Deans of Coaches: Michigan State's Tom Izzo Entering 32nd Year in Big Ten
After another round of conference changes plus name modifications, it's difficult to keep track of league memberships; let alone current deans of each league. Who inherited designation after Mark Few (27 years in WCC with Gonzaga), Ben Jacobson (20 years in Missouri Valley with Northern Iowa), George Ivory (17 years in SWAC with Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Mississippi Valley State) plus Leon Rice (15 years in Mountain West with Boise State) either left jobs for one reason or another or switched alliances? Gonzaga and Boise State joined the resurrected Pac-12 Conference.
The most ardent hoops observer would be hard-pressed to promptly name a half-dozen bench bosses in this category. The longest tenure for a conference dean is held by Michigan State's Tom Izzo (bound for 32nd year in Big Ten) while the shortest is Central Connecticut State's Patrick Sellers (6th in NEC). Following is a list of mentors with the longest tenures in each DI conference (five of whom coached multiple league members):
| Conference | Coaching Dean | School(s) | Years in League |
|---|---|---|---|
| America East | John Becker | Vermont | 16 (since 2011-12) |
| American | Penny Hardaway | Memphis | 9 (2018-19) |
| Atlantic 10 | Chris Mooney | Richmond | 22 (2005-06) |
| ACC | Brad Brownell | Clemson | 16 (2010-11) |
| Atlantic Sun | Donnie Jones | Stetson | 8 (2019-20) |
| Big 12 | Bill Self | Kansas | 24 (2003-04) |
| Big East | Ed Cooley | Providence/Georgetown | 16 (2011-12) |
| Big Sky | Travis DeCuire | Montana | 13 (2014-15) |
| Big South | Mike Morrell | UNC Asheville | 9 (2018-19) |
| Big Ten | Tom Izzo | Michigan State | 32 (1995-96) |
| Big West | Russell Turner | UC Irvine | 17 (2010-11) |
| Coastal | Bill Coen | Northeastern | 21 (2006-07) |
| Conference USA | Jeremy Ballard | Florida International | 9 (2018-19) |
| Conference USA | Nick McDevitt | Middle Tennessee | 9 (2018-19) |
| Horizon League | Greg Kampe | Oakland | 14 (2013-14) |
| Ivy League | James Jones | Yale | 27 (1999-00) |
| Metro | John Dunne | Saint Peter's/Marist | 21 (2006-07) |
| Mid-American | Tod Kowalczyk | Toledo | 17 (2010-11) |
| Mid-Eastern Athletic | LeVelle Moton | North Carolina Central | 18 (2009-10) |
| Missouri Valley | Brian Wardle | Bradley | 12 (2015-16) |
| Mountain West | Tim Miles | Colorado State/San Jose State | 11 (2007-08) |
| Northeast | Patrick Sellers | Central Connecticut State | 6 (2021-22) |
| Ohio Valley | Brian Barone | SIU Edwardsville | 8 (2019-20) |
| Patriot League | Dr. Brett Reed | Lehigh | 20 (2007-08) |
| SEC | John Calipari | Kentucky/Arkansas | 17 (2009-10) |
| Southern | Dan Earl | VMI/Chattanooga | 12 (2015-16) |
| Southland | David Kiefer | Southeastern Louisiana | 8 (2019-20) |
| Southwestern Athletic | Byron Smith | Prairie View A&M | 12 (2015-16) |
| Summit League | David Richman | North Dakota State | 13 (2014-15) |
| Sun Belt | Richie Riley | South Alabama | 9 (2018-19) |
| United Athletic | Jon Judkins | Utah Tech | 7 (2020-21) |
| West Coast | Herb Sendek | Santa Clara | 11 (2016-17) |
NOTES: UAC forerunner was the WAC. . . Ivy League didn't compete in 2020-21 because of COVID epidemic. . . . Kampe's first season with Oakland was in 1984-85 (first at DI level was 1998-99).