Pat Summitt and the Top 10 College Basketball Coaches of All Time

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Yesterday, the college basketball world was given shocking news. Pat Summitt the all-time winningest coach in NCAA history announced that she has been diagnosed with early onset dementia. 

Summitt, 59, is one of the game's great ambassadors and plans to continue coaching while battling the symptoms. She plans to use her longtime assistants more this upcoming season.

In a statement from Summitt released by the university Tuesday, the Hall of Fame coach said she visited with doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., after the end of the 2010-11 basketball season and was diagnosed with the condition during the summer.

Through the years Pat Summitt has coached some of the greatest women's players ever. She has touched the lives of so many and is no doubt a legendary coach. 

Coaches in college athletics are allowed to develop athletes not only as a player, but also as a person.  The great coaches can win all while teaching life lessons and helping athletes mature. 

Summitt has that ability and is arguably the greatest coach in history.  Here is my list of the top 10 college basketball coaches of all time. Where does Pat Summitt rank?

Honorable Mentions

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Tom Izzo: 383-161, six Final Fours, one NCAA Championship

Lute Olsen: 781-280, five Final Fours, one NCAA Championship

Phog Allen: 746-264, six Final Fours, three NCAA Championships

Rick Pitino: 597-220, five Final Fours, one NCAA Championship

Denny Crum: 675-295, six Final Fours, two NCAA Championships

No. 10: Jim Boeheim

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Coaching Record: 856-301 (Syracuse)

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (2005)

One NCAA Division I Tournament Championships (2003)

Three Final Fours (1987, 1996, 2003)

Eight Regular Season Conference Championships (Big East)

Five Big East Tournament Championships

AP Coach of the Year Award (2010)

 

Outlook

Jim Boeheim has been the men's basketball coach for the Syracuse Orange since 1976. 

In 2011 he is still coaching, leading one of the premier basketball schools in the country. Boeheim has built Syracuse into a national power. 

Boeheim is known for his attacking 2-3 zone defense which stifles opponents. Under his tenure, the Orange have never had a losing season and have made a postseason berth every year except 1993 due to NCAA violations.

No. 9: Roy Williams

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Coaching Record: 643-163 (Kansas & UNC)

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (2007)

Two NCAA Division I Tournament Championships (2005,2009)

Seven Final Fours (1991, 1993, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009)

14 Regular Season Conference Championships (ACC, Big 12, Big Eight)

Two AP Coach of the Year Awards (1992, 2006)

Nine Conference Coach of the Year Awards (ACC, Big 12, Big Eight)

 

Outlook

Roy Williams is fast building his resume with the all-time greats. Since coming to the ACC from Kansas he has won two NCAA Championships and always seems to have a competitive team.

This year is no different as he returns a team destined to be No. 1 in almost every preseason poll as his team returns five starters.

Williams is the 13th coach in history to win multiple championships.  Following two coaching legends at Kansas (Larry Brown) and UNC (Dean Smith) wasn't a problem as he hit the ground running at both stops. Williams, 61, is a very strong recruiter and has never had a losing season in his coaching career.

No. 8: Adolph Rupp

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Coaching Record: 876-190 (Kentucky)

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (1969)

Four NCAA Division I Tournament Championships (1948, 1949, 1951, 1958)

Six Final Fours (1942, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1966)

Four National Coach of the Year Awards

Six SEC Coach of the Year Awards

 

Outlook

Rupp is second all-time in winning percentage as he built Kentucky into a national powerhouse. Rupp was the coach of UK for 42 seasons winning four National Championships.

Rupp liked to recruit in state talent as more than 80 percent of his players came from the state of Kentucky. Rupp was known for teaching sound fundamentals. 

Rupp passed away in 1977, but his legacy remains as the University of Kentucky Wildcats play their home games in Rupp Arena.

No. 7: Jim Calhoun

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Coaching Record: 855-367 (Northeastern & UCONN)

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (2005)

Three NCAA Division I Tournament Championships (2005,2009, 2011)

Four Final Fours (1999, 2004, 2009, 2011)

Nine Regular Season Conference Championships (Big East)

Seven Big East Tournament Championships

AP Coach of the Year Award (1990)

 

Outlook

Jim Calhoun knows how to get it done in the Final Four. In four trips he has won three National Championships. The latest this past season as superstar Kemba Walker led the upstart UCONN team from out of nowhere. 

Calhoun is also great at developing NBA talent as he has coached 24 future NBA players. Calhoun has battled health problems in his career but has always been resilient and there for his players. Calhoun looks like he is just getting better with age.

No. 6: Geno Auriemma

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Coaching Record: 771-124 (UCONN Ladies)

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (2006)

Seven NCAA Division I Tournament Championships (1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010)

Four Final Fours (1999, 2004, 2009, 2011)

15 Regular Season Conference Championships (Big East)

14 Big East Tournament Championships

Seven Coach of the Year Awards

Four Undefeated Seasons (1995, 2002, 2009, 2010)

 

Outlook

Everyone knows that there are two basketball powerhouses in women's college basketball: the Lady Vols and the UCONN Huskies. 

Auriemma, 57, is the coach of the Lady Huskies. He has built the UCONN program from nowhere. Before he arrived the program had one winning season in its history. 

Auriemma has coached six NCAA player of the year award recipients and has led the UCONN Huskies to college basketball's longest winning streak at 90 games. 

Auriemma became the fastest college basketball coach to reach 700 wins, men or women.  

No. 5: Dean Smith

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Coaching Record: 879-254 (UNC)

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (1983)

Two NCAA Division I Tournament Championships (1982,1993)

11 Final Fours

17 Regular Season Conference Championships (ACC)

13 ACC Tournament Championships

Four National Coach of the Year Awards (1977, 1979, 1982, 1993)

Olympic Gold Medal (Montreal, 1976)

 

Outlook

Dean Smith helped to create the storied UNC basketball tradition. Smith was a pioneer in the coaching ranks. Smith also was a great teacher as his players had a very high graduation rate.

Smith is most well known for his four corners offense, which would melt a late game lead during the no-shot clock era. 

Smith also coached the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball, Michael Jordan. Dean Smith was a class act and helped UNC become a prestigious basketball school.

No. 4: Bobby Knight

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Coaching Record: 902-371 (Army, Indiana, Texas Tech)

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (1991)

Three NCAA Division I Tournament Championships (1976, 1981, 1987)

Five Final Fours (1973, 1976, 1981, 1987, 1992)

11 Regular Season Conference Championships (Big Ten)

Coach of the Year Award (1987)

Undefeated Season (1976)

Olympic Gold Medal (Los Angeles, 1984)

 

Outlook

Bobby Knight is one of the great teachers the game has ever seen. He is even the mentor of the No. 2 coach on our list. Knight was a very controversial coach with his antics towards his players, often getting in their faces.

Knight is known for using screens to get players open. Knight, never short of emotion, got the most out of his players and always ran a clean program. 

Indiana slowly went downhill after his departure over 10 years ago. They are still looking for his replacement to bring Indiana back to the Knight glory days.

No. 3: Pat Summitt

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Coaching Record: 1,071-199 (Tennessee)

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (2000)

Eight NCAA Division I Tournament Championships (1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2008)

Four Final Fours (1999, 2004, 2009, 2011)

16 Regular Season Conference Championships (SEC)

15 SEC Tournament Championships

7 National Coach of the Year Awards

Olympic Gold Medal (Los Angeles, 1984)

 

Outlook

As you read in the intro, Pat Summitt is one hell of a basketball coach. Her record is astonishing as she has won over 1,000 games and lost under 200. She has also produced countless WNBA and USA Olympic team members.

We wish her the best of luck in her recovery and hope that the symptoms don't get worse forcing an early retirement.

No. 2: Mike Krzyzewski "Coach K"

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Coaching Record: 900-284 (Army & Duke)

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (2001)

Four NCAA Division I Tournament Championships (1991,1992, 2001, 2010)

11 Final Fours

12 Regular Season Conference Championships (ACC)

13 ACC Tournament Championships

3 National Coach of the Year Awards (1989, 1992, 1999)

Olympic Gold Medal (Beijing, 2008)

 

Outlook

Some have argued that Coach K is the best active coach in any sport today. That argument certainly has merit. Coach K became the head man at Duke in 1980. Since then he has transformed Duke into the most recognizable basketball school in the country. 

Coach K has had twelve 30 win seasons and has led Duke to being one of the nation's best every year.  Coach K and the Blue Devils have made 16 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. Coach K has turned down lucrative NBA offers to stay in Durham and the decision has paid off. 

Coach K is a living legend at Duke and continues to build his resume as he could end up being the greatest coach in the history of the sport. However, he still falls short of the great...

No. 1: John Wooden

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Coaching Record: 664-162 (UCLA)

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (1961)

10 NCAA Division I Tournament Championships (1964, 1965, 1967-1973, 1975)

12 Final Fours

Six Coach of the Year Awards

Record 88 Consecutive Wins in a Row

Four Undefeated Seasons (1963, 1967, 1972, 1973)

 

Outlook

John Wooden is college basketball. He even has a trophy named after him. Wooden created a dynasty at UCLA in the 60s and 70s as his teams dominated the competition. 

Wooden was also a terrific player and was the first person to be inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and also as a coach. His record of 10 NCAA Championships in 12 seasons will never be broken. Wooden's 27 year coaching career is remarkable.

Wooden also coached four undefeated teams. Wooden died last summer, but will always be remembered as one of the greatest coaches in history.