Who is the best coach in college basketball?

July 29, 6:30 PMCollege Basketball ExaminerDave Ryan

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The legendary John Wooden

When it comes down to ranking the best coaches in college basketball history, UCLA's John Wooden engulfs the discussion. Obviously current guys like Bobby Knight and Mike Krzyzewski could have a gripe in this argument, but Wooden's numbers (headlined by 10 NCAA titles from 1964 to 1975) clearly speak for themselves. What he accomplished in such a short amount of time brings a whole new meaning to the word "dominance" in a collegiate sport.

In today's game, dominance of that sort is a rare commodity. Following the rise of mid-major programs like George Mason and Butler, the idea of a school winning a handful of titles in a half decade like Wooden appears virtually impossible. There are just too many teams, too much dispersed talent and too many great coaches capable of getting in the way.

The players might be the ones out there on the court playing the game itself, but coaches are quietly becoming the recognizable characters of everything that stands for college hoops. As players jump to the NBA on a whim and their endless replacements prepare to do the same, the men prepping these kids for their future sometimes get thrown under the bus. Not here. By my count, I've got five guys who are in the mix as the best coach in the game today. Take your pick.

John Calipari-Kentucky
Age: 50
National Titles: 0
Final Four Appearances: 2

Massachusetts ('88-'96) - (189 wins, 70 losses, 72.9% win percentage)
Memphis ('00-'09) - (252 wins, 69 losses, 78.5% win percentage)

Even with the impending Derrick Rose situation ready to destroy his cred, Kentucky still went after John Calipari with everything they had this spring. Calipari coming to coach in the SEC sent shock waves through the recruiting world, as top recruits John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins (who de-committed from Memphis) immediately flocked to Calipari's new destination. Despite the lack of a national title on his resume (hit your free throws Derrick Rose), you can make a legit case that Calipari is currently the most desirable coach in the business. How he adjusts to life outside Conference USA will be arguably the biggest test of his career. We already know he can ink five star prospects with his eyes closed, but is he really the best coach in college hoops?

Last three seasons: 104-10 record

Tom Izzo-Michigan State
Age: 54
National Titles: 1
Final Four Appearances: 5

Michigan State ('95-'09) - (336 wins, 137 losses, 71% win percentage)

If it wasn't for Michigan State's impressive run to the NCAA title game this year, Tom Izzo would have likely remained one of the sport's most unheralded coaches. Instead, it appears that he's finally being recognized completely for all of his hard work in East Lansing. Aside from his outstanding recruiting ability and easy going, player-friendly attitude, Izzo has a nice bargaining chip over rival coaches when it comes to recruiting: Every single player he's coached that has stayed for four years in Izzo's tenure has been rewarded with a Final Four appearance. That's a selling point that not many other coaches can match, and gives you a glimpse of just how consistently he gets his team to overachieve at the most important time of the year. More good things look to be on the horizon for Izzo and his Spartans, but is he hands down the best coach in college basketball?

Last three seasons: 80-28 record

Mike Krzyzewski-Duke
Age: 62
National Titles: 3
Final Four Appearances: 10

Army ('75-'80) - (73 wins, 59 losses, 55.3% win percentage)
Duke ('80-'09) - (760 wins, 215 losses, 78% win percentage)

A popular pick to shatter Bobby Knight's record of 902 career coaching victories, Krzyzewski has the most decorated resume of anybody on this list. He even led a bunch of overpaid NBA players to an Olympic gold medal a year ago, and got Kobe Bryant and LeBron James to stop worrying about their point totals in the process. When it comes to teaching the game of basketball, it's tough to say there's a guy doing it better than Krzyzewski right now. His Dukies have uncharacteristically been out of the picture in March the past few years, but you always get the feeling that he's capable of beating anybody in America on a neutral floor. Always a threat to beat you with his game planning, is Mike Krzyzewski really the best coach in the country right now?

Last three seasons: 80-24 record

Bill Self-Kansas
Age: 46
National Titles: 1
Final Four Appearances: 1

Oral Roberts ('93-'97) - (55 wins, 54 losses, 50.5% win percentage)
Tulsa ('97-'00) - (74 wins, 27 losses, 73.3% win percentage)
Illinois ('00-'03) - (78 wins, 24 losses, 76.5% win percentage)
Kansas ('03-'09) - (169 wins, 40 losses, 81.1% win percentage)

Before he established himself with the Jayhawks, Bill Self was viewed as a winner who simply bounced around a lot. Six years into his Kansas tenure, Self has done an admirable job getting into the discussion of the game's best coaches. He rose to fame with his 2008 NCAA title victory over John Calipari's Memphis Tigers, but his true coaching prowess was on full display this past season. With a roster featuring only two of his nine top scorers from the previous year, Self helped lead a group of inexperienced underclassmen to a Big-12 regular season crown. He was a near unanimous pick as college basketball's coach of the year in 08-09, but is he really the best in the sport today?

Last three seasons: 97-16 record

Roy Williams-North Carolina
Age: 58
National Titles: 2
Final Four Appearances: 7

Kansas ('88-'03) - (418 wins, 101 losses, 80.5% win percentage)
North Carolina ('03-'09) - (176 wins, 37 losses, 82.6% win percentage)

The statistics don't lie folks; over the past three years Roy Williams has been the best coach in the business. He's brought home three ACC titles, one NCAA title and has taken his team to the Elite Eight three times. He's also sent hordes of NBA caliber talent to the next level, and somehow finds a way to reload his roster every year despite this. Forbes named Williams the best coach in America back in February, and that was before he added his second career NCAA Championship this spring. Prospective recruits and many news outlets are all over him, but is Roy Williams really the best leader in college hoops?

Last three seasons: 101-14 record

Who gets your vote?