Swallowing Your Pride: Mid-Major Coaches Previously At Power Conferences
April 12th, 2022 - 11:10
Florida Gulf Coast (Pat Chambers), Massachusetts (Frank Martin), Miami (Ohio) (Travis Steele), Murray State (Steve Prohm), Rhode Island (Archie Miller) and San Diego (Steve Lavine) feature new head coaches previously piloting at least one power-conference member. Following is an alphabetical list of former power-league mentors - 12 of them at multiple power-conference members - swallowing their pride and currently toiling in more obscurity at mid-major level:
| Active Head Coach | Current Mid-Major School | Previous Power League School(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Alford | Nevada (since 2019-20) | Iowa (1999-00 through 2006-07) and UCLA (2013-14 to 2018-19) |
| Tommy Amaker | Harvard (since 2007-08) | Seton Hall (1997-98 through 2000-01) and Michigan (2001-02 through 2006-07) |
| Tony Barbee | Central Michigan (since 2021-22) | Auburn (2010-11 through 2013-14) |
| Rod Barnes | Cal State Bakersfield (since 2011-12) | Mississippi (1998-99 through 2005-06) |
| Pat Chambers | Florida Gulf Coast (since 2022-23) | Penn State (2011-12 through 2019-20) |
| Mike Davis | Detroit (since 2018-19) | Indiana (2000-01 through 2005-06) |
| Johnny Dawkins | UCF (since 2016-17) | Stanford (2008-09 through 2015-16) |
| Ed DeChellis | Navy (since 2011-12) | Penn State (2003-04 through 2010-11) |
| Steve Donahue | Penn (since 2015-16) | Boston College (2010-11 through 2013-14) |
| Bryce Drew | Grand Canyon (since 2020-21) | Vanderbilt (2016-17 through 2018-19) |
| Cliff Ellis | Coastal Carolina (since 2007-08) | Clemson (1984-85 through 1993-94) and Auburn (1994-95 through 2003-04) |
| Travis Ford | Saint Louis (since 2016-17) | Oklahoma State (2008-09 through 2015-16) |
| Billy Gillispie | Tarleton State (since 2020-21) | Texas A&M (2004-05 through 2006-07), Kentucky (2007-08 and 2008-09) and Texas Tech (2011-12) |
| Anthony Grant | Dayton (since 2017-18) | Alabama (2009-10 through 2014-15) |
| Brian Gregory | South Florida (since 2017-18) | Georgia Tech (2011-12 through 2015-16) |
| John Groce | Akron (since 2017-18) | Illinois (2012-13 through 2016-17) |
| Stan Heath | Eastern Michigan (since 2021-22) | Arkansas (2002-03 through 2006-07) and South Florida (2007-08 through 2012-13) |
| Darrin Horn | Northern Kentucky (since 2019-20) | South Carolina (2008-09 through 2011-12) |
| Trent Johnson | Cal State Northridge (since 2021-22) | Stanford (2004-05 through 2007-08), Louisiana State (2008-09 through 2011-12) and Texas Christian (2012-13 through 2015-16) |
| Jeff Jones | Old Dominion (since 2013-14) | Virginia (1990-91 through 1997-98) |
| Johnny Jones | Texas Southern (since 2018-19) | Louisiana State (2012-13 through 2016-17) |
| Andy Kennedy | UAB (since 2020-21) | Cincinnati (2005-06) and Mississippi (2006-07 to 2017-18) |
| Steve Lavine | San Diego (since 2022-23) | UCLA (1996-97 through 2002-03) and St. John's (2010-11 through 2014-15) |
| Todd Lickliter | Evansville (since middle of 2019-20) | Iowa (2007-08 through 2009-10) |
| Frank Martin | Massachusetts (since 2022-23) | Kansas State (2007-08 through 2011-12) and South Carolina (2012-13 through 2021-22) |
| Bobby McCullum | Florida A&M (since 2017-18) | South Florida (2003-04 through 2006-07*) |
| Ritchie McKay | Liberty (2007-08, 2008-09 and since 2015-16) | Oregon State (2000-01 and 2001-02) |
| Tim Miles | San Jose State (since 2021-22) | Nebraska (2012-13 through 2018-19) |
| Ryan "Archie" Miller | Rhode Island (since 2022-23) | Indiana (2017-18 through 2020-21) |
| Dan Monson | Long Beach State (since 2007-08) | Minnesota (1999-00 to 2006-07) |
| John Pelphrey | Tennessee Tech (since 2019-20) | Arkansas (2007-08 through 2010-11) |
| Rick Pitino | Iona (since 2020-21) | Providence (1985-86 and 1986-87), Kentucky (1989-90 through 1996-97) and Louisville (2001-02 through 2016-17) |
| Steve Prohm | Murray State (2011-12 through 2014-15 and since 2022-23) | Iowa State (2015-16 through 2020-21) |
| Kelvin Sampson | Houston (since 2014-15) | Washington State (1987-88 through 1993-94), Oklahoma (1994-95 through 2005-06) and Indiana (2006-07 and 2007-08) |
| Herb Sendek | Santa Clara (since 2016-17) | North Carolina State (1996-97 through 2005-06) and Arizona State (2006-07 through 2014-15) |
| Travis Steele | Miami of Ohio (since 2022-23) | Xavier (2018-19 through 2021-22) |
*South Florida's inaugural season in Big East Conference was 2006-07.