Athlon Sports Top 50 Coaches. LB #40

[blackoutpony]

It's too low IMO, but they do present a valid argument

40. Larry Brown, SMURecord: 192-78
Record at SMU: 15-17 overall (.469), 5-11 Conference USA (.312)
NCAA Tournament: 19-6, three Final Fours, one national championship
Here’s a dilemma: Where should Larry Brown rank as SMU’s coach? His past credentials are impeccable with a national title at Kansas and a Final Four at UCLA (both were in the 1980s), plus an NBA championship and NBA coach of the year with two different franchises. Coaching in college and coaching in the NBA require different skill sets. Moreover, coaching in college in 1988 requires a different skill set than in 2013. Can Brown be as good a program CEO as Fran Dunphy, who we have listed ahead of him? We don't know right now. Brown's debut season at SMU was unimpressive, but the Mustangs were building for their new conference. Brown has brought in a slew of transfers and a major recruit in Keith Frazier. With better personnel against tougher competition in the American Athletic Conference, Brown will have a better gauge of what his third stint as a college coach will bring.

http://network.yardbarker.com/college_b ... 4/14558428

[The PonyGrad]

It's too low IMO, but they do present a valid argument

40. Larry Brown, SMURecord: 192-78
Record at SMU: 15-17 overall (.469), 5-11 Conference USA (.312)
NCAA Tournament: 19-6, three Final Fours, one national championship
Here’s a dilemma: Where should Larry Brown rank as SMU’s coach? His past credentials are impeccable with a national title at Kansas and a Final Four at UCLA (both were in the 1980s), plus an NBA championship and NBA coach of the year with two different franchises. Coaching in college and coaching in the NBA require different skill sets. Moreover, coaching in college in 1988 requires a different skill set than in 2013. Can Brown be as good a program CEO as Fran Dunphy, who we have listed ahead of him? We don't know right now. Brown's debut season at SMU was unimpressive, but the Mustangs were building for their new conference. Brown has brought in a slew of transfers and a major recruit in Keith Frazier. With better personnel against tougher competition in the American Athletic Conference, Brown will have a better gauge of what his third stint as a college coach will bring.

http://network.yardbarker.com/college_b ... 4/14558428

Fair enough, but I would not bet against LB.

[SoCal_Pony]

I guarantee you there are not 39 other coaches who could have landed 2 McD All-American's including the #1 prospect in his class to dear old SMU. Not even certain 5 coaches could have pulled this off.

and as for his coaching abilities, I would place him top 5.

Bonus points for his continued passion for the game.

Conclusion - He gets my vote for #1

[mustangxc]

Agree! I think Calipari, Pitino, Izzo, Krzyzewski, Boeheim, Bob Huggins, Bill Self, Roy Williams is the extent of coaches that may have had similar results, but there is no guarantee.

[ponyboy]

Just ask the coaches themselves whether LB is truly #40