As in any walk of life, there are those in basketball coaching that are overrated and those that are underrated. Those who get lots of publicity and those who get very little. In the scheme of things, college basketball fans know the big name coaches and what they have accomplished. However, there are a number of coaches (and teams) who seem to always be under-appreciated and underrated. We believe the coaches below are perfect examples of this. We selected a group that have built and maintained high quality programs at places that the casual fan may have overlooked. So while none of the coaches below have made the NCAA final four yet, they all have been very successful and always have their programs in the thick of conference races and post season contention. Last season, their teams went a combined 119-31 (79%) and finished with RPI’s from 11-45. We would venture to guess these coaches will continue to make themselves and their programs harder and harder to overlook.
Don Flanagan -University of New MexicoHigh School Legend Building Legendary College Program. In one of the most extraordinary statistics we have seen in any sport, before becoming head coach at UNM, Don Flanagan went 401-13 (this is not a typo) in 16 years at Albuquerque’s El Dorado High school. Perhaps just as impressive is his work for the Lobos. Flanagan took over a floundering UNM program (once lost 54 straight road games) in 1995 and has turned it into a top 25 contender and has it perhaps on the brink of much more. Before Flanagan, UNM was 204-278 (42%), since him they are 144-72 (67%) and have made five straight post season appearances- the only ones in program history. With this success has come some of the best fan support in the country helping both the UNM budget and recruiting. Coach Flanaganis also a well respected member of the community whose players command respect as people and athletes. Quality person, quality program.
Mark French -UCSBHome Town Boy Builds Top ProgramUCSB’s upset of Louisiana Tech in the first round of the NCAA’s last season was simply the continuation of what Coach Mark French has been doing at the school the last 16 years. Frenchs was a two-sport letter winner as a student at UCSB, but it is his coaching which has benefited his alma mater the most. Prior to Frenchs takeover, the Gauchos had three winning seasons in their 14 year history. In the 16 seasons since UCSB has a mark of 305-143 (.681). UCSB under French has made seven straight post season appearances and won six Big West titles in a row while becoming a consistent top 25 team and one considered dangerous by the “big boys.” Off the court, French has seen 98% of his student-athletes graduate during his 20-year career. French he has earned the right to be considered a hometown hero.
Vince Goo -University of HawaiiWahine Coach Has Program Winning On And Off The CourtGoo, like his program is used to being underrated. In his tenure as head coach of the Wahine, Goo has guided his teams to a 310-132 (70% mark) yet he and the Wahine often get overlooked (read the past two NCAA tournaments). Goo’s Wahine have had 20 game winning seasons 11 times in his 15 years and have been to 9 post season tournaments including the only five NCAA appearances in school history as well as winning three conference championships. One example of Goo’s ability to coach occurred in 2000-2001 when after a 23-7 season and 2nd place WAC finish his team was denied a NCAA bid causing star player Kylie Galloway to quit in disgust. No problem, Goo led his short handed team to three upset wins and a final four WNIT appearance. Off the court, every player who has completed her eligibility has graduated- 100%. Goo is a legend at the University of Hawaii and his legend is likely to continue to grow.
Jeff Mittie -TCUOne Of The Best Young Coaches In The Game Will Keep WinningWhile Jeff Mittie is only 36 years old, he is the all time winning percentage leader at the three programs where he has been a head coach. In fact, in ten years of college coaching, he has never suffered a losing record and has had six 20 or more win years. At TCU, he has turned a truly terrible program (133-327, 29% without him) into a more than respectable one (65-29, 69% with him). Over his brief career, Mittie has taken his teams to five post season tournaments and never lost in round one while going 10-5 overall. Included in these post season appearances are the only two NCAA trips in Horned Frog history. Mittie has also proven his mettle on the recruiting front in bringing in high caliber talent to Fort Worth that should continue to take the program to even higher levels. While Coach Mittie has received two conference coach of the year awards, we still feel he is underrated and is one of the top young coaches in the country.
Cindy Russo -Florida InternationalThe Coach And Her Teams ARE FIU HoopsCindy Russo has been the head coach at FIU for 23 of the 27 seasons in which the school has played NCAA basketball. Over that time, she has guided FIU to 20 consecutive winning seasons, including 16 of the past 18 with at least 20 victories. She has led her teams to five NCAA Division I Tournament berths, three postseason NITs and two NCAA Division II Tournaments. Russo has also led FIU to eight regular season Trans America Athletic Conference titles and seven TAAC Tournament crowns. Overall, Russo has compiled a 526-201 (72%) record in 26 seasons andis responsible for over 96% of FIU’s all time wins. Ten post season appearances, eight regular season championships, seven conference tournament championships, six all Americans and we bet most of you never knew anything about her.LIN|OHQSGzTFVyWExYDwCv_BuacAtdfsg?rik>qlnpo;nt:vm!w#9ly$8&k|’7~j)+6i,5.h><>hQ”&Pf7z8Lb aJ2tv2G\-DmqB,UW(gl&ORy#7ga8|IMs1b3wHCl+.T~rCfX)%Nmx>6`S$Hh9r0NZcB4lx*IT/7)f”QmY~ !!!!!!””””””#####$$$$$$%%%%%%&&&&&&””'(((((())))))*****++++++,,,,,,——…..//////000000111111222223333334444445555556666677777788888899999::::::;;;;;;<>>>>>>??????AAAAABBBBBBCCCCCCxQQQQQRyTTTTTTVVWWWW:YYYZZZ;\\z_____`abbbbbddeeeeggghhhjjjjkkmmmmmnoppppprrssssuuuvvvxxxxy
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