Roy Williams, Bill Self, Dean Smith included on list of top coaches in tourney history
Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball coach Bill Self and former KU and North Carolina coach Roy Williams, as well as former KU basketball player Dean Smith, have been included on Fox Sports’ list of the top 10 coaches in NCAA Tournament history.
Self, who has been at KU 22 seasons after three at Illinois, three at Tulsa and four at Oral Roberts, was listed as No. 9 all-time, while Williams, who coached at KU for 15 years and UNC for 18, earned No. 3.
Smith, a player on KU’s 1952 NCAA title team coached by Phog Allen who had a Hall of Fame coaching career at UNC, was ranked No. 6 all-time.
Mike Krzyzewski of Duke was named the No. 1 coach in NCAA Tournament history by Fox Sports, while UCLA’s John Wooden was No. 2, followed by Williams, Jim Calhoun (UConn), Rick Pitino (Providence, Kentucky, Louisville, St. John’s), Smith (UNC), Bob Knight (Indiana, Texas Tech), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Self and Billy Donovan (Florida).
In selecting Self the ninth best coach in NCAA Tournament history, Foxsports.com wrote: “One of the best coaches in the game today, Self, has a long history in the NCAA Tournament. Since starting at Kansas in 2003-04, the Jayhawks have made the tournament in every season there was a tournament held under the former Illinois coach.
That run has helped extend the NCAA record for consecutive tourney appearances to 33 for Kansas. Moreover, he has also claimed the sixth-most wins in tournament history and two national titles.”
Of Williams, Foxsports.com wrote: “The only coach in UNC history to win more titles than Dean Smith was Williams, who earned three national titles when all was said and done. Williams guided nine different teams to the Final Four, and, like Calhoun, is one of just six coaches to win three or more national titles. His 106 wins are also the second-most of any coach in tournament history.
Of former KU player Dean Smith, Fox Sports wrote: “One of the top coaches of all time, Smith, is a legend for his work at North Carolina. His 65 wins during NCAA Tournament play are the third-most of any coach. His two national titles are one of all the titles the Tar Heels have won in the school’s history, while his 11 Final Fours are the third-most in the sport’s history, with only Mike Krzyzewski and John Wooden having more. He’s also one of four coaches in tournament history with 90 wins.”
