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Choosing the Top Mid-Major College Basketball Coach is No Easy Matter

It's an easy question to ask, but, it is a hard question to answer: who hold the title of top mid-major coach?

By C_Hagey
Adam Hunger

Simply put, you get nowhere in the NCAA without a top-notch coach.  If your program is lacking in the General position, the talent on the floor will not preform, or even exist.

This point could not be more true than when looking across the land of mid-major conferences.  Earlier this summer, ESPN released its Top-50 Coaches in NCAA Basketball. The following 11 represented the mid-majors.

Coach School Rank
Gregg Marshall Wichita State
 8
Shaka Smart VCU
 13
Mark Few Gonzaga
 17
Tommy Amaker Harvard
 22
Bob McKillop Davidson 24
Archie Miller Dayton 26
Jim Crews Saint Louis 29
Phil Martelli Saint Joseph's 35
Rick Byrd Belmont 37
Bob Hoffman Mercer 47
Randy Bennett Saint Mary's 50

When asking "Who's the top coach?", there are any number of factors or criteria to consider:

  • How much does last season (or even the upcoming season) weigh against a resume that spans decades?
  • Where do you gauge recruiting vs. on-court performance?
  • Is someone able to do more with less?
  • Which record matters most: regular season, conference tournament, or NCAA Tournament?
  • Not all conferences are equal; where does quality of competition play a role?

Let's see your thoughts.  Which coach on this list, would you consider the top mid-major coach?

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