More Than Half of Power-League Member Coaches Hired From Mid-Majors
July 18th, 2017 - 6:05
A total of 38 power-conference members - Pac-12 (9)/ACC (7)/Big Ten (7)/SEC (6)/Big 12 (5)/Big East (4) - hired coaches directly from the mid-major level. Who'll be next to move up to the big time? Mark Few (Gonzaga) and Gregg Marshall (Wichita State) generate most of the headlines, obscuring the following most overlooked achievements by current mid-major mentors:
| Coach | Mid-Major School | Recent Success |
|---|---|---|
| John Becker | Vermont | six 20-win campaigns in as many seasons |
| Randy Bennett | Saint Mary's | 10 consecutive campaigns compiling more than 20 victories |
| Will Brown | Albany | six consecutive seasons posting at least 19 victories |
| Rick Byrd | Belmont | eleven 20-win seasons in last 12 years |
| Tim Cluess | Iona | seven 20-win seasons in as many years |
| Keith Dambrot | Duquesne | 12 consecutive 21-plus win seasons with Akron before departing |
| Kermit Davis Jr. | Middle Tennessee State | averaged nearly 26 wins annually over last six seasons |
| Joe Dooley | Florida Gulf Coast | four 21-plus win seasons in as many years |
| Mitch Henderson | Princeton | six winning records in as many years, including four 20-win seasons |
| Jason Hooten | Sam Houston State | averaged more than 22 triumphs annually over previous four seasons |
| Ben Jacobson | Northern Iowa | seven 20-win seasons in last nine years |
| James Jones | Yale | six winning records and top three Ivy League finishes in last seven seasons |
| Pat Kelsey | Winthrop | averaged 22 victories annually over previous four seasons |
| Bashir Mason | Wagner | four top three finishes in Northeast Conference in first five seasons |
| LeVelle Moton | North Carolina Central | four seasons compiling at least 22 victories in last five years |
| Dan Muller | Illinois State | manufactured at least 18 victories each of first five seasons |
| Leon Rice | Boise State | five consecutive 20-win seasons |
| David Richman | North Dakota State | three seasons notching at least 19 victories in as many years |
| Mark Schmidt | St. Bonaventure | four consecutive seasons registering at least 18 victories |
| Rob Senderoff | Kent State | posted at least 19 victories in five of first six seasons |
| Tony Shaver | William & Mary | three 20-win seasons in a row |
| Pat Skerry | Towson | three 20-win seasons in last four years after Tigers went 1-31 in his inaugural campaign with them in 2011-12 |
| Rodney Terry | Fresno State | three 20-win seasons in last four years |
| Russell Turner | UC Irvine | won more than 20 games each of last five seasons |