Fantastic Four: Fran Dunphy Retires in Exclusive Company Among DI Coaches
Fran Dunphy had had only one Top 20 team in 30 seasons of coaching (Temple in 2009-10), but he finished his career in exclusive company upon stepping aside for former Owls player Aaron McKie following this campaign. Dunphy, who was bench boss for Penn 17 years prior to joining the Owls, is one of only four Division I mentors compiling more than 200 victories and at least seven NCAA Tournament appearances with two different universities.
"I've just been coaching a long time," said a modest Dunphy, who fell short of joining Roy Williams as the only coaches with 300 triumphs for two DI schools. Following is an alphabetical list of Dunphy, Williams and the two other coaches (Lou Henson and Eddie Sutton) in this select circle (Rick Pitino made six straight NCAA playoff appearances with Kentucky in the mid-1990s and John Calipari appeared in six NCAA tourneys with Memphis in the previous decade):
| Coach | Subject Seasons | Two Different Schools With More Than 200 Victories (Minimum of Seven NCAA Playoff Appearances) |
|---|---|---|
| Fran Dunphy | 30 (1989-90 through 2018-19) | Penn (1993-94-95-99 and 2000-02-03-05-06)/Temple (2008-09-10-11-12-13-16-19) |
| Lou Henson | 38 (1966-67 through 1995-96, 1997-98 through 1999-00 and 2000-01 through 2004-05) | New Mexico State (1967-68-69-70-71-75-99)/Illinois (1981-83-84-85-86-87-88-89-90-93-94-95) |
| Eddie Sutton | 27 (1974-75 through 1984-85 and 1990-91 through 2005-06) | Arkansas (1977-78-79-80-81-82-83-84-85)/Oklahoma State (1991-92-93-94-95-98-99 and 2000-01-02-03-04-05) |
| Roy Williams | 31 (1988-89 through 2018-19) | Kansas (1990-91-92-93-94-95-96-97-98-99 and 2000-01-02-03)/North Carolina (2004-05-06-07-08-09-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19) |
NOTE: Henson (Hardin-Simmons), Pitino (Hawaii, Boston University and Providence) and Sutton (Creighton, Kentucky and San Francisco) also coached other colleges.