Master Builders: Lou Henson Among Mentors Invigorating Lifeless Programs

August 4th, 2020 - 9:12

Recently-deceased coach Lou Henson wasn't the only master builder who specialized in invigorating lifeless basketball programs (New Mexico State and Illinois). Following is a summary of super salesmen reviving at least two NCAA Division I programs:

Celebrated Coach Summary of Multiple Schools Revived By Mentor
Rick Barnes Took two different schools (Providence in 1989 and Texas in 1999) to an NCAA Tournament appearance in his first year with them although they compiled a losing record the previous season.
Bobby Cremins Inherited an Appalachian State program that compiled an average record of 6-19 the five previous seasons from 1970-71 through 1974-75. The Mountaineers posted an average mark of 17-12 in his six seasons with them, including a school-best 23 victories in 1978-79 when they made their first NCAA Tournament appearance. Then, Cremins inherited a Georgia Tech program that won just one ACC game in its first two seasons in the conference in 1979-80 and 1980-81. He went on to become the school's all-time winningest coach, including a school-best 28-7 mark in 1989-90 when the Yellow Jackets advanced to the Final Four.
Charles "Lefty" Driesell Although Lefty never reached the Final Four, he might go down as the best reconstructionist in modern college basketball history. Driesell inherited a Davidson program shackled by 11 consecutive losing records from 1949-50 through 1959-60 with an average mark of 8-17. The Wildcats reached the 20-win plateau in six of his last seven seasons with them from 1962-63 through 1968-69, including a school-record 27-3 worksheet in his final campaign. Then, Lefty moved to a Maryland program hampered by six losing records in the eight years prior to his arrival. He had an average mark of 20-9 in his 17 seasons with the Terrapins through 1985-86, including a five-year stretch from 1971-72 through 1975-76 when their average record was 24-6. Driesell directed James Madison to five consecutive national postseason tournament appearances from 1990 through 1994 before struggling with the Dukes. Then he promoted Georgia State's previously moribund program encumbered with the worst winning percentage in the country over the previous four decades.
Boyd Grant Inherited a Fresno State program that posted an average record of 12-14 the previous six seasons from 1971-72 through 1976-77. The Bulldogs notched a 21-6 mark in his initial year at their helm, made their only NCAA Tournament appearances (1981-82-84), won a school-record 27 games in 1981-82 and captured 1983 NIT. Then, Grant inherited a Colorado State program compiling losing records seven of the nine previous seasons from 1978-79 through 1986-87. He guided the Rams to more than 20 victories in his first three of four campaigns with them, including a school-best 23 triumphs in 1988-89.
Lou Henson Inherited a New Mexico State program coming off five consecutive losing records with an average mark of 7-17 from 1961-62 through 1965-66. He directed the Aggies to at least 19 victories in six of his nine seasons at their helm, including a school-best 27-3 mark in 1969-70 when they made their only Final Four appearance. Then, Henson inherited an Illinois program that went 13-36 the two previous seasons (1973-74 and 1974-75). He guided the Illini to the 1989 Final Four en route to becoming its all-time winningest coach. Henson subsequently returned to NMSU.
Bob Huggins Inherited an Akron program coming off seven consecutive losing records from 1977-78 through 1983-84. He directed the Zips to more than 20 victories in four of his five years with them. Then, Huggins inherited a Cincinnati program posting an average record of 13-16 over the previous 11 seasons from 1978-79 through 1988-89. The Bearcats reached the 20-win plateau in his initial season at their helm, advanced to the 1992 Final Four and had an average mark of 25-8 in his 16 years at their helm.
Jim Killingsworth Inherited an Idaho State program producing only winning record in its nine previous seasons from 1962-63 through 1970-71. He directed the Bengals to winning marks all six campaigns with them, including an all-time school-best 25-5 worksheet in 1976-77. Then, Killingsworth inherited a TCU program coming off seven straight losing seasons from 1972-73 through 1978-79. He climaxed an eight-year stint with the Horned Frogs by claiming back-to-back Southwest Conference championships in 1986 and 1987.
Frank McGuire Inherited a North Carolina program coming off its two losingest seasons in school history at the time (15 defeats in 1950-51 and 1951-52). By the middle of decade, he had guided the Tar Heels to an ACC regular-season title and posted an average record of 21-5 his last six years with them from 1955-56 through 1960-61, including an undefeated campaign in 1956-57 (32-0). Then, McGuire inherited a South Carolina program notching 10 losing records in the previous 12 seasons from 1952-53 through 1963-64. He won more than 20 games in six consecutive campaigns from 1968-69 through 1973-74 en route to becoming the Gamecocks' all-time winningest coach.
Ralph Miller Inherited a Wichita program coming off five consecutive losing seasons from 1946-47 through 1950-51. He directed the Shockers to a school-best 27-4 record in 1953-54 on his way to becoming their all-time winningest coach (subsequently surpassed by Gregg Marshall). Then, Miller inherited an Oregon State program saddled with won-loss record nine games under .500 covering the previous four seasons from 1966-67 through 1969-70. He had an average record of 19-10 in 19 years with the Beavers, including a three-year span from 1979-80 through 1981-82 when they won at least 25 games each season.
Jim Molinari Inherited a Northern Illinois program coming off six losing records in the seven previous seasons from 1982-83 through 1988-89. He directed the Huskies to a school-record 25 victories in 1990-91. Then, Molinari inherited a Bradley program coming off back-to-back 20-defeat seasons for the first time in school history (1989-90 and 1990-91). He guided the Braves to three consecutive 20-win seasons from 1993-94 through 1995-96.
Rick Pitino Inherited a Boston University program coming off five consecutive losing records and seven of eight from 1970-71 through 1977-78. He guided the Terriers to their first 20-win season in 21 years in 1979-80 and their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 24 years in 1983. Then, Pitino inherited a Providence program that was 41 games below .500 over the previous seven seasons from 1978-79 through 1984-85. He directed the Friars to 1987 Final Four.
Eddie Sutton Inherited a Creighton program that was five games below .500 over the previous five seasons from 1964-65 through 1968-69. He guided the Bluejays to winning records each of his five seasons with them, including a 23-7 mark in 1973-74. Then, Sutton inherited an Arkansas program assembling nine losing records in the previous 11 seasons. Sutton never was below eight games above .500 in his 11 years with the Razorbacks, compiling an average mark of 24-7 from 1974-75 through 1984-85 and directing them to the 1978 Final Four. Later, Sutton inherited an Oklahoma State program that was 11 games below .500 over the previous seven seasons from 1983-84 through 1989-90. He promptly directed his alma mater to five consecutive 20-win campaigns and 13 in his first 15 years, including Final Four trips in 1995 and 2004.