College Basketball: 10 Coaches Who Deserve Promotions to Major Programs

Every college basketball season, mid-major programs emerge and make runs deep into March. 

Often times the catalyst behind those NCAA tournament runs is the head coach. This tournament proved to be no different, with mid-majors knocking off college basketball's biggest names. 

For every thrilling upset March brought us, a young head coach moved one step closer toward locking up a job at a big-time program. While these coaches are still at their respective mid-major schools, it will only be a matter of time before the big boys come knocking.  

Here is a list of 10 coaches who deserve a promotion to a major college basketball program. 

10. Gregg Marshall: Wichita St.

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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 31: Head coach Gregg Marshall of the Wichita State Shockers instructs his team against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2011 NIT Championship game on March 31, 2011 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac

Gregg Marshall began his coaching career in 1998 at Winthrop. He promptly led Eagles to the NCAA tournament four consecutive seasons and seven out of 10 years at the program. 

Marshall moved on to Wichita St. in 2007 and has led the Shockers to the NIT tournament the past two seasons. 

This year he led them to the NIT championship and could be next in line for a promotion to a major program. 

9. Stew Morrill: Utah St.

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TUCSON, AZ - MARCH 17: Head coach Stew Morrill of the Utah State Aggies coaches against the Kansas State Wildcats during the second round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at McKale Center on March 17, 2011 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Chris

Stew Morrill began his coaching career over 25 years ago at Montana. After five years he moved on to Colorado St. Morrill spent seven years at Colorado St. before taking the job at Utah St.

Since joining the Aggies, Morrill has spent 13 years at Utah St. and in the past 12 seasons, he has made the postseason every year, including eight NCAA tournament appearances. 

Morrill has led Utah St. to the NCAA tournament the past three seasons with a combined 87-17 record over that span. 

8. Chris Mack: Xavier

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CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 18: Head coach Chris Mack of the Xavier Musketeers tosses the ball to a referee during the game against the Marquette Golden Eagles during the second round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Quicken Loans Arena on March

Chris Mack is a homegrown product who grew up in the Cincinnati area. He was an assistant under former head coach Sean Miller and took over the Xavier program two years ago. 

Xavier is known to produce big-time coaches (Pete Gillen, Skip Prosser, Thad Matta, Sean Miller), and Mack is next in line. 

He has a combined 50-17 record over the past two seasons, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2010 and another NCAA tournament berth in 2011. 

7. Mark Few: Gonzaga

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DENVER, CO - MARCH 17: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs shouts from the bench during the second round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Pepsi Center on March 17, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Mark Few has been a dominant figure in college basketball over the past 12 seasons at Gonzaga. 

Few is very promotable, but seems content where he is. Over his tenure at Gonzaga, Few has made the NCAA tournament every year. 

Few has four Sweet 16 appearances and a career record of 315-83 at Gonzaga. 

6. Fran Dunphy: Temple

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TUCSON, AZ - MARCH 19: Head coach Fran Dunphy of the Temple Owls yells to his team during their game against the San Diego State Aztecs in the third round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at McKale Center on March 19, 2011 in Tucson, Arizona.

Fran Dunphy is a former Ivy League coach at Penn. He led Penn to nine NCAA tournament appearances in 16 seasons. 

Dunphy took the job at Temple in 2006 and has led the Owls to four straight NCAA tournament appearances. 

His career record of 420-210 speaks volumes for his coaching ability, and while Dunphy is slightly older than most of the coaches on this list, he is headed to a major program sooner or later. 

5. Randy Bennett: St. Mary's

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LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 07: Head coach Randy Bennett of the Saint Mary's Gaels walks in front of his bench during the championship game of the Zappos.com West Coast Conference Basketball tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena March 7,

Randy Benett took over a St. Mary's program in 2001 that was not headed in the right direction. After nine wins in his first season, Bennett has been to the NCAA tournament three times in the last seven years.

He has one Sweet 16 appearance and has competed with the powerful Gonzaga Bulldogs in the West Coast Conference. 

Bennett has also appeared in two NIT tournaments over the past three seasons. 

4. Dave Rose: BYU

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 24: Head coach Dave Rose of the Brigham Young Cougars yells to his team during their game against the Florida Gators in the Southeast regional of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at New Orleans Arena on March 24, 2011 in

In six seasons at BYU, Dave Rose has led the Cougars to five NCAA tournament appearances and one trip to the NIT. 

Last season BYU was one of the best teams in the country and had college basketball's best player in Jimmer Fredette. 

Rose led the Cougars to the Sweet 16 last year and has helped BYU rise to national supremacy.  

3. Shaka Smart: VCU

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HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 02: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams reacts from the sidelines against the Butler Bulldogs during the National Semifinal game of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship at Reliant Stadium on Apri

With the run VCU made in the NCAA tournament last season, everybody knows the name Shaka Smart. 

Smart did the improbable in leading VCU to a Final Four appearance, knocking off national powers in the process. 

Smart just turned 34 and has a 55-21 combined record at VCU in two seasons. 

The Colonial League is very competitive and Smart is one of the biggest up-and-comers in college basketball. 

2. Josh Pastner: Memphis

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TULSA, OK - MARCH 18: Head coach Josh Pastner of the Memphis Tigers yells from the sidelines during the second round game against the Arizona Wildcats in the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at BOK Center on March 18, 2011 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Phot

Josh Pastner spent a few seasons learning from former Memphis head coach John Calipari. 

Pastner took over Memphis in 2009 and led the Tigers back to the NCAA tournament this past season. 

Perhaps his best quality is his recruiting ability, and recruiting is a big part of college basketball. He has had no trouble bringing talent into Memphis and could be at a big-name program in a few years. 

1. Brad Stevens: Butler

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HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 04: Head coach Brad Stevens of the Butler Bulldogs looks on from the sidelines against the Connecticut Huskies during the National Championship Game of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at Reliant Stadium on April 4

Who could be No. 1 on this list other than Butler head coach Brad Stevens?

Stevens has spent four seasons at Butler and has made the NCAA tournament every year. He has won the Horizon League each of those four seasons. 

Stevens has taken the Bulldogs to back-to-back Final Fours and his combined 117-25 record is as good as it gets at any level.