Winning the NCAA Tournament symbolizes the pinnacle of success for a college basketball coach. But every once in a while, a young coach rises to the occasion and snatches a title from one of the old guard. But who are the youngest coaches to win a title? Let’s take a look.
5 Youngest Coaches to Win an NCAA Championship
5. Pat Summitt, Tennessee Lady Volunteers (36)
Pat Summitt’s Hall of Fame coaching career began in 1974 before women’s collegiate basketball became an NCAA-sanctioned event. Summitt, who was 22 years old at the time, took over as Tennessee’s head coach midway through the season after the previous coach unexpectedly departed.
When the NCAA sanctioned women’s college basketball in 1981, Summitt led the Volunteers to the Final Four before falling to the eventual national champions, Louisiana Tech. Her first NCAA tournament championship came in 1986-1987 when she was just 36 years old.
4. Bob Knight, Indiana Hoosiers (35)
Bob Knight’s first NCAA Tournament title came with the Indiana Hoosiers in 1976, when he was 35. This makes him the fourth youngest NCAA men’s basketball coach to win the championship. The Hoosiers finished their famous season 32-0, defeating Big Ten opponent Michigan in the national title game.
This marked the beginning of Knight’s renowned coaching career, which included two more championships with Indiana in 1981 and 1987. He coached for 42 years and has an overall record of 899-374. Knight has made 28 NCAA Tournament berths as a coach, including five Final Four appearances and three championships.
3. Fred Taylor, Ohio State Buckeyes (35)
In 1960, Fred Taylor became the third-youngest coach to win an NCAA men’s basketball championship, leading the Ohio State Buckeyes to glory. At 35 years, three months, and 16 days old, Taylor exhibited his strategic brilliance as he led his team to the top of collegiate basketball.
He made five NCAA tournament excursions, including four Final Fours and one championship win.
2. Harold “Bud” Foster, Wisconsin Badgers (34)
Bud Foster spent 25 years coaching at Wisconsin, and at 34 years, nine months, and 29 days, he became the second youngest head coach to win an NCAA tournament championship.
Foster won his first and only championship with the Badgers in 1941, amid one of his two NCAA Tournament appearances.
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Foster was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1964 and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
1. Branch McCracken, Indiana Hoosiers (31)
Branch McCracken, former Indiana head coach, is the youngest in men’s collegiate basketball history to win an NCAA tournament title at the age of 31 years, nine months, and 21 days. McCracken won his first title in 1940 and a second in 1953.
McCracken began coaching at Ball State in 1930 and took over at Indiana in 1938. He spent two seasons with the Hoosiers, from 1938 to 1943 and 1946 to 1965.
He concluded his coaching career with a cumulative record of 450-231 at Ball State and Indiana. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1960.
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