Swallowing Your Pride: Mid-Major Bench Bosses From Power-League Members
April 13th, 2025 - 8:02
Penn's Fran McCaffery and UNLV's Josh Pastner are the latest head coaches aligning with mid-majors after previously piloting a power-conference member. Following is an alphabetical list of former power-league mentors - 10 of them at multiple power-conference members - swallowing their pride by currently toiling in more obscurity at mid-major level:
| Active Head Coach | Current Mid-Major School | Previous Power-League School(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Alford | Nevada (since 2019-20) | Iowa (1999-00 through 2006-07) and UCLA (2013-14 to 2018-19) |
| Tommy Amaker | Harvard (since 2007-08) | Seton Hall (1997-98 through 2000-01) and Michigan (2001-02 through 2006-07) |
| Rod Barnes | Cal State Bakersfield (since 2011-12) | Mississippi (1998-99 through 2005-06) |
| Pat Chambers | Florida Gulf Coast (since 2022-23) | Penn State (2011-12 through 2019-20) |
| Jim Christian | Canisius (since 2024-25) | Boston College (2014-15 through 2020-21) |
| Johnny Dawkins | UCF (since 2016-17) | Stanford (2008-09 through 2015-16) |
| Bryce Drew | Grand Canyon (since 2020-21) | Vanderbilt (2016-17 through 2018-19) |
| Billy Gillispie | Tarleton State (since 2020-21) | Texas A&M (2004-05 through 2006-07), Kentucky (2007-08 and 2008-09) and Texas Tech (2011-12) |
| Anthony Grant | Dayton (since 2017-18) | Alabama (2009-10 through 2014-15) |
| John Groce | Akron (since 2017-18) | Illinois (2012-13 through 2016-17) |
| Stan Heath | Eastern Michigan (since 2021-22) | Arkansas (2002-03 through 2006-07) and South Florida (2007-08 through 2012-13) |
| Darrin Horn | Northern Kentucky (since 2019-20) | South Carolina (2008-09 through 2011-12) |
| Johnny Jones | Texas Southern (since 2018-19) | Louisiana State (2012-13 through 2016-17) |
| Andy Kennedy | UAB (since 2020-21) | Cincinnati (2005-06) and Mississippi (2006-07 to 2017-18) |
| Steve Lavin | San Diego (since 2022-23) | UCLA (1996-97 through 2002-03) and St. John's (2010-11 through 2014-15) |
| Chris Mack | College of Charleston (since 2024-25) | Xavier (2009-10 through 2017-18) and Louisville (2018-29 to 2021-22) |
| Cuonzo Martin | Missouri State (since 2024-25 after stint from 2008-09 through 2010-11) | Tennessee (2011-12 through 2013-14), California (2014-15 through 2016-17) and Missouri (2017-18 through 2021-22) |
| Frank Martin | Massachusetts (since 2022-23) | Kansas State (2007-08 through 2011-12) and South Carolina (2012-13 through 2021-22) |
| Fran McCaffery | Penn (since 2025-26) | Iowa (2010-11 through 2024-25) |
| Ritchie McKay | Liberty (2007-08, 2008-09 and since 2015-16) | Oregon State (2000-01 and 2001-02) |
| Tim Miles | San Jose State (since 2021-22) | Nebraska (2012-13 through 2018-19) |
| Ryan "Archie" Miller | Rhode Island (since 2022-23) | Indiana (2017-18 through 2020-21) |
| Dan Monson | Eastern Washington (since 2024-25) | Minnesota (1999-00 to 2006-07) |
| Josh Pastner | UNLV (since 2025-26) | Georgia Tech (2016-17 through 2022-23) |
| John Pelphrey | Tennessee Tech (since 2019-20) | Arkansas (2007-08 through 2010-11) |
| Herb Sendek | Santa Clara (since 2016-17) | North Carolina State (1996-97 through 2005-06) and Arizona State (2006-07 through 2014-15) |
| Travis Steele | Miami of Ohio (since 2022-23) | Xavier (2018-19 through 2021-22) |