Building a new roster capable of competing out of the gate in the transfer portal era has never been easier if you’re a first-year head coach. At the same time, building the right chemistry with new pieces in a new setting has never been more challenging.
Among the dozens of first-year head coaches for the 2024-25 season, several have not only overachieved compared to preseason expectations but are also getting prepared to make a potential run in the NCAA Tournament. Here’s a look at the top-10 performances from coaches in their first seasons.
10. Kyle Smith, Stanford (16-9, 8-6 ACC)
For the first time in years, the Cardinal are set to finish above .500 overall. Yes, having star 7-foot-1 senior center Maxime Raynaud (20.4 points per game and 11.7 rebounds per game) helps a lot, but the Cardinal are only two games out of fourth place in their first year in the ACC.
9. Brian Earl, William & Mary (14-11, 8-4 CAA)
Coach Earl turned Cornell into a top-half team and is doing the same thing for the Tribe. Although they’ve lost their last four games, Willam & Mary is still in the top half of league play and notched a big win over College of Charleston.
8. Andy Enfield, SMU (19-5, 10-3 ACC)
As with Stanford, SMU has gone from a mid-tier program in its previous league (AAC) to a contender in the ACC. The Mustangs are currently not only in a position for a coveted top-four spot in the league standings but are in the NCAA Tournament conversation as well. A year ago, Enfield didn’t make the NCAA tournament with former No. 1 prospect Isaiah Collier, but he currently has one of the most balanced rosters in the country, with six Mustangs averaging between 9.5-13.5 points per game.
7. Mark Byington, Vanderbilt (17-7, 5-6 SEC)
The former James Madison coach has managed to keep Vandy competitive in the elite SEC, getting signature wins over Tennessee and Kentucky. He didn’t bring much with him to the Commodores outside of 6-foot-8 big man Jaylen Carey. But the Commodores have still been one of the top offenses in the country, thanks to former North Texas guard and 6-foot-1 scorer Jason Edwards (17.4 points per game).
6. Darian DeVries, West Virginia Mountaineers (15-9, 6-7 Big 12)
Even when fully healthy, WVU was projected to finish in the bottom tier of the Big 12. Yet even without 6-foot-7 senior forward Tucker DeVries, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery, the Mountaineers have played themselves into an at-large spot, getting big wins over Kansas, Iowa State, Arizona and Gonzaga. When it comes to overachieving, the older DeVries has set a high bar among first-year coaches.
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5. Jerrod Calhoun, Utah State (22-3 (12-2 Mountain West)
Yes, Utah State’s success with previous coaches is notable, but that doesn’t take away Coach Calhoun’s big first year in the Mountain West. The Aggies are currently second in the standings heading into their huge game against New Mexico this weekend. Utah State has wins over Boise State, Saint Mary’s, and Iowa and boasts a top-30 scoring offense, which is similar to the years when Calhoun was thriving at Youngstown State.
4. Dusty May, Michigan (19-5, 11-2 Big Ten)
With a Final Four appearance on his resume from his days at Florida Atlantic, it’s not a major surprise that May already has Michigan back in the national discussion. A win this week over Purdue vaulted the Wolverines into the No. 1 spot in the Big Ten standings. They have a potent offense and scoring depth, with five players averaging in double figures.
3. Ben McCollum, Drake Bulldogs (23-2, 13-2 Missouri Valley)
When Darian and his son Tucker DeVries went from Drake to WVU last offseason, it was figured that Drake would have to rebuild at least a bit in the MVC. Instead, the Bulldogs are No. 1 in the standings once again, having won their last 10 games. McCollum has been considered a rising star in this industry after dominating the Division II level at Northwest Missouri State for years. At this rate, his name will be linked to even bigger jobs going forward.
2. Pat Kelsey, Louisville (19-6, 12-2 ACC)
Despite dealing with several key injuries to a brand new roster, Coach Kelsey showed early on that this was going to be a different Louisville squad. The Cardinals have won 12 of their last 13 games and have gone from the bottom of the conference standings to just one game back of Duke for first place. They are in good position to get an invitation back to the Big Dance.
1. Mark Pope, Kentucky (17-7, 6-5 SEC)
The Wildcats started the season ranked No. 23 in the AP poll. They’ve been ranked weekly since, including a few weeks in the top 10. Pope made history with the program, winning five against teams ranked in the top 10 for the first time in school history. Yes, he has had a lot to work with, but Pope’s first season includes wins over Duke, Gonzaga and a sweep over top-10 Tennessee. It’s hard to find a better campaign from a first-year head coach this year.
Honorable mentions: Robert Ehsan (UIC), Preston Spradlin (James Madison), Jon Jaques (Cornell), and Josh Schertz (Saint Louis)
