Just thought it would be fun to see how people would grade our coaches from Al McGuire to Tom Crean. I looked at it in terms of what level the program was at when they arrived to when they left.
Al McGuire - A+
Program went from afterthought to regular Final Four threat during his watch. You cannot understate what an amazing job he did at Marquette. One of the best 5 coaching jobs any basketball coach has done at any University ever. Coach Reeves on the TV show White Shadow when an All-American basketball player transfers to Carver, "It's nice to have a kid who'se biggest concern is whether to go to Indiana or Marquette." That's how good this little midwestern Catholic college was in the mid 70's.
Hank Raymonds - C-
Program went from annual Final Four threat level to annual NCAA participant level under his watch.
Rick Majerus - C-
Program went from regular NCAA participant level to regular NIT participant level under his watch.
Bob Dukiet - F (only because you can't go lower)
Program went from regular NIT participant level to regular loser level under his watch.
Kevin O'Neill - B+
Program went from regular loser level back to regular NCAA participant level under his watch. You may argue this, but I think it was pretty clear that he was going to get us into the NCAAs most seasons. He is the true post-McGuire savior of this program in tterms of coaches. Loses A for leaving at first opportunity.
Mike Deane - C
Program wnet from regular NCAA participant level to regular NIT participant level under his watch.
Tom Crean - B+
Program went from regular NIT participant level to regular NCAA participant level under his watch (gets the "+" for Dwyane Wade and the Final Four. Not an "A" because on ly two years with NCAA wins)
What do you all think?
Interesting and very accurate. I think I would judge Majerus a little more harshly since he took a declining program and allowed it to fall even more. He was more like a D. Hard to believe what a coaching "genius" he became later on, but experience does mean something.