Oct. 21, 2011
(Note: Research done with the help of SIDs of both teams and conferences throughout the nation. If we missed someone or goofed, let us know.)
The Dayton Daily News takes a look at Coach Sendek's tree (April of 2011)
Herb Sendek is the 48-year old Sun Devil head coach with 18 years of head coaching experience. He earned his first job at age 30 at Miami of Ohio, which has allowed him to compile the best list of former assistant coaches turned current D-I head coaches in the nation. Currently there are nine former Coach Sendek assistants leading programs. Rick Pitino is next with seven.
The latest addition to the list is Dayton's Archie Miller, who spent three seasons on Coach Sendek's staff at ASU (2006-07) and North Carolina State (2004-06), the last two years as a full-time assistant. In 2004-05, Miller was the Wolfpack's director of basketball operations. In each of his final two years in Raleigh, NCSU won more than 20 games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. His coaching career began at N.C. State in 2002-03, where he filled the role of intern under Sendek.
Prior to that was 12-year sidekick Mark Phelps, who earned the Drake spot in the spring of 2008 after serving for 10 years on the staff at NC State and for two years at ASU. Former NC State sidekick John Groce also earned the Ohio University position in the spring of 2008.
The others are Jim Christian, formerly at Kent State and now at TCU (Miami assistant from 1994-96), Charlie Coles at Miami of Ohio (Miami assistant from 1994-96), Larry Hunter at Western Carolina (NC State assistant from 2001-05), Ron Hunter of Georgia State (Miami assistant from 1993-94), Ohio State's Thad Matta (Miami assistant in 1994-95) and Arizona's Sean Miller (assistant at both Miami from 1993-95 and at NC State from 1996-2000).
NATION'S TOP COACHING TREES ENTERING 2011-12 MEN'S HOOPS SEASON
COACH SENDEK, ARIZONA STATE (9): Jim Christian, TCU; Charlie Coles, Miami of Ohio; John Groce, Ohio; Larry Hunter, Western Carolina; Ron Hunter, Georgia State; Thad Matta, Ohio State; Archie Miller, Dayton; Sean Miller, Arizona; Mark Phelps, Drake
RICK PITINO, LOUISVILLE (7): Mick Cronin, Cincinnati; Billy Donovan, Florida; Steve Masiello, Manhattan; Marvin Menzies, New Mexico State; Herb Sendek, Arizona State; Tubby Smith, Minnesota; Kevin Willard, Seton Hall
MIKE MONTGOMERY, CALIFORNIA (7): Jeff Jackson, Furman; Trent Johnson, LSU; Stew Morill, Utah State; Eric Reveno, Portland; Blaine Taylor, Old Dominion; Russell Turner, UC-Irvine; Willis Wilson, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
JIM CALHOUN, UCONN (5): Howie Dickenman, Central Connecticut State; Mike Jarvis, Florida Atlantic; Tom Moore, Quinnipiac; Steve Pikiell, Stony Brook; Ted Woodward, Maine
BILLY DONOVAN, FLORIDA (5): Anthony Grant, Alabama; Donnie Jones, UCF; Lewis Preston, Kennesaw State; Larry Shyatt, Wyoming; Shaka Smart, VCU
TOM IZZO, MICHIGAN STATE (5): Tom Crean, Indiana; Brian Gregory, Georgia Tech; Stan Heath, South Florida; Mark Montgomery, Northern Illinois; Doug Wojcik, Tulsa
JOHN CALIPARI, KENTUCKY (5): Tony Barbee, Auburn; Bruiser Flint, Drexel; Derek Kellogg, UMASS; Chuck Martin, Marist; Josh Pastner, Memphis;
BEN BRAUN, RICE (4): Keith Dambrot, Akron; Billy Kennedy, Texas A&M; George Nessman, San Jose State; Gary Waters, Cleveland State
TRENT JOHNSON, LSU (4): David Carter, Nevada; Mark Fox, Georgia; Eric Reveno, Portland; Keith Richard, Louisiana-Monroe
STEW MORRILL, UTAH STATE (4): Jeff Jackson, Furman; Randy Rahe, Weber State; Blaine Taylor, Old Dominion; Don Verlin, Idaho