Caught in NBA Draft: 13 Active DI Head Coaches Were First-Round Selections

Did you know that the New York Knicks chose four current NCAA Division I head coaches in opening round of an NBA draft in a 12-year span from 1983 through 1994? A striking number of DI bench bosses probably were a mite more interested in the NBA draft than their counterparts this week if only because they were selected themselves. After former draft picks Tony Bennett, Jim Larranaga and Mike Woodson departed, following is an alphabetical list of the 23 active DI mentors - six at helm of their alma mater - picked in an NBA draft (including total of 13 in opening round):

Division I Coach Current School Alma Mater NBA Team Draft Year Round
Steve Alford Nevada Indiana Dallas Mavericks 1987 2nd
Tommy Amaker Harvard Duke Seattle SuperSonics 1987 3rd
Mike Bibby Sacramento State Arizona Vancouver Grizzlies 1998 1st
Alvin Brooks Lamar Lamar San Antonio Spurs 1981 10th
Craig "Speedy" Claxton Hofstra Hofstra Philadelphia 76ers 2000 1st
Hubert Davis North Carolina North Carolina New York Knicks 1992 1st
Johnny Dawkins UCF Duke San Antonio Spurs 1986 1st
Jamie Dixon Texas Christian Texas Christian Washington Bullets 1987 7th
Bryce Drew Grand Canyon Valparaiso Houston Rockets 1998 1st
Kim English Providence Missouri Detroit Pistons 2012 2nd
Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway Memphis Memphis State Golden State Warriors 1993 1st
Fred Hoiberg Nebraska Iowa State Indiana Pacers 1995 2nd
Bobby Hurley Jr. Arizona State Duke Sacramento Kings 1993 1st
Jim Les UC Davis Bradley Atlanta Hawks 1986 3rd
Mark Madsen California Stanford Los Angeles Lakers 2000 1st
Cuonzo Martin Missouri State Purdue Atlanta Hawks 1995 2nd
Mark Pope Kentucky Kentucky Indiana Pacers 1996 2nd
Damon Stoudamire Georgia Tech Arizona Toronto Raptors 1995 1st
Rod Strickland Long Island DePaul New York Knicks 1988 1st
Reggie Theus Bethune-Cookman UNLV Chicago Bulls 1978 1st
Darrell Walker UALR Arkansas New York Knicks 1983 1st
Charlie Ward Florida A&M Florida State New York Knicks 1994 1st
Maurice "Mo" Williams Jackson State Alabama Utah Jazz 2003 2nd