Risky Business: Which Schools Stepped Out on Thin Limb for Coach?

At the time, it seemed equivalent to betting everything on a penny stock. But it can turn into a bonanza as evidenced by Duke's Mike Krzyzewski going on to become the all-time winningest major-college mentor after arriving in Durham to homestead Krzyzewskiville on the heels of a season W-L record eight games below .500 with Army.

There were mixed reactions recently when first-year Lamar coach Pat Knight, evoking comparisons to his forceful father (Bob Knight), scorched the seniors he inherited with a post-game press conference diatribe. Krzyzewski and Pat Knight are among the following active coaches hired by their current school despite coming off a season when they posted a losing record:

Active Coach, Current School/Losing Season Record With Previous School
Jeff Bzdelik, Wake Forest/15-16 record with Colorado in 2009-10
Pat Knight, Lamar/13-19 with Texas Tech in 2010-11
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke/9-17 with Army with 1979-80
Greg McDermott, Creighton/15-17 with Iowa State in 2009-10
Lorenzo Romar, Washington/15-16 with Saint Louis in 2001-02
Joe Scott, Denver/11-17 with Princeton in 2006-07
Billy Taylor, Ball State/12-19 with Lehigh in 2006-07
Rex Walters, San Francisco/15-18 with Florida Atlantic in 2007-08