March Madness History: How 2025 Men’s NCAA Tournament Coaches Played in Their Careers

The NCAA tournament offers a platform for athletes to leave a lasting legacy and for spectators to relive the incredible performances of previous collegiate stars, so it’s not just about selecting a winner. While players receive the most attention, some coaches have the rare chance to return to the court as leaders leading the teams through the March Madness, rather than as athletes.

Two of the 21 coaches participating this year were former college teammates, while six of them were coaches at their alma school. All 21 coaches had previously participated in the NCAA tournament. For these coaches, the tournament is more than simply a competition; it’s an opportunity to relive their own high points while supporting the aspirations of a new generation.

Duke’s Jon Scheyer — Duke from 2006-2010

To younger fans, Jon Scheyer is primarily recognized as the head coach of Duke, having learned under the iconic Mike Krzyzewski. However, before he took the reins as the Blue Devils’ coach, he was already making waves on the court.

A five-star recruit in high school, Scheyer played for Duke from 2006 to 2010, participating in the NCAA tournament each year. He was a starter for three of those seasons, but his most significant achievement came in 2010 when he led the Blue Devils to a national championship—their first in almost ten years. In the championship game against Butler, he contributed 15 points, six rebounds, and a team-high five assists, including five of Duke’s last ten points in their tight 61-59 win.

His performance throughout that tournament was remarkable. He scored 20 points in Duke’s Elite Eight victory over Baylor and followed it up with 23 points against West Virginia in the Final Four. Now, as a head coach, Scheyer has the chance to carve his name into history once more. If he guides Duke to another championship, he would become only the second individual to win a national title as both a player and a coach at the same institution.

Grand Canyon’s Bryce Drew — Valparaiso from 1994-1998

Certain plays can define a player’s legacy, and for Bryce Drew, his legendary buzzer-beater during the 1998 NCAA tournament is permanently inscribed in the annals of college basketball. This moment encapsulated the thrill of March Madness—last-minute heroics, raw emotion, and an underdog overcoming the odds.

Drew’s Valparaiso team, a No. 13 seed, had faced disappointing first-round exits in both 1996 and 1997. In 1998, they were on the verge of another early departure, trailing No. 4 Ole Miss 69-67 with only 4.1 seconds left on the clock. To complicate matters, Drew had just missed a three-pointer, and Ole Miss’ Ansu Sesay was poised to seal the game at the free-throw line.

However, destiny intervened. Sesay missed both of his free throws, and in the ensuing scramble, a teammate inadvertently tipped the rebound out of bounds, granting Valparaiso one final opportunity with just 2.5 seconds remaining and 94 feet to cover.

Then came the unforgettable moment. Jamie Sykes executed a nearly full-court pass to Bill Jenkins, who soared between two Ole Miss defenders and deftly tipped the ball to Drew, who was racing down the baseline. Without a moment’s hesitation—no dribble, no unnecessary movements—Drew launched the shot. The ball swished through the net as the clock hit zero, marking Valparaiso’s first-ever NCAA tournament victory. This moment is now celebrated as *The Shot*, one of the most legendary buzzer-beaters in tournament history.

Drew was not merely a one-time sensation that year. He scored 22 points in the thrilling first-round game and matched that tally in Valparaiso’s second-round upset against No. 12 Florida State. Although the team’s Cinderella story concluded in the Sweet 16 against No. 8 Rhode Island, Drew’s remarkable performances had already secured his legacy in March Madness history.

Today, Drew is carrying that same underdog spirit as the head coach of Grand Canyon University, guiding his team into the tournament with the same fervor that once made him a celebrated figure on college basketball’s biggest stage.

North Carolina’s Hubert Davis — North Carolina from 1988-1992

Hubert Davis, who played for North Carolina from 1988 to 1992, is among the notable stars the Tar Heels have produced in NCAA tournament history.

During his first two seasons, Davis contributed as a role player, which led to two Sweet 16 exits, including an 11-point effort in UNC’s 1990 tournament defeat against Arkansas.

However, his junior year marked a significant breakthrough, particularly during March Madness. He averaged 13.3 points per game, highlighted by a 19-point performance in the Elite Eight victory over Temple and a game-high 25 points in the Final Four loss to Kansas, a team coached by Roy Williams.

In 1992, Davis and the Tar Heels faced Ohio State in the Sweet 16, concluding a season where he averaged 21.4 points per game. He consistently scored in double figures during his last eight NCAA Tournament appearances.

Kentucky coach Mark Pope — Washington/Kentucky from 1991-1996

As the 2024-25 season approaches, only seven head coaches have ever claimed a Division I national championship as players, with just two participating in this year’s tournament. One of them is Duke’s Jon Scheyer, and the other is Kentucky’s Mark Pope.

Pope began his college journey as a standout at Washington, where he earned the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year award in 1992. Unfortunately, the Huskies fell short of making it to the NCAA tournament during his first two years.

That’s when he made the move to Kentucky.

Standing at 6-10, Pope transferred to Kentucky for his junior and senior seasons, helping the team reach the Elite Eight in his first year in Lexington and ultimately winning the national title in his final season.

As a team captain for the 1996 championship squad, he averaged 7.6 points and 5.2 rebounds over 20.3 minutes per game. While his performance in the title game against Syracuse wasn’t his best, he did deliver two crucial free throws in the semifinal match against top-ranked UMass.

Rick Pitino, St. John’s Red Storm

Rick Pitino’s credentials are impressive. With seven Final Four appearances, two national championships, and an overall record of 884–310 (.740) since he began his Division I coaching career in 1975, he has established himself as a true icon in the sport.

So, what else is there for him to achieve?

At 72 years old, the head coach of St. John’s has once again transformed a college basketball program in under two years, guiding the Red Storm to their first Big East Tournament title since 2000. He now stands on the brink of making history by potentially becoming the first coach to lead four different teams to the Final Four.

Interestingly, John Calipari—who took over at Kentucky after Pitino—remains the only other coach to have led three teams to the Final Four. With the Arkansas Razorbacks positioned as the No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region, there’s a possibility of a second-round matchup between Calipari and Pitino in Providence.

Coaches who participated in the NCAA tournament

Presenting the 21 coaches who made it to the Big Dance. This list excludes those whose teams were knocked out in the 2025 First Four round.

NAME	SCHOOL	SCHOOL PLAYED AT	APPEARANCES	BEST TOURNAMENT RUN/ROUND
Alan Huss	High Point	Creighton	3	1999, Second round
Andrew Toole	Robert Morris	Elon/UPenn	2	2002, First round
Bill Self	Kansas	Oklahoma State	1	1983, First round
Bryce Drew	Grand Canyon	Valparaiso	3	1998, Sweet 16
Dan Hurley	UConn	Seton Hall	3	1992, Sweet 16
Dennis Gates	Missouri	UC Berkeley	1	2002, Second round
Dwight Perry	Wofford	Kentucky	2	2007, Second round
Hubert Davis	North Carolina	North Carolina	3	1991, Final Four
Jon Scheyer	Duke	Duke	4	2010, National Champions
Kevin Willard	Maryland	Western Kentucky, Pitt	1	1993, Sweet 16
Mark Pope	Kentucky	Washington/Kentucky	2	1996, National Champions
Matt Painter	Purdue	Purdue	3	1990, Second round
Mike White	Georgia	Ole Miss	3	1999, Second round
Pat Kelsey	Louisville	Wyoming/Xavier	1	1995, First round
Penny Hardaway	Memphis	Memphis	2	1992, Elite Eight
Phil Martelli, Jr.	Bryant	Saint Joseph’s	2	2001, Second round
Porter Moser	Oklahoma	Creighton	1	1991, First round
Sean Miller	Xavier	Pitt	3	1988, Second round
Todd Golden	Florida	Saint Mary’s (CA)	2	2008, First round
Tony Madlock	Alabama State	Memphis	2	1992, Elite Eight
Travis DeCuire	Montana	Montana	2	1992, First round