Portraits of top NCAA Coaches: Tom Izzo
Earlier this week, there were reports that Tom Izzo, coach of the Michigan State University Spartans would leave to open the new Matthew Knight arena at the University of Oregon. The man who had lead the Spartans since 1995, never missing a post-season tournament in the process, would open up their new arena, paid for by alumnus and Nike founder Phil Knight, and return their team to former glory.
But, as the saying goes, “If it sounds too good to be true… it probably is.” Izzo denied that he had been contacted and confirmed his commitment to the Spartans. “I’m happy with the job that I have,” Izzo said.
Read MorePortraits of top NCAA Coaches: Jim Boeheim
Usually when a person spends more then five years at a University without gaining a Ph.D. it’s frowned upon. However, I don’t think anyone will be making a fuss about Jim Boeheim staying at Syracuse since his playing days in 1962.
Boeheim was born in Lyon’s New York on November 17, 1944. He would graduate from Lyons Central High School in 1962 and promptly enrolled at Syracuse, setting the stage for a long career as a member of the Orange family.
Boeheim was a good student who walked unto (not a scholarship athlete) the team during his freshman year. Perhaps it was serendipitous that Boeheim’s roommate during that year was Dave Bing, who would go on to be one of the most decorated players in the history of the university.
Read MorePortraits of top NCAA Coaches: Bill Self
When coaching at a program like the University of Kansas, you have to find a way to stand out among distinguished company. In their history the Jayhawks have produced both great players and coaches. The names are legendary: Wilt Chamberlin, Phog Allen, Roy Williams, Larry Brown and Paul Pierce, just to name a few. The university sets the bar so high, that it fired a basketball coach (Ted Owens) after he had won 6 conference Regular Season Titles, 1 Conference Tournament Championship and appeared in 2 Final Fours, all while posting a .657 winning percentage.
It is clear, that if you want to be considered great at the University of Kansas you can’t just win, you have to make yourself big. The best way to do that you ask? Win a National Championship.
Read MorePortraits of top NCAA Coaches: Jim Calhoun
In this age of the college basketball-coaching carousel, where a coach bolts at the mere smell of money, you can associate only a handful of coaches with a certain program. Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, Jim Boeheim at Syracuse and Tom Izzo at Michigan State are three who have been in the spotlight during this year’s NCAA tournament, however one name has been curiously absent: Jim Calhoun.
In a final four that features 2 long serving coaches the absence of Calhoun and his Uconn team looms large after a surprising regular season that ended with his team just two games over .500. This record and surprising exit from the second round of the NIT show that the team clearly struggled. But, struggle is something that Jim Calhoun is as used to as victory.
Read MorePortraits of top NCAA Coaches: Rick Pitino
Armed with Slicked back hair and a Long Island accent, Rick Pitino is the only coach in NCAA history to lead three schools to the Final Four. On the side he is part owner of the aptly named “Celtic Pride Stable” which describes his approach to life and Basketball: Fast and successful. This approach has served Pitino well.
Born September 18, 1952, Pitino was a standout in basketball during his high school years and attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. While at UMass Pitino was known as a top assist man, and is still in the record books for his career and single season totals.
Pitino’s first coaching post was as an assistant coach at the University of Hawaii in 1974. After 3 seasons at Hawaii Pitino would get his big break, getting hired as an assistant for new Syracuse University coach Jim Boeheim. Returning to his New York roots was good for Pitino and he was then hired by Boston University in 1978, this would be Pitino’s first Head Coaching post.
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