Top 5 College Hoops coaches in history.
5. Coach Mike Krzyzewski
Coach "K", as he is called, was born on February 13, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. He attended the Army and was a 3-year letterman from '67-'69. He graduated from West Point with a B.S. degree. After serving 5 years in the Army, Coach K began coaching as a graduate assistant under Coach Bob Knight at Indiana University. His first head coaching career came at his alma-mater, Army, a year later. He lead the Cadets to a 73-59 record and 1 NIT appearance in 1978. On May 4, 1980, Coach K became the head coach at Duke University. After a few rough seasons, Coach K built one of the greatest college basketball programs of all time. He was named Coach of the Year 12 times, and "America's Best Coach" in 2001. He was also inducted into the basketball hall of fame in 2001. Coach K led the Blue Devils to back-to-back titles in 1991-1992, one of three teams to achieve such a feat. He was also selected to coach the Men's Olympic Basketball team.
4. John Thompson, Sr.
John Thompson, Sr. was born September 2, 1941 in Washington D.C. Thompson went to Providence college, was a part of the 1963 NIT team, and part of the first Providence team to appear in the NCAA tournament. He was an All-American in his senior year of 1964. After his playing career, Thompson went to coach at the University of Georgetown, a team which had a 3-23 record the year before. Thompson quickly changed that, qualifying for the NCAA tournament only 3 years after. Over the next 27 years, Thompson would hold an impressive 596-239 (.714) record with the Hoyas with a streak of 24 straight postseason appearances, 20 of which were the NCAA tournament (the other 4 were NIT appearances). From 1979-1992, the Hoyas appeared in the NCAA tournament, including 3 Final 4 appearances, 2 Finals appearances, and 1 Championship in 1984. He won 7 Coach of the Year awards. He coached the 1988 Summer Olympic Team. He is the first African American head coach to win the NCAA Championship.
3. Dean Smith
Dean Smith was born February 28, 1931 in Emporia, Kansas. Smith served in Germany in the US Air Force, then worked there as the head of the golf and baseball teams. In 1958, Frank McGwire asked Smith to be his assistant coach at the University of North Carolina. For 3 years he served under McGwire, then, in 1961, McGwire was asked to retire and Smith, only 30 years old, took over. His first years were difficult. Due to a scandal, UNC only played 17 games in the 1961-62 season, and went 8-9. This was the only losing season Smith would ever have. After a slow beginning, Smith turned the program around, and they became a constant success. His first success came in the late '60's, when his teams won 3 consecutive regular-season and tournament championships in the ACC, and went to 3 straight Final Fours. It took him 7 trips to the Final Four before actually winning it, nine years to return, and another 2 for his second title. His first title was in 1982, with players such as Michael Jordan and James Worthy. They entered with a 30-2 record. His second and last title run was in 1993. The Tar Heels defeated Michigan's "Fab Five" in the Title game to seal Smith's second title. Smith announced his retirement in 1997. He won 879 games in only 36 years, 2nd on the all-time list. He was one of two people to play on and win a national championship.
2. Bobby Knight
Robert "Bobby" Knight was born October 25, 1940 in Massillon, Ohio. He was known as "The General" and coached at Texas Tech (current school), Indiana, and Army. Bob Knight holds the record for most wins by any coach in Division I, with 890 (as of 3/27/07). He remains one of the most contraversial coaches, as seen with his temper. He has thrown a chair onto the court during a game, been arrested for physical assult, and had run-ins with the media. He has, although, a very high graduation rate, and run the cleanest programs in history. Knight won 3 Championships (1976, 1981, 1987), one NIT (1984), and led the US Olympic Team to a gold metal.
1. John Wooden
John Wooden was born October 14, 1910 in Hall, Indiana. He entered Purdue University in 1928, where he was a 3-time All-American Guard and part of the 1932 Purdue National Championship team. After the war, Wooden coached at Indiana State University from 1946-1948. In 1947, Wooden's team won the conference title, and recieved an invite to the NAIB tourney. Wooden turned it down because of their refusal of African American players. John Wooden then began coaching the UCLA Bruins and was nicknamed "The Wizard of Westwood." He gained lasting fame from his 655 wins in 27 seasons and 10 National Titles during his last 12 seasons (including 7 in a row from 1967-1973). His Bruins had a winning streak of 88 games, 4 30-0 seasons, and won 38 straight NCAA Tournament games. John Wooden was named College Basketball Coach of the Year in 1967. Stunningly, he announced his retirement before his final championship, a win over the University of Kentucky. John Wooden has the most NCAA Titles, and the only coach with more than 1 pefect season. UCLA celebrates John Wooden day every February 29.
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