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"7 mid-major college basketball coaches on the rise entering the 2019-20 season" - Clutch Sports
by Blake Lovell
posted: October 1, 2019
https://clutchpoints.com/7-mid-major...019-20-season/
"Rising up the coaching ranks isn’t easy in college basketball, but there are some coaches who let their winning ways speak for themselves. With a lot of coaching turnover each offseason, fans are always wondering who the next big names in coaching will be. There are a ton of possible options, so this is far from a complete list. I could just as easily make this a top 50 list because there are a plethora of great coaches at the mid-major level. But here are seven mid-major coaches who are undoubtedly on the rise as they head into the 2019-20 season.
7. Mike Rhoades (VCU)...
6. Scott Nagy (Wright State)...
5. Matt McMahon (Murray State)...
4. Joe Pasternack (UC Santa Barbara)...
3. Earl Grant (Charleston)
Luring away the Charleston native won’t be easy for any program, but Grant has built a reputation that could have him in high demand in the near future. The 42-year-old has led the Cougars to three straight seasons of 24 or more wins, and there’s a good chance they hit that mark again this season thanks to the return of standout guard Grant Riller, who averaged 21.9 points per game during the 2018-19 campaign. It’s also worth noting that his teams have finished in the top 25 nationally in turnover percentage and in the top 60 in free throw shooting in each of the past three seasons. Having a disciplined team is crucial to success at any level, and he has instilled that at Charleston. Grant is a former Wichita State and Clemson assistant with a lot of experience at the Division I level, and he’s someone that will continue to be on coaching hot board lists each offseason just because he’s an excellent coach.
2. Steve Forbes (East Tennessee State)
Speaking of former Wichita State assistants, Forbes has been connected to several high-profile jobs the past few offseasons. The reason? Because, as DJ Khaled once said, all Forbes does is win. Since taking over as East Tennessee State head coach back in 2015, he has led the program to 24 or more wins in each of his four seasons. He’s now 100-39 during his tenure in Johnson City. Forbes’ teams have been great on defense, finishing in the top 60 in turnover percentage defense the past three seasons. They’ve also been able to turn that into easy offense, as East Tennessee State has ranked in the top 65 in effective field goal percentage in all four years he has been on the job. The Bucs earned an NCAA Tournament bid in 2017, and they have an opportunity to get back there this season as the preseason favorite in the Southern Conference. Forbes is simply no stranger to success as a former assistant at Tennessee and Texas A&M (as well as leading Northwest Florida State to two straight NJCAA Division I title games), and he’s certainly one of the best mid-major coaches in college basketball.
1. Chris Jans (New Mexico State)
Three former Wichita State assistants in a row? It’s clear that Gregg Marshall knows what he’s doing when it comes to hiring coaches. Jans went 58-11 in his first two seasons at New Mexico State, which included back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. he 30 wins a season ago were the most in school history, and what’s even scarier for WAC opponents is that the Aggies return seven of their top nine scorers this season while adding several talented players to the mix. Jans has accomplished a lot in just two years, and with another 30-win campaign potentially in the works, he’s helping New Mexico continue its dominance in the WAC."
by Blake Lovell
posted: October 1, 2019
https://clutchpoints.com/7-mid-major...019-20-season/
"Rising up the coaching ranks isn’t easy in college basketball, but there are some coaches who let their winning ways speak for themselves. With a lot of coaching turnover each offseason, fans are always wondering who the next big names in coaching will be. There are a ton of possible options, so this is far from a complete list. I could just as easily make this a top 50 list because there are a plethora of great coaches at the mid-major level. But here are seven mid-major coaches who are undoubtedly on the rise as they head into the 2019-20 season.
7. Mike Rhoades (VCU)...
6. Scott Nagy (Wright State)...
5. Matt McMahon (Murray State)...
4. Joe Pasternack (UC Santa Barbara)...
3. Earl Grant (Charleston)
Luring away the Charleston native won’t be easy for any program, but Grant has built a reputation that could have him in high demand in the near future. The 42-year-old has led the Cougars to three straight seasons of 24 or more wins, and there’s a good chance they hit that mark again this season thanks to the return of standout guard Grant Riller, who averaged 21.9 points per game during the 2018-19 campaign. It’s also worth noting that his teams have finished in the top 25 nationally in turnover percentage and in the top 60 in free throw shooting in each of the past three seasons. Having a disciplined team is crucial to success at any level, and he has instilled that at Charleston. Grant is a former Wichita State and Clemson assistant with a lot of experience at the Division I level, and he’s someone that will continue to be on coaching hot board lists each offseason just because he’s an excellent coach.
2. Steve Forbes (East Tennessee State)
Speaking of former Wichita State assistants, Forbes has been connected to several high-profile jobs the past few offseasons. The reason? Because, as DJ Khaled once said, all Forbes does is win. Since taking over as East Tennessee State head coach back in 2015, he has led the program to 24 or more wins in each of his four seasons. He’s now 100-39 during his tenure in Johnson City. Forbes’ teams have been great on defense, finishing in the top 60 in turnover percentage defense the past three seasons. They’ve also been able to turn that into easy offense, as East Tennessee State has ranked in the top 65 in effective field goal percentage in all four years he has been on the job. The Bucs earned an NCAA Tournament bid in 2017, and they have an opportunity to get back there this season as the preseason favorite in the Southern Conference. Forbes is simply no stranger to success as a former assistant at Tennessee and Texas A&M (as well as leading Northwest Florida State to two straight NJCAA Division I title games), and he’s certainly one of the best mid-major coaches in college basketball.
1. Chris Jans (New Mexico State)
Three former Wichita State assistants in a row? It’s clear that Gregg Marshall knows what he’s doing when it comes to hiring coaches. Jans went 58-11 in his first two seasons at New Mexico State, which included back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. he 30 wins a season ago were the most in school history, and what’s even scarier for WAC opponents is that the Aggies return seven of their top nine scorers this season while adding several talented players to the mix. Jans has accomplished a lot in just two years, and with another 30-win campaign potentially in the works, he’s helping New Mexico continue its dominance in the WAC."
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