Top Ten Coaches in College Basketball Who have not won a National Championship

We are approaching week three of college football, which means it is past time to start talking about college basketball. This season seems to be unique in that there is a lot of parity throughout the country, with no teams really standing firm in a tier of their own. That should make for an exciting season. With that, let’s discuss the top ten coaches in men’s Division 1 college basketball who have not won a National Championship.

Top Ten College Basketball Programs Since 2000

Top 10 Coaches in College Basketball Who have not won a National Championship

(*in alphabetical order)

Rick Barnes (Tennessee)

Resume: 1 Final Four, 4 regular season conference titles, 1 Naismith National Coach of the Year, and 6 conference Coaches of the Year. Thirty-six years as a Division 1 Head Coach (George Mason, Providence, Clemson, Texas, and Tennessee), 779 career wins, 65.5 career win percentage, 86-56 (60.6%) at Tennessee with 5 NCAA Tournament Appearances in seven seasons.

Chris Beard (Ole Miss)

Resume: 1 Final Four, 2 regular season conference titles, 1 AP National Coach of the Year, and 4 conference Coach of the Year. He’s been a Division 1 head coach for 7 years (Little Rock, Texas Tech, and Texas) and 10th season overall. 237 career wins, 70.7 career win percentage. Was 29-13 (69%) at Texas and has been to five of six NCAA Tournaments as a Division 1 head coach.

Mick Cronin (UCLA)

Resume: 1 Final Four, 4 regular season conference titles, 4 conference Coaches of the Year. Twenty years as a head coach, 462 career wins, 69.2 career win percentage, 99-36 (73.3%) at UCLA. He has made three of three NCAA Tournaments at UCLA and advanced at least to the Sweet Sixteen each time.

Mark Few (Gonzaga)

Resume: 2 Final Fours, 1 AP Coach of the Year, 2 Naismith Coaches of the Year, 22 WCC Conference Titles. He has only been a head coach at Gonzaga. Twenty-four years as a Division 1 head coach, 689 wins, 83.6 career win percentage, 333-34 (90.7%) career WCC record. Has made the NCAA Tournament every year as a head coach. 

Jim Larranaga (Miami)

Resume: 2 Final Fours, 6 regular season Conference Titles, 1 AP Coach of the Year, 1 Naismith Coach of the Year. Thirty-seven years as a Division 1 head coach (Bowling Green, George Mason, Miami) 39th overall, 725 career wins, 60.0 career win percentage. Is 255-149 (63.1%) at Miami and has made six of eleven NCAA Tournaments at Miami, including a Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, and Final Four appearance.

Eric Musselman (Arkansas)

Resume: 0 Final Fours, 2 Elite Eights, 3 regular season Conference Titles, 1 Conference Coach of the Year. Eight years as a Division 1 head coach (Nevada and Arkansas), 205 career wins, 73.0 career win percentage, and six of seven NCAA Tournament appearances. Coached ten years in the NBA, including three as a head coach (Golden State and Sacramento).

Nate Oats (Alabama)

Resume: 0 Final Fours, 4 regular season Conference Championships, 3 Conference Coaches of the Year. Eight years as a Division 1 head coach (Buffalo and Alabama), 188 career wins, 69.1 career win percentage. 92-41 (69.2%) at Alabama with three NCAA Tournament appearances in three years.

Matt Painter (Purdue)

Resume: 0 Final Fours, 1 Elite Eight, 4 regular Season Conference Championships, 1 National Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year, 4 Conference Coaches of the Year. He has been a Division 1 head coach (Southern Illinois and Purdue) for 19 years, with 438 career wins and a 68.3 career win percentage. He is 413-198 (67.6%) at Purdue, with appearances in 14 of 17 NCAA Tournaments.

Bruce Pearl (Auburn)

Resume: 1 Final Four, 5 regular season Conference Titles, 1 D2 Coach of the Year, 6 Conference Coach of the Year. Nineteen years as a Division 1 head coach (Milwaukee, Tennessee, Auburn), 18 years overall, 649 career wins, 71.7 career win percentage. Is 187-111 (62.8%) at Auburn with four NCAA Tournaments in seven years.

Kelvin Sampson (Houston)

Resume: 2 Final Fours, 7 Conference Championships, 1 AP and National Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year, 8 Conference Coaches of the Year. Thirty years as a Division 1 head coach (Washington State, Oklahoma, Indiana, Houston), 34 years overall, 731 career wins, 67.9 career win percentage, 232-74 (75.6%) at Houston with five NCAA Tournament appearances in eight years.