Top 5 coaches (current)

1) Roy Williams (the schools he has coached at helps get him the top players but great recruiter and great coach)

2) Billy Donovan (took a football school to consecutive championships says a ton)

3) Rick Pitino nuff said

4) Ben Howland (turned around every program he as been at. and back to back final fours says a ton)

5) Tom Izzo (just a great coach)

honorable mentions.

Coach K (early flame outs the last few years dropped him imo)

Lute Olsen (20+ consecutive tourny appearances)

Bill Self (right up there with Howland as the best coaches to never win it all)

 I dont even have Tubby in my top 15 right now.

 However I cant believe i forgot Pat Summit she can flat out coach she could probably have a winning program coach men.

I also forgot Mark Few to take a mid major school from no where to perenial top 25 team and constant tournament team says so much about him as a coach. He might be in my top 5.

Colts...Gotta give you props for matching my top five, but I gotta put my Tar Heel coach ahead of Dookie coach on principle...

1. Roy Williams - the best current combination of teacher/recruiter going. At the point in his career that he is reaping rewards of his past success, but hasn't been around so long that some think he is too "old school."

2. Rick Pitino - the best at every school he's coached at inserting his "brand" of basketball into the game. Recruits well, but is behind Roy because of his current tenure at Louisville. Had he remained at Kentucky for the whole time (not a better school, just speaking continuity here), he might be considerd among the best coach ever candidates

3. Coach K - Has proven for longer than any of these coaches that he is among the best. 800 wins and currently coaching teams to 20+ wins every season. High graduation rate at one of the toughest schools in the country. Many of his players don't make it in the NBA, but you don't hear about his players "making it rain," either.

4. Billy Donovan - The best up-and-comer coach in the country, and already has 2 Nat'l Championships. He may never get another one if he remains at Florida, but he'll be around every year. More likly, he will get one of the high profile jobs in the country and become a legend htere in 20 years.

5. Ben Howland - Nothing like Pitino, but most reminds me of him. He has a "brand" of basketball that he teaches succesfully year after year. He is already in the high profile job that will make him a legend, so he might need to be above Donovan.

Honorable Mention -

Rick Barnes- Molding a basketball powerhouse at a football-only school. Old-school ACC coach that has introduced a new brand of basketball in the Big 12

Bill Self- Stepped into a great situation after Roy Williams left. Didn't have to deal with the growing pains because Williams left him a great program. He may be a better coach than ol' Roy when it's all said and done...

Billy Gillespie, Bob Huggins, Tubby Smith - Need to re-prove hemselves at theri current schools before working back into the list

John Thompson III- A few more years, but he's on the way

Gary Williams - Even with Nat'l Champ, he's in the shadow of other ACC coaches. One more, and he approaches the top of hte food chain

Bruce Pearl - On his way, but not there yet... needs a few Final Fours, at least, not just #1 ranking for a few weeks a year

Tim Floyd- May ultimately be #1 on the list. Needs to stay at USC and win a championship or two to get out of the shadow of UCLA

SHScoach2003

I should ask what your smoking ROFL, Roy Williams as a true basketball coach doesn NOT deserve to be in the TOP 5, I watched him coach in person at Kansas, and attended most games, OL Roy was a great recruiter but ALWAYS under achieved as a coach, any TOP 50 coach could coach UNC and be in the National title hunt every year.   Roy Willams cant Hold Larry Browns Jockstrap, when it comes to game prep and preparing his kids to play,  he can reqruit however and it it wasnt for THAT ability he would not HAVE the UNC coaching JOB.

So GET a CLUE

Coach K = 3 National Championships

1 more than your Top 5 combined (Pitino,Williams).....how the hell do you leave him off, same with Billy D who won back to back??

My  Top 5 Coaches to have at a Major Program with out the worry of them leaving for another school the are the True best Coaches

1. Coach K and i Hate Duke

2. Larry Brown  will out coach ANYONE with equel talent

3. Rick Patino Poor mans Larry Brown

4. Tim Floyd  LOL took Iowa State To back to back BIG 12 titles

5. Bill Self  Only coach who can make all-americans play as a team much better coach

      &nbs p;      &n bsp;     Coach for Kansas the Williams

1. Coach K

2. Roy Williams

3. Pitino

4. Ben Howland

5. Izzo

Honorables: Billy Donovan, Rick Barnes, Bo Ryan

I have McKillup and  Painter sitting in my top 10.    Even though a 91-28 record over 4 seasons is very impressive, it's tuff to place them ahead of the 5 listed.  And i'm talking about within the past 5 seasons- to -current date.  Davidson is a nice feel good story(like George Mason) of  a small division school coming in and knocking off the giants of the tournament.

I also look at it in this stance, that the coaches of the teams mentioned in my post, are and have been successful teams year-after-year during the regular season and during the tourney.

I believe McKillup and Painter will have continued sucess in the years to come, but the strength of their schedules has alot to do with their rankings and placement when comparing them to the "High Profile" teams that you mentioned above.

Top 5 Coaches right now:

1.Coach K, Duke

2. Roy Williams, UNC

3. Eddie Sutton, USF

4. Rick Pitino, Louisville

5. Tom Izzo, Michigan State

Top 5 Mid-Major Coaches:

1. Bob McKillup, Davidson

2. Mark Few, Gonzaga

3. Jim Larinaga, George Mason

4. Dana Altman, Creighton

5. Scott Sutton, Oral Roberts

Should add this isn't for how this year's gone for them, but how they've done in their career.

I should add Rick Barnes as 6th.