Tom Izzo and the 20 Most Likeable College Basketball Coaches in the Country

Coaching in the college ranks can be a tough job.

Not only do you have to ensure your team is prepared for the season, but you're also making recruiting trips around the country just so you can sign three to five high school seniors.

To go along with that, the coach has to be approachable by his players and open and honest with the media.

When it comes to the best in the business, that honor goes to Tom Izzo.

Here's a look at the 20 coaches who are the most likeable in college basketball.

20. Herb Sendek, Arizona State

Herb Sendek has struggled at Arizona State, but it's not for a lack of trying.

He's known for having his teams playing tenacious defense and a pointed offense.

The only problem is he's not getting the players he needs to run the system.

Competing with the University of Arizona for in-state talent makes things harder. Even though he's a very likeable coach, that's not going translate into him keeping his job with the Sun Devils past next year.

19. Mike Brey, Notre Dame

Mike Brey has been at Notre Dame since 2000 and has proven to be just the coach the Irish need.

Although it's tough being at a high academic institution like Notre Dame, Brey has somehow found a way to make it work, as the Irish have made three-straight NCAA tournaments.

When it comes to interviews, Brey is real. He doesn't sugarcoat things, which is something the media loves.

18. Stan Heath, South Florida

For a team that was accustomed to being at the bottom of the conference, Stan Heath has made South Florida a team to watch out for in the Big East.

Although he doesn't have the most talent on his teams, they have heart.

He's made his guys into believers, showing them that they can compete with the big boys.

Heath is one I enjoy watching on the sidelines, as he looks like he just has fun doing his job. He doesn't seem too serious and doesn't come down too hard on his players, coaching them up in the moments where they need it.

17. Mark Gottfried, N.C. State

Gottfried is slowly making N.C. State one of the better teams in the country.

The one thing he has to deal with is playing third fiddle to North Carolina and Duke (and sometimes fourth to Wake Forest).

But, he's persevered and has the Wolfpack in position to be a yearly contender.

His passion and emotion is evident on the sidelines and in postgame news conferences.

One thing is for sure, his players know he always has their back.

16. Bill Self, Kansas

Bill Self is one of those coaches that has worked his way up the coaching ranks the right way and done a great job everywhere he's been.

He recruits well and usually can convince his players to stay longer than they really want—not only to better the team but to better themselves.

Regardless of talent, he's one of the best coaches at preparing his team for the next game.

And, when players like Thomas Robinson need him the most, he's there. And, that's something every parent wants to know.

15. Steve Fisher, San Diego State

Steve Fisher takes programs that are generally not that good and makes them good.

He did it with Michigan, and he has done it now with San Diego State.

Fisher is that unassuming coach who flies under the radar a lot. Not only is he likeable—he's one of the top 20-25 coaches in the game.

14. Jim Calhoun, Connecticut

Who doesn't like a Boston accent?

Jim Calhoun is one of the handful of coaches that is constantly under a spotlight.

Maybe it's his 873 career wins, or maybe it's the fact that the Connecticut women's team has won so many national championships, and the men are expected to do the same, but Calhoun has handled his position with a lot of grace and class.

Calhoun is that coach that can get so much out of his players as evidenced by the team's NCAA championship run last year; they ran through the Big East tournament's five days and then did the same in the NCAA tournament to beat Butler in the final.

13. Rick Pitino, Louisville

If there's one thing Rick Pitino does great, it's getting the best out of his players.

Pitino has been successful at every stop in his NCAA coaching career.

This year, although Louisville wasn't the most talented team in the country, they still managed to win the Big East and make it to the Final Four.

With most of his players coming back next year, he should have his team back in the Final Four once again.

12. Greg McDermott, Creighton

Any coach that can get the most out of his players, especially his son, is a good coach in my book.

Greg McDermott coaches his son, Doug, who is one of the better players in the country, and the fact that he maintains his cool and treats his son as an equal on the team says a lot.

Many coaches, who also coach their son, can tend to show a little favoritism (Tubby Smith when he coached Saul Smith at Kentucky).

McDermott is passionate and will have Creighton at the top of the mid-major pyramid by the end of next year.

11. Rick Majerus, Saint Louis

Rick Majerus is one of those coaches I'll never get tired of watching.

He's made Saint Louis a program that can contend for a conference title next year and is just an all-around good guy.

His passion and emotion was evident after the Billikens loss to Michigan State in the third round.

10. Kim Mulkey, Baylor

To be on the cusp of winning a national title a year ago and fail had to be hard enough as a coach.

By coming back to go 40-0 and win a national title, Mulkey has hit the top of the coaching profession.

Add the news that she has Bell's palsy and she's still out there coaching—it shows what her players mean to her.

Being real with her players and the media is what makes her very likeable. I can't help but root for her in any game she's coaching.

9. Bob Huggins, Cincinnati

Bob Huggins is another one of those coaches that wins wherever he goes.

He's only had two losing seasons since he started as a head coach in 1980 and has shown his passion multiple times on the sidelines.

And, even though he was already one of the best coaches in the nation, Huggins elected to return to his alma mater in 2007, even though they weren't very good.

8. Tom Crean, Indiana

Tom Crean probably has the toughest coaching job in all of college basketball.

Indiana is the program which all the pundits expect them to be great year-in and year-out. Should they falter, even just a little, all the experts are all over the coach about why it's not working in Bloomington.

His players have bought into the system as evidenced by the fact that they stuck with him through three horrible years prior to this year.

Crean finally got Indiana back on the right track this year with a Sweet 16 appearance, and I look for him to take the Hoosiers even further next year.

7. Anthony Grant, Alabama

When it comes to taking a stand for what the university should represent, Anthony Grant has done exactly that.

This past season, Grant made some tough decisions to suspend top players for conduct detrimental to the team.

Although that hurt his team in the process, Grant made a statement that there are certain expectations of an Alabama basketball player, and if you don't like it, you can hit the road.

Pretty soon, he'll get guys into the program that have good character, and you'll see good things happen to that program.

6. Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh

The one thing all players and fans want to see from a coach is someone who puts things into perspective.

Jamie Dixon put life into perspective in 2006 following the death of his sister, Maggie Dixon, who at the time was the head coach of the West Point women's basketball team.

In that moment of vulnerability, Dixon showed his players, fans and the world that it's okay to be real with your emotions.

Dixon can connect with his players on a level that most can't.

5. Pat Summitt, Tennessee

The University of Tennessee named its basketball court after Pat Summitt.

I think that says enough.

Summitt has always gotten the best from her players and always strives to make them the best they can be on and off the court.

Sure, some people don't respect her all-time record for wins by a college basketball coach, but one thing is for sure, Summitt knows how to win.

Although she's dealing with dementia and it's still up in the air if she's going to return or not, I think she will go down as the greatest coach ever in the women's game.

4. Mike Krzyzewski, Duke

All he does is win.

Mike Krzyzewski wins at Duke, plain and simple.

He's made the Blue Devils one of the top attractions to basketball recruits across the country.

And, sans Kyrie Irving and Austin Rivers, his players usually stay for four years.

Whether it's for the top-notch education they get at Duke or the chance to play for one of the greatest coaches ever for four years, Krzyzewski has built a place where players can succeed on and off the court.

3. Billy Donovan, Florida

Good players want to play for Billy Donovan.

A few years back, Al Horford and Joakim Noah came back for another year after winning a national title, to do it again with a coach they loved.

Donovan is one of those coaches that you respect because he relates well with his players.

No matter if he wins or loses, Donovan is gracious in his interviews, answering any and all questions thrown his way.

2. Shaka Smart, VCU

Shaka Smart has made Virginia Commonwealth one of the best mid-major programs in the country.

And, although he's still a young head coach, his style of play is something that resonates with his players.

His coaching style gives his players the freedom to make plays, while still playing within the system.

His passion on the sidelines is evident and you can tell how much he cares for his players.

1. Tom Izzo, Michigan State

Tom Izzo has more than 400 wins to his credit and has this positive demeanor that makes kids want to come play for him.

One thing Izzo has always encouraged his players to do is to finish their education, no matter how big their pro prospects are.

Education is a top priority in the program. The Spartans scored 995, 1,000 and 985 from 2007-10 on the Academic Progress Rate. When you think about it, that's saying a lot, considering Ivy League schools are the only ones that generally score perfect.

When it comes to the media, Izzo always gives a good interview and gives reporters the time of day, where other coaches wouldn't.