Top 10 Men’s College Basketball Coaches of the 2010s

Some coaches just win. Others build machines. In the 2010s, you saw both kinds pacing the hardwood in their perfectly tailored suits (or occasionally, their lucky sweaters). These weren't just guys drawing plays on clipboards. They were architects of blue-blood dynasties and underdog dream runs, recruiting savants and defensive masterminds, pressure-proof motivators who knew how to get 19-year-olds to execute like seasoned pros.

This list is about those sideline generals who owned the decade. Maybe they racked up national titles. Maybe they turned fringe programs into March regulars. Maybe they just never missed a tournament and always had their squad in the Top 25. However they did it, they stood out in a sport where success is measured in banners and buzzer-beaters.

Your vote helps shape this list, just like these coaches shaped the 2010s. Pick the ones who defined the era for you.

The Top Ten

  1. Jay Wright - Villanova

    In the modern era of college basketball, no coach has arguably had a more dominant five-year stretch. This guy took Villanova from irrelevance to two national championships in three years, practically out of nowhere. The Wildcats were a mess, yet he led them to five Big East regular season titles and four Big East tournament championships. Simply put, he's one of the best there is now, and he always gets the most out of his teams.

  2. Mike Krzyzewski - Duke

    Coach K at number four? Yes, he has two national championships and four conference championships, and he's never won fewer than 25 games in a season this decade. Yet, he has faced disappointments too. The Blue Devils haven't won the ACC regular season title in nine years, and since 2015, they've only had two Elite Eight appearances and zero Final Four appearances. This is despite having some very decent players. In the end, do all the wins and stats in his favor outweigh the disappointments in March?

  3. Roy Williams - North Carolina

    Roy Williams has been consistent throughout the entire decade. He led the Tar Heels to two national championship games, winning one and losing the other at the buzzer. He has four Elite Eight appearances and five ACC regular season titles. UNC has almost always been near the top with Williams at the helm.

  4. John Calipari- Kentucky

    If you look at the first half of the decade, he'd be an easy number one. He had three Final Fours, a national championship, and a runner-up finish within a five-year span. He was the first to capitalize on the one-and-done era, but his success has declined since then. However, Big Blue has always remained a powerhouse and seemingly controlled the SEC throughout most of, if not the entire, decade.

  5. Tony Bennett - Virginia

    It took him a few years to get going, but now the Virginia Cavaliers are rolling. They've won four of the last six ACC regular season championships and two ACC tournament championships. Yes, we all know UMBC will live on in infamy for Virginia as one of the greatest upsets of all time and a significant what if. Yet, look what they did after that: they won the whole thing. That isn't easy to accomplish, but he found a way. That alone deserves a spot on this list.

  6. Bill Self - Kansas

    Talk about consistency, Bill Self has been just that. The Jayhawks have always been a top 10 team, and this decade, they won nine Big 12 regular season titles, including 14 in a row dating back to the 2000s. He made two Final Four appearances and achieved a national runner-up finish. The Jayhawks are one of only two teams to win over 300 games in the decade. However, Kansas has had some disappointing losses in March, even with talented teams.

  7. Tom Izzo - Michigan State

    Izzo has been very consistent with MSU, leading the Spartans to three Final Fours this decade. They always play at a high level and have been a conference power for nearly the entire decade. Few can claim they are better than him.

  8. Mark Few - Gonzaga

    Gonzaga has absolutely dominated the WCC under Few, winning nine WCC regular season titles and seven WCC conference championships. The highlight of the decade was a Final Four and a runner-up finish in 2017. The Bulldogs have established themselves as a national powerhouse. They are the only other program to win over 300 games this decade besides Kansas. However, how many are actually legitimate? The WCC is nowhere near a Power Five conference.

  9. Bob Huggins - West Virginia

    Bob Huggins always has a competitive team, and he consistently gets the most out of his players, especially on defense. The Mountaineers made the Final Four in 2010, and he has won 25 or more games in four straight seasons now. They are always considered a tournament threat in March.

  10. Chris Beard - Texas Tech

    This guy has been at Texas Tech for two seasons now, and I debated whether or not to put him on the list. However, the turnaround he has achieved in his short time at Texas Tech has been nothing short of incredible. He led the Red Raiders from the Big 12 basement to two Elite Eight appearances, a Final Four, and a national runner-up finish. On top of that, he ended the Jayhawks' 14-year reign in the Big 12. Overall, it's been a very successful tenure so far.

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