Georgetown Library

The best NCAA College Basketball Coaches have the uncanny ability to get their players motivated for “Big” games and throughout the entire season. Here’s a list of some of NCAA basketball’s best coaches:John Thompson- coached the mighty Georgetown Hoyas (“Hoya Paranoia”) to multiple NCAA championships, and 2 of the most dominant centers in NCAA and NBA history; Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning. Coach John Thompson’s influence on the game of basketball is evident by his former player, Patrick Ewing’s induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Typically when a player is inducted into the Hall of Fame and included in the realms of such great basketball talent, it’s a direct reflection of their coach, such is the case with former Georgetown University Coach and former Boston Celtic- John Thompson, one of the best collegiate coaches in basketball history.  Coach Thompson’s best collegiate coaching days were in the Big East Conference against the likes of. . . Syracuse University, St. John’s University, Boston College, Providence College, Villanova University and Pitt University (alma mater of former NFL Dallas Cowboy- Tony Dorsett). John Thompson- Georgetown HoyasDean Smith- The former University of North Carolina Head Basketball Coach has coached the like of Michael (“Air”) Jordan, James Worthy, Vince Carter, Kenny (“The Jet”) Smith, Rasheed Wallace, Jerry Stackhouse, Joe Wolf and many more! Dean Smith and his famous “4-Corner Offense” of the mid to late 1980’s was popularized by the teams including Michael (“Air”) Jordan, James Worthy, Brad Daugherty, Sam Perkins, Kenny (“The Jet”) Smith and others, symbolized by “UCLA-like” backdoor cuts and Slam Dunks by Jordan and UNC teammates. Dean Smith, a master recruiter with an extremely high NCAA basketball winning percentage-that makes for a great coach! Coach Dean Smith’s best collegiate coaching days were in the ACC Conference against the likes of. . . North Carolina State University, University Maryland, Duke University (Alma Mater of Phoenix Suns Guard- Grant Hill), Wake Forrest University (Alma Mater of San Antonio Spurs Center- Tim Duncan & New Orleans Hornets Guard- Chris Paul), University of Virginia (Alma Mater of former NBA player- Ralph Sampson), Florida State University (Alma Mater of Heisman Trophy winning Quarterback- Charlie Ward, who starred for the NBA’s New York Knicks, with teammates Patrick Ewing, Chris Childs, John Starks, Charles Oakley, and Anthony Mason), and Clemson University (Alma Mater of former teammate of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls- Horace Grant).  Dean Smith- North Carolina Tar HeelsJohn Cheney- The former NCAA basketball coach of the Temple University Owls (Alma Mater of the great Bill Cosby ‘Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids’, was famous for his early morning basketball practices! Coach John Cheney was also famous in NCAA basketball for winning! His Temple University basketball teams dominated the Atlantic 10 conference, year-after-year. Past players include; Eddie Jones and Aaron McKie. Coach Cheney is also noted for his extraordinary recruiting ability, especially in the inner cities.  Last but certainly not least. . . similiar to Coach John Thompson, Coach Cheney has produce many college degrees, which is very often an attribute of NCAA basketball coaches that is not given credit! Coach John Cheney’s best collegiate coaching days were in the Atlantic 10 Conference against the likes of. . . UMass (John Calipari), University of Rhode Island (Lamar Odom), LaSalle University (Alma Mater of my former Junior College Basketball Coach at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Oregon- Verick Cutler), and St. Bonaventure (Alma Mater of Former NBA “left-hander” and Milwaukee Bucks Center- Bob Lanier). Coach John Cheney- one the NCAA basketball’s great coaches. John Cheney- Temple OwlsFor more listings of everything basketball, including Coach Jamaal Al-Din’s top NCAA and NBA Coaches, Players, Teams and more. . . log onto Jamaal Al-Din’s Hoops 227- the everything basketball website!John Wooden- former coach of UCLA (Bill Walton & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), John Wooden sustained dominance throughout his tenure of the UCLA Bruins, winning countless NCAA basketball championships and producing professional basketball players every year in Westwood.   John Wooden UCLA Coaching statistics include: 4 undefeated seasons and 10 national championships- that’s alot of winning. And on top of it all, stands his fromer center (Lew Alcindor), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer! Coach John Wooden has books which can be found in local libraries as well as Barnes & Noble Book Stores! He was one of the greatest coaches of college basketball history! Coach John Woodens’s best collegiate coaching days were in the then Pacific 8 Conference (now PAC-10)! Interesting Fact: John Wooden once coached high school basketball in South Bend Indiana, home of the University of Notre Dame “Fighting” Irish! John Wooden- UCLA BruinsAdolf Rupp- the former NCAA basketball coach of the University of Kentucky, Adolf Rupp was a graduate of Kansas University (Wilt Chamberlain’s Alma Mater). Coach Rupp for whom the University of Kentucky’s Rupp Arena is named, propelled the University of Kentucky to national prominence, during the 1930’s through the 1971-72 seasons (41 seasons). Of collegiate basketball coaches with more than 500 wins, Coach Adolf Rupp had over an 82% winning percentage- the highest winning percentage in college basketball history. Today, the SEC basketball conference plays host to basketball programs such as University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, Mississippi State University, LSU, University of Florida, Ole Miss, University of South Carolina, University of Georgia, Auburn University and University of Tennessee.  Jud Heathcote- the former Michigan State University Head Basketball Coach was famous for his “weave” offense and also famous for producing the likes of Earvin “Magic” Johnson- the NBA 5-Time World Champion. Other past players include Kevin Willis, Scott Skiles Shawn Respert, Thomas Kelly, Mateen Cleaves, Sam Vincent, Jay Vincent, Greg Kelser (of the “Cuff-Dunk” variety!) and many more! The national championship of Michigan State University over Larry Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores was historical as it marked the beginning of one of the most storied player rivalries of NBA basketball history- “MAGIC” Johnson (NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers) & Larry Bird (NBA’s Boston Celtics).  Coach Jud Heathcote began his collegiate coaching career at the Big Sky’s University of Montana and his coaching career was highlighted by his 1979 NCAA Basketball Championship broadcasted on NBC by Dick Enberg, in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Michigan State University Spartans were victorious over Indiana State University. Mike Krzyzewski- the current Duke University Blue Devils basketball coach has won multiple NCAA basketball championships and is the coach of the USA Men’s Olympic Basketball Team which features the like of Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and many NBA greats. Coach “K” has coached in 10 NCAA Basketball Final Fours and won back-to-back NCAA basketball championships in 1991 & 1992. Coach “K” Court at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durahm, North Carolina, plays host to some of the most “Rockus” (aka “LOUDEST”) fans in the nation! Many of the Duke University Blue Devils fans camp out near teh stadium, during the week of big ACC Coneference games becasue of the high demand of Duke University basketball tickets. Krzyzewski is one of the wimmingest collegiate basketball coaches in history.  Coach K’s former players include: Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, Elton Brand, Carlos Boozer, Bobby Hurley, Jay Bilas, Tommy Amaker, Johnny Dawkins and an endless list of former McDonald’s High-School All-Americans. Coach Krzyzewski is once of the best recruiters in college basketball. Bobby Dye- one of the best defensive NCAA basketball coaches in NCAA basketball history. Coach Bobby Dye is an eccentric addition to my list of the greatest NCAA basketball coaches ever, because his style of ball control and hard-nosed defense was a tactical basketball approach that could be used to compete against any team in college basketball. Coach Bobby Dye had successful NCAA coaching stints at Cal State-Fullerton and Boise State University (Alma Mater of former NBA/ New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets Guard- Chris Childs, former Big Sky Player of the Year- Arnell Jones and International basketball star- Tanoka Beard, and Wilson Foster). Lute Olson- University of Arizona Wildcats, Head Basketball Coach, Lute Olson has appeared in 4 Final Fours and won the NCAA basketball national championship in 1997 with current NBA guard- Mike Bibby leading the way. Lute Olson has dominated PAC-10 play, competing against the likes of UCLA, USC, Oregon, Stanford, Cal-Berkley, Washington, Arizona State, Oregon State, and Washington State. Lute Olson has also been blessed with an array of players of McDonald’s All-American status. His notable players of the past include: Gilbert Arenas of the NBA’s Washington Wizards, Steve Kerr- General Manager of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns (Shaquille O’Neal/Steve Nash), Mike Bibby, Sean Elliott, and Sean Rooks.  Jamaal Al-Din’s Hoops 227- the everything basketball website, is home of 227’s YouTube NBA, 227’s-YouTube “MAGIC,” 227’s-YouTube “Jordan,” 227’s-YouTube “Chili,” and lots of everything basketball on YouTube! For more listings of everything basketball, including Coach Jamaal Al-Din’s top NCAA and NBA Coaches, Players, Teams and more. . . log onto Jamaal Al-Din’s Hoops 227- the everything basketball website!