Swallowing Your Pride: Three Ohio Mid-Majors Add Ex-Power League Coach

Three Ohio mid-major schools (Akron, Cleveland State and Dayton) feature new head coaches previously piloting a power-conference member. Following is an alphabetical list of former power-league mentors - including John Groce (Akron/after stint at Illinois), Dennis Felton (Cleveland State/Georgia) and Anthony Grant (Dayton/Alabama) - swallowing their pride and currently toiling in more obscurity at mid-major level:

Active Head Coach Current Mid-Major School Previous Power League School(s)
Tommy Amaker Harvard (since 2007-08) Seton Hall (1997-98 through 2000-01) and Michigan (2001-02 through 2006-07)
Rod Barnes Cal State Bakersfield (since 2011-12) Mississippi (1998-99 through 2005-06)
Todd Bozeman Morgan State (since 2006-07) California (1992-93 through 1995-96)
Bill Carmody Holy Cross (since 2015-16) Northwestern (2000-01 through 2012-13)
Keno Davis Central Michigan (since 2012-13) Providence (2008-09 through 2010-11)
Kermit Davis Jr. Middle Tennessee State (since 2002-03) Texas A&M* (1990-91)
Mike Davis Texas Southern (since 2012-13) Indiana (2000-01 through 2005-06)
Johnny Dawkins UCF (since 2016-17) Stanford (2008-09 through 2015-16)
Ed DeChellis Navy (since 2011-12) Penn State (2003-04 through 2010-11)
Steve Donahue Penn (since 2015-16) Boston College (2010-11 through 2013-14)
Cliff Ellis Coastal Carolina (since 2007-08) Clemson (1984-85 through 1993-94) and Auburn (1994-95 through 2003-04)
Larry Eustachy Colorado State (since 2012-13) Iowa State (1998-99 through 2002-03)
Dennis Felton Cleveland State (since 2017-18) Georgia (2003-04 to 2008-09)
Tim Floyd Texas-El Paso (since 2010-11) Iowa State (1994-95 through 1997-98) and Southern California (2005-06 through 2008-09)
Travis Ford Saint Louis (since 2016-17) Oklahoma State (2008-09 through 2015-16)
Anthony Grant Dayton (since 2017-18) Alabama (2009-10 through 2014-15)
Brian Gregory South Florida (since 2017-18) Georgia Tech (2011-12 through 2015-16)
John Groce Akron (since 2017-18) Illinois (2012-13 through 2016-17)
Frank Haith Tulsa (since 2014-15) Miami FL (2004-05 through 2010-11) and Missouri (2011-12 through 2013-14)
Jeff Jones Old Dominion (since 2013-14) Virginia (1990-91 through 1997-98)
Jeff Lebo East Carolina (since 2010-11) Auburn (2004-05 through 2009-10)
Bobby McCullum Florida A&M (since 2017-18) South Florida (2003-04 through 2006-07**)
Ritchie McKay Liberty (2007-08, 2008-09 and since 2015-16) Oregon State (2000-01 and 2001-02)
Dan Monson Long Beach State (since 2007-08) Minnesota (1999-00 to 2006-07)
Eddie Payne USC Upstate (since 2002-03) Oregon State (1995-96 through 1999-00)
Rick Ray Southeast Missouri State (since 2015-16) Mississippi State (2012-13 through 2014-15)
Doc Sadler Southern Mississippi (since 2014-15) Nebraska (2006-07 through 2011-12)
Kelvin Sampson Houston (since 2014-15) Washington State (1987-88 through 1993-94), Oklahoma (1994-95 through 2005-06) and Indiana (2006-07 and 2007-08)
Herb Sendek Santa Clara (since 2016-17) North Carolina State (1996-97 through 2005-06) and Arizona State (2006-07 through 2014-15)
Al Skinner Kennesaw State (since 2015-16) Boston College (1997-98 through 2009-10)

*SEC member Texas A&M was in SWC at the time.
**South Florida's inaugural season in Big East Conference was 2006-07.