Fresh Face: Porter Moser Only Head Coaching Newcomer at 2018 Final Four

Final Four debuts were a long time coming the past six seasons for Dana Altman (Oregon), Mark Few (Gonzaga) and Big Ten Conference coaches John Beilein (Michigan) and Bo Ryan (Wisconsin). Since the start of the NCAA Tournament in 1939, no coach ever took longer in his four-year college career to reach the DI Final Four than Beilein (31 seasons). Ryan (30) and Altman (28) joined five other coaches to take more than 20 years to achieve the milestone - Jim Calhoun (27), Dick Bennett (24), Gary Williams (23), Jim Larranaga (22) and Norm Sloan (22).

There was at least one fresh face among bench bosses at the national semifinals all but once (1993) in a 27-year span from 1985 through 2011. Connecticut's Kevin Ollie joined Indiana's Mike Davis and VCU's Shaka Smart as coaches only in their second campaign to steer squads to the Final Four in the 21st Century. Loyola of Chicago's Porter Moser joined the following list of coaches advancing to the Final Four for first time since field expanded to at least 64 teams in 1985 (in reverse order):

• 2018 - Porter Moser (Loyola of Chicago/15th season as head coach at four-year college level).
• 2017 - Dana Altman (Oregon/28th), Mark Few (Gonzaga/18th) and Frank Martin (South Carolina/10th).
• 2016 - All returnees.
• 2015 - All returnees.
• 2014 - Kevin Ollie (Connecticut/2nd) and Bo Ryan* (Wisconsin/30th).
• 2013 - John Beilein* (Michigan/31st) and Gregg Marshall (Wichita State/15th).
• 2012 - All returnees.
• 2011 - Shaka Smart (Virginia Commonwealth/2nd).
• 2010 - Brad Stevens* (Butler/3rd).
• 2009 - Jay Wright* (Villanova/15th).
• 2008 - Bill Self* (Kansas/15th).
• 2007 - Thad Matta* (Ohio State/7th) and John Thompson III (Georgetown/7th).
• 2006 - John Brady (Louisiana State/15th), Ben Howland* (UCLA/12th) and Jim Larranaga (George Mason/22nd).
• 2005 - Bruce Weber (Illinois/6th).
• 2004 - Paul Hewitt (Georgia Tech/7th).
• 2003 - Rick Barnes (Texas/16th) and Tom Crean (Marquette/4th).
• 2002 - Mike Davis (Indiana/2nd) and Kelvin Sampson (Oklahoma/20th).
• 2001 - Gary Williams* (Maryland/23rd).
• 2000 - Dick Bennett (Wisconsin/24th) and Billy Donovan* (Florida/6th).
• 1999 - Jim Calhoun* (Connecticut/27th), Tom Izzo* (Michigan State/4th) and Jim O'Brien (Ohio State/17th).
• 1998 - Bill Guthridge* (North Carolina/1st), Rick Majerus (Utah/14th) and Tubby Smith (Kentucky/7th).
• 1997 - Clem Haskins (Minnesota/17th).
• 1996 - John Calipari* (Massachusetts/8th) and Richard Williams (Mississippi State/10th).
• 1995 - Jim Harrick (UCLA/16th).
• 1994 - Lon Kruger (Florida/12th).
• 1993 - All returnees.
• 1992 - Bob Huggins* (Cincinnati/12th).
• 1991 - Roy Williams* (Kansas/3rd).
• 1990 - Bobby Cremins (Georgia Tech/15th) and Nolan Richardson* (Arkansas/10th).
• 1989 - P.J. Carlesimo (Seton Hall/14th) and Steve Fisher* (Michigan/1st).
• 1988 - Billy Tubbs (Oklahoma/14th).
• 1987 - Jim Boeheim* (Syracuse/11th) and Rick Pitino* (Providence/7th).
• 1986 - Mike Krzyzewski* (Duke/11th).
• 1985 - Lou Carnesecca (St. John's/17th), Dana Kirk (Memphis State/14th) and Rollie Massimino (Villanova/14th).

*Subsequently returned to the Final Four.