BE Coaches Ranked

[D-West & PO-Z]

Just was talking about this with some friends and thought it would be interesting discussion. How would you rank the coaches from 1-10 in the Big East. I would rank them as follows:

1. Wright
2. Willard
3. McDermott
4. Steele
5. Cooley
6. Wojo
7. Ewing
8. Jordan
9. Leitao
10. Mullin

#1 is obvious. I also feel comfortable about #'s 7-10. 2-6 I could probably be convinced to rearrange. I am obviously biased about Steele and maybe he hasnt earned #4. I think Cooley gets overrated. Providence was supposed to be a lot better this year and they never do anything in the tourney. Wojo is having his first good year really.

Thoughts?

[GoMuskies]

McDermott is closer to last than first.

[D-West & PO-Z]

McDermott is closer to last than first.

Yeah he is probably too high. Problem for me was I dont think all that highly of Cooley or Wojo either and it felt very biased already to put Steele up to 4.

[joe titan]

Williard goes more to middle of the pack though I appreciate this year has been better than foreseen but he had mucho talent last several years and accompliished little; too early to rank Ewing --let's see what that young talent pans out as they grow; we could debate Mullin b/c he has a style of players and tempo to play that is more pro-type -- not to say he is top shelf but more avg/mediocre; frankly I value McDermott & think he runs a good solid program as CU stepped up from MVC just as XU stepped up from A10 and established CU as contenders in BE from the start. To me Jordan looks to be a waste & Butler went to the well one too many times with new unproven coaches-- clearly #10 until he shows different.

[xukeith]

Way too early for Steele.

Other BE coaches have NCAA tourney experience. I think Cooley is a great coach. Today, Steele is 6-7th.

[Xville]

I think it's a bit early for Steele and Ewing, but I think both are going to be great coaches. Based on future projection and results to this point:

Wright
Willard
Steele
Ewing
Cooley
Wojo
McDermott
Mullin
Jordan
Lietao

I'm sure it's like this in most conferences, but that bottom 3-4 is insanely bad. Looking at the list, a lot of these teams need to up their coaching game in my opinion...Marquette, st John's, butler, DePaul all could have better than what they have.

[94GRAD]

I think it's a bit early for Steele and Ewing, but I think both are going to be great coaches. Based on future projection and results to this point:

Wright
Willard
Steele
Ewing
Cooley
Wojo
McDermott
Mullin
Jordan
Lietao

I'm sure it's like this in most conferences, but that bottom 3-4 is insanely bad. Looking at the list, a lot of these teams need to up their coaching game in my opinion...Marquette, st John's, butler, DePaul all could have better than what they have.

Any list that doesn't have Mullin last is null and void!

[Xville]

Any list that doesn't have Mullin last is null and void!

I see your point but I think jordan and lietao are equally bad...maybe they just all tie for last?

[fellahmuskie]

I see your point but I think jordan and lietao are equally bad...maybe they just all tie for last?
I have Leitao and Mullin tied for last, Jordan a bit higher just because he hasn't had as much time.

[BMoreX]

1. Wright
2. Cooley
3. Willard
4. Ewing
5. Steele
6. McDermott
7. Wojo
8. Leitao
9. Jordan
10. Mullin

Really, there is a Mariana Trench sized gap between 1 and 2, a sizable gap between 2 and the rest. I don't love Willard but I also don't like the rest either. Ewing and Steele can only go up from here.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Way too early for Steele.

Other BE coaches have NCAA tourney experience. I think Cooley is a great coach. Today, Steele is 6-7th.

Cooley has 1 career NCAA tourney win. He is a good coach but overrated. He has a great personality. He is great in the BE tourney. Providence has had way too much talent over the last several years to only have one tourney win. They also were picked 3rd I believe in the conference this year.

[Xville]

Couple of notes here looking at this list, BE coaches overall are pretty meh. There is 1 elite coach and 2-3 above average coaches. Mack struggled against all of them:

Wright 1-10
Mcdermott 6-6
Cooley 6-5
Williard 5-6

This is one of the reasons why I don't think Mack is all that great, and why I think he is never going to ascend to the top 4 in the ACC. ACC has at least 4 Elite coaches, and without looking probably 3-4 additional above average coaches.

Another note here is that due to the BE coaches overall being meh, is why I think Steele can ascend quickly to a top 3 coach in the league. Add in his recruiting prowess, and I think he is going to make us forget about ill fitting suit man rather quickly.

[XU 87]

Every coach on that list has had success at that school, at least to some degree. Leitao inherited a mess, but has managed to improve DePaul to at least the point of being competitive in the BE. I'm not fan of Mullin's coaching, but he also has improved the team every year.

[Xville]

Every coach on that list has had success at that school, at least to some degree. Leitao inherited a mess, but has managed to improve DePaul to at least the point of being competitive in the BE. I'm not fan of Mullin's coaching, but he also has improved the team every year.

I guess that depends on what you mean by success.

Wojo has 1 tourney win in 4 seasons
Willard 1 tourney win in 9 seasons
Cooley has 1 tourney win in 8 seasons
Mcdermott 3 tourney wins in 9 seasons...never been to the second weekend
Mullin haha
Leitao haha
Jordan too early but doesn't look good
Ewing too early but looks potentially promising
Wright is a stud

For a bunch of these guys, there is still a lot of time....Wojo may be beginning to develop in a good coach, Ewing might turn out to be a great one. Guys like Willard, Mcdermott and Cooley to me are what they are (above averagish coaches)

I'm sure if I delved into the other 5 big conferences, I probably would find similar results but maybe not. I guess my point is: the door is ajar for Steele.

[GoMuskies]

Leitao has had success at DePaul. It's just that it was almost all in his first tenure there, when his team won the famous pillow fight over Dayton.

[Caf]

Cooley has 1 career NCAA tourney win. He is a good coach but overrated. He has a great personality. He is great in the BE tourney. Providence has had way too much talent over the last several years to only have one tourney win. They also were picked 3rd I believe in the conference this year.

I agree he doesn't have the resume, but there's not many coaches in the BE I'd rather have than him. He always gets talent and his players absolutely love him. I think it's gonna click in a big way someday. Just don't know when that is.

[noteggs]

Providence had the 21st rated recruiting class in 2017 and 2018 and still managed a tie for last place in conference this year. Since we have 20th in 2019 and we get a top 25 in 2020, I don’t think we are going to say Steele is even a decent coach if we finish last in place in Big East during 2020-21 season.

However do think Cooley is a good guy

[waggy]

Didn't Cooley get sent to play North Carolina in the Carolinas twice?

[XU 87]

I guess that depends on what you mean by success.

Wojo has 1 tourney win in 4 seasons
Willard 1 tourney win in 9 seasons
Cooley has 1 tourney win in 8 seasons
Mcdermott 3 tourney wins in 9 seasons...never been to the second weekend
Mullin haha
Leitao haha
Jordan too early but doesn't look good
Ewing too early but looks potentially promising
Wright is a stud

For a bunch of these guys, there is still a lot of time....Wojo may be beginning to develop in a good coach, Ewing might turn out to be a great one. Guys like Willard, Mcdermott and Cooley to me are what they are (above averagish coaches)

I'm sure if I delved into the other 5 big conferences, I probably would find similar results but maybe not. I guess my point is: the door is ajar for Steele.

I don't define success based strictly on NCAA tourney wins, although that is a big component in my book. I think X had a very successful season last year in getting the #1 seed, despite losing in the second round.

[OTRMUSKIE]

Fuck Mack! Suit then Steele, the rest suck.

[Lloyd Braun]

How bout now

[D-West & PO-Z]

How bout now

We have the 2nd best coach, I don't even give a shit about the rest now!

[smileyy]

Agreed -- Wright and his program is is a whole level above everyone else.

[xukeith]

Agreed -- Wright and his program is is a whole level above everyone else.

For what X paid Miller, he better win!
Huge upgrade

[MHettel]

pretty funny to look at that list. Half those guys are gone.

[SM#24]

Agreed -- Wright and his program is is a whole level above everyone else.

For now

[bobbiemcgee]

McDermott is pretty good.

[D-West & PO-Z]

McDermott is pretty good.

He is, yes. Biggest knock on him is not winning in the tournament. He got the no sweet 16 monkey off his back last year finally though. And they competed amazingly while short handed today.

I have always put him at 2nd in this conference, I place him 3rd now.

[American X]

Where does Shaheen Holloway fit right away? With Miller and Holloway, the Big East got a serious upgrade. Can Butler follow suit?

[drudy23]

Can Butler follow suit?

Could Jonas be in the mix there?

[UCGRAD4X]

Another one-chair-over move in the Big East? Granted, different logo on the chairs but Butler would have a more meandering learning curve.

[Masterofreality]

Could Jonas be in the mix there?

Nooooo. If anywhere, he’s going South.
Ronald Norad or a Jeff Boals/Thad Matta combo

[atljar]

Whelp, butler just jumped big time too. Thad Matta back and at it. The BE is loaded with coaching talent

[xukeith]

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/candid-coaches-which-college-basketball-conference-top-to-bottom-has-the-best-stable-of-coaches/


What a difference 3 years make.. In 2019 2% of fans polled believed Big East had best coaches in men's basketball

[Xville]

Hmm so now what do we think? I’m going:

1. Wright
2. Miller
3. Matta (if health is not a concern)
4. Hurley
5. McDermott
6. Cooley
7. Smart
8. Holloway
9. Anderson
10. Stubblefield
11. Ewing

The improvement this league has made in its stable of coaches the last three years is quite impressive. It was pretty terrible three years ago to be honest.

[sirthought]

So Holloway, who's had zero impact on the Big East yet and no major school coaching experience, ranks higher than the 2021 Big East COY?

I honestly never thought much of Kevin Willard, so it should be interesting to see how Holloway does there.

I'm wondering if Matta can recruit to Butler like he did at Ohio State. The schools are vastly different, but these days I bet the player amenities at Butler are equal to any big time program, and the Big East gets about as much broadcast time as the Big Ten does. For a good coach, I could see a player really finding Butler attractive today.

[D-West & PO-Z]

1. Wright
2. Miller
3. Matta (You'd have to listen to an argument for him to be #2)
4. McDermott
5. Cooley
6. Hurley
7. Smart
8. Anderson
9. Holloway
10. Stubblefield
11. Ewing

5-7 are pretty interchangeable to me.

[Xville]

So Holloway, who's had zero impact on the Big East yet and no major school coaching experience, ranks higher than the 2021 Big East COY?

I honestly never thought much of Kevin Willard, so it should be interesting to see how Holloway does there.

I'm wondering if Matta can recruit to Butler like he did at Ohio State. The schools are vastly different, but these days I bet the player amenities at Butler are equal to any big time program, and the Big East gets about as much broadcast time as the Big Ten does. For a good coach, I could see a player really finding Butler attractive today.

The guy who was barely above 500 in conference and has as many tourney appearences in the big East as Holloway? Yes. I saw Anderson coach quite a bit at Mizzou as that’s my second team and the one I grew up with. His style is a gimmick that can easily be beaten with good coaching. He’s never impressed me.

[JTG]

So Holloway, who's had zero impact on the Big East yet and no major school coaching experience, ranks higher than the 2021 Big East COY?

I honestly never thought much of Kevin Willard, so it should be interesting to see how Holloway does there.

I'm wondering if Matta can recruit to Butler like he did at Ohio State. The schools are vastly different, but these days I bet the player amenities at Butler are equal to any big time program, and the Big East gets about as much broadcast time as the Big Ten does. For a good coach, I could see a player really finding Butler attractive today.

Hmm, doubt their amenities are the best, they might be after Matta asks for an upgrade. They do everything on the cheap.

[JTG]

1. Wright
2. Miller
3. Matta (You'd have to listen to an argument for him to be #2)
4. McDermott
5. Cooley
6. Hurley
7. Smart
8. Anderson
9. Holloway
10. Stubblefield
11. Ewing

5-7 are pretty interchangeable to me.

I might switch Smart and Cooley. I think Cooley got extremely lucky with a bunch of super seniors, where Smart was starting from scratch, with a bunch of rookies. I know everyone loves Cooley, but once again he had a tough NCAA, considering his regular season.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I might switch Smart and Cooley. I think Cooley got extremely lucky with a bunch of super seniors, where Smart was starting from scratch, with a bunch of rookies. I know everyone loves Cooley, but once again he had a tough NCAA, considering his regular season.

I have always thought Cooley got overrated a bit bc of his great personality and bc he usually has good regular seasons and BE tourneys. I don't get, however, your comment about his tough NCAA tourney this year. They made it exactly as far as they were expected, and he finally got a Sweet 16 appearance. If anything his year this year and his tourney run, finally winning a couple, elevated him in my eyes.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Just was talking about this with some friends and thought it would be interesting discussion. How would you rank the coaches from 1-10 in the Big East. I would rank them as follows:

1. Wright
2. Willard
3. McDermott
4. Steele
5. Cooley
6. Wojo
7. Ewing
8. Jordan
9. Leitao
10. Mullin

#1 is obvious. I also feel comfortable about #'s 7-10. 2-6 I could probably be convinced to rearrange. I am obviously biased about Steele and maybe he hasnt earned #4. I think Cooley gets overrated. Providence was supposed to be a lot better this year and they never do anything in the tourney. Wojo is having his first good year really.

Thoughts?

6 of the 10 coaches from this list 3 years ago are now no longer in the BE. Only 1 left on his own accord for another job. I was way off on Steele!

Although, Xville had Steele and Ewing #3 and #4! (Had to throw someone else under the bus besides myself, ha!)

The BE schools have done a great job of upgrading the coaching talent in the league, should but a fun few years coming up!

[Masterofreality]

I have always thought Cooley got overrated a bit bc of his great personality and bc he usually has good regular seasons and BE tourneys. I don't get, however, your comment about his tough NCAA tourney this year. They made it exactly as far as they were expected, and he finally got a Sweet 16 appearance. If anything his year this year and his tourney run, finally winning a couple, elevated him in my eyes.

I love Ed Cooley. He’s a fine coach and a great human being. I think that some of his past Tournament issues were from not *quite* having a complete team ex: Had Watson but David Dukes was his PG. And maybe his emphasis on wanting to win the Big East Tournament wore his team out for the Dance? But I agree that they achieved exactly their level this year.

[Masterofreality]

Hmm, doubt their amenities are the best, they might be after Matta asks for an upgrade. They do everything on the cheap.

Correct. Butler doesn’t even have a practice gym or a separate weight room. They have little money and Matta is probably coaching for chump change as a favor to his ex teammate & neighbor Collier.
A 2 year bridge to someone else and to excite the Hinkle cretins to spend their Hay money on.

[xudash]

Correct. Butler doesn’t even have a practice gym or a separate weight room. They have little money and Matta is probably coaching for chump change as a favor to his ex teammate & neighbor Collier.
A 2 year bridge to someone else and to excite the Hinkle cretins to spend their Hay money on.

This is spot on.

They are at the bottom of the BE athletic budget food chain. Zeppelin Hanger capacity cut to 9k and no private suites. Plus their attendance numbers can be problematic at times.

What they pulled off was extraordinary: Horizon to A10 to BE. They should name their court Brad Stevens Court.

[xukeith]

I can't imagine Odom joining Wilcher in Nebraska

[Masterofreality]

I can't imagine Odom joining Wilcher in Nebraska

I could see him in Minnesota with Ben Johnson tho

[Lloyd Braun]

How bout now

[D-West & PO-Z]

7/10 coaches from 3 years ago not in the BE anymore. Wild.

Matta and Miller have to be either 1 or 2 now imo.

[noteggs]

7/10 coaches from 3 years ago not in the BE anymore. Wild.

Matta and Miller have to be either 1 or 2 now imo.

Funny, I was trying to add the 3. Can’t believe one of them is Ewing!

[BandAid]

I thought it might be fun to give this thread a bump since we are in the doldrums of the offseason.

Rank 'em anyway you want, I got:
1. Rick Pitino (St. John's). But can he keep it up at his age?
2. Sean Miller (Xavier). I'm biased...
3. Dan Hurley (UConn). He's still a nut.
4. Shaka Smart (Marquette). More style than substance.
5. Greg McDermott (Creighton). Same as Shaka.
6. Thad Matta (Butler). Same as Pitino, but with known health issues and at Butler.
7. Tony Stubblefield (DePaul). This ranking is an indictment of the coaches below.
8. Ed Cooley (Georgetown). Just not impressed.
9. Shaheen Holloway (Seton Hall). Still has to prove it.
10. Kyle Neptune (Villanova). Same story as Holloway only without a tourney run from a small school.
11. Kim English (Providence). He could shoot up this board quickly. Or not.

[GoMuskies]

1. Rick Pitino (St. John's). But can he keep it up at his age?


For 15 seconds

[BandAid]

For 15 seconds

At 70...not bad, I guess...

[Xville]

1. Pitino and I don’t think it’s all that close but yeah at his age, we shall see going forward
2. Hurley
3. Miller
4. Smart
5. McDermott
6. English—-I think he has “it.”
7. Cooley
8. Matta—-his last 4 years at Ohio state was yuck and he’s at butler. He may deserve
To be even lower than this imo.
9. Neptune
10. Holloway
11. Stubblefield

[D-West & PO-Z]

1. Pitino
2. Miller (biased yes, but I truly would not swap Miller for Hurley)
3. Hurley
4. McDermott
5. Smart
6. Cooley
7. Matta (much higher if based on resume, but not sure he has it in him anymore)
8. Neptune
9. Holloway
10. English
11. Stubblefield

I think the top 4 are pretty locked in as the top 4 in whatever order you'd want.

5 and 6 I could see flipped.

The top 6 are clearly the top 6 imo.

8-10 are just too soon to know for sure.

[XUGRAD80]

No matter how you rank them, it’s a very solid group of coaches. Virtually all of the experienced coaches have had some success at a high level during their careers and the younger ones are highly thought of by most. I’m not sure that there is a better group, top to bottom, in any other conference.

[xuwillie]

1. Pitino and I don’t think it’s all that close but yeah at his age, we shall see going forward
2. Hurley
3. Miller
4. Smart
5. McDermott
6. English—-I think he has “it.”
7. Cooley
8. Matta—-his last 4 years at Ohio state was yuck and he’s at butler. He may deserve
To be even lower than this imo.
9. Neptune
10. Holloway
11. Stubblefield

Pretty much agree with this but would put matta lower like 10. Not sure he even has the desire to coach like you need to in the the big east

[muskiefan82]

Pretty much agree with this but would put matta lower like 10. Not sure he even has the desire to coach like you need to in the the big east

Unless it's against Xavier for whatever reason.

[xukeith]

I agree with most of these rankings. I would have Smart ahead of McDermott