Post Regular Season: SEC Basketball Head Coach Power Ranking
By Ronald Evans
No. 6 - Todd Golden - Florida Gators
Todd Golden has the Gators trending up in his second season at Florida. At 21-10 and 11-7 in SEC play, the Gators are a Big Dance lock. An Alabama vs. Florida rematch is anticipated in Nashville.
No. 5 - Bruce Pearl - Auburn Tigers
The Tigers are tough to beat in Auburn. When away, their season record is 5-5. They also have a poor 1-7 record against Quad 1 teams. Their overall 24-7 record, including 13-5 in SEC play, has the Tigers as a solid 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
No. 4 - Rick Barnes - Tennessee Vols
An SEC Regular Season Championship suggests Barnes should be at the top of this list. Tennessee is a very good team that could go far in the NCAA Tournament. The only reason Barnes is not ranked No. 1 is because the three coaches above him have overcome more adversity in 2023-24.
No. 3 - John Calipari - Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky fans were doubting Calipari in January when the Cats lost to Texas A&M and South Carolina. Then it got worse for Calipari and the Cats. Kentucky lost three straight home games. Kentucky fans and many college basketball experts claimed Calipari's run as a top coach was over. After the three-game home skid, the Wildcats have won seven of eight games, including wins over Auburn, Alabama, and Tennessee. No team wants Kentucky in the SEC Tournament and top NCAA Tournament teams should also be wary.
No. 2 - Nate Oats - Alabama Crimson Tide
Nate Oats went into the 2023-24 season having lost all his assistants to bigger opportunities. His returning roster included just three scholarship players. At 21-10 overall and 13-5 in SEC play, the Crimson Tide has over-achieved. Oats has almost done the best coaching job in the league.
No. 1 - Lamont Paris - South Carolina Gamecocks
Last season South Carolina won 11 games. Now at 25-6 overall and 13-5 in SEC play, the Gamecocks are the SEC's best turnaround story in many seasons. Tennessee's Rick Barnes has touted Paris as worthy of National Coach of the Year, saying " the job that Lamont has done here is amazing." Barnes makes a sound claim based on what Lamont Paris has accomplished in Columbia.