NCAA Tournament success is the best way for college basketball coaches to build towards legendary status.
Of course, coming out on top over the other 67 teams in the field is no easy task. Only three active coaches — MIke Krzyzewski, Roy Williams and Jay Wright — have won multiple national championships. They all remain far behind John Wooden, who is atop the leaderboard.
The unpredictability of March hasn't treated other notable coaches as well as far as trophies go. Hall of Famers Bill Self, Tom Izzo, John Calipari and Jim Boeheim will aim to join the multiple national championships club this year.
MORE: Most NCAA Tournament wins by school
Here are the coaches who have soared above the rest in March.
List of national championship wins by coach
Coach | National titles | Most recent | Runner-up finishes |
John Wooden | 10 | 1975 | 0 |
Mike Krzyzewski | 5 | 2015 | 4 |
Adolph Rupp | 4 | 1958 | 1 |
Roy Williams | 3 | 2017 | 3 |
Jim Calhoun | 3 | 2011 | 0 |
Bob Knight | 3 | 1987 | 0 |
Denny Crum | 2 | 1986 | 0 |
Billy Donovan | 2 | 2007 | 1 |
Henry Iba | 2 | 1946 | 1 |
Ed Jucker | 2 | 1962 | 1 |
Branch McCracken | 2 | 1953 | 0 |
Dean Smith | 2 | 1993 | 3 |
Phil Woolpert | 2 | 1956 | 0 |
Jay Wright | 2 | 2018 | 0 |
Rick Pitino | 2 | 2013* | 1 |
Howard Hobson | 1 | 1939 | 0 |
Bud Foster | 1 | 1941 | 0 |
Everett Dean | 1 | 1942 | 0 |
Everett Shelton | 1 | 1943 | 0 |
Vadal Peterson | 1 | 1944 | 0 |
Doggie Julian | 1 | 1947 | 0 |
Nat Holman | 1 | 1950 | 0 |
Phog Allen | 1 | 1952 | 2 |
Ken Loeffler | 1 | 1954 | 1 |
Frank McGuire | 1 | 1957 | 1 |
Pete Newell | 1 | 1959 | 1 |
Fred Taylor | 1 | 1960 | 2 |
George Ireland | 1 | 1963 | 0 |
Don Haskins | 1 | 1966 | 0 |
Norm Sloan | 1 | 1974 | 0 |
Al McGuire | 1 | 1977 | 1 |
Joe B. Hall | 1 | 1978 | 1 |
Jud Heathcote | 1 | 1979 | 0 |
Jim Valvano | 1 | 1983 | 0 |
John Thompson | 1 | 1984 | 2 |
Rollie Massimino | 1 | 1985 | 0 |
Larry Brown | 1 | 1988 | 1* |
Steve Fisher | 1 | 1989 | 2* |
Nolan Richardson | 1 | 1994 | 1 |
Jim Harrick | 1 | 1995 | 0 |
Lute Olson | 1 | 1997 | 1 |
Tubby Smith | 1 | 1998 | 0 |
Tom Izzo | 1 | 2000 | 1 |
Gary Williams | 1 | 2002 | 0 |
Jim Boeheim | 1 | 2003 | 2 |
Bill Self | 1 | 2008 | 1 |
John Calipari | 1 | 2012 | 2* |
Kevin Ollie | 1 | 2014 | 0 |
*Includes vacated championships/runner-up finishes
Which coach has the most NCAA Tournament wins?
Coach | Wins | Losses | Winning percentage |
Mike Krzyzewski | 94 | 29 | .764 |
Roy Williams | 77 | 25 | .755 |
Dean Smith | 65 | 27 | .707 |
Jim Boeheim* | 57 | 32 | .640 |
Rick Pitino* | 54 | 19 | .740 |
Jim Calhoun* | 49 | 20 | .710 |
Tom Izzo | 48 | 20 | .706 |
John Wooden | 47 | 10 | .824 |
Bill Self | 47 | 19 | .712 |
Lute Olson | 46 | 28 | .622 |
*Includes vacated wins