Jim Boeheim: Greatest NCAA Basketball Coach Ever?

With a win on Tuesday Feb. 24, 2009 against St. John's, Jim Boeheim set one of the most remarkable records in college basketball. The Syracuse coach passed former North Carolina great Dean Smith with the most 20-win seasons in NCAA men's basketball history with 31. Jim Boeheim is in his 34^th season as Syracuse head coach and has accumulated almost 800 career wins. So does this record put the hall of fame coach atop the list as the greatest ever? Let's compare him to some of the other all-time greats.

Let's start at the top of the list with Bob Knight. Knight, known for his no-nonsense attitude and scuffles with players and referees, has accumulated a record 902 career wins. Now retired, Knight coached from 1965-2008 for Army, Indiana, and Texas Tech. He led the Indiana Hoosiers to three NCAA national championships, won national coach of the year honor four times, and won a gold medal coaching the USA basketball team in 1984.

Another infamous coach in college basketball history is Dean Smith. He coached his entire career with the North Carolina Tar Heels from 1961-1997. He is second on the all-time men's win list with 879. He led the Tar Heels to 11 final fours and two national championships. His influence in college basketball over his 36 seasons will live on forever.

The final men's coach we'll focus on is the Duke legend Mike Krzyzewski. Coach K. starting his coaching career in 1975 with Army has now been coaching Duke for 28 seasons. He's accumulated over 825 career wins and is the man expected to surpass coach Bob Knight on the all-time wins list in just a few years. He's led Duke to 10 ACC championships, 10 final fours, and 3 national championships. He also was the head coach of the gold medal 2008 men's USA basketball team.

Just for argument's sake let's throw in the Tennessee Lady Volunteer's coach Pat Summit. She's coached the Lady Vols every year since 1974 winning 8 women's national championships. In the 2008-2009 season she became the first coach, men's or women's, to reach 1000 career wins. Summit is a seven time national coach of the year and has led the Lady Vols to every sweet sixteen in NCAA women's tournament history including 18 final four appearances.

It is nearly impossible to come to a clear distinction as to who is the best college basketball coach of all time, but I think we can certainly come to the conclusion that there are some great choices out there.