2013 NCAA Bracket Expert Picks: Top 5 Active NCAA Tournament Coaches

2013 NCAA Bracket Expert Picks: Top 5 Active NCAA Tournament Coaches: Unlike professional sports where the athletes are the faces of the franchises, coaches tend to be the faces of collegiate programs. This can be especially true in college basketball where many of the big name coaches have been with schools for over a decade. Ultimately, the reputation of a college basketball coach is determined by their success in the NCAA Tournament, and the top coaches in the game today all have a knack for getting the most out of their teams on the big stages. With that mind, here is a closer look at five active coaches that have been the best on college basketball’s biggest stage in recent years.

Roy Williams (North Carolina): His seven Final Four appearances for his career rank fourth all-time and second among active coaches, and he has a 58-19 overall record in the NCAA Tournament. Williams is also tied for the most Final Four appearances since 2005 with three, and during the stretch, he is the only coach to win multiple national titles. He has taken the Tarheels to the Elite Eight in back-to-back seasons, and even though this has been a bit of a rebuilding year, his team has won eight of its last 10 games heading into the NCAA Tournament. With Williams on the sidelines, North Carolina could be a dangerous No. 8 seed.

Tom Izzo (Michigan State): Izzo has taken Michigan State to the NCAA Tournament 14 times, and the Spartans have reached the Elite Eight in half of them. More importantly, Izzo has taken the Spartans to the Final Four six times, putting him tied for fifth all-time and third among active coaches in the category. He owns a 35-13 overall record in the NCAA Tournament, and while his lone national title came in 2000, Izzo is tied for the most Final Four appearances since 2005 with three. Even though the Spartans rarely have a ton of five-star talent, Izzo maximizes the potential of every team he coaches. Michigan State is a No. 3 seed in the loaded Midwest Region of the NCAA Bracket, but if there is a coach that will have his team prepared to handle such a rough road, it’s Izzo.

Bill Self (Kansas): He has a 28-12 overall record in the NCAA Tournament, and Self has been coming on strong in recent years. Beginning with an Elite Eight appearance in 2007, he has guided to the Jayhawks to the regional finals in four of the last six seasons. During the stretch, Kansas has reached the title game twice, winning in 2008 and falling to Kentucky last year. At his current rate, Self could be at the top of his profession sooner rather than later. Another run to the Final Four out of the South Region of this year’s NCAA Bracket where his Jayhawks are a top seed would be another step in the right direction.     

Rick Pitino (Louisville): His career numbers speak for themselves, and Pitino has guided three different schools to the Final Four, reaching the national semifinals a total of six times. He also picked up a national title with Kentucky in 1996, and he owns a 38-15 overall record in the NCAA Tournament. The success of Pitino’s teams during March Madness can be directly tied to the relentless effort he demands on the defensive end. He has the entire core of a team back that went to the Final Four last year, and although the Cardinals landed the top seed in the toughest region, Pitino will have them ready for anything.

Billy Donovan (Florida): Donovan is often overlooked when it comes to hierarchy of great coaches, but he has three national title game appearances under his belt, and he helped the Gators win back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007. Florida had a couple of lean years after the championships, but Donovan and company have rebounded with consecutive trips to the Elite Eight. His 25-9 overall record in the NCAA Tournament is rock solid, and like his mentor Rick Pitino, Donovan makes sure his teams get after it on the defensive end. Florida grabbed a No. 3 seed in the South Region of the NCAA Bracket, but Donovan and company could easily end up punching a ticket to Atlanta.

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