15 Best College Basketball Coaching Jobs in the Country so Far This Season

Coaching is important in any sport. You see these distinguished leaders running the show from the sideline, their bench or the dugout, always scheming a way to crush their opposition.

In college basketball, this position is the most cherished part of the program. Unlike the NBA, players can't hang around forever learning from their mentors. They get four years if they're lucky with a single recruit, likely less if they're a big shot looking for their "in" to the big leagues.. 

Therefore, they have to be the best. They have to mold young men into top-notch athletes who can actually play with one another instead of yell and scream like you might see in some junior high game. This isn't like watching your son's best friend's dad volunteer to run the local YMCA team; this is a living.  

Some coaches stand out year after year, perfecting their teams into offensive powerhouses and bestial defenses. Others, however, have a breakthrough in that special season when all the pieces just fall into place. 

This year, we have some of both as we take a look at the top 15 coaching positions of the season just halfway through.

No. 15 Bo Ryan and Wisconsin

Bo Ryan is partially crazy, and that's fine, so are most of us. He has one of those faces that can just scare young basketball players into doing whatever he wants them to do. Also, he yells a lot. 

However, it has obviously paid off. In his career, Ryan has gone 637-197, winning just over 75 percent of his games. For a body of work that consists of over 300 matchups, such a high winning percentage is very impressive.

This season, he has already led the Badgers to a 12-4 record with three of those losses coming to big shots UNC, Michigan State and Marquette. Easily one of the best places to be as a coach, Ryan is set to lead his squad to a Big Ten championship with a little luck.

No. 14 Jim Calhoun and UConn

UConn is this season's defending champ. That says a lot about head coach Jim Calhoun, no matter how many people think that Kemba Walker did all the work last year.

His overall 617-232 record as a head coach is more than respectable. Not to mention he has collected the university's only three national titles, all coming in the last 15 years. Calhoun is in a solid position this season as well as he once again has a ton of talent to work with.

Going 12-2 so far into the year, the Huskies are incredibly inconsistent. Pretty much crushing a more-than-decent Harvard team as well taking down a ranked Florida State in OT, UConn also has losses to Central Florida and just recently, Seton Hall.  

No. 13 Rick Stansbury and Mississippi State

No one every really seems to give MSU much credit. Their university competes in the toughest football conference in the country and rightfully so, basketball isn't exactly the priority. However, Stansbury has turned this program into something of a SEC West stronghold.

Starting out at Mississippi State back in 1998, he has transformed what would usually be a dull no-nothing team into a competitive squad that stands up to the best of them each year. His career record at MSU is 284-152 making him the all-time winningest coach in the school's history, a high feat at any university.

This season seems like it'll be more special than the others, however. With big players like Dee Bost and Arnett Moultrie, MSU is in position to face off against Kentucky and Florida and possibly come away with a win. Already owning a 13-2 record on the year with one of those losses coming by two points to an undefeated Baylor team, Mississippi State may be the upset squad of the season. 

No. 12 Bill Self and Kansas

Kansas is basketball. "Rock Chalk Jayhawk" hasn't even heard of this thing called a football field as they live on the basketball court, wanting wins more than anyone else in the Midwest. Bill Self is right in the middle of all that.

Under an immense amount of pressure every season, Self has come through with shining colors. Arguably the most storied program in the country, owning a career record of 452-154 is almost a necessity. A national championship along with three Elite Eights is also giving him a bit of leeway.

An 11-3 record this season isn't acceptable to Jayhawk fans and losses to Duke, Kentucky and Davidson are beyond incomprehensible. However, three big wins over Georgetown, in-state rival Kansas State and a No. 2 ranked Ohio State team has helped to quell the death threats for the time being. 

No. 11 Tom Crean and Indiana

Just recently acquiring sole ownership over the program in the Hoosier state, Crean is also stuck in a tough spot. Storied basketball universities like Indiana always will make it rough on their coaches to do well, considering their history as one of the best in the nation. 

When you have former coaches like Bobby Knight, trying to be passionate is a lost cause just because you will never be able to match the great one. Instead, Crean is more calm. His career as a head coach is a solid 231-163, but he has proven himself to be especially capable this season.

Upsetting top-ranked Kentucky and Ohio State with only one loss coming to the Michigan State Spartans, this 13-1 squad is the real deal. Ready to bring the Hoosier crimson back to the top, Crean and company are some of the best upset specialists in the game so far this season.

No. 10 Mike Krzyzewski and Duke

Possibly the most well-known coach to ever have his name misspelled a billion times, Coach K holds the record for the most NCAA wins as a head coach with 912. An amazing achievement considering how young he is, Krzyzewski is on pace to break 1,000 wins sometime in the next couple of years.

Leading Duke to four national titles since 1991, Krzyzewski is possibly one of the best coaches ever in the history of the sport. His record at 912-285 is well over 75 percent. He is just flat out impressive.

So far this season, almost everything has been peachy keen for him and his Blue Devils. Two losses blemish this year, one coming to a strong Ohio State squad in Columbus. Duke's wins, however, have all been big-time. Taking down Kansas, Michigan and Michigan State, the Blue Devils are once again one of the nation's best teams.  

No. 9 John Thompson III and Georgetown

Thompson III comes from a gene pool that is great at spawning coaches. Succeeding his father at Georgetown, this man has had some very solid seasons heading up the Hoyas.

A knowledgeable man when it comes to basketball, Thompson is a solid 238-116 on his career. Just under 70 percent isn't too shabby for a coach who leads a team in the toughest basketball conference in the nation (for now).

His 13-1 record this season is just getting better after the loss to a top-notch Kansas squad. Big-time wins over Memphis, Alabama, Marquette and Louisville have propelled this team into the Top 10 so far this season. Georgetown is one of the places to be in the Big East.

No. 8 Roy Williams and UNC

UNC is another one of those classic basketball programs that just refuses to lose. Putting out superstars such as Michael Jordan, North Carolina is easily one of the best in the business and Roy Williams has found a way to make sure they stay that way.

Betraying Kansas for the open North Carolina position, Williams is overall 643-163 in his career, winning the NCAA Championship twice in the past decade for the Tar Heels. A great recruiter and an even more solid coach, he once again has his team on the road to an ACC championship.

Putting up a solid 13-2 with losses to UNLV and a very big-time Kentucky team, UNC has huge wins over Wisconsin, Michigan State and Texas. Williams owns one of the best coaching positions in the country with ease and he won't be going anywhere for awhile. 

No. 7 Thad Matta and Ohio State

For the better part of this past decade, Matta has led the Buckeyes basketball team in the Big Ten. Going 305-88 as a head coach, this Butler graduate is definitely one of the best in the business.

Ohio State has produced solid NBA recruits under his guise as the Buckeyes have won four regular season conference championships. Not many coaches are suited to own such a strong conference year-in and year-out.

Producing a 14-2 record with losses only to Kansas and a for real Indiana squad, OSU won't be getting out of anyone's way anytime soon. Led by Jared Sullinger, the Buckeyes are in prime position to once again grab the Big Ten by the horns.

No. 6 Rick Pitino and Louisville

Louisville is another one of those Big East programs that will never go bad. Pitino and company have morphed this university into one of the better powers in the country, rivaling Kentucky who plays just down the road.

Going 607-224 in his career, this master of the sport is the first man to ever bring three different squads to a Final Four. Taking Providence, Kentucky and Louisville, Pitino knows how to win and will do almost anything to make sure it happens.

Known for his coaching of the three-point threat, the Cardinals are a solid 13-2, falling consecutively to Georgetown and Kentucky in the last two games of December. Notable wins include Vanderbilt, Butler and Memphis in what could shape up to be another big year for Louisville.

No. 5 John Calipari and Kentucky

Kentucky, like UNC, Kansas and Duke, is arguably the most storied basketball university in the country. Drawing in top talent without even having to ask, the Wildcats are consistently not only the best in the SEC, but also in the entire southeast region of the nation.

After leading a big-time Memphis team to a last second title loss to Kansas, Calipari took over Kentucky in a power move. A relatively young coach, his all-time record comes up as 481-153, coming out to be just over 75 percent.

This season his Wildcats are very young. He has molded them into one of the best squads in the country, but a single loss by a buzzer-beater still weighs on their minds. A strong 14-1, their only loss was at the hands of the Hoosiers while notable victories came over Kansas, Louisville and UNC.

No. 4 Billy Donovan and Florida

Florida is the first surprise of our top five in this list. Donovan and company usually compete well every year, but haven't truly stood out since winning back-to-back championships in the middle of the decade. 

Donovan's all-time record being 407-170, he also presents a strong winning percentage. Two national titles say a lot, especially since they were back-to-back and now the Gators look like they may be returning to their glory days.

Starting out the year at 12-3, Florida's only losses have come closely to a undefeated Syracuse squad, a big-time Ohio State team and a OT disappointment to Rutgers. Having only one real big win over Texas A&M, UF still has a lot to prove, but they certainly have the talent to make a splash this season.

No. 3 Frank Haith and Mizzou

Running one of the few undefeated teams left in the nation, this first-year coach is having the ride of his life. Inheriting a program that has a lot more potential than most people give it credit, Haith has somehow made the Tigers a stand-out squad in the Midwest. 

With Mizzou only his second head coaching job ever, his all-time record is a very young 143-101. He is obviously very good at what he does and will most likely be a very sought after head coach once the season finishes. 

14-0 is no joke. Missouri would be the center of attention if it wasn't for the top two on this list. Solid wins over Cal, Illinois and Notre Dame speckle what is actually a somewhat difficult schedule. Watch for the Tigers to take on Kansas in control for the Big 12 in their final year in the conference. 

No. 2 Scott Drew and Baylor

This very young coach walked into a program that was in turmoil. After one of their players was murdered by a fellow teammate, Baylor was the center of the college basketball world back in 2003. Trying to use the murder to cover up some huge NCAA violations, head coach Dave Bliss was forced to resign.

In steps Scott Drew, a man who had only had one season of head coaching experience under his belt, to take the reins. No one thought he could do it. Now just look at not only him, but the program that he has built. 

Easily with the lowest winning percentage on this list, Drew is only 129-114 in his career. Most of those losses are due to some heavy scholarship fines the NCAA punished Baylor with, but he fought through the adversity. Now his very talented squad sits undefeated at 14-0 with huge wins over West Virginia, Mississippi State and Texas A&M. Possibly the best story line of the past decade. 

No. 1 Jim Boeheim and Syracuse

Topping this list off with some flare, the No. 1-ranked Orange and their head coach Jim Boeheim steal the spotlight. The very same season their university decides that the Big East isn't home enough for them, 'Cuse is pulling off an undefeated record. What a showing in the toughest conference in America.

One of the most storied coaches in the league, Boeheim has been heading up Syracuse since before the Vietnam War ended. Pulling out a solid 869-301 career record, he is easily one of the most recognizable names in the game. A national title back in 2003 with the assistance of NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony highlights his dazzling lifetime in the sport.

This season, his Orange are out to a great start by grabbing 16 consecutive wins including some big ones over Florida, Stanford and Seton Hall. Possibly set up to get his second national championship, Boeheim's job is the one to have in college basketball. Too bad it won't be opening up anytime soon.