Humble Pie: Rice's Braun Joins Long List of Coaches Incurring Embarrassing Loss

November 11th, 2012 - 15:53

Power conference members Miami (Fla.), Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Texas Tech never have reached a regional final in the NCAA Tournament while Rice has achieved the feat on two occasions (1940 and 1942). The Owls won 19 games last season but will be fortunate to reach double figures in victories this year after losing leading scorer and rebounder Arsalan Kazemi, one of the nation's best foreigners (Iran) who transferred to Oregon.

A sure sign of the decline came when St. Thomas (Tex.), a small Catholic liberal arts school about two miles north of Rice's campus in Houston, coasted to a 72-59 victory over the Owls in their season opener. St. Thomas, an NAIA member on the heels of its first winning season (18-13), only introduced intercollegiate athletics in 2006.

The setback was a generous dose of humility for Rice coach Ben Braun, who guided Eastern Michigan and California to multiple NCAA playoff appearances. But many of the biggest names in college coaching history had to recover from embarrassing defeats that weren't cited on their otherwise mostly regal resumes. For instance, there are numerous mentors who captured NCAA championships despite losing to a small school at some point in their careers - Phog Allen (lost to Emporia State), Jim Calhoun (American International, Assumption, Brandeis, Bridgeport, Florida Southern, Merrimack, St. Anselm, Stonehill and Tufts), John Calipari (Florida Tech and Lowell), Denny Crum (Chaminade), Jim Harrick (Abilene Christian), Don Haskins (Louisiana College), Hank Iba (Abilene Christian and Westminster), George Ireland (Regis), Doggie Julian (Amherst, Colby, St. Anselm, St. Michael's, Springfield, Tampa and Williams), Mike Krzyzewski (King's, Scranton and SUNY-Buffalo), Rollie Massimino (New Orleans and Philadelphia Textile), Al McGuire (Evansville and Washington, MO), Rick Pitino (Adelphi), Nolan Richardson (American-Puerto Rico), Norm Sloan (Presbyterian), John Thompson Jr. (Assumption, Gannon, Randolph-Macon and Roanoke) and Jim Valvano (Armstrong State, Bloomsburg, Gannon, Tampa and Wilkes).

Kansas' Bill Self lost 18 consecutive contests bridging the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons with Oral Roberts but at least he didn't lose a decision to a non-Division I institution. Rick Barnes bowed to Chaminade this year for the second time in his coaching career. Braun joined Barnes on the following alphabetical list of high-profile coaches who lost games to non-Division I colleges at some point in their major-college careers:

  • Forrest "Phog" Allen - Lost to Emporia State (Kan.) in 1947-48 while coaching Kansas.
  • Forrest "Forddy" Anderson - Lost to Emporia State (Kan.) in 1947-48 while coaching Drake. Lost to Northern Michigan in 1960-61 while coaching Michigan State.
  • John Bach - Lost to Adelphi (N.Y.) in 1958-59 while coaching Fordham.
  • Kevin Bannon - Lost to Grand Canyon (Ariz.) at Hawaii in 1991-92 while coaching Rider.
  • Rick Barnes - Lost at Chaminade (Hawaii) in 1991-92 while coaching Providence and in 2012-13 while coaching Texas.
  • J.D. Barnett - Lost to Louisiana Christian in 1995-96 while coaching Northwestern State (La.).
  • Jim Baron - Lost to Walsh (Ohio) in 1992-93 while coaching St. Bonaventure. Lost to Lubbock Christian (Tex.) at Las Vegas in 2003-04 while coaching Rhode Island.
  • Gene Bartow - Lost at American-Puerto Rico in 1994-95 while coaching UAB.
  • Dick Bennett - Lost to Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1985-86 and 1986-87 while coaching Wisconsin-Green Bay.
  • Eddie Biedenbach - Lost to Montreat (N.C.) in 2001-02 and Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) in 2005-06 while coaching UNC Asheville.
  • Tom Blackburn - Lost to Anderson (Ind.) in 1947-48, Ohio Wesleyan in 1948-49, Muskingum (Ohio) in 1949-50 and Wittenberg (Ohio) in 1962-63 while coaching Dayton.
  • Bill Blair - Lost to Morris Harvey (W. Va.) and twice to Roanoke (Va.) in 1972-73 and to West Virginia Tech and Shepherd (W.Va.) in 1973-74 while coaching VMI.
  • George Blaney - Lost to Springfield (Mass.) in 1969-70 and 1971-72 while coaching Dartmouth. Lost to Assumption (Mass.) in 1973-74 and 1985-86 and at Florida Southern in 1979-80 while coaching Holy Cross.
  • Dave Bliss - Lost to Rollins (Fla.) and Texas Wesleyan in 1980-81 and at Chaminade (Hawaii) in 1984-85 while coaching SMU. Lost to Eastern New Mexico in 1991-92 while coaching New Mexico.
  • Bob Boyd - Lost to Tennessee-Martin in 1981-82 and Delta State (Miss.) in 1985-86 while coaching Mississippi State.
  • Jim Brandenburg - Lost to South Dakota in 1979-80 while coaching Wyoming.
  • Byron "Buster" Brannon - Lost to Sam Houston State (Tex.) twice in 1938-39 and once in 1940-41 while coaching Rice. Lost to East Texas State, at Hamline (Minn.) and twice to Austin (Tex.) College in 1948-49, Midwestern State (Tex.) in 1953-54 and Kentucky Wesleyan in 1955-56 while coaching Texas Christian.
  • Tom Brennan - Lost to St. Michael's (Vt.) in 1986-87, 1987-88 and 1988-89 while coaching Vermont.
  • John Bunn - Lost to Eastern New Mexico (six times from 1957-58 through 1962-63), Fort Hays (Kan.) State (five times from 1957-58 through 1962-63), New Mexico Highlands in 1960-61, twice to Panhandle State (Okla.) in 1957- 58, St. Cloud State (Minn.) in 1962-63, Southwestern Oklahoma State in 1956-57, Wayne State (Neb.) in 1962-63 and Western New Mexico in 1961-62 while coaching Northern Colorado.
  • Jim Calhoun - Lost to Assumption (Mass.) in 1972-73; to Tufts (Mass.), American International (Mass.), Bridgeport (Conn.) and at Assumption (Mass.) in 1973-74; Assumption (Mass.) and Brandeis (Mass.) in 1974-75; Merrimack (Mass.) in 1975-76; Bridgeport (Conn.), Merrimack (Mass.), St. Anselm (Vt.) and Stonehill (Mass.) in 1976-77; American International (Mass.) and Assumption (Mass.) in 1978-79 and Florida Southern in 1980-81 while coaching Northeastern.
  • John Calipari - Lost at Florida Tech in 1988-89 and to Lowell (Mass.) in 1989-90 while coaching Massachusetts.
  • Lou Campanelli - Lost to West Virginia Tech in 1980-81 while coaching James Madison. Lost to Alaska-Anchorage in 1990-91 on neutral court while coaching California.
  • Howard Cann - Lost to Panzer in 1938-39 and Brandeis (Mass.) in 1956-57 while coaching NYU.
  • P.J. Carlesimo - Lost at Bentley (Mass.), to Southern Connecticut on a neutral court, to C.W. Post (N.Y.), at Springfield (Mass.) and at Bridgeport (Conn.) in 1976-77; to New Haven (Conn.) and at C.W. Post (N.Y.) in 1977- 78, and at Staten Island (N.Y.) and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (N.Y.) in 1981-82 while coaching Wagner.
  • Henry "Doc" Carlson - Lost to Bethany (W. Va.) in 1948-49, Geneva (Pa.) in 1941-42, 1950-51 and 1952-53 and Carnegie Tech (Pa.) three times in four seasons from 1938-39 through 1941-42 plus five times in six seasons from 1949-50 through 1954-55 while coaching Pittsburgh.
  • Pete Carril - Lost to East Stroudsburg (Pa.) in 1966-67 while coaching Lehigh.
  • Don Casey - Lost to Philadelphia Textile in 1975-76 while coaching Temple.
  • Joe Cipriano - Lost at Hawaii-Hilo in 1976-77 while coaching Nebraska.
  • Gary Colson - Lost to John Brown (Ark.) in 1972-73 and Moorhead (Minn.) State in 1973-74 while coaching Pepperdine. Lost to Alaska-Anchorage in 1983-84 while coaching New Mexico.
  • Bobby Cremins - Lost to Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) in 1975-76 and twice in 1977-78 while coaching Appalachian State.
  • Denny Crum - Lost at Chaminade (Hawaii) in 1983-84 and 1984-85 while coaching Louisville.
  • Charles "Chick" Davies--Lost to Waynesburg (Pa.) in 1937-38 and 1938-39 and to Wooster (Ohio) in 1937-38 while coaching Duquesne.
  • Tom Davis - Lost to Moravian (Pa.) in 1973-74 and at Albright (Pa.) in 1975-76 while coaching Lafayette. Lost to Chico State (Calif.) in 1982-83 while coaching Stanford. Lost to UC Riverside in 1988-89 while coaching Iowa.
  • Johnny Dee - Lost to Jacksonville (Ala.) State in 1952-53 while coaching Alabama.
  • Don DeVoe - Lost to Johns Hopkins (Md.) in 2002-03 while coaching Navy.
  • Ed Diddle - Lost to Kentucky Wesleyan in 1955-56, David Lipscomb (Tenn.) in 1962-63 and LeMoyne (N.Y.) in 1963 -64 while coaching Western Kentucky.
  • Bob Donewald - Lost to Cal State Bakersfield in 1980-81 while coaching Illinois State.
  • Homer Drew - Lost to Bethel (Ind.) in 1997-98 while coaching Valparaiso.
  • Charles "Lefty" Driesell - Lost to Catawba (N.C.) twice in 1960-61 and to Carson-Newman (Tenn.) and Erskine (S.C.) in 1961-62 while coaching Davidson.
  • Hugh Durham - Lost at Puerto Rico-Mayaguez in 2001-02 while coaching Jacksonville.
  • Bobby Dye - Lost at Chapman (Calif.) in 1975-76 while coaching Cal State Fullerton. Lost to Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) in 1985-86 while coaching Boise State.
  • Norm Ellenberger - Lost at Hawaii-Hilo in 1976-77 while coaching New Mexico.
  • Fred Enke - Lost to Regis (Colo.) in 1959-60 while coaching Arizona.
  • Larry Eustachy - Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1991-92 and to Elizabeth City State (N.C.) in 1992-93 while coaching Idaho.
  • Paul Evans - Lost at Rollins (Fla.) in 1981-82 while coaching Navy.
  • Bill C. Foster - Lost at University of the South (Tenn.) and Roanoke (Va.) in 1970-71 and to Valdosta (Ga.) State in 1971-72 while coaching UNC Charlotte. Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1987-88 while coaching Miami (Fla.).
  • Bill E. Foster - Lost at Albright (Pa.) in 1964-65 while coaching Rutgers. Lost at Chaminade (Hawaii) in 1981- 82 while coaching South Carolina. Lost to Rollins (Fla.) in 1986-87 and 1987-88 while coaching Northwestern.
  • Harold "Bud" Foster - Lost to South Dakota in 1956-57 while coaching Wisconsin.
  • Bill Frieder - Lost to Alaska-Anchorage on a neutral court in 1988-89 while coaching Michigan.
  • Jack Friel - Lost at Centenary (La.) in 1955-56, to Spring Hill (Ala.) in 1955-56 and Whitworth (Wash.) five times from 1951-52 through 1956-57 while coaching Washington State.
  • John "Taps" Gallagher - Lost to Gannon (Pa.) and Rochester (N.Y.) in 1964-65 while coaching Niagara.
  • Dave Gavitt - Lost at Springfield (Mass.) in 1967-68 while coaching Dartmouth.
  • Boyd Grant - Lost to Wisconsin-Parkside in 1978-79 while coaching Fresno State.
  • Murray Greason - Lost to Rio Grande (Ohio) in 1953-54 while coaching Wake Forest.
  • Ron Greene - Lost to Spring Hill (Ala.) in 1966-67 while coaching Loyola of New Orleans. Lost to Tennessee Wesleyan and Mississippi College in 1978-79, Arkansas College in 1981-82, West Virginia Tech in 1982-83 and Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) in 1984-85 while coaching Murray State. Lost to Rollins (Fla.) in 1986-87 while coaching Indiana State.
  • Tim Grgurich - Lost to Morris Harvey (W.Va.) in 1977-78 while coaching Pittsburgh.
  • Leonard Hamilton - Lost at BYU-Hawaii in 1987-88 while coaching Oklahoma State.
  • Jim Harrick - Lost at Abilene (Tex.) Christian in 1984-85 while coaching Pepperdine.
  • Dick Harter - Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1978-79 while coaching Penn State.
  • Jack Hartman - Lost to Kentucky Wesleyan four times in three years from 1967-68 through 1969-70 while coaching Southern Illinois.
  • Don Haskins - Lost to Louisiana College in 1977-78 while coaching Texas-El Paso.
  • George "Jud" Heathcote - Lost at Puget Sound (Wash.) in 1972-73, 1973-74 and 1975-76 and at Southern Colorado in 1972-73 while coaching Montana.
  • Bill Henderson - Lost to Howard Payne (Tex.) in 1955-56 while coaching Baylor.
  • Lou Henson - Lost to Howard Payne (Tex.) twice, Midwestern State (Tex.), Eastern New Mexico and Abilene Christian (Tex.) in 1962-63; Abilene Christian and Midwestern State in 1964-65, and Pittsburg State (Kan.) in 1965-66 while coaching Hardin-Simmons. Lost at Eastern New Mexico in 1966-67, to Angelo State (Tex.) in 1971-72, at Alaska-Fairbanks in 1998-99 and at BYU-Hawaii in 2001-02 while coaching New Mexico State.
  • Eddie Hickey - Lost to South Dakota in 1938-39 and 1939-40 while coaching Creighton.
  • Bernard "Peck" Hickman - Lost to Georgetown (Ky.) in 1958-59 while coaching Louisville.
  • Paul "Tony" Hinkle - Lost to Wabash (Ind.) in 1959-60, twice in 1960-61 and in 1966-67 while coaching Butler.
  • Terry Holland - Lost at Chaminade (Hawaii) in 1982-83 while coaching Virginia.
  • Ben Howland - Lost to Concordia (Calif.) in 1994-95 while coaching Northern Arizona.
  • Henry "Hank" Iba - Lost to Westminster (Mo.) in 1934-35 and 1936-37 and Abilene (Tex.) Christian in 1965-66 while coaching Oklahoma A&M/Oklahoma State.
  • Moe Iba - Lost to Union (Tenn.) in 1968-69 and 1969-70 while coaching Memphis State.
  • George Ireland - Lost to Regis (Colo.) in 1954-55, North Dakota State in 1966-67, Illinois Wesleyan in 1970-71 and Missouri Western in 1972-73 while coaching Loyola of Chicago.
  • Maurice "Maury" John - Lost to South Dakota State in 1958-59 and Washington (Mo.) in 1963-64 while coaching Drake.
  • Alvin "Doggie" Julian - Lost to St. Michael's (Vt.), at St. Anselm (N.H.) and at Tampa (Fla.) in 1950-51; to Amherst (Mass.) in 1952-53; at St. Michael's (Vt.), to Williams (Mass.) and at Springfield (Mass.) in 1960-61; to Colby (Maine) in 1961-62, and to Williams (Mass.) in 1964-65 while coaching Dartmouth.
  • Jim Killingsworth - Lost to Westmont (Calif.) in 1980-81 while coaching Texas Christian.
  • Bob King - Lost at Washington (Mo.) in 1963-64 while coaching New Mexico.
  • Dana Kirk - Lost to Wisconsin-Parkside in 1979-80 while coaching Memphis State.
  • Jack Kraft - Lost to Assumption (Mass.) in 1974-75 while coaching Rhode Island.
  • Mike Krzyzewski - Lost to SUNY-Buffalo, Scranton (Pa.) and King's College (Pa.) in 1975-76 while coaching Army.
  • Steve Lappas - Lost to Springfield (Mass.) in 1988-89 while coaching Manhattan.
  • Jim Larranaga - Lost to Findlay (Ohio) in 1991-92 while coaching Bowling Green.
  • Frank Layden - Lost to Thomas More (Ky.) in 1970-71 while coaching Niagara.
  • Jack Leaman - Lost to American International (Mass.) in 1966-67 and 1969-70, Springfield (Mass.) in 1970-71 and Bentley (Mass.) in 1978-79 while coaching Massachusetts.
  • A.E. "Abe" Lemons--Lost to Centenary (La.) in 1958-59, McMurry (Tex.) in 1960-61 and Wayland Baptist (Tex.) in 1984-85 while coaching Oklahoma City. Lost to Texas A&I in 1973-74 while coaching Pan American.
  • Jim Les - Lost to Lubbock (Tex.) Christian at Las Vegas in 2003-04 while coaching Bradley.
  • Guy Lewis - Lost to St. Mary's (Tex.) in 1969-70 and 1974-75, Texas A&I in 1979-80 and Alaska Anchorage and Biscayne (Fla.) in 1980-81 while coaching Houston.
  • Harry Litwack - Lost to West Chester (Pa.) in 1969-70 while coaching Temple.
  • Taylor "Tates" Locke - Lost to North Park (Ill.) in 1978-79 while coaching Jacksonville.
  • Ken Loeffler - Lost to Centenary (La.) in 1956-57 while coaching Texas A&M.
  • Jim Lynam - Lost to Saint Leo (Fla.) and at Assumption (Mass.) in 1968-69 and to Southern Connecticut in 1969- 70 while coaching Fairfield. Lost at King's (Pa.) in 1975-76 while coaching American University. Lost at Rollins (Fla.) in 1979-80 while coaching St. Joseph's.
  • Nick Macarchuk - Lost to Buffalo State in 1982-83 while coaching Canisius.
  • John MacLeod - Lost to Samford (Ala.) in 1971-72 while coaching Oklahoma. Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1998-99 while coaching Notre Dame.
  • John "Red" Manning - Lost to Carnegie-Mellon (Pa.) in 1959-60 while coaching Duquesne.
  • Rollie Massimino - Lost at New Orleans in 1973-74 and to Philadelphia Textile in 1975-76 and 1976-77 while coaching Villanova.
  • James "Babe" McCarthy - Lost to University of the South (Tenn.) in 1955-56 and Mississippi College in 1964-65 while coaching Mississippi State.
  • Neil McCarthy - Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1978-79 while coaching Weber State. Lost to Western New Mexico in 1986-87 while coaching New Mexico State.
  • Al McGuire - Lost at Washington (Mo.) in 1964-65 and Evansville in 1965-66 while coaching Marquette.
  • Frank McGuire - Lost at Florida Southern in 1979-80 while coaching South Carolina.
  • Jack McKinney - Lost to Catholic (D.C.) in 1966-67 while coaching St. Joseph's.
  • Eddie Melvin - Lost to Cortland (N.Y.) State in 1947-48 and Gannon (Pa.) in 1948-49 while coaching St. Bonaventure. Lost to Morris Harvey (W.Va.) in 1956-57 and Wittenberg (Ohio) in 1958-59 and 1959-60 while coaching Toledo.
  • Shelby Metcalf - Lost at Eastern Montana in 1980-81 and to St. Mary's (Tex.) in 1984-85 while coaching Texas A&M.
  • Ray Meyer - Lost to Beloit (Wis.) in 1950-51, at North Dakota in 1965-66 and to St. Joseph's (Ind.) in 1969-70.
  • Eldon Miller - Lost to Winona (Minn.) State and Wisconsin-Platteville in 1986-87 and at American-Puerto Rico and to Morningside (Iowa) in 1990-91 while coaching Northern Iowa.
  • Ralph Miller - Lost at Beloit (Wis.) in 1951-52 while coaching Wichita.
  • Charles Moir - Lost to Dillard (La.) in 1973-74 and 1974-75 and Xavier (La.) in 1973-74 while coaching Tulane.
  • Mike Montgomery - Lost to Puget Sound (Wash.) in 1978-79 and 1980-81 while coaching Montana. Lost at Chaminade (Hawaii) in 1992-93 while coaching Stanford.
  • Stan Morrison - Lost to San Francisco State in 1974-75 and at North Dakota in 1978-79 while coaching Pacific.
  • Joe Mullaney - Lost to Assumption (Mass.) in 1963-64 and 1984-85 while coaching Providence. Lost to Stonehill (Mass.) in 1979-80 while coaching Brown.
  • Jeff Mullins - Lost at Florida Southern in 1987-88 while coaching UNC Charlotte.
  • Gerald Myers - Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1990-91 while coaching Texas Tech.
  • Lynn Nance - Lost to Nebraska-Omaha in 1979-80 while coaching Iowa State.
  • Danny Nee - Lost to Charleston (W.Va.) in 1980-81 while coaching Ohio University.
  • Jim O'Brien - Lost at Florida Tech in 1988-89 while coaching Boston College.
  • Dave Odom - Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1993-94 while coaching Wake Forest.
  • Johnny Orr - Lost at Washington (Mo.) in 1964-65 while coaching Massachusetts. Lost at Eastern Montana in 1981 -82 while coaching Iowa State.
  • Bobby Paschal - Lost to Tampa in 1986-87 and 1987-88 while coaching South Florida.
  • Tom Penders - Lost at CCNY in 1974-75 and at San Francisco State in 1977-78 while coaching Columbia. Lost at Hawaii-Pacific in 1985-86 while coaching Fordham.
  • Jerry Pimm - Lost to Midwestern State (Tex.) in 1979-80 while coaching Utah. Lost to San Francisco State in 1983-84 while coaching UC Santa Barbara.
  • Rick Pitino - Lost to Adelphi (N.Y.) in 1978-79 while coaching Boston University.
  • Harry Rabenhorst - Lost to Louisiana College in 1955-56 and at Centenary (La.) in 1956-57 while coaching LSU.
  • Bill Raftery - Lost to Siena (N.Y.) in 1972-73, at Rollins (Fla.) in 1973-74 and to King's College (Pa.) in 1975-76 while coaching Seton Hall.
  • Jack Ramsay - Lost to Albright (Pa.) in 1957-58 and 1961-62 while coaching St. Joseph's.
  • George Raveling - Lost to St. Martin's (Wash.) in 1980-81 and Eastern Montana in 1981-82 while coaching Washington State.
  • Roger Reid - Lost to Colorado-Colorado Springs in 2007-08 while coaching Southern Utah.
  • Nolan Richardson - Lost at American-Puerto Rico in 1997-98 while coaching Arkansas.
  • Alfred "A.J." Robertson - Lost to South Dakota in 1947-48 while coaching Bradley.
  • Les Robinson - Lost to Francis Marion (S.C.) in 1983-84 while coaching The Citadel.
  • Lee Rose - Lost at Eastern Montana in 1977-78 while coaching UNC Charlotte.
  • Lou Rossini - Lost to Bentley (Mass.) in 1978-79 and Scranton (Pa.) in 1975-76 while coaching St. Francis (N.Y.).
  • John "Honey" Russell - Lost at Saint Thomas (Minn.) in 1937-38, to David & Elkins (W. Va.) in 1949-50 and to Albright (Pa.) in 1949-50 and 1957-58 while coaching Seton Hall.
  • Alex Severance - Lost to Albright (Pa.) in 1941-42, Swarthmore (Pa.) in 1943-44 and 1944-45 and Scranton (Pa.) in 1957-58 while coaching Villanova.
  • Norman Sloan - Lost at Presbyterian (S.C.) in 1956-57 while coaching The Citadel.
  • Jim Snyder - Lost to Marietta (Ohio) four times in five years from 1949-50 through 1953-54 and in 1959-60, Mount Union (Ohio) in 1949-50, Muskingum (Ohio) in 1950-51, Beloit (Wis.) and Lake Forest (Ill.) in 1951-52, Ohio Wesleyan in 1952-53 and Otterbein (Ohio) in 1966-67 while coaching Ohio University.
  • Norm Stewart - Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1985-86 while coaching Missouri.
  • John Thompson Jr. - Lost to Assumption (Mass.) in 1973-74; Gannon (Pa.) in 1975-76; Randolph-Macon (Va.) in 1974-75; Roanoke (Va.) in 1972-73, and at South Florida in 1972-73 while coaching Georgetown.
  • Ken Trickey - Lost to Union (Tenn.) in 1965-66, Transylvania (Ky.) in 1966-67 and 1968-69 and Oglethorpe (Ga.) in 1967-68 while coaching Middle Tennessee State. Lost to Nebraska-Omaha and South Dakota in 1975-76 while coaching Iowa State. Lost to Cameron (Okla.) in 1980-81 while coaching Oral Roberts.
  • Billy Tubbs - Lost to Ohio Northern in 1980-81 while coaching Oklahoma. Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1995-96 while coaching Texas Christian. Lost to Delta State (Miss.) in 2005-06 while coaching Lamar.
  • M.K. Turk - Lost at Florida Southern in 1979-80 and to Fairmont State (W. Va.) in 1984-85 while coaching Southern Mississippi.
  • Jim Valvano - Lost to Armstrong State (Ga.) and Gannon (Pa.) in 1972-73, Wilkes (Pa.) in 1973-74 and Bloomsburg (Pa.) in 1974-75 while coaching Bucknell. Lost at Tampa in 1986-87 while coaching North Carolina State.
  • Joe Vanatta - Lost at Centenary (La.) in 1956-57 while coaching Memphis State.
  • Willem "Butch" van Breda Kolff - Lost at Albright (Pa.) in 1951-52 while coaching Lafayette. Lost at Florida Southern in 1988-89 while coaching Hofstra.
  • Perry Watson - Lost to Wayne State (Mich.) in 1993-94 while coaching Detroit.
  • Stan Watts - Lost to Hamline (Minn.) in 1951-52 while coaching Brigham Young.
  • Clifford Wells - Lost to Spring Hill (Ala.) in 1953-54 and Louisiana College in 1962-63 while coaching Tulane.
  • Bob Weltlich - Lost at Alaska-Anchorage in 1986-87 while coaching Texas.
  • Paul Westhead - Lost at Biscayne (Fla.) in 1971-72 and Florida Southern in 1978-79 while coaching La Salle.
  • Davey Whitney - Lost to Delta State (Miss.) six times in five years from 1985-86 through 1989-90; Dillard (La.) in 1986-87; Miles (Ala.) in 1988-89 and 1990-91; Mississippi College in 1990-91, 1992-93 and 1993-94; Slippery Rock (Pa.) in 1993-94, and Tougaloo (Miss.) in 1996-97 while coaching Alcorn State.
  • Ralph Willard - Lost to Williams (Mass.) in 2003-04 while coaching Holy Cross.
  • Carroll Williams - Lost to San Francisco State in 1970-71 and at Alaska-Anchorage in 1991-92 while coaching Santa Clara.
  • Charlie Woollum - Lost to Rochester (N.Y.) in 1975-76 and 1976-77, Upsala (N.J.) in 1977-78 and Messiah (Pa.) in 1981-82 while coaching Bucknell.
  • Jay Wright - Lost at Chaminade (Hawaii) in 2003-04 while coaching Villanova.
  • Ned Wulk - Lost to Lawrence Tech (Mich.) and twice to Baldwin-Wallace (Ohio) in 1952-53 while coaching Xavier. Lost to Cal Poly Pomona in 1969-70 while coaching Arizona State.