Big Ten Basketball: The Best Coaches Since 1992

Next season, the Big Ten Conference welcomes the University of Nebraska to their ranks, the first new team in the league since 1992. As the 11-team era comes to a close, it is time to look at the top 10 coaches in the conference since Penn State started to compete in basketball in 1992. Only records since 1992 will be looked at when ranking the coaches. As with any form of rankings, there is the potential for subjectivity and conversation about who was snubbed.

Let the list begin.

Other stories in the series:

Big Ten Football: The Best Coaches Since 1993

Big Ten Football: The Worst Coaches Since 1993

The Asterisk Club: Ineligible Coaches

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5 Mar 1998: Coach Clem Haskins of the Minnesota Golden Gophers looks on during a Big 10 Tournament game against the Northwestern Wildcats at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Minnesota defeated Northwestern 64-56. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel

The following coaches would have been up for consideration for recognition, but scandals become attached to their programs. In each case, the institution suffered through a loss of respect, with some being placed on probation, some having games forfeited, some having records from the disgraced periods removed the record books and some having banners removed from the rafters due to actions under their watch.

•   Clem Haskins: University of Minnesota, 1993-1999: 231-124 (153-78 Big Ten)

•   Steve Fisher: University of Michigan, 1992-1997: 185-81  (88-56 Big Ten)

•   Kelvin Sampson: Indiana University, 2006-2008: 43-15 (21-8 Big Ten)

•   Jim O'Brien: The Ohio State University, 1997-2004: 132-88  (61-52 Big Ten)

Honorable Mention

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28 JAN 1993: MICHIGAN STATE BASKETBALL COACH JUD HEATHCOTE REACTS TO A PLAY DURING A GAME AGAINST IOWA STATE. Mandatory Credit: DUANE BURLESON/ALLSPORT

These three coaches have demonstrated the ability to be successful coaches during their Big Ten tenure, but are just outside of the top 10. While Heathcote and Henson were successful in their long tenures at their institutions, the latter years (post-1992) were not quite up to those who made the list.

•   Jud Heathcote: Michigan State University, 1992-1995: 57-31 (31-23 Big Ten)

•   Lou Henson: University of Illinois, 1992-1996: 73-49 (38-34 Big Ten)

•   Lon Krueger: University of Illinois, 1996-2000: 81-48 (38-28 Big Ten)

10. Bill Self: 2000-2003

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CHICAGO - MARCH 16: Head coach Bill Self of the University Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Fighting Illini yells during the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Championship against the Ohio State University Buckeyes at the United Center on March 16, 2003 in

In June 2000, Bill Self was named to take over the University of Illinois program. Lon Kruger, Self's predecessor, had left the team to accept the head coaching position with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. Self came to the Illini after a three-year run at Tulsa, where he had a 74-27 record with two NCAA bids, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2000.

Overall Record: 78-24

Big Ten Record: 35-13

Number of Winning Seasons: Three

Big Ten Regular Season Titles: Two

Big Ten Tournament Titles: One

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Top Three: Three

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Bottom Five: None

National Titles: None

Final Four Appearances: None

Best Finish: NCAA Elite Eight (2001)

Best Season: 27-8 (2000–2001)

Post-Season Appearances: Three (Three NCAA)

Worst Season: 25-7 (2002–2003)

Notes: In Self's three seasons in Illinois, he led the Illini to two Big Ten regular season titles, a Big Ten Tournament title and three NCAA tournament appearances. His departure for Kansas, while not unexpected, left a bitter taste in the mouths of Illini fans as he became the second consecutive coach to depart after three seasons. The core of the 2005 team who made it to the title game consisted of a core of Self's recruits, so despite his departure, he left his mark in Champaign that will not soon be forgotten. While successful, his run with the Illini was too short to be higher on the list.

9. Tom Davis: 1992-1999

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19 Dec 1998: Head coach Tom Davis of the Iowa Hawkeyes watches during the game against the Missouri Tigers at the Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa defeated Missouri 82-68.

Tom Davis came to Iowa as a replacement for George Raveling, who had three relatively unimpressive season,  finishing with a 26-28 record in Big Ten play. Davis came to the Hawkeyes from Boston College, where he had five winning seasons and an Elite Eight appearance in his final season.  

Overall Record: 139-77

Big Ten Record: 66-56

Number of Winning Seasons: Six

Big Ten Regular Season Titles: None

Big Ten Tournament Titles: None

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Top Three: Three

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Bottom Five: Two

National Titles: None

Final Four Appearances: None

Best Finish: NCAA Sweet 16 (1999)

Post-Season Appearances: Five (Three NCAA and Two NIT)

Best Season: 22-10 (1996-1997)

Worst Season: 11-16 (1993-1994)

Notes: Davis left Iowa as the winningest coach in Hawkeye history. Despite five straight postseason berths, Davis' contract was not renewed following the 1998-1999 season. Davis retired from coaching until lured by Drake University in 2003 to help lead the Bulldogs.

8. Mike Davis: 2000-2006

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SALT LAKE CITY - MARCH 18: Head coach Mike Davis of the Indiana Hoosiers walks off the court after Indiana lost 90-80 to the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the Second Round of the 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament March 18, 2006 at the Jon M. Huntsman Cente

Mike Davis became the head coach at Indiana University following Bob Knight being terminated for violating IU President Myles Brand's "Zero Tolerance" policy that had been previously put in place for Knight. Following an initial 21-13 season, Davis was given the position on a permanent basis. Davis then led the Hoosiers on a surprising run to the NCAA title game in 2002.

Overall Record: 115-79

Big Ten Record: 55-41

Number of Winning Seasons: Five

Big Ten Regular Season Titles: One

Big Ten Tournament Titles: None

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Top Three: One

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Bottom Five: One

National Titles: None

Final Four Appearances: One

Best Finish: Championship Game (2002)

Post-Season Appearances: Five (Four NCAA and 1 NIT)

Best Season: 25-12 (2001-2002)

Worst Season: 14-15 (2003-2004)

Notes: Davis experienced the pressure of being a head coach at Indiana University. When he had his worst season in 2003-2004, it was the first losing season at Indiana since 1969-70. While he rebounded for two winning seasons, the pressure to succeed and the looming threat of termination was too much, and Davis announced that he was going to resign with less than a month left in the 2005-2006 season. Following his tenure at Indiana, he moved on to University of Alabama-Birmingham, where he has led the Blazers to three straight NIT appearances.

7. Matt Painter: 2005-Present

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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - JANUARY 09: Matt Painter the Head Coach of the Purdue Boilermakers gives instructions to his team during the Big Ten Conference game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Mackey Arena on January 9, 2011 in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue won

Matt Painter's journey to being the head coach at Purdue took an unusual path. Painter, who was a player for Gene Keady (1989-1993) and was the head coach at Southern Illinois University, was hired as the head coach-in-waiting starting in 2004. For the 2004-2005 season, he served as the Associate Head Coach, working under the retiring Keady. Starting in 2005, he assumed the head coaching duties.

Overall Record: 127-58

Big Ten Record: 56-35

Number of Winning Seasons: Four

Big Ten Regular Season Titles: One

Big Ten Tournament Titles: One

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Top Three: Three

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Bottom Five: One

National Titles: None

Final Four Appearances: None

Best Finish: NCAA Sweet Sixteen (2009 and 2010)

Post-Season Appearances: Four (Four NCAA)

Best Season: 29-6 (2009-2010)

Worst Season: 9-19 (2005-2006)

Notes: Painter suffered through a tough two-year stretch to start his Purdue coaching experience. In his year under Keady, the Boilermakers finished 7-21, Purdue's first losing season since 1988-1989. Then in his first season, his team struggled to a 9-19 record. Following that rough stretch, Painter has run off a four-year run of NCAA appearances, with two-straight Sweet Sixteen appearances. He is being recognized for his success, as he has been named the Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year twice (2008 and 2010).

6. Gene Keady: 1992-2005

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CHICAGO - MARCH 10: Head coach Gene Keady of the Purdue Boilermakers looks on against Iowa Hawkeyes during the first day of the Big Ten Men's Conference Basketball Tournament March 10, 2005 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The game was Keady's

Gene Keady came to Purdue in 1980 from Western Kentucky, where he had a 38-19 record in two seasons. He took over a program that had not had not had a losing season since 1966.

Overall Record: 262-150

Big Ten Record: 127-91

Number of Winning Seasons: Eleven

Big Ten Regular Season Titles: Three

Big Ten Tournament Titles: None

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Top Three: Seven

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Bottom Five: Five

National Titles: None

Final Four Appearances: None

Best Finish: Elite Eight (1994 & 2000)

Post-Season Appearances: Eleven (Nine NCAA and Two NIT)

Best Season: 29-5 (1993-1994)

Worst Season: 7-21 (2004-2005)
 
Notes: Keady was 512-270 during his tenure at Purdue. Keady had been recognized for his coaching success as he has been named the Big Ten Coach of the Year and the College Basketball Coach of the Year. Additionally, he has been elected to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, Kansas Sports Hall of Fame and Purdue Athletic Hall of Fame. Finally, he received the Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball, the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award and the Joe Lapchick Character Award.

5. Bruce Weber: 2003-Present

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CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 22: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bruce Weber yells to his team during the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Assembly Hall on January 22, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. Ohio State won 73-68. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Im

Bruce Weber is the second member of the Gene Keady coaching tree to be on this list. Weber served as an assistant under Keady at Western Kentucky and Purdue prior to his becoming the head coach at Southern Illinois. He took over the helm of the Illini in 2003 following Bill Self's departure for Kansas.

Overall Record: 187-79

Big Ten Record: 79-48

Number of Winning Seasons: Six

Big Ten Regular Season Titles: Two

Big Ten Tournament Titles: One

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Top Three: Four

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Bottom Five: One

National Titles: None

Final Four Appearances: One

Best Finish: Championship Game (2005)

Post-Season Appearances: Six (Five NCAA and One NIT)

Best Season: 37-2 (2004-2005)

Worst Season: 16-19 (2007-2008)

Notes: Following the 2005 season, Weber received multiple awards for coaching, including the Naismith College Coach of the Year, Associated Press National Coach of the Year and the
Big Ten Coach of the Year. Weber's career has been on a slight downturn in recent years. During the first four years at Illinois, he led the team to four straight NCAA bids. Then in the past three seasons, there has been one NCAA bid, one NIT bid and a losing record in 2007-2008. Additionally, the Illini have only a 26-28 record during that time.

So Weber, while successful at Illinois, is at a crossroads. He needs to return to his previous form or risk not only falling on the list, but feeling warmer on the hot seat.

4. Bo Ryan: 2002-Present

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LAS VEGAS - NOVEMBER 20: Head coach Bo Ryan of the Wisconsin Badgers argues a referee's call during a game against the UNLV Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center November 20, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UNLV won 68-65. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Bo Ryan moving to Madison to take over the Badgers marked the third school he has coached in the UW system (having coached at UW-Platteville and UW-MIlwaukee prior to reaching the flagship school). Ryan took over in 2001, following a trying season where Dick Bennett retired two games into the season and interim coach Brad Soderberg was not truly considered for the position.

Overall Record: 232–86

Big Ten Record: 112–45

Number of Winning Seasons: Nine

Big Ten Regular Season Titles: Three

Big Ten Tournament Titles: Two

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Top Three: Six

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Bottom Five: None

National Titles: None

Final Four Appearances: None

Best Finish: NCAA Elite Eight (2005)

Post-Season Appearances: Nine (Nine NCAA)

Best Season: 31-5 (2007-2008)

Worst Season: 19-12 (2005-2006)

Notes: Ryan has led the Badgers to nine straight NCAA tournaments, with only one season ending in the first round (2005-2006). He has been in the top four in the Big Ten each season he has been in the league. Ryan has been recognized for his coaching as her won the Clair Bee Coach of the Year (2007) and the Big Ten Coach of the Year twice (2002 and 2003).

3. Bob Knight: 1992-2000

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10 Dec 1996: Indiana Hoosiers head coach Bob Knight looks on during a game against the DePaul Blue Demons at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Indiana won the game, 74-57. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport

Bob Knight was 102-50 at Army prior to being selected to take over the Hoosiers in 1971. Knight took over an IU program that had only won the Big Ten title once in the previous twelve seasons. Knight was tasked to return this program to the level it had reached during the peak of Branch McCracken's era where the Hoosiers won four Big Ten titles in a six year-stretch between 1952 and 1958.

Overall Record: 175-80

Big Ten Record: 89-49

Number of Winning Seasons: Eight

Big Ten Regular Season Titles: One

Big Ten Tournament Titles: None

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Top Three: Five

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Bottom Five: None

National Titles: None

Final Four Appearances: None

Best Finish: Elite Eight (1993)

Post-Season Appearances: Eight (Eight NCAA)

Best Season: 31-4 (1992-1993)

Worst Season: 19-12 (1994-1995)

Notes: All time, Knight does not sit below the two individuals ahead of him in the rankings, but since 1992, the results do not warrant a higher showing than third. In 29 seasons at Indiana, Knight posted a 661-240 overall record and 353-151 in the Big Ten. He led the Hoosiers to the postseason 28 of his 29 seasons. Knight was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. His undoing at Indiana was not his coaching, but non-compliance with the behavioral expectations set up by then-Indiana University President Myles Brand.

In September 2000, Kent Harvey, who was an IU student, reported that Knight grabbed him roughly by the arm and verbally assaulted him for being disrespectful towards him. While Knight admitted to grabbing Harvey, he said he was not abusive. This was the final straw for Brand, who terminated Knight for the incident.

2. Thad Matta: 2004-Present

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GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 16: Coach Thad Matta of the Ohio State Buckeyes directs play against the Florida Gators November 16, 2010 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Thad Matta came to Ohio State to replace Jim O'Brien, who was fired following alleged NCAA rules violations which included payments to a former recruit. Matta had only been a head coach for four seasons prior to coming to the Buckeyes, but they were quite successful ones. At Xavier, Matta led the Musketeers to a 78-23 record and three straight NCAA appearances, including an Elite Eight showing in 2003-3004. Prior to that, he led Butler to the NCAA tournament and a 24-8 record in his only season with the Bulldogs.

Overall Record: 178-54

Big Ten Record: 78-33

Number of Winning Seasons: Six

Big Ten Regular Season Titles: Three

Big Ten Tournament Titles: Two

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Top Three: Three

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Bottom Five: None

National Titles: None

Final Four Appearances: One

Best Finish: Championship Game (2007)

Post-Season Appearances: Five (Four NCAA and One NIT)

Best Season: 34-4 (2006-2007)

Worst Season: 20-12 (2004-2005)

Notes: The lone season that Matta's Buckeyes did not make the postseason (2004-2005) was due to the fact that they were ineligible following the results of NCAA violations of improper benefits and academic fraud committed under his predecessor's leadership. Matta has led the Buckeyes to the NCAA Tournament four of the past five seasons. The one exception was in 2008, where OSU went on to win the NIT Tournament. Matta has been recognized for his coaching success as he has won the Big Ten Coach of the Year twice (2006 and 2010).

1. Tom Izzo: 1995-Present

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INDIANAPOLIS - APRIL 03: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts from the sideline in the first half while taking on the Butler Bulldogs during the National Semifinal game of the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship on Apr

Tom Izzo was promoted to head coach in 1995 following the retirement of Jud Heathcote. Izzo had been a part of the Spartans program since 1983 when brought on board to serve as a part-time assistant by then-head coach Ben Felizcak. Heathcote kept Izzo with the squad and promoted Izzo to associate head coach in advance of the 1990-1991 season. The MSU position was Izzo's first university head coaching position.

Overall Record: 375-156

Big Ten Record: 178-83

Number of Winning Seasons: 14

Big Ten Regular Season Titles: Six

Big Ten Tournament Titles: Two

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Top Three: Nine

Number of Seasons in Big Ten Bottom Five: Two

National Titles: One

Final Four Appearances: Six

Best Finish: National Champion (2000)

Post-Season Appearances: Fifteen (13 NCAA and Two NIT)

Best Season: 32-7 (1999-2000)

Worst Season: 16-16 (1995-1996)

Notes: Izzo has led the Spartans to 15 straight postseason bids, including an active streak of 13 straight NCAA bids. Izzo has been recognized for his coaching as he has won the Associated Press National Coach of the Year (1998), Henry Iba Award (1998) and the Big Ten Coach of the Year twice (1998 and 2009). He is currently the longest active serving coach in the conference and is the winningest coach in Spartan history. While there has been some struggles this season, Izzo still has MSU in a position for a 16th straight postseason appearance.