Gators are 19-2 and near the 1-seed conversation.
Tom Izzo — Michigan State
Izzo, 71, remains a March fixture. He has 59 NCAA tournament wins on his resume. Michigan State will make its 28th consecutive NCAA Tournament under Izzo this season.
Kelvin Sampson — Houston
Sampson guided Houston smoothly into the Big 12 in 2023. The Cougars earned back-to-back No. 1 seeds and reached last season’s national title game. Houston projects as a top-three seed for a fourth straight tournament.
John Calipari — Arkansas
Calipari still owns a national championship and multiple Final Four trips. He led Arkansas to a Sweet 16 in Year 1 and nearly to the Elite Eight. Calipari remains a top recruiter and developer of NBA talent.
Bill Self — Kansas
Kansas sits at 22-9 this season. The Jayhawks face questions about Darryn Peterson’s limited minutes. Kansas projects between a 3- and 5-seed, a sign of Self’s continued adaptability.
Rick Pitino — St. John’s
Pitino delivered St. John’s a Big East Tournament title last season, the program’s first since 2000. The Red Storm earned a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament last year. Pitino recorded his 900th career on-court win earlier this season. He refreshed the roster via the transfer portal. St. John’s ranks atop the conference alongside UConn. The team leans on defense and a key frontcourt piece in Zuby Ejiofor. St. John’s earned a statement win at Madison Square Garden against the Huskies.
Honorable mentions
- Mark Few, Gonzaga
- Matt Painter, Purdue
- T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State
- Brad Underwood, Illinois
Filmogaz.com will follow conference tournaments and March developments closely. Expect analysis of the top 10 college basketball coaches ranked across the sport before conference tournaments begin.
