Hamilton's Play(ers) Failed to Perform on Biggest Stage at NCAA Final Four
"Hamilton" is a Broadway musical telling story of a Founding Father of the United States (Alexander Hamilton). Storyline's popularity stems partially from theme of ambition and power, making history accessible to a wider audience by appealing to younger generations. College basketball's version of "Hamilton" didn't duplicate ambition with Oklahoma State/Miami FL/Florida State audiences as Leonard Hamilton, despite becoming one of only 35 coaches to amass more than 650 major-college victories, failed to make history by reaching Final Four in 37 seasons at NCAA DI level. Hamilton is stepping down at season's end along with La Salle's Fran Dunphy, who compiled an abysmal 3-17 NCAA playoff record.
The only season Hamilton captured a conference regular-season championship was 2019-20 when postseason competition was cancelled because of COVID-19 pandemic. Hamilton has the lowest career winning percentage and best NCAA playoff mark among the following 10 coaches with more than 600 triumphs but never reaching Final Four:
| Coach (DI Seasons) | Division I Career Record | NCAA Playoffs |
|---|---|---|
| Cliff Ellis (46) | 833-566 (.595) with South Alabama/Clemson/Auburn/Coastal Carolina from 1975-76 to 2023-24 | 10 tourneys (8-10 record) |
| Charles "Lefty" Driesell (41) | 786-394 (.666) with Davidson/Maryland/James Madison/Georgia State from 1960-61 through 2002-03 | 13 (16-14) |
| Ed Diddle (42) | 759-302 (.715) with Western Kentucky from 1922-23 through 1963-64 | three (3-4) |
| Ralph Miller (38) | 674-370 (.646) with Wichita State/Iowa/Oregon State from 1951-52 through 1988-89 | 10 (5-11) |
| *Leonard Hamilton (37) | 658-501 (.568) with Oklahoma State/Miami FL/Florida State from 1986-87 to 2024-25 | 11 (14-11) |
| Bob McKillop (33) | 634-380 (.625) with Davidson from 1989-90 through 2021-22 | 10 (3-10) |
| Norm Stewart (32) | 634-333 (.656) with Missouri from 1967-68 through 1998-99 | 16 (12-16) |
| *Fran Dunphy (33) | 623-375 (.624) with Penn/Temple/La Salle from 1989-90 to 2024-25 | 17 (3-17) |
| *Steve Alford (30) | 620-338 (.647) with Missouri State/Iowa/New Mexico/UCLA/Nevada from 1995-96 to 2024-25 | 13 (11-13) |
| Stew Morrill (29) | 620-294 (.678) with Montana/Colorado State/Utah State from 1986-87 through 2014-15 | nine (1-9) |
*Active coaches (record through mid-February).