Malone is Anomaly as Ex-NBA Coach Posting Eight Straight Winning Records

In the wake of [North Carolina](schools/north carolina) hiring Michael Malone, a total of six active NCAA Division I coaches are former NBA bench bosses after Michael Curry, Mike Dunlap, Mike Dunleavy Sr., Tim Floyd, Leonard Hamilton, Lindsey Hunter Jr., Avery Johnson, Lon Kruger, Larry Krystkowiak, Terry Porter, Darrell Walker and Mike Woodson departed collegiate ranks in the not-too-distant past. Malone, assembling eight straight winning seasons in the NBA after four losing records, is an exception to the rule as none of the first five ex-NBA mentors in this group posted a career winning career record as an NBA mentor. Winning at the collegiate level is a different story as John Calipari, Fred Hoiberg and Eric Musselman each compiled at least 28 triumphs in a recent season.

This professional downgrade is not a new trend. Kruger and other former Final Four coaches John Beilein, Calipari, P.J. Carlesimo, Lou Carnesecca, Ed Jucker, Doggie Julian, Mike Montgomery, Rick Pitino, Jerry Tarkanian, Butch van Breda Kolff and Tex Winter also compiled sub-.500 worksheets in the NBA/ABA. Calipari, Fred Hoiberg and Pitino each had only one winning NBA campaign among the following active DI mentors: