John Beilein - West Virginia University
Coach Beilein became the Head Coach of the Mountaineers in 2002. Success has followed Beilein at nearly every coaching stop. He has compiled 24 winning seasons as well as putting together twelve 20 win seasons. Currently Coach Beilein is the only person in Collegiate Coaching ranks to record a 20 win season at four different levels, Junior College, NAIA, NCAA Division II and Division I.
Last season Coach Beilein led the Mountaineers to wins over a school record eight ranked teams. The Mountaineers earned a Number 7 seed in the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Elite 8 for the first time since 1958. Coach Beilein has also led Richmond and Canisius to NCAA Division I tournament appearances.
Coach Beilein, his teams have an outstanding graduation rate. Coach has 502 career wins and ranks 22nd in victories among active Division I head coaches.
Rob Jeter - University Of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
This has been coach Rob Jeter’s first season as head coach at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. He served the past four seasons as Bo Ryan’s number one assistant at the University of Wisconsin. During this time the University of Wisconsin made four NCAA Tournament appearances, reached the Sweet 16 in 2003 and the Elite 8 in 20056. The Badgers also won 2 Big Ten regular season titles and one league tourney title.
Coach Jeter played his college ball at the University of Wisconsin at Platteville for Coach Ryan. In 1991 he captained the Pioneers to the 1991 Division III title and was named to the All-Final Four team. Jeter then played professionally in Portugal, leading the Portuguese national league in scoring.
Coach Jeter has a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration and received a Master’s Degree in adult education in 2001.
Muffet McGraw - University Of Notre Dame
Muffet McGraw recently completed her 18th season as the head women’s basketball coach at Notre Dame with a combined record of 411-155, ( 73% ) She is the most successful basketball coach (men’s or women’s) in Notre Dame history and is poised to become the 27th coach in NCAA Division I history to record 500 career victories. Her over all record in 23 years as a head coach is 499-196 (72%).
McGraw’s resume with the Irish has been outstanding. Going into this season, she has led Notre Dame to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances (including a current streak of 10 in a row) and has amassed 16 20-win seasons in her 18-year run (including an active streak of 12 in a row). She also has piloted the Irish to six NCAA Sweet 16 berths, as well as two trips to the Final Four and the 2001 national championship.
Her biggest success has come since Notre Dame joined the BIG EAST Conference a decade ago. In that time, McGraw has guided the Irish to a 252-75 (77%) record and nine top-three finishes in her team’s 10 seasons in the league. Furthermore, she has coached eight All-Americans and has had 12 of her players go on to play in the WMBA.
Off the court, she has been a superb mentor for many aspiring coaches, having trained 14 former players and/or assistants who are currently coaching at either the college or high school level.
McGraw is a native of Pottsville, Pa., who now resides in Granger, IN with her husband, Matt, and their 15-year-old son, Murphy, who is in his sophomore year at St. Joseph’s High School where he runs cross country and track.
Tubby Smith University Of Kentucky
Since arriving at the University of Kentucky, Coach Smith has led the Wildcats to one National Championship, five SEC Crowns, five SEC Tournament titles, and six Sweet 16 finishes in his eight seasons. In the previous three seasons no Division I school has won as consistently as Kentucky. Coach Smith’s Wildcats are 51-6 in SEC Competitions and 87-15 overall. This represents the best winning percentage in the nation (85%) with the fewest loses.
Coach Smith’s teams have always been known for their solid defense and rebounding. In 2003 he was recognized for his coaching excellence by receiving all seven of the National Coach of the Year honors recognized by the NCAA – AP, USBWA, NAISMITH, BASKETBALL TIMES, THE SPORTING NEWS, NABC an CBS/CHEVROLET. He became the first coach to sweep the list since Indiana’s Bob Knight in 1975.
Over his 14 seasons as a head coach, the 54 year old has had 12 consecutive 20-win seasons. In 2005 he joined Roy Williams (388) and Jim Boeheim (343) as the third coach to win 340 games in 14 seasons or less. Going into the 2005-2006 season Coach Smith’s career record is 343-120, and his 74% winning percentage is seventh among active coaches.
