Power Danger: X Head Coaching Newcomer Steele Bound for Modest Mark

May 8th, 2018 - 6:46

There was no grooming comparable to most coaches working their way up the ladder from the bush leagues. Despite boasting zero head-coaching experience, Travis Steele (Xavier) was hired to be in charge of a power-conference member. He joins more than 20 active head coaches for power-league members getting their starts as bench boss without serving as head coach for another college.

Ranging from regal (Pitt's Jamie Dixon in 2003-04) to repulsive (St. John's Chris Mullin in 2015-16) in the Big East Conference, there is no rhyme or reason regarding first-year results. But if Steele assembles an average inaugural campaign, the novice head coach faces an overall record of 18-14 with losing league mark. First-year worksheets for mentors in this category have dramatically gone downhill this decade. In the previous six years, the seven latest newcomer power-league coaches - Rick Ray, Kevin Ollie, Chris Collins, Steve Wojciechowski, Chris Mullin, Patrick Ewing, Mike Hopkins and David Padgett - combined for an average record of 15-17 overall and 6-12 in league competition. Only six active coaches on the following alphabetical list compiled a winning league ledger in his inaugural season:

Active Head Coach Current School 1st Season Guiding Power-League Member Overall League
Tommy Amaker Harvard Seton Hall (1997-98/Big East) 15-15 9-9
Rod Barnes Cal State Bakersfield Mississippi (1998-99/SEC) 20-13 8-8
Tony Bennett Virginia Washington State (2006-07/Pacific-10) 26-8 13-5
Jim Boeheim Syracuse Syracuse (1976-77/independent) 26-4 N/A
Todd Bozeman* Morgan State California (1993-94/Pacific-10) 22-8 13-5
Chris Collins Northwestern Northwestern (2013-14/Big Ten) 14-19 6-12
Mike Davis Texas Southern Indiana (2000-01/Big Ten) 21-13 10-6
Johnny Dawkins UCF Stanford (2008-09/Pacific-10) 20-14 6-12
Jamie Dixon Texas Christian Pittsburgh (2003-04/Big East) 31-5 13-3
Patrick Ewing Georgetown Georgetown (2017-18/Big East) 15-15 5-13
Frank Haith Tulsa Miami FL (2004-05/ACC) 16-13 7-9
Leonard Hamilton Florida State Oklahoma State (1986-87/Big Eight) 8-20 4-10
Mike Hopkins Washington Washington (2017-18/Pac-12) 21-13 10-8
Tom Izzo Michigan State Michigan State (1995-96/Big Ten) 16-16 9-9
Jeff Jones Old Dominion Virginia (1990-91/ACC) 21-12 6-8
Frank Martin South Carolina Kansas State (2007-08/Big 12) 21-12 10-6
Chris Mullin St. John's St. John's (2015-16/Big East) 8-24 1-17
Rick Ray Southeast Missouri State Mississippi State (2012-13/SEC) 10-22 4-14
Rick Stansbury Western Kentucky Mississippi State (1998-99/SEC) 20-13 8-8
Roy Williams North Carolina Kansas (1988-89/Big Eight) 19-12 6-8
Steve Wojciechowski Marquette Marquette (2014-15/Big East) 13-19 4-14

*Bozeman was named interim coach in mid-season the previous year when he replaced Lou Campanelli.