The Five Greatest Men's College Basketball Coaches

There have been numerous quality coaches in men's college basketball over the years, but only a few of them stand out above the rest. Here are five of the greatest coaches ever to lead a team on the hardwood.

John Wooden (IndianaState / UCLA)
When it comes to naming the greatest men's college basketball coaches, no list would be complete without Wooden, who coached the UCLA Bruins from 1948 to 1975. What is even more impressive than his 664 wins are the ten NCAA championship titles he earned. The next closet coach was only able to rack up four NCAAA titles.

Bobby Knight (Indiana / Texas Tech)
When it comes to wins in college basketball, the coach who earned the most was Bobby Knight, the General. While Knight was a head coach from 1971 to 2008, he earned 902 wins while earning three national titles. Though Knight was at the center of controversy on several occasions as a result of his brutish behavior, there is no denying the impact he had on the game.

Dean Smith (North Carolina)
When Smith coached his first season in 1961, he compiled an 8-9 record, leaving doubt in the mind of the Tar Heel faithful. These worries would soon be forgotten as Smith went on to coach until 1997 while earning 879 wins in the process. By the time his career was over, Smith had earned two NCAA championships and helped further the rivalry with Duke University. Smith's legacy and solid coaching tree has continued to live on with his former assistants and ex-players.

Adolph Rupp (Kentucky)
Shortly after Rupp began his head coaching career in Kentucky, the tradition of winning became engrained in the Kentucky fans. Often referred to as the Baron of the Bluegrass, Rupp was a master of motivation and strategy to help develop winners. By the time Rupp finished his 41 year career, he had earned 876 wins, which is third most in the history of the NCAA. Rupp was no slouch when it came to his winning percentage of .822, which is ranked second among the all-time great coaches.

Mike Krzyzewski (Army / Duke)
When it comes to the most successful men's college basketball coaches in the past thirty years, Coach K fits the bill. He took over the program in 1980 and helped bring them to national prominence. Coach K has helped lead the Blue Devils to 777 wins while earning three NCAA national championships. When you combine the 73 wins he earned at Army, Coach K has a shot to surpass Bobby Knight at the top of the list if he averages 11 wins over the next five years.

Resources

http://www.ncaa.org/