Select NCAA Basketball Coaching Trees Examined
February 18, 2020
Apprentice RJ
Modern biographies of Isaac Newton describe his efforts in the field of natural science as dedication and perseverance, yet, these same biographers, when commenting upon his research into the temple of Solomon, describe that research as obsessive, implying that such a topic is unworthy of a great mind. We are uncertain why lesser minds who are only capable of collating facts and offering opinions are wont to describe research in such terms.
The primary purpose of The Wonderful World of Occult Research™ is to discover connections that are initially, for lack of a better word, hidden. National champions are exoteric, while the coaching trees are esoteric.
The most significance coaching trees originate from five universities: Kansas, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana, and Oklahoma State. The NCAA Division 1 tournament began in 1939 and, since the 1970s, the focus has become centered on winning the national championship. Of course, since there can only be one national champion, it follows that the other teams are not as "good" and although this criterion is readily understood, to state that other coaches are unworthy of mention is the result of "zero sum" reasoning.
The following lists will also include select coaches that win their conference titles, as this is an indication of their ability against their contemporaries.
We have used this informative website for the following data.
The primary purpose of The Wonderful World of Occult Research™ is to discover connections that are initially, for lack of a better word, hidden. National champions are exoteric, while the coaching trees are esoteric.
The most significance coaching trees originate from five universities: Kansas, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana, and Oklahoma State. The NCAA Division 1 tournament began in 1939 and, since the 1970s, the focus has become centered on winning the national championship. Of course, since there can only be one national champion, it follows that the other teams are not as "good" and although this criterion is readily understood, to state that other coaches are unworthy of mention is the result of "zero sum" reasoning.
The following lists will also include select coaches that win their conference titles, as this is an indication of their ability against their contemporaries.
We have used this informative website for the following data.
Kansas
James Naismith; creator of Basketball
the only coach in Kansas history to have an overall loosing record, 55-60
the only coach in Kansas history to have an overall loosing record, 55-60
Phog Allen
played under Naismith, 1905-07 26 conference titles Helm Foundation Championship 1922, 1923 NCAA 1952
|
Roy Williams
played as a freshman under Smith 18 Conference titles NCAA Champions 2005, 2009, 2017 Larry Brown
played under Smith, 1960-63; assistant 1965-67 2 conference titles NCAA 1988, NBA 2004
|
wisconsin
Walter "Doc" Meanwell
10 conference titles
Helms Foundation, 1912, 1914, 1916
10 conference titles
Helms Foundation, 1912, 1914, 1916
Harold "Bud" Foster
played under Meanwell, 1926-30 3 conference titles NCAA 1941 Harold Olsen
played under Meanwell 5 conference titles NCAA 1939, 2nd place; Final Four 3
|
Craig Ruby
played under Meanwell 4 conference titles Premo-Porretta National Championships 1921, 1922 |
Douglas Mills
played under Ruby 1927-30 3 conference titles, Big 10
Harry Combs
played for Ruby and Mills 4 conference titles NCAA Final Fours 3 John C. "Fuzzy" Evans
played for Ruby
|
Everett Case
graduated from Wisconsin 1923 9 conference titles NCAA Final Four 1 |
Vic Bubas
played under Combs and Case 4 conference titles NCAA runner up 1964, 2 Final Fours Chuck Daily
assistant under Case for 6 years 4 conference titles |
Norm Sloan
played for Case 1947-49 3 conference titles NCAA 1974 |
Purdue
Ward "Piggy" Lambert
played at Wabash 1909-11, team improved 7-5 to 10-1
11 Big Ten Championships
Helms 1932
played at Wabash 1909-11, team improved 7-5 to 10-1
11 Big Ten Championships
Helms 1932
John Wooden
played 1929-32 under Lambert 18 conference titles, 16 Pacific 8 titles, 2 Indiana Intercollegiate Conference titles NCAA 1964-65, 1967-73, 1975 |
Denny Crum
played under Wooden 1956-58; assistant coach 1963-71 15 conference titles NCAA 1980, 1986 |
Indiana
Everett Dean
played under Dana Evans
5 conference titles
NCAA 1942
played under Dana Evans
5 conference titles
NCAA 1942
Branch McCracken
played under Dean 4 conference titles NCAA 1940, 1953 Forrest "Fordy" Anderson
played under Dean 3 conference titles NCAA 3 Final Fours |
Oklahoma State
Henry "Hank" Iba
18 conference titles
NCAA 1945-46
18 conference titles
NCAA 1945-46
Don Haskins
played under Iba, 1949-52 7 WAC titles NCAA 1966 |
Nolan Richardson
played under Haskins 1961-64 9 conference titles NCAA 1995 |
Eddie Sutton
player under Iba, assistance coach for 1 year 8 conference titles NCAA Final Fours 3 |
Bill Self
assistant under Sutton 18 conference titles NCAA 2008 Gene Keady
assistant under Sutton, 1975-78 7 conference titles NIT runner up |
Matt Painter
played under Keady, 1991-94 4 conference titles Bruce Weber
assistant under Keady for 19 years 6 conference titles NCAA runner up 2005 Linc Darner
played under Keady 7 conference titles NCAA [Division 2] 2015 Steve Lavin
assistant to Keady, 3 years 1 conference title Cuonzo Martin
played under Keady, assistant under Keady, 5 years 1 conference title |
Bud Millikan
played for Iba 1939-42 coached Maryland 1950-67 |
Gary Williams
played for Millikan 5 conference titles NCAA 2002 |
Randy Ayers
assistant under Williams 2 conference titles |
Rick Barnes
assistant under Williams 4 conference titles NCAA Final Four 1 |
Additional coaching trees of interest:
MIchigan State
J. Fred Boher
Coached 1908-26, Washington State
1 conference title
Coached 1908-26, Washington State
1 conference title
Jack Friel
played for Boher 1920-23 1 conference title |
George "Jud" Heathcote
played for Friel 1947-49 at Washington State 5 conference titles NCAA 1979 |
Tom Izzo
assistant under Heathcote for 12 years 9 conference titles NCAA 2000, Final Fours 7 Tom Crean
assistant under Heathcote 3 conference titles NCAA Final Four 1 |
CONNECTICUT
Jim Calhoun
played at American International 1965-68
16 conference titles
NCAA 1999, 2004, 2011
played at American International 1965-68
16 conference titles
NCAA 1999, 2004, 2011
Kevin Ollie
played for Calhoun, assistant 2010-12 NCAA 2014 |
West Virginia
Lee Patton
coached West Virginia 1945-50
coached West Virginia 1945-50
Fred Shaus
played under Patton 5 conference titles NCAA Runner up 1959 |
George King
assistant to Shaus 4 conference titles NCAA runner up 1969
Joedy Gardner
played for Shaus 1955-58 |
Bob Huggins
played under Gardener 1977-78 5 conference titles NCAA Final Four 2 |
Loyola Marymount
Jimmy Needles
coached Loyola Marymount 1936-40
coached Loyola Marymount 1936-40
Phil Woolpert
played for Needles 4 conference titles NCAA 1955, 1956; Final Four 1957 Pete Newell
played for Needles 4 conference titles NCAA 1959; Final Four 1960 Tex Winter
ball boy for Needles 8 conference titles NCAA Final Four 2 |